INNOVATE DAYTONA INC.
ORMOND BEACH, FLORIDA

Innovate Daytona’s mission is to build a sustainable culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the Volusia County region. We will launch initiatives that will attract media attention; connect people, innovations and funding; increase trust, diversity and mentorship while reducing the fear of failure; raise the area’s average income and integrate entrepreneurship activities into local schools, colleges and universities. The culmination of our work will make the Daytona region a hub for innovation that attracts and retains highly talented individuals. In 2016, nine passionate individuals who all have families and are based in Volusia County came together to start a reoccurring conversation focused on identifying action steps that could be taken to improve our community while retaining our best and brightest and providing more opportunity for all. The books Startup Communities and The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley provided the playbook for what could be done. Innovate Daytona was formed as a non-profit entity through researching the local economic development landscape and identifying there was a gap in representing entrepreneurs from all industries.