Tampa Bay Innovation Center Launches Climate Tech Program
The Tampa Bay Innovation Center recently announced their newest initiative — a program that features sustainability-focused companies.
Tampa Bay’s Clean Tech Accelerator Program will house entities ranging from climate technology to clean technology. People, planet, profits — those are all emphases for these environmentally conscious organizations.
The Tampa Bay Innovation Center is an early-stage tech incubator and accelerator. It is a major player among Greater Tampa Bay’s many incubators.
The TB Innovation Center points in this direction because they want to make a real-world impact and contribute to a sustainable future, according to the Innovation Center’s managing director of accelerators, Ken Evans.
Making a Global Impact
While many incubators across the nation have startups, very few look toward enterprises with climate-centered, green activities at their core. Tampa Bay’s Innovation Center aims to be the first in Florida to begin this initiative.
This program stands out from their other five because of its focus on technologies that address the effects of global warming. The goal for most climate technologies is to reduce greenhouse gas emission and pollution.
If the Innovation Center can guide their new businesses into creating tools and products that protect the environment, it stands to make a significant impact. The accelerator further hopes to open their doors to startups wanting to target artificial intelligence, augmented reality, big data or robotics.
Leading Change for the Future
The 12-week program, which is set to launch in January, will seek innovators and entrepreneurs who are leading change and carrying out future-driven solutions. It will also include four technology phases: adoption, commercialization, innovation and invention.
Some of those future-driven solutions extend anywhere from sustainable sources of power generation to low waste manufacturing. Other solutions include retail waste reduction, solar energy, water conservation, marine science or weather monitoring and impact modeling.
Participants will engage in weekly group workshops, one-on-one mentoring and sessions aimed at helping them create sustainable ventures.
Customer discovery, product road mapping, pricing and go-to-market skills are topics covered in the program. They will also experience a combination of financial support and other resources.
Experts Lend Their Support
Two prominent entities will act as sponsors to the cohort, providing mentorship, financial support and business expertise. Duke Energy Corporation is the first, and PODS, a moving and storage company, is the second.
Investment management firm Ark Invest is another player to name, although their role has not been finalized yet. There are plans in the summer of 2023 to open an Ark Innovation Center.
Other industry mentors from the Innovation Center representing energy, manufacturing and science will also assist startups on their journey.
By Shavantay Minnis.
