Newsletter 5.16.2024

Happy Thursday! This is Masterminds Tampa Bay. Pat yourself on the back for making it through another week.

It’s been quiet but here’s what we have for you today:

• St. Pete startup unveils their lunar design

• Florida entrepreneur and Shark Tank alumni is at war

• Recap of our AI event from last night

STARTUP

St. Pete Startup Reveals Cool New Moon Data Center Design

Lonestar Data Holdings, a St. Pete startup, is setting up the first data center on the Moon, and they’re making it look amazing! Teaming up with Denmark’s Bjarke Ingels Group, their Freedom payload will launch later this year.

This isn't just any box; it features silhouettes of famous astronauts Charles Duke and Nicole Stott, designed to make people think about how important their data is.

CEO Chris Stott says they want to inspire people with this unique and durable design. This new project follows their first successful mission with the Independence payload. The Freedom payload will store data safely away from Earth’s dangers, protecting it for governments, companies, and nonprofits. This mission is part of a bigger plan to have a lasting presence on the Moon with the Artemis program. Lonestar’s next big launch is expected between late July and September.

TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

I turn data into insights, clear and bright. With dashboards and charts, I bring to light. Through Google’s lens, I make trends clear. Helping businesses steer without fear.

What am I?

(Pause for some deep thinking...)

EVENTS

There Are A Few Things About AI That You Need to Know…

Last night we hosted an expert panel on AI that brought together a wealth of tech knowledge in one place!

The panel was praised for being thoughtful, insightful, and informative, providing a comprehensive discussion on the utilization of current AI tools. In addition to the tools, the speakers also talked about resources and advancements in AI/ML development.

Overall, the event was a valuable experience, appreciated by all attendees. Thank you to all who attended and we hope to see you at the next event!

STARTUP

Florida Entrepreneur Fights Back Against Knockoff NightCap Scrunchies

Michael Benarde, founder of Florida-based startup NightCap, first noticed copycats after a successful appearance on ABC’s "Shark Tank." Soon, he was spending over 10% of his operating expenses battling hundreds of imitators selling knock-off versions of his patented scrunchies.

Despite using monitoring platforms to flag these counterfeit products, the problem persists. Benarde is now advocating for startups, including many "Shark Tank" alumni, who face similar challenges. He points out that the ease of selling counterfeit products online stifles innovation and entrepreneurship.

Platforms like Amazon have some measures to combat this, but many others, like Shopify and eBay, do not. Taking legal action against copycats is costly and often ineffective, especially against international sellers. Benarde authored an opinion piece in Fortune and plans to meet with officials to push for better protections for innovators. He emphasizes that while NightCap is doing well, fighting knockoffs is a constant and costly battle.

MEME STREET

Here’s a Meme You Can Probably Relate To

WORTHY MENTIONS: UPDATES, TOOLS, RESOURCES

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