A four-year, after-school program where ambitious teens 14–18 build real ventures inside The Link — Nocatee's innovation center. Real founders, real projects, real momentum. A few hours a week.
In four years, your teen walks away with a transcript — or a track record.
AI fluency and professional skills — the foundation today's careers are actually built on.
Real projects with real founders — plus internship opportunities with companies inside The Link.
Earning opportunities through student ventures, project bounties, and demo-day prizes.
Professionals, founders, creators, and operators who have something real to share. If you've done it, a teen here wants to learn it.
Come in once. Run a workshop, share your story, or lead a Q&A. 60–90 minutes. High impact, low commitment.
Show up monthly. Build a real relationship with a cohort of teens across the full program cycle.
Tell your story — what went right, what failed, what you wish you knew at 16.
Run a hands-on session in your area of real expertise.
Lead a real-talk block on money, career, or building a life.
Review teen ventures and give honest, professional feedback.
Host a Q&A — no prep required, just show up and answer.
Teach a specific skill: pitching, designing, coding, selling, negotiating.
Meet motivated, ambitious teens before anyone else. The founding class are tomorrow's best hires, interns, and collaborators — and you know them first.
Your name and expertise in front of The Link's growing community of founders, professionals, and leaders across North Florida.
Shape what The Forge becomes. Mentors have direct input into programming, topics, and direction. Built with you, not around you.
A teen who remembers the person who showed them what was possible. That doesn't come from a check. It comes from showing up.
Tell us who you are and one thing you could share. We'll follow up to schedule a quick 20-minute call and match you with the right format.