Residency in the Samford Startup space is open to all Samford University students—business and nonbusiness majors. Residents are provided an office in the Samford Startup space in Cooney Hall, which allows them a physical place to launch and run their business without incurring large startup costs. In addition, residents have access to limited funding to support their business operations. Residents have the chance to connect with experts across campus, in the local community, and within the expanded Samford network to bring experience, insights and opportunities for these student entrepreneurs. Regular discussions with professionals might focus on branding, pricing, financial modeling, customer service, leadership, or a variety of other topics in which students wish to concentrate.

If residency is full, a limited number of affiliate memberships are available. Affiliate members are embraced as a core part of the incubator program. While they don’t have a formal office space in Cooney Hall, affiliates gain access to the same meeting spaces, discussions and networking opportunities available to the resident members.

Contact the Brock Family Chair in Entrepreneurship, Matt Mazzei, to apply for residency in the program.

“Samford Startup was a God-wink for me in Brock School of Business—a true blessing I didn’t see coming. Business school was not part of ‘my plan’ before I found Samford, but when my greeting card hobby turned into a business before college, I felt the nudge to press in and learn more...

...I am so grateful for Samford Startup to be part of my Samford story and growth as a business owner. Throughout four years as a student and resident, Samford Startup served as a bridge connecting school life with business owner life. I had opportunities to compete in business competitions and win startup funding, establish an LLC, trademark my company’s name, and meet with professors and mentors to share advice along the way. During my senior year I worked with Brock School of Business to create Samford Startup’s name, branding and extension of the program framework. It was an exciting and gratifying experience to continue my own entrepreneurial endeavors while helping develop this program that so greatly helped me. I am confident Samford Startup will be a bridge and launchpad for many more student entrepreneurs to come!”