GrowFL Now Accepting Applications
2017 Florida Companies to Watch Awards
Second-Stage Businesses Compete to Earn Prestigious Honor
Applications are open for the seventh annual Florida Companies to Watch® awards program. The event will honors 50 select second-stage companies from throughout the state for developing valuable products and services, creating quality jobs, enriching communities, and creating new industries throughout Florida.
Florida Companies to Watch® is the premier recognition event for GrowFL, a program coordinated by the University of Central Florida to provide critical research and strategy support to help high-growth companies grow and succeed.
Eligible applicants must be privately held, second-stage commercial enterprises. Qualifying companies must also be headquartered in the state of Florida, employ between 6 and 150 employees, and earn between $750,000 and $100 million in annual revenue. A selection panel of judges representing areas of finance, technology, entrepreneurship and small business select honorees that have demonstrated past and future growth opportunities, entrepreneurial leadership, product innovation, community responsibility and competitive business practices. Applications are open through May 5, 2017.
Economic Impact of 2016 Winning Companies
$421 million in total annual revenue in 2015
29 percent increase in total annual revenue compared to 2014
2,171 full-time equivalent employees
30 percent increase in 2015 total employment compared to 2014
719 net new jobs projected for 2016
Increasing Impact
From 2012 through 2015, these companies generated more than $1.1 billion in revenue and added nearly 1,200 employees, reflecting a 119 percent increase in revenue and 122 percent increase in jobs for the four-year period. That translates into a 30 percent annual growth in both revenue and employees.
These companies project continued growth in 2016, with a 30 percent revenue increase and 33 percent growth in employees compared to 2015. If their projections hold, these companies will have generated $1.7 billion in revenue and added more than 1,900 employees over the last five years — a 186 percent increase in revenue and 196 percent increase in jobs since 2012.
Accusoft
Aerospace Technologies Group
American Elite Molding, LLC
Analytics Partners
Automotive Broadcasting Network
Bracken Engineering, Inc.
Brunet-García
CO2Meter, Inc.
Commercial Acoustics
DirecLogix
DynaFire, Inc.
Fattmerchant
Findsome & Winmore
Gator Cleaning Solutions
GloFX
Hell’s Bay Marine, Inc. dba Hell’s Bay Boatworks
HotelPlanner.com
InstaNatural
Interactyx
Interventions Unlimited, Inc.
IT Authorities
iVenture Solutions, Inc.
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Jerry Harvey Audio
JK2 Construction & Scenic
JMX Brands
Karins Engineering Group, Inc.
Key Lime Interactive, LLC
Leanswift
Lumenier
NetDirector
Optym
OZNaturals, LLC
Pegasus Transportation
PrimeGroup Insurance
Private Label Skin
Progressive Dental
RISA
Science First
TerraCom Direct
That’s Us Technologies
The Spice Lab
VALiNTRY
Wicked Dolphin Distillery
Widerman Malek, PL
Wood’s Fisheries, Inc.
Woof Gang Bakery
X-Link Medical Software Interfacing
Xeleum Lighting, LLC
ZIO
Interested in being a part of the elite list? CLICK HERE for more details on the 2017 Florida Companies to Watch.
