Annually, The University of Tampa’s Entrepreneurship Center honors its most outstanding alumni entrepreneurs in an awards ceremony. This gathering also serves as a platform for networking with like-minded alumni entrepreneurs. 

Primary Criteria – Applicable to All Categories and Nominees

1. Nominee must be a UT alumnus (any major).
2. Nominee must be the founder of the business or must have been critical to its growth.
3. The company should demonstrate significant growth and long-term potential.
4. The entrepreneur should demonstrate the ability to overcome adversity. 

Award Categories

Social Entrepreneur:

This award recognizes alumni who have shown a strong commitment to social responsibility.

• The entrepreneur must show a history of social awareness and altruistic contributions to the community.

Early Stage Award:

This award recognizes alumni with promising ventures that are in the early stages of growth.

• The venture must be no more than three years old.

Family Business:

This award recognizes alumni who are part of a family business.

• The venture must be a family-owned business.
• At least one member of the family must be a UT alumnus.

Young Entrepreneur Award:

This award recognizes young alumni who have shown exceptional talent and achieved success in business.

• Nominee must be under the age of 40 at the time of consideration.

Outstanding Service to Entrepreneurs:

This award recognizes alumni or non-alumni who have shown outstanding commitment to the entrepreneurial community in general.

• For anyone (preferably an entrepreneur) who has demonstrated commitment to helping other entrepreneurs in various industries. Also, for entrepreneurs who have worked to educate students on entrepreneurship or contributed to the development of the entrepreneurship program at The University of Tampa. This candidate does not have to be an entrepreneur. Examples of good candidates include lawyers, professors, accountants, etc.

Innovator Entrepreneur:

This award recognizes alumni who have shown a commitment to innovative business practices.

• Must have made some sort of significant innovative contribution to his/her industry within the past five years.

Service-Based Entrepreneur:

This award recognizes alumni entrepreneurs in service-oriented industries such as consulting.

• Must own a service-based company.

Lifetime Achievement Award:

This award recognizes alumni who operate businesses that have shown stability and success over a long period of time.

• Must have been in business for at least 10 years.
• Nominee should be an exemplary figure that has added significance to the community in which he/she does business in.