# Starter Studio

Starter Studio is an Asset Manager based in Orlando, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Orlando, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 36 W Pine Street, Orlando, FL 32801, United States
- **Founded:** 2015
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.starterstudio.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/starterstudio

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

StarterStudio is Central Florida’s only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on accelerating tech and tech-enabled startups. It supports early-stage tech founders through Accelerator Programs for idea, build, and pre-seed stages, with educational outposts throughout the region and virtual and hybrid programs. The organization has worked with nearly 410 companies and aims to make early-stage tech startup support more accessible.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- FinTech
- Digital Health
- AI/ML
- Mobility & Transportation

## People

- Dawn Haynes — CEO, Executive Director
- Gregg Pollack — Founder, Board Director
- Jacques Fu — Vice Chair, Advisor

## Questions

### Who runs investment and program decisions at Starter Studio?

CEO and Executive Director Dawn Haynes leads day-to-day operations and program decisions. Founder Gregg Pollack sits on the board of directors, and Vice Chair Jacques Fu — a co-founder of Stax — serves as an advisor. Day-to-day programming is run by Director of Programming Bob Reed alongside Entrepreneur-in-Residence Mike Bowers.

### Does Starter Studio take equity in the companies it accelerates?

No. Starter Studio is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and does not take equity or charge market-rate fees. Its accelerators are subsidized by local government grants, academic partnerships, corporate sponsors, and individual donors so that founders pay less than 20% of the program's actual per-founder cost.

### What investment stages does Starter Studio cover?

Starter Studio runs three sequential accelerator stages: Idea (validation and problem-fit), Build (customer acquisition and early traction), and Pre-Seed (venture-capital readiness and fundraising strategy). It does not make direct investments or fund commitments — the programs are designed to prepare founders to raise capital from external investors.

### How does Starter Studio source its pipeline of founders?

The accelerator recruits primarily through its Central Florida network and maintains partnerships with the City of Orlando and the University of Central Florida. Programming is delivered through both in-person cohorts at its Orlando headquarters and hybrid/virtual sessions, allowing it to draw from the broader region.

### How is Starter Studio's operating model funded?

Funding comes from local government economic-development grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual donations. The board includes representatives from institutions such as UCF, SouthState Bank, and private investment groups. This grant-funded structure eliminates the pressure to generate returns through equity positions.

### What is the relationship between Starter Studio and the FireSpring Fund?

Starter Studio has an affiliated entity, the FireSpring Fund, based in Orlando. The precise operating relationship is not publicly detailed, but both are mapped in the Central Florida early-stage ecosystem and share principal network ties.

### What sectors does Starter Studio target or avoid?

Starter Studio targets tech and tech-enabled startups across enterprise software, fintech, digital health, AI/ML, and mobility. It does not publish a formal exclusion list, but its programming and alumni base are oriented toward scalable venture-backable business models rather than small-business or lifestyle ventures.

## Related profiles

- [StartersHub XO](https://altss.com/profile/startershub-xo)
- [StartFast](https://altss.com/profile/startfast)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:08:11.274Z

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