Canvs, a downtown-Orlando nonprofit coworking space for startup entrepreneurs, celebrated its grand opening for a pilot coworking space and educational programs to support local entrepreneurs in Parramore.
The new space is housed in the University of Central Florida’s Center for Emerging Media, which will be part of the UCF Downtown campus in the heart of Creative Village. The Canvs Parramore coworking pilot is made possible with a $50,000 award from the City of Orlando.
Locating the pilot space at the new UCF Downtown campus in Creative Village “will help accelerate downtown Orlando’s innovation ecosystem,” said Thad Seymour, Jr., vice provost for UCF Downtown and chairman of Canvs’ board of directors. “We are pleased to partner with the City of Orlando to support Parramore entrepreneurs as they build promising businesses that create jobs and opportunities for the community.”
Canvs already is developing community outreach plans, securing mentors to guide founders and creating educational programs for the startup companies it expects to attract as coworkers. This same model was used successfully in its original 17,000-square-foot facility located in downtown Orlando’s historic Church Street Exchange, as well as a second 8,000 square-foot office in Winter Park.
“As part of the City’s economic development strategy, we are constantly seeking ways to remove barriers for residents who want to pursue their dreams of owning a business,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We are proud to partner with Canvs on this new location which furthers our efforts to continue revitalizing Parramore and brings affordable, innovative, coworking space for startup entrepreneurs to launch and grow new businesses in the heart of the neighborhood.”
The 900-square-foot coworking space will accommodate 15 desks and more than 40 coworkers who may rent desks for occasional or long-term use.
Both non-tech and tech-based startups are expected to take advantage of this new coworking facility. Canvs also is home to the Starter Studio tech business accelerator, as well as FireSpring Fund, a nonprofit advanced accelerator and seed-stage investment fund.
Coworkers in the new Parramore facility will also be able to attend the workshops and educational programs that take place in the Canvs Parramore facility as well as the nearby downtown facility.