Lilian Myers is wrapping up her time as Starter Studio's executive director.
The Orlando-based startup accelerator organization will begin its search for a new executive director "in the coming weeks," Myers told Orlando Inno.
Myers, who was appointed interim executive director in 2019, said her role never was meant to be permanent. Instead, Starter Studio will seek an experienced nonprofit operator. "I’m a startup gal. My job is done. It’s time to find the real operator."
Myers, a longtime member of the Starter Studio board of directors, took over as interim executive director after former executive director Donna Mackenize stepped down in 2019. Myers will return to the board of directors. However, there is no timeline for this transition and Myers will remain executive director for the time being.
Starter Studio is one of Orlando’s most prominent startup support organizations. The nonprofit offers four accelerator programs for entrepreneurs, who receive training, mentorship and more. Plus, Starter Studio maintains a seed fund, investing up to $25,000 in companies that complete its Seed Stage accelerator program.
Efforts to grow tech-based startups are important for Central Florida, as those firms can add high-wage jobs and create economic impact as they scale. Startups also create innovative solutions for businesses, help develop a community and make it easier for other new companies to form in the future.
In fact, the 115-plus companies Starter Studio has supported since 2015 created more than 300 jobs, according to a 2020 study by London-based EY. Starter Studio invested $262,000 in alumni companies in 2019 and provides 1,200 hours of one-on-one mentorship each year, the study found.
Myers was one of the reasons Bryan Young, CEO of Home Lending Pal Inc., joined Starter Studio’s Seed Stage program in 2020, Young told Orlando Inno. The developer of a mortgage advising platform has raised more than $2 million, much of which came from local investors. “She was integral in helping us get connected in the Orlando community.”
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