Leadership transition at Embarc Collective ushers in a new phase of growth

TAMPA, Fla. – Aug. 29, 2024 – Embarc Collective announced Dr. Tim R. Holcomb as its new CEO, succeeding Lakshmi Shenoy. Holcomb, an entrepreneur and educator with over 35 years of experience, will take the helm on January 1, 2025, to further expand Embarc Collective's impact as a leading startup incubator in the Southeast U.S.

Holcomb comes from Miami University, where he served as Professor, Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship, and Director of the Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship. He has advised companies like ReliaQuest and previously led the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State University. Holcomb is also a co-founder of Telcom Global Solutions, which was acquired by Flex in 2001.

Under Shenoy’s leadership, Embarc Collective grew into one of the fastest-growing startup hubs in Florida, supporting over 230 startups, creating nearly 1,000 jobs, and raising over $200 million. Shenoy will remain involved as a board member and coach.

“Tim’s experience supporting entrepreneurs makes him uniquely qualified to lead Embarc into its next phase,” said Brian Murphy, Chair of Embarc’s Board of Directors. “We’re excited to build on the foundation Lakshmi laid, expanding our reach and impact.”

Holcomb expressed his commitment to supporting Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and building on Embarc’s success to create a national model for startup ecosystems.

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[Event Recap]: Fund I Celebration

1809 Capital and Miami Partners and friends enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Fisher Innovation College@Elm rooftop.  The reception celebrated the successful closing of 1809 Capital Fund I and provide the opportunity to thank the of our Fund I founding sponsors and champions, including President Crawford, Altman Chair Tim Holcomb, Assistant External Relations Dean Kirk Bogard and Jim Ryan. The following afternoon, Jim delivered the Farmer School of Business Commencement speech, leaving the audience energized and motivated for what is to come next.

Attendees heard updates from Farmer School Dean Jenny Darroch, whose insights into the future of business education were both enlightening and encouraging. Randi Thomas spoke about the success and impact of the Fisher Innovation College@Elm, underscoring the importance of fostering entrepreneurial talent.

We're immensely grateful to everyone who came out to connect, share, and celebrate this milestone with us. Your support is invaluable and fuels our mission to drive innovation forward deliver impact for Miami students, faculty and alumni. Stay tuned for 1809 Capital sponsored events this summer in partnership with the Altman Institute and Department of Entrepreneurship.  

[EVENT RECAP]: 1809 Capital / RedHawk Ventures Collaboration Event

Throwback to May 9th: 1809 Capital and RedHawk Ventures (the Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship’s student-led pre-seed and seed stage venture fund) co-hosted an event to showcase their collaboration with the Fisher Innovation College@Elm this past academic year.

RedHawk Ventures student leadership presented on their mission to cultivate promising venture capital talent while supporting early-stage founders within the thriving Miami innovation ecosystem. They also highlighted the invaluable professional experience and operational guidance gained through their collaboration with 1809 Capital.

1809 Capital Partner, Mark Richey, shared the Fund’s investment philosophy and how to related mission of alumni and student engagement aligns perfectly with the RedHawk partnership. The discussion delved into the exciting potential of the "cross-stage model" as a support system for disruptive companies from pre-seed through growth stages.

Tim Holcomb, Chair of the globally ranked Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship, emphasized how this collaboration exemplifies the institute's "learning by doing" approach, while providing Miami-based founders with a dedicated investment platform to fuel the local ecosystem.

Chris Lawson, Head of the Fisher Innovation College@Elm, concluded by highlighting the immense potential impact this partnership of all three entities holds for the Miami innovation community and beyond.

Looking ahead: The three parties remain enthusiastic about continuing this initiative and fostering a robust platform for founders, students, alumni and innovators.