Weekly meetups
Coffee chats, demo nights, and founder socials happening across Greater Gainesville.
About Startup Gainesville
We’re all in on Gainesville
Community-run · Since 2024
Startup Gainesville is an independent, community-run network for the founders, makers, and dreamers building companies in Gainesville, Florida. No gatekeepers, no cover charge — just the people, events, and know-how to help you start something here.
Startup Gainesville at a glance
A mentor network
Operators, angels, and repeat founders who have been exactly where you are.
Open to everyone
UF students, first-time builders, and second-time founders all belong in the room.
Always free
No membership fee and no cover charge. Show up, plug in, and start building.
Rooted in the Swamp
Proudly local — powered by University of Florida talent and Gainesville grit.
Volunteer-run
Organized by founders and operators who simply want this town to win.
Our story
It started with a handful of founders trading notes over coffee. We kept showing up, kept bringing friends, and before long there was a room full of people building the future of this town.
Startup Gainesville grew out of that room — a home base for anyone with an idea and the nerve to chase it. We host the meetups, keep the calendar, make the introductions, and celebrate every win from the first commit to the first raise.
# your first week at Startup Gainesville you@gnv:~$ join the-community # say hi in Discord you@gnv:~$ rsvp next-demo-night # meet 40+ builders you@gnv:~$ book a-mentor-coffee # free, 30 min # that's it — you're in. you@gnv:~$ build something-great &
Getting in is easy
You don’t need a startup, a pitch deck, or an invite. Come as you are — curiosity is the only requirement.
Join the Discord