Newsletter 12/20/2024

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Masterminds Tampa Bay
December 20, 2024

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🎉 Holiday Cheers from Masterminds Tampa Bay! 🎉

As we wrap up the year like a beautifully decorated gift, Masterminds Tampa Bay has been your go-to source for all the exciting developments in our local startup scene. With the holidays and New Year’s just around the corner, we’re taking a festive pause and won’t be sending out new emails until January. Enjoy the celebrations, stay warm, and we can’t wait to share more amazing stories with you in the new year!

🎅🏼Happy Holidays and see you in 2025!🎅🏼

Warm wishes,
The Masterminds Tampa Bay Team

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

  • Medical Tech Company Rebrands After Merger

  • $1.6M To Map Florida’s Coastal Seafloor

  • Private Jet Company Expands to Tampa International Airport

  • BREAKING: Sarasota Media Company Gets $775M Investment To Fight for Free Speech

  • Coming Soon: Private Dinners for High Caliber Entrepreneurs

FEATURED

BREAKING NEWS: Local Video Platform Rumble Lands $775M Tether Investment, Fueling Decentralized Growth and Innovation

Rumble, a video-sharing and cloud services platform headquartered in Longboat Key, Florida, just announced a huge $775 million investment from Tether, a major player in the digital asset world.

The deal gives Rumble a supportive, mission-aligned partner, with Rumble’s CEO still holding the reins. Rumble plans to use $250 million to strengthen its balance sheet and speed up growth, and the rest will fund a tender offer to give shareholders an option to cash out at the same price as Tether.

This collaboration blends decentralization, free expression, and innovation—essentially putting more fuel in Rumble’s tank as they move into their next big phase.

STARTUPS

FlyUSA Takes Flight with Major Expansion at Tampa International Airport

FlyUSA is soaring to new heights by leasing a sprawling 20,000-square-foot space at Tampa International Airport. This prime location means easier access and smoother logistics for all their clients. With a local fleet of 18 planes and an in-house maintenance team, FlyUSA ensures top-notch service and minimal downtime.

They’re also raising $600,000 from their dedicated investors to support this growth, building on their impressive $25 million annual revenue and strong profitability.

Plus, their recent acquisition of local competitor 3B Aviation highlights their commitment to expanding and enhancing their services. Combining a strategic location, hands-on maintenance, and a solid growth plan, FlyUSA is truly setting itself apart in the private aviation scene here in Tampa Bay.

TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

I connect the dots without a pen,
Bring strangers close again and again.
Like Santa’s list, I keep track,
Helping ventures stay on track.
What am I?

(Pause for some deep thinking...)

CLIMATE TECH

St. Pete’s Saildrone Lands $1.6M Contract to Map Florida’s Coastal Seafloor

Saildrone, the local climate tech innovator, has landed a $1.6 million contract with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to map Florida’s coastal seafloor. Using their state-of-the-art uncrewed Saildrone Voyager vessels, Saildrone will navigate nearly 2,817 square kilometers in the Gulf of Mexico’s “Middle Grounds,” collecting high-resolution oceanographic and atmospheric data.

This project is a key part of the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative, aiming to enhance coastal resilience, assess hurricane impacts, and support sustainable resource management. By leveraging their cutting-edge technology, Saildrone is not only advancing climate science but also helping protect Florida’s beautiful and vulnerable coastlines. Kudos to our local heroes for making a big splash in climate tech and environmental protection!

MEME STREET

Here’s a Meme You Can Probably Relate To

HEALTH TECH

Tampa’s Accuhealth Merges with Signallamp Health, Rebrands as TelliHealth with New CEO

Accuhealth has joined forces with Signallamp Health and is now rebranding as TelliHealth. This exciting merger comes on the heels of a growth investment from Sunstone Partners earlier this year. Leading the charge as the new CEO is Asif Ahmad, a seasoned executive from McKesson Corp., who is passionate about advancing remote patient monitoring and chronic care management.

TelliHealth’s enhanced platform now supports over 300 health systems, physician practices, and hospitals across 48 states, aiming to revolutionize healthcare delivery by managing patients proactively at home. Cheers to TelliHealth for this dynamic new chapter in improving patient care!

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY EVENTS

Upcoming: Exclusive Dinners for Entrepreneurs & Investors in 2025

Looking ahead to the new year, Masterminds Tampa Bay is thrilled to announce that we’ll be hosting a series of exclusive dinners for local entrepreneurs and investors starting in January! These events are designed to foster meaningful connections, spark collaborations, and create opportunities within our vibrant Tampa Bay startup community. If you’re interested in joining us or want to learn more, let us know—we’d love to have you at the table!

Would you be interested in being at the table?

Select your answer below.

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WORTHY MENTIONS: UPDATES, EVENTS, RESOURCES, ETC…

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Answer:

A Network

Explanation:

  • Connect the dots without a pen: Networks link people and ideas seamlessly.

  • Bring strangers close again and again: Networking brings together individuals who may not have met otherwise.

  • Like Santa’s list, I keep track: Networks help you keep track of connections and relationships.

  • Helping ventures stay on track: Strong networks support and guide businesses toward their goals.

Great job thinking it through! Networking is essential for entrepreneurs, especially as we head into the new year with new opportunities.

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