Jerry Ross concedes many young entrepreneurs are quicker and smarter than him. However, the president of the Orlando-based National Entrepreneur Center possesses something they do not.
“I have 40 years experience,” Ross said.
Generation Z and millennials are the fastest-growing generations among metro Orlando’s workforce, according to CBRE’s 2021 tech talent report. Between 2014-2021, Orlando’s population of Generation Z grew 11%, and the number of millennials grew 13%. Meanwhile, Generation X’s presence increased only 8.7%, and baby boomers ticked up 1.5%.
These population trends, along with strong entrepreneurship programs and incubators tied to Rollins College and the University of Central Florida, demonstrate young people are poised to play an increasing role in Central Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, they need to recognize their limitations, Ross said.
That means engaging with older, more experienced entrepreneurs. For example, if young entrepreneurs don’t have a more seasoned employee on their staff, they should consider a service like Orlando SCORE that provides business mentors, Ross said.
Meanwhile, social media trends popular among younger generations can open up new ways for companies to find business. For example, 24-year-old Abhishek Sastri, co-founder and CEO of Orlando-based liquid cooling PC startup Fluix, previously told Orlando Inno he is a prolific user of social media. In fact, his daily goal is to post three TikTok videos, two YouTube videos and at least one piece of content on LinkedIn.
That played right into Fluix’s micro-influencer marketing strategy, using YouTube and TikTok reviewers to gain buzz and credibility around the company’s product. “I learned that every company has to solve two problems: awareness (or lack thereof) and volume. I also learned that becoming a media company first, with consistent daily content, and leveraging partners to be more agile and nimble is a killer strategy to solve these problems,” said Sastri.
Orlando Inno will honor five Central Florida residents using innovation to make waves in the local community and their respective industries. Check out Orlando Inno and Orlando Business Journal on Sept. 17 for more on the honorees.
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