Starter Studio Fl Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Starter Studio is a non-profit, early-stage tech/innovation accelerator. Its mission is to empower startup entrepreneurs with the required knowledge, skills, resources, support and investment to do more, successfully; to improve access, opportunity and support for a broader group of founders by being the gateway to an ecosystem of learning, subject matter experts, transformation and success.
- Income
- $444,667
- Spending
- $454,169
- Spent on programs
- 80%
- Reserves
- 4.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 44%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $141,580, ceo - executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.7 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 2% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 26% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1580% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 21 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 59% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
0 of 5Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $362,870 spent. TO BUILD A DIVERSE TECH AND INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM IN CENTRAL FLORIDA BY INVESTING TIME AND RESOURCES IN PROMISING TECH STARTUPS. TO PROVIDE THREE WORLD-CLASS ACCELERATOR PROGRAMS FOR FOUNDERS OF EARLY-STAGE TECH STARTUPS, OFFERING THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, BUSINESS DISCIPLINES, BEST PRACTICE TOOLS AND ACCESS TO OTHER RESOURCES, INCLUDING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS AND COACHING TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF SUCCESS. TO PROVIDE PRE-SEED CAPITAL TO EARLY-STAGE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES THAT SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATE FROM THE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM AND DEMONSTRATE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH POTENTIAL WITH A BROAD REACH OF CUSTOMERS. LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE AVAILABLE PROGRAMS, RESOURCES AND EARLY-STAGE CAPITAL TO ALL ASPIRING FOUNDERS AND MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR ALUMNI AND PORTFOLIO COMPANIES BY CONNECTING THEM TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE TECH AND INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM TO ASSIST IN THE GROWTH AND SCALE PHASES OF THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.