A new, first-of-its-kind accelerator program designed to cultivate startups within the region’s massive hospitality, tourism, and travel industry is launching in Orlando this week.
Led by entrepreneur Scott Hill, Proxenia Accelerators is an eight-week program that aims to transform early-stage ideas into viable products, leveraging Central Florida’s position as a global tourism hub and growing tech market.
“I think the merger of Central Florida’s hospitality, tourism, and travel industry and the tech economy that we have here is a natural fit,” Hill said. “I would really like to see Orlando be the hospitality tech hub of the world.”
This ambition is underscored by Orlando’s substantial economic engines.
Central Florida’s tourism industry alone generated a record $92.5 billion in economic impact in 2023, according to Visit Orlando.
Complementing this, the Orlando Economic Partnership estimated that the city’s tech industry contributes approximately $43 billion in economic output.
A welcome announcement at Orlandopreneur
Hill made the announcement at Monday’s Orlandopreneur meetup, an event that itself has had some big returns in Orlando. The meetup has become one of the largest in Central Florida.
The Proxenia program will start its first cohort this week.
The intensive eight-week program will include twice-a-week sessions and guide founders from an initial idea to minimum viable product.
So far, Hill says he has four entrepreneurs ready to go through the program but continues to seek more.
The initial cohort is for idea-stage businesses.
Hill plans to bring in subject matter experts and seeks mentors to support the startups.
“This is a bit of an intensive program,” Hill said. “It’s something with homework, with actionable items, and milestones that you need to reach.”
Hill brings with him a history within the hospitality industry.
He spent years in entertainment production, including a 15-year stint in technical production with Walt Disney World.
A vision for Orlando’s future
His decision to launch Proxenia stems from nearly a decade of immersion in Orlando’s vibrant startup community, having become deeply involved in groups like 1 Million Cups.
In addition, Hill has become an informal adviser to Dr. Yoo Ri Kim, a UCF professor who advises the school’s Entrepreneur and Innovation Club.
This partnership further aligns Proxenia with Rosen College of Hospitality Management’s significant investment in its future, including an ongoing $12.8 million renovation to its campus aimed at enhancing its state-of-the-art facilities.
As Proxenia launches its inaugural journey, Hill acknowledges that there are challenges inherent in building a new venture from scratch.
He embraces it, however.
The plan is for the program to culminate in an early September demo day.
“This is amazing,” Hill said of the launch after nearly two years of planning. “It is the very definition of ‘start ugly.’ I’ve told everybody that they’re kind of walking into a construction site, so I’m issuing virtual hard hats and steel-toed boots for everybody.”