The link marks five dynamic years

Unique facility cultivates community and innovation in Northeast Florida

Raghu Misra speaks to those attending the official opening of the link on July 14, 2021.

By Gurpreet and Raghu Misra, founders of the link

Back in 2021, a vision took hold in Nocatee, Ponte Vedra. It was built on a simple premise: when purposeful people gather, ideas take flight, businesses flourish and the whole community wins.

Today, the link is celebrating its fifth anniversary. But this milestone is about more than just the calendar; it’s a celebration of five years spent bridging the gaps between entrepreneurs, creators, educators and nonprofits. We’ve acted as a heartbeat for collaboration and economic growth across the region.

Since we first opened our doors, the link has matured into a premier innovation hub and collaborative space. What started as a place to grab a desk has blossomed into a full-scale ecosystem where startups find their footing, partnerships are cemented and students find their spark.

Right now, more than 70 businesses call the link home. One of our favorite traditions is the Friday community lunch. It’s an intentional time where founders, creatives and nonprofit leaders sit down at the same table. These relaxed gatherings do more than just fill plates — they spark the conversations that lead to lasting friendships and new business ventures.

Over the last half-decade, we’ve hosted hundreds of workshops, forums and cultural celebrations. We’ve become the home base for entrepreneurs launching their first companies and established organizations looking for a culture where innovation happens naturally.

“Our goal was never just to lease out offices,” explains Raghu Misra, founder of the link. “We wanted to build a place where people from totally different worlds could collide and inspire each other. Looking back, our biggest win isn’t the physical building — it’s the incredible community that lives inside it.”

Empowering Businesses, Strengthening Roots

The link does more than provide a roof; it acts as a business incubator. To date, we’ve helped more than 100 entrepreneurs turn their sketches on napkins into thriving, real-world organizations.

Success stories born here include PROTACTX Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Acton Academy and Unlockt.

These names are just a snapshot of the businesses that have found mentorship and community within our walls. Our philosophy is straightforward: when our local entrepreneurs succeed, the whole region wins through new jobs and a more vibrant economy.

Programs That Move the Needle

Our commitment to innovation goes far beyond our front door. We’ve developed a portfolio of signature programs that are actively shaping the future of Northeast Florida.

EnterCircle

One of our standout initiatives, EnterCircle, has grown into a major annual conference. It brings together everyone from investors and executives to students and government leaders to explore what’s next in technology and economic growth.

A huge part of EnterCircle is the Youth Symposium. Here, high school students get to rub elbows with CEOs and innovators. Through workshops and hands-on experiences, they start thinking like entrepreneurs and realize they have the power to shape their own communities.

Circle of Creation Women Business Education Program

The Circle of Creation is our premier leadership series for women. It’s more than just a networking event; it’s a trusted space where women innovators and changemakers have deep, authentic conversations that evolve into mentorships and real business partnerships.

Youth Leadership Program

We’re also invested in the next generation through our Youth Leadership Program. Students dive into immersive projects centered on global goals, learning how to use design thinking and entrepreneurship to solve problems right here at home.

JaxFuse Festival

In 2024, we launched the JaxFuse Festival, a high-energy celebration of Jacksonville’s creative pulse.

From film and fashion to music and food, JaxFuse gives local creators a stage and connects them with the business world. It’s our way of showing that creativity is a powerful engine for innovation.

Innovation Symposium

Our Innovation Symposium series lets founders and industry leaders share the "how-to" behind breakthrough technologies. It’s not just about bragging rights; it’s about learning from their journeys, the hurdles they cleared and their vision for the future.

By hosting these talks, we’re strengthening Jacksonville’s tech scene and inspiring everyone — from students to CEOs — to think differently about what’s possible.

Heart Over Hardware

At the end of the day, you can’t measure the link’s success just by square footage or the number of events on the calendar.

Our real success is seen in the businesses that took flight here, the careers that were transformed, the nonprofits that found new partners, and the friendships that will last a lifetime.

For five years, we’ve proven that a workspace can be so much more than a place to work. It’s where mentors find students, where creators find their audience, and where strangers become collaborators.

“This anniversary belongs to everyone who believed in the vision — our members, volunteers and partners,” says Gurpreet Misra. “Together, we’ve built more than a coworking space; we’ve cultivated a community of dreamers and doers. We’ve laid a solid foundation, and I can’t wait to see what the next five years bring."