Newsletter 4.11.2024

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Happy Thursday! This is Masterminds Tampa Bay, where we slice through the Tampa Bay startup buzz like a hot knife through butter – smooth, effortless, and straight to the point.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Round two of the exciting Inno Madness!

• Meet the brains behind this blockchain company

• AI-powered bookkeeping and the big $$ it just got

• Which Boston based tech company moved it’s HQ to Tampa Bay

• St. Pete startup is going to the moon again

START UP

Inno Madness Round 2: Tampa Bay Startup Competition Heats Up

Inno Madness, Tampa Bay's annual startup competition, progresses to Round 2 after close matches in Round 1.

Notable victories include cybersecurity firms like Deepwatch and A-LIGN advancing. However, early-stage startups like Clearset.AI and Fractio also secured wins against larger competitors.

With matchups like ShyftOff vs. Reptrics and Scholar Education vs. MaxU, the competition showcases a diverse array of innovative ventures from the region.

Voting for Round 2 ends on April 17, contributing to the excitement surrounding Tampa Bay's startup ecosystem.

FEATURED

In this edition of our newsletter, we're thrilled to delve into the world of blockchain technology and its impact on financial markets and institutions with BlockSpaces. 

BlockSpaces is pioneering the integration of Bitcoin into the institutional framework, aiming to revolutionize traditional financial systems. We had the privilege of sitting down with Gabe Higgins to gain insights into BlockSpaces' mission and its journey from a grassroots Bitcoin community to a leading force in blockchain infrastructure.

What is Blockspaces trying to accomplish with Bitcoin for financial markets and institutions?

“We believe Bitcoin is the most pristine collateral asset. We're focused on building infrastructure tools that make it easy for institutions to utilize Bitcoin as a collateral asset to minimize risk.”

Do you consider yourselves Bitcoin-only or do you have interest in other blockchains?

“We have dealt with many other chains in the past and there are some interesting projects that we pay attention to, but we're a US-based company, and it's become crystal clear that Bitcoin is the only digital asset that has the level of adoption, liquidity, and regulatory clarity to be used by institutional investors. Also, Bitcoin has a lot of exciting innovations being developed on it that we see as potentially disrupting a lot of the use-cases that other chains claim to be solving for. So long term, we think Bitcoin will most definitely still be around, while we're not as confident in everything else.”

Which blockchains and narratives do you think people should pay attention to most in this bull market?

“It really depends on what your goal is. Are you a developer looking to get a job with a crypto project? Are you investing in crypto assets for the long term? Are you a day trader? Are you passionate about self-sovereignty and privacy with your financial assets?”

What about Tampa Bay excites you the most in terms of Business and Tech?

“Witnessing how the Tampa Bay area is getting notoriety as not just a vacation destination, but as an emerging technology hub has been very exciting to witness and play a small role in as far as BlockSpaces and growing the Bitcoin community.”

How did you evolve from a Bitcoin enthusiast community to what Blockspaces is now?

“BlockSpaces was born out of the necessity to foster growing the community. Our meetups became too big to host at some of the local restaurants we had been meeting at. So when we were presented with an opportunity to have our own dedicated location, that's what we did. We became the first Bitcoin/blockchain community hub in the US. We hosted 4-5 events every week. Mining Mondays, Trading Tuesdays, Meetup Wednesdays, Technical Thursdays... special stuff on the weekends.

Now as a company, we've become far more focused on actually implementing the technology with institutions, instead of being events and education focused. Now that part is lead by a new non-profit organization that is an offshoot of the meetup as well called Bitcoin Bay Foundation. The focus of that org is to create a circular Bitcoin economy here in the Tampa Bay area. Education and community are key elements to enabling that, so we're excited about continuing to support those efforts through that org.”

For more on Blockspaces, visit their website »

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Leasecake Secures $10 Million to Enhance AI Features

Leasecake, a real estate solutions provider, closed a $10 million Series A extension round to advance its AI-powered lease management software.

Founded in 2017, the Winter Park-based startup serves prominent brands like Domino’s Pizza and Dunkin’ Donuts. With significant ties to Tampa Bay, including membership in Embarc Collective, Leasecake aims for global expansion.

Led by PeakSpan Capital and Las Olas Venture Capital, the funding will refine its platform and expand customer support for multi-unit operators. Taj Adhav, Leasecake's founder, highlights the competitive real estate landscape and the platform's role in simplifying lease management, vendor contracts, and legal compliance for small business owners.

Adhav credits Tampa-St. Pete's supportive ecosystem for Leasecake's growth and access to capital.

MOVES

Botkeeper Relocates Headquarters to St. Petersburg, Embraces Tech Hub Potential

Botkeeper, a Boston-based AI-driven bookkeeping platform, has relocated its headquarters to St. Petersburg, drawn by the city's burgeoning tech reputation.

Founder Enrico Palmerino cited St. Pete's infrastructure, talent pool, and community vibe as key attractions. The move aligns with Botkeeper's expansion plans, including the launch of Botkeeper Infinite, an AI-powered product for accounting firms. Palmerino sees St. Petersburg as a fertile ground for growth, capitalizing on the region's strengths and fostering community involvement.

With plans for significant employment expansion, Botkeeper aims to contribute to St. Pete's tech ecosystem and broader community initiatives.

START UP

St. Petersburg's Lonestar Data Holdings Plans Second Moon Mission with Intuitive Machines

St. Petersburg's Lonestar Data Holdings announces its second moon mission in collaboration with Texas-based Intuitive Machines.

Dubbed the "Freedom" payload, this mission aims to advance Lonestar's mission of hosting data centers on the moon. Following a successful experiment in February, where Lonestar's tech reached the moon's surface onboard Intuitive Machines' lunar lander, CEO Chris Stott expresses confidence in the mission's validation.

The partnership between Lonestar and Intuitive Machines signifies ongoing progress in space exploration, positioning St. Petersburg as a hub for innovative space technology ventures.

TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

I'm the playbook of the business game. Guiding every move, without shame. From start to finish, I chart the course. Ensuring efficiency, with no remorse.

What am I?

(Pause for some deep thinking...)

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