BuzzPrizeExpo Boosts Entrepreneurship

The spirit of entrepreneurship was celebrated at Ed Smith Stadium on Friday as the inaugural BuzzPrizeExpo launched. Now, organizer Suzette Jones hopes to start up conversation about providing better support to up-and-coming businesses. “We proved that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well on the Gulf Coast,” she said. “From the vendors to the six selected startups who pitched to private investors, we saw innovation and enthusiasm at all levels.” Among…

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Jesse Biter: Let Uber operate in Sarasota

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: In business and in life, you’re either growing or you’re dying. I’ve seen the validity of that statement proven over and over again. When a business stops investing in innovation, or allows bureaucratic red tape to bind its growth and level its trajectory, it is doomed to the kind of mediocrity that leads to failure. Ensuring that Sarasota avoids the mire of…

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Entrepreneur Savant

Upon arriving at Jesse Biter’s office on the top floor of his HUB building, Sarasota’s tech entrepreneur mecca, I was struck by the nonconformity of the interior design. His office space is one large open room, approximately three thousand square feet with windows framing three sides. About two dozen desks line the windows, all-facing towards the middle of the room. No partitions or walls, just young people on headphones staring,…

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Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance learns secrets to success

It’s easy to see that Jesse Biter is the Mark Zuckerberg of Sarasota. At just 37, the Pennsylvania native is a multi-millionaire living and working downtown, all while trying to change the business climate of his beloved city. Biter shared his secrets to success during a presentation Thursday to about 150 members of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. His keys: trust God, maintain a positive workplace environment, don’t micromanage, think…

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