🧠 St. Pete just hosted what?!

Happy Friday! This is Masterminds Tampa Bay. We’re like a secret recipe book for entrepreneurs, but instead of mouthwatering dishes, it serves up a buffet of juicy insider tips, scrumptious success stories, and finger-licking good advice.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• The game-changing event St. Pete hosted

• Which company raised $5.5M

• This Cohort is beating its peers by 10%

• A list of organizations giving away money

St. Pete Gets poweredUP!

In a groundbreaking convergence of tech enthusiasts, industry giants, and visionary leaders, Tampa Bay Tech’s 2023 poweredUP technology festival recently took St. Pete by storm.

With over 1,200 stakeholders flocking to the Mahaffey Theater, this event showcased the burgeoning tech community of the region.

Dazzling the audience were heavyweights like Amazon Web Services, CDW, and Jabil, who left their mark on the festival. Notably, the mighty Amazon Web Services brought nearly 50 representatives to the party, adding to the buzz.

Setting the stage on fire was the incredible keynote by Sandy Carter, CEO of Unstoppable Domains.

From the potential of AI to the mind-bending possibilities of the metaverse and Web3, Carter painted a vibrant picture of the future's growth potential. 

But the magic didn't stop there.

The festival turned the spotlight on healthcare, with esteemed medical leaders from General Hospital BayCare Health, Tampa, Moffit Cancer Center, and Artsight discussing how AI is revolutionizing patient care.

Paperwork has been slashed, processes streamlined, and the future of healthcare is looking brighter than ever.

Adding to the festival's allure, the tech-focused startup civic platform, Cityverse, spearheaded by St. Pete Catalyst publisher Joe Hamilton, treated attendees to commemorative NFTs.

Talk about blending innovation with excitement!

From game-changing insights to futuristic technologies, poweredUP 2023 left no stone unturned. Sandy Carter reminded us all to be fearless in embracing new technologies, as the rewards are boundless.

Brain Teaser

Hook Security Nets $5.5M to Fight Cyber Villains!

Tampa Bay's very own cybersecurity heroes, Hook Security, have just pulled off an epic funding feat! With their capes flapping in the wind, they raised a whopping $5.5 million in a recent funding round led by Tampa Bay Ventures.

This round was so popular that it was oversubscribed. DeepWork Capital, Stout Street Capital, and some individual investors couldn't resist joining the mission to combat cyber threats.

So, what's Hook Security's secret weapon? They focus on training the unsung heroes of the office—the non-technical employees. Their goal? To equip them with superpowers to detect those sneaky cyber villains and scams.

Based out of Lakeland's Catapult co-working hub, Hook Security is all about spreading awareness. They want everyone to know the tricks of online manipulation and understand the psychology behind cyber attacks.

Thanks to this investment, Hook Security's 21-person team can now operate in "stealth mode." They'll be fine-tuning and upgrading their training platform to make it even more powerful.

And guess what? This is just the beginning of their heroic journey.

Hook Security has big plans, including raising a Series A round in 2024.

With their newfound funds, they'll continue enhancing their platform and expanding their arsenal against cyber threats.

Meme That Made Us Chuckle

TechDiversity Cohort Unleashes Innovation & Inclusivity

The Tampa Bay Wave's TechDiversity cohort is poised to take the tech scene by storm!

This dynamic group of 16 startups is breaking barriers and promoting diversity in the industry like never before.

Hailing from eight states and three countries, this diverse bunch is making waves with their innovative solutions.

They've got it all, from creative professional connections to AI-backed investing platforms, a dating app for the disabled community, and 3D-printed seawalls!

Thanks to the Nielsen Foundation's support, these startups are defying the odds.

The program focuses on early-stage tech companies owned and operated by minority entrepreneurs, women, veterans, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

Linda Olsen, the CEO of Tampa Bay Wave, knows the power of diversity in business.

She highlights that companies led by diverse founders have outperformed their peers by a whopping 10%.

Talk about a winning formula!

Cash In on Your Startup Dream!

Calling all dream-chasing entrepreneurs!

While the startup funding landscape may seem challenging, fear not! There's a treasure trove of grant opportunities waiting to be discovered.

Say goodbye to equity stakes and hello to cash prizes and support services.

Here's a rundown of annual grant programs that could help turn your startup dreams into reality:

(Shout out to TAMPABAYINNO for putting this list together)

• Visa Everywhere Initiative: Compete for a chance to win a combined $70,000 at TechCrunch Disrupt. The North American winner battles for $50,000, with extra prizes up for grabs. Deadline: June 26, 2023.

• Venmo Small Business Grant: Snag a $10,000 grant, professional consulting, and promotion on Venmo and PayPal platforms. Applications open soon.

• WomensNet's Grants: Monthly $10,000 Amber Grant and quarterly Startup Grant offer support to early-stage businesses. Keep an eye on the deadlines.

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Top Small Business Awards: Vie for a $25,000 cash prize if your company has fewer than 250 employees or gross revenues under $20 million. Deadline: July 7, 2023.

• LegalZoom's Fast Break for Small Business: Slam dunk with a $10,000 grant and valuable LegalZoom products/services. Applications open during the 2023 WNBA season.

• FedEx Small Business Grant Contest: Fly high with a chance to win $30,000 for your shipping-oriented business. Stay tuned for the application announcement.

• NSF America's Seed Fund: High-tech startups can secure up to $2 million in non-equity seed funding from the National Science Foundation. Rolling deadline.

• SoGal's Black Founder Startup Grant: Black women and nonbinary entrepreneurs can seize $10,000 and $5,000 cash grants. Apply anytime.

• Google's Founders Funds: Equity-free cash awards await Black and Latino founders through Google's Startups Founders Funds. Applications opening soon.

• Fresh Start Business Grant: Incfile's grant provides $2,500 and free business formation services. Deadlines: March 31st, June 30th, and September 30th.

• Patagonia Corporate Grant Program: Environmental-focused nonprofit startups could land $10,000 to $20,000 from Patagonia. Apply anytime.

• Verizon Small Business Digital Ready Program: Get a $10,000 grant to thrive in the digital realm. Deadline: May 12, 2023.

• Women Founders Network Fast Pitch Competition: Tech and non-tech startups can score a total of $55,000 in cash grants. Get ready to pitch!

It’s time to dust off those ideas, gather your courage, and apply for these grants that could catapult your startup to new heights!

Brain Teaser Answer:

He’s playing Monopoly

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