Miami, FL \u2013 Jan. 30, 2026\u00a0 \u2013 The Idea Center at Miami Dade College\u00a0(MDC) has partnered with the\u00a0Urban Poverty and Business Initiative\u00a0(UPBI), housed within the\u00a0McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business\u00a0at the University of Notre Dame\u2019s Keough School of Global Affairs, to launch the UPBI program in Miami. Support from The Coca-Cola Company in North America to UPBI led to the initiative\u2019s expansion to MDC and the establishment of Build Up.<\/p>\n
Operated as Build Up locally,\u00a0UPBI opens new pathways to economic mobility by equipping aspiring and early-stage founders across Miami-Dade County with the tools to launch and grow sustainable businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re honored to partner with UPBI to expand entrepreneurship in Miami,\u201d said\u00a0Jorge H. Gonzalez, executive director of The Idea Center at Miami Dade College. \u201cThrough Build Up, we are ensuring that aspiring founders \u2013 many launching businesses to solve\u00a0real challenges\u00a0in their communities \u2013 have the guidance, confidence and connections to transform their ideas into engines of opportunity. This partnership strengthens MDC\u2019s commitment to fuel the local economy through workforce development and small business success.\u201d<\/p>\n
While UPBI is new to Miami, the model has been implemented in more than 55 cities globally, serving over 3,000 entrepreneurs each year and helping more than 1,100 ventures move toward financial stability.\u00a0Through this partnership, The Idea Center delivers the Build Up incubator using UPBI\u2019s proven 80-step model and six-pillar structure \u2013 providing boot camp training, individualized consulting from MDC student teams, seasoned mentorship and a supportive community of founders advancing Miami\u2019s economic vibrancy.<\/p>\n
The inaugural Build Up cohort brought together 40 founders tackling issues vital to Miami\u2019s future, representing industries ranging from cybersecurity to sustainable fashion. Building on that momentum, a second cohort of 30 entrepreneurs will launch on Feb. 9, at MDC\u2019s Homestead Campus \u2013 expanding the program\u2019s reach and impact across the community.<\/p>\n
Among the inaugural cohort was Jiale Tu, founder of Jalet Denim, a purpose-driven fashion brand rooted in a deeply personal legacy. Her mother lifted their family out of poverty through decades of work in China\u2019s denim industry, instilling in Tu a profound understanding of resilience, craftsmanship and opportunity. Inspired by that journey, Tu set out to honor her heritage while advancing a more sustainable future in fashion.<\/p>\n
Through Build Up, Tu transformed her vision into a launch-ready business. She completed more than 30 hours of intensive business training, participated in six one-on-one mentorship sessions, and will soon collaborate with a team of four MDC student consultants under the guidance of a faculty member. During the program, she achieved key milestones within the 80 Steps to a Sustainable Business framework, conducted more than 20 customer interviews, secured two initial clients and initiated three pilot collaborations \u2013 early indicators of strong market validation and business readiness.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother entered the denim industry simply because she saw an opportunity and acted on it, and that choice changed our family\u2019s future.\u00a0Her journey shaped how I understand entrepreneurship: it requires resilience in the face of challenges and a willingness to keep learning and adapting to new environments,\u201d Tu said.\u00a0\u201cBuild Up\u00a0gave me a community of fellow founders, a strong business foundation and the inspiration to build a purpose-driven brand. What began as a personal idea is now a business with real customers, meaningful partnerships and a clear path forward. The support I gained will guide me in this and any future venture I pursue.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, Coca-Cola is supporting community groups across the country to help drive economic growth, help the next generation of leaders unlock their potential, and make positive and long-lasting contributions to local communities. Coca-Cola\u2019s support of UPBI reflects its broader mission to expand opportunities, strengthen local economies and inspire the next generation through targeted investments across communities, colleges and youth leadership programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are proud to partner with MDC as they develop a program that will create meaningful impact in their communities,\u201d said\u00a0Michael Morris, founder of UPBI at Notre Dame.\u00a0\u201cThis work reflects UPBI\u2019s commitment to powering local economies, inspiring tomorrow\u2019s leaders and building lasting connections that will strengthen communities for years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information\u00a0about Build Up or to get involved, please contact Jorge I. Guillen at\u00a0jguillen@mdc.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n About The Idea Center at Miami Dade College<\/p>\n The Idea Center at Miami Dade College is the college\u2019s hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, providing students, community members and small business owners with\u00a0cutting-edge\u00a0training, venture support, and hands-on learning opportunities. Through incubators, accelerators, interdisciplinary partnerships, and applied learning programs, The Idea Center equips Miami\u2019s next generation of creators, founders, and changemakers with the skills and networks needed to build a thriving and inclusive future. Learn more at\u00a0www.theideacenter.co<\/a>.<\/p>\n About the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI)<\/p>\n The Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI), housed within the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business at the University of Notre Dame\u2019s Keough School of Global Affairs, equips partner institutions to help individuals in low-income or disadvantaged circumstances start and grow sustainable businesses. Through a six-pillar model \u2013 including training, mentoring, one-on-one consulting, microcredit access and long-term tracking \u2013 UPBI provides a proven pathway for entrepreneurs to achieve financial stability and economic mobility. Learn more at\u00a0https:\/\/mckennacenter.nd.edu\/global-programs\/urban-poverty-and-business-initiative\/<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Miami, FL \u2013 Jan. 30, 2026\u00a0 \u2013 The Idea Center at Miami Dade College\u00a0(MDC) has partnered with the\u00a0Urban…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3044,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[225,227,226],"class_list":["post-138129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}