Huizenga College of Business Student Wins 1st Place in Startup Program

Stefano Selorio, a marketing major at NSU’s Huizenga College of Business, recently won first place in the City of Hollywood’s FastTrac® Start-Up Program. He received $3,000 to launch his business—an in-home caregiving service—in 2020.

“Carevocacy came out about from combining two things that people needed: care and advocacy. Being a caregiver is something no one is prepared to do. There will be challenging days, but the work is honorable and should be supported,” said Selorio. His startup aims to match families with professional, non-medical services, such as companionship, tech support, or meal preparation.

The FastTrac Start-Up Program is a ten week mentoring program led by Herb Conde-Parlato, economic development manager of the City of Hollywood. Participants in the program learn how to refine their business ideas, build a business plan, network with entrepreneurs, and access appropriate resources. At the end of the program, participants’ business plans are evaluated. The top three business plans are selected to pitch in front of a judging panel during the Kauffman FastTrac Startup Pitch and Graduation Night.

Selorio credits NSU for supporting his entrepreneurship goals. “Thanks to the support of my professors, I was able to practice my pitch in front of classrooms and gained insightful feedback from my peers.” He is also thankful for his friends, family, and industry professionals in health care, technology, and business who helped propel him forward.

“My advice for anyone looking for answers to a business problem is to believe in yourself and surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow.”

Click here to learn more about Carevocacy and Selorio’s journey.