Our Mission.

The mission of the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship is to create opportunities for economic empowerment across our communities and region by providing access to the mentors, peers, resources, education, and partners to help business goals come to life.

Our Core Programs.

  • Idea Bootcamp

    Have an idea and not sure where to start? Join the Idea Bootcamp to go from idea to startup plan in a single day.

    There is no charge to join a bootcamp—breakfast and lunch are provided, and participants have opportunities to connect with other entrepreneurs, mentors, and partners from the local community.

    Join a Bootcamp

  • 6SEED

    Have a business or nonprofit but can’t afford a full-time salary yet?

    6SEED is a six-week program designed to help early stage entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and volunteer-run nonprofits develop a go-to-market strategy to grow their revenue.

    There is no charge to participate in 6SEED, but participants cannot miss more than one class to be eligible to pitch in the SEED Pitch Event.

    Register for 6SEED

  • ACCELER8

    Have an existing business or nonprofit and ready to grow?

    ACCELER8 is an eight-week program for existing businesses and nonprofit organizations who are great at what they do and need additional business insights and education to help them grow.

    There is no charge to participate in ACCELER8, but participants cannot miss more than one class to be eligible to pitch in the ACCELER8 Pitch Nights.

    Join the next ACCELER8 Cohort

Our founding story.

November 2021

When Dr. Skip Mounts and lifelong entrepreneur Art Lucas talked over their regular breakfast about creating impact for our students and our region, they always came back to the power of entrepreneurship. As they watched local initiatives, start-ups, students, and development efforts surge and ebb, they recognized a gap in the small business ecosystem in the Golden Isles: there was no hub to connect resources, mentors, and the community with entrepreneurs and their ideas. The Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship was born to fill this gap.

Meet our CEO, Dr. Ande Noktes.

Ande (sounds like Gandhi without the G) serves as the CEO and Executive Director of the Lucas Center for Entrepreneurship, where she focuses on creating lasting and positive social impact.

Driven by a genuine belief in the power of human potential, Ande is dedicated to creating opportunities that help communities and organizations build on their strengths. With an emphasis on collaboration and a belief that we all have what we need to bring our visions to life, she works to inspire growth and resilience while staying grounded in the values of service and community engagement.