Opportunity Apopka: Connecting Entrepreneurs to the Ecosystem That Supports Them
Entrepreneurs don’t grow in isolation. They grow when they have access to the right resources, relationships, and support at the moments that matter most.
That’s what made the Opportunity Apopka Business Expo, hosted by the City of Apopka Economic Development Department, such an important gathering for Central Florida’s business and innovation community. Rally was glad to be part of a space that brought entrepreneurs, small business owners, and ecosystem partners together under one roof — not just to exchange business cards, but to open doors.
For Rally, events like this are about more than visibility. They are about helping founders navigate what can often feel like a fragmented landscape and making it easier to find the people, tools, and partners that move ideas forward.
At the Expo, Rally shared our work supporting early-stage and growth-stage ventures through strategy, pilots, and partnerships. But just as important, we spent time listening — learning what entrepreneurs are building, where they’re getting stuck, and what kinds of support would make the biggest difference right now.
Our role in moments like these is simple:
to connect entrepreneurs to pathways, and partners to collaborators.
And Central Florida has no shortage of organizations doing exactly that.
Meet the Community Partners Supporting Entrepreneurs
The Opportunity Apopka Expo brought together a powerful network of organizations that support entrepreneurs at every stage — from idea to scale. Below are some of the partners who showed up and what they offer to founders and collaborators alike.
Business Development & Advocacy
African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
Supporting businesses through advocacy, programming, and access to opportunity.
https://blackcommerce.org/NAWBO Orlando
Empowering women entrepreneurs through education, advocacy, and community.
https://nawboorlando.org/
Strategy, Systems & Business Readiness
Inspire & Convey
Supporting mission-driven businesses and nonprofits with strategic planning, systems development, performance audits, and communications that help organizations move ideas into action and grow with clarity.
https://www.inspireandconvey.com/
Funding, Capital & Financial Support
BBIF
Providing loans, consulting, and financial education to help businesses grow.
https://www.bbif.com/Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC)
Connecting minority-owned businesses to corporate contracting opportunities.
https://fsmsdc.org/
Workforce & Career Support
CareerSource Central Florida
Offering workforce solutions, hiring support, and training resources for employers and job seekers.
https://www.careersourcecentralflorida.com/Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative (VEI)
Supporting veterans transitioning into entrepreneurship with training and community.
https://vei.center/
Innovation, Technology & Incubation
BuildwithBOT / Building Our Tech
Expanding access to technology education and pathways into tech careers.
https://buildingourtech.org/Orlando Innovation League
Building a more inclusive innovation ecosystem through events and community.
https://orlinnovationleague.org/UCF Business Incubator
Supporting startups with mentorship, space, and growth resources across Central Florida.
https://incubator.ucf.edu/
Workspace, Community & Collaboration
The Conduit
An interdisciplinary coworking and collaboration space supporting entrepreneurs, creatives, and teams through shared workspace, community programming, and purpose-driven connection in Central Florida.
credoconduit.com
Trade, Mentorship & Entrepreneur Support
Central Florida International Trade Office
Helping businesses explore and expand into global markets.
https://www.nationalec.org/cfitoNational Entrepreneur Center
A hub of resources, programs, and organizations supporting entrepreneurs at all stages.
https://www.nationalec.org/Prospera USA
Providing bilingual business training, consulting, and capital access for entrepreneurs.
https://prosperausa.org/SCORE Mentors Orlando
Offering free mentorship from experienced business leaders.
https://www.score.org/orlandoRally
Supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs through accelerator programs, Living Lab pilots, co-creation labs, and ecosystem partnerships that help ventures test, grow, and collaborate across Central Florida and beyond.
https://www.rallysea.com/
Why This Matters and How to Stay Connected
For entrepreneurs, events like Opportunity Apopka reduce friction. They turn searching into meeting, confusion into clarity, and isolation into connection. For partners and organizations, they create space to collaborate, align efforts, and meet founders where they are.
For Rally, these moments reinforce why ecosystem-building matters. When entrepreneurs can clearly see the network around them and know where to turn for support, they are better positioned to move forward with confidence.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking for resources or a partner interested in collaboration, the organizations highlighted here are a great place to start, and Rally is always here to help connect the dots. Together, we’re building a Central Florida ecosystem where founders are supported, ideas are strengthened, and opportunity is shared.
About Us
Rally collaborates with changemakers, institutions, and neighborhoods to source, test, refine, and scale social and environmental innovations. Our work strengthens Central Florida and informs best practices around the world. Through a continuum of support—including Innovation Sourcing, Pilot Labs, coaching, and strategic insights—we help entrepreneurs and communities turn bold ideas into measurable impact. Learn more!
