Estero Breeds Entrepreneurs
Dr. Sandra Kauanui
When Dr. Sandra Kauanui is asked by community leaders and economic stakeholders how Southwest Florida can keep young people in the region, she proudly says it is already is happening at The Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) which is becoming an entrepreneurial ecosystem spawning new businesses in several ways. Viable businesses have sprouted among the 130 students who enroll each semester. “Everyone is concerned about the graduates leaving the area,” said Dr. Kauanui. “If you want them to stay here, you give them a way to grow their businesses. We have a number of students who have graduated and are still here because they are working on their businesses and continue to want our support and help.” 20 EsteroChamber.org
Any alumni from FGCU can come back and get help starting a business. The Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship started an alumni program two years ago. “If you have a degree from this university, we’re going to help you whenever you decide you want to start a business,” added Dr. Kauanui. The Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship started a program for military veterans who move to this area and wanted to start and grow a business. “The veterans from our Veterans Entrepreneurship Program have generated the highest amount of gross income compared to other Florida Universities that are running similar programs,” said Dr. Kauanui. As a result, the school continues to receive state and government grants for their program. Their curriculum has also been used The
of Southwest Florida
as a model for other schools in the state that are supporting veterans’ entrepreneurship programs. Dr. Kauanui has outreach programs for public/private high schools to support junior and senior high school students to learn the entrepreneurial mindset before they enter college. Before COVID, FGCU’s Rist Family Foundation’s Institute for Entrepreneurship had yearly competitions for high school students. Student teams from Lee and Collier counties attended a High School Entrepreneurship Challenge at FGCU where they compete in a pitch competition for cash prizes. In addition, the Daveler & Kauanui School for Entrepreneurship worked with one of our local private schools to help them start their “Maker Space.”
