Newsletter 10.31.2024

Happy Thursday! This is Mastminds Tampa Bay… Aka: Sportscenter, for nerds.

Here’s what we’ve got for you this week:

• Ark Center brings on 6 new tech startups

• AI for property repair secures $12M

• California tech is making it’s way to St. Pete

• The ranking Tampa Bay just recieved

FEATURED

Six New Tech Startups Join Tampa Bay Innovation Center

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center in St. Petersburg has welcomed six new tech startups to its community. These companies, including Accelerare, Bryq, DemandOS, Floor Plan Ninja, Intention Technology, and Just Reach Out, will gain access to a 45,000-square-foot incubator space, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Center CEO Tonya Elmore praised the founders' drive, stating their innovation will boost the local tech ecosystem. This expansion underscores Tampa Bay’s growing role as a hub for tech-driven entrepreneurship.

FUNDING

Tampa’s HOMEE Secures $12M to Boost AI Claims Tech Expansion

Tampa-based HOMEE, a leader in AI-driven property repair for insurance, raised $12 million in Series C funding, backed by W.R. Berkley Corp., The Institutes, Sure Inc., Florida Funders, and Jeff Vinik. The funding will accelerate development of HOMEE’s Smart-Claim platform, which connects insurers directly to repair services, boosting efficiency and customer satisfaction. The company, covering 7 million homes across 38 states, also achieved its fifth consecutive record quarter with 15% revenue growth and 14% increase in claim assignments.

TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

I can be cracked, made, told, and played. I can make you laugh or even dismay. In business, I’m shared to lighten the load. What am I that helps lighten the road?

(Pause for some deep thinking…)

HEALTHTECH

Prenuvo’s Full-Body MRI Clinic Set to Open in Downtown St. Petersburg

California-based Prenuvo, offering preventive full-body MRI scans, is expanding into St. Petersburg at the Sundial center. Known for early detection of cancer and other health conditions, Prenuvo’s $2,500 scans have gained traction through celebrity endorsements and will be the first of its kind in the Tampa Bay area. Sundial’s owners expect Prenuvo to attract affluent clients, supporting the mall’s revitalization efforts alongside recent renovations and new tenants like Serotonin Centers and Forbici Modern Italian.

MEME STREET

Here’s a Meme You Can Probably Relate To

LIVING

Tampa Bay Ranks in Top 10 U.S. Cities for Remote Work

Tampa Bay is now a remote work hotspot, ranking 9th in the U.S. with 13.8% of its workforce working from home in 2023, up from just 5.9% in 2014—a remarkable 231% increase. Driven by both pre-pandemic trends and Covid-19 adjustments, the area is part of a nationwide shift toward flexible work. While remote roles have dipped slightly since their 2021 peak, Tampa Bay’s steady rise highlights its appeal for work-from-home professionals.

WORTHY MENTIONS: UPDATES, TOOLS, RESOURCES

• 📅Mark your calendars for our biggest VC & Tech event of the year on Nov 20th. Details coming soon.

• 📅 Want to sponsor an upcoming Masterminds event? Register here!

Answer:

A joke!

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