Happy Thursday! This is Masterminds Tampa Bay. We’re like an awesome networking event that connects you with all the right people (By the way, hope to see you tonight!)

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Something is brewing in St. Pete this September.

• This incubator is changing up the game for one of Florida’s largest industries.

• These 11 Tampa Bay Companies are being awarded

• AI Startups in the Tampa Bay area get massive leg up

VC Fast Pitch Returns to St. Petersburg: Connecting Entrepreneurs and Investors

Black Dog Venture Partners is set to bring a whirlwind of opportunity to St. Petersburg on September 21st with its highly anticipated event, VC Fast Pitch.

This unique gathering promises to be a game-changer for local entrepreneurs seeking funding, all while delivering a generous dose of networking and camaraderie.

If you missed the previous event, you missed out on a million-dollar extravaganza. Yes, you read that right.

Hook Security reeled in a cool $1 million in funding, proving that VC Fast Pitch isn't just a place to showcase your startup; it's the fast track to startup stardom.

Remember when we used to dream about finding buried treasure? Well, now it's about finding buried unicorns.

This time around, St. Petersburg's Coastal Creative will host the event at 2201 1st Ave S. The guest list reads like a "Who's Who" of the startup world.

Brian MacMahon, the guru of all things venture capital, and Derek Fahey, the patent wizard, are headlining the investor lineup. It's the ultimate power hour for entrepreneurs to pitch their next big idea.

Scott Kelly, the brain behind VC Fast Pitch, can't contain his excitement. He's the startup whisperer, committed to catapulting dynamic companies into the investor stratosphere.

Black Dog Venture Partners isn't just connecting entrepreneurs with investors; they're making dreams come true, one pitch at a time.

So, dust off your business cards, rehearse your elevator pitch, and get ready to dazzle the startup galaxy.

VC Fast Pitch is back, and it's ready to make St. Petersburg the hottest spot for innovation and investment. Mark your calendars for September 21st!

Because Running A Business Isn’t Complicated Enough….

I am taken from a mine, and shut up in a wooden case, from which I am never released, and yet I am used by almost every person. What am I?

Clearwater's New Tourism Incubator: Where Innovation Meets Sunscreen

There's a new playground for innovation in the Tampa Bay region, and it's not just another avocado-toast joint.

AMPLIFY Clearwater and Economic Impact Catalyst (EIC) have teamed up to launch a tourism business incubator that's set to shake up the sandy shores and bring a fresh breeze of innovation to Florida's tourism sector.

We've heard of fintech, medtech, and even cyber-tech accelerators, but a tourism-focused incubator?

Now that's an idea that many of us can get behind. It seems the only thing more enticing than a beach vacation is an opportunity to revolutionize the industry that makes those vacations possible.

EIC's CEO, David Ponraj, isn't just sunbathing – he's championing this incubator to tackle the real issues facing the tourism sector.

Traffic congestion? Beach nourishment? Light pollution? Coral bleaching? Say no more.

This incubator is diving headfirst into solving the problems that make tourists squint, sweat, and wish they'd brought more sunscreen.

This is no ordinary sandbox for startups.

The incubator comes with a $250,000 boost from Clearwater City Council's ARPA funds, proving that innovation can have a serious financial tan. With Pinellas County's thriving tourism industry in mind, this incubator isn't just about great ideas; it's about building a sandcastle of economic growth.

Here’s a Meme You Can Probably Relate To

11 Tampa Bay Companies Become GrowFL Award Finalists

Tampa Bay's entrepreneurial spirit is turning heads again as 11 local companies step into the spotlight as finalists for the coveted GrowFL Florida Companies to Watch Awards.

In a business landscape that's tougher to navigate than a corn maze, these companies are shining brighter than a firefly convention, showcasing innovation, growth potential, and the kind of resilience that only a Floridian can truly understand.

The 13th annual Florida Companies to Watch Awards, proudly sponsored by Duke Energy and Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services, are giving second-stage companies a platform to strut their stuff.

Here are the finalists:

• AME International, Hernando

• Content Workshop, Pinellas

• Delamere Industries Inc., Hernando

• Integrated Security Consultants Inc., Hillsborough

• Paragon Cyber Solutions LLC, Hillsborough

• Pem-Air Turbine Engine Services LLC, Hernando

• PPi Technologies Group, Sarasota

• Pro-Tools, Hillsborough

• Psilera, Hillsborough

• Soil Culture Solutions LLC, Hillsborough

• Volt, Hillsborough

Tampa Bay's Tech Dream Team: AI Startups Step Up for Acceleration Adventure

Hold onto your keyboards, because the Tampa Bay Innovation Center (TBIC) is unleashing a turbo-charged team of 10 AI startups into the innovation arena.

These early-stage ventures aren't just dipping their toes in the AI pond; they're diving in headfirst with a spirit of excitement and a pocketful of code.

Picture this: startups with names like MetaCommerz, Dataplant, and Subconscious.ai are strapping on their innovation boots and waltzing into the TBIC's AI accelerator program. It's like a tech-savvy version of "Ocean's Eleven," where instead of heists, they're pulling off feats of AI genius.

TBIC isn't just handing out laptops and sending startups on their way. Oh no, these lucky 10 will be embraced by industry mentors like long-lost friends at a reunion.

From unraveling the mysteries of customer discovery to perfecting the art of pricing, these startups are about to get schooled in the ultimate crash course for tech moguls in the making.

But the real fun starts when the curtain rises on the ARK Innovation Center's showcase event.

A stage bigger than a 45,000-square-foot exclamation mark awaits, where these startups will strut their stuff and unveil their AI-powered masterpieces.

From predicting buyer behavior to enhancing cybersecurity, these startups aren't just pushing the envelope; they're creating a whole new stationery line with the backing of corporate partners like ARK Invest and PODS Moving and Storage.

Brain Teaser Answer:

Graphite

ADVERTISE WITH US // JOIN THE FB GROUP