Newsletter 6.20.2024

Happy Friday! This is Masterminds Tampa Bay, where we serve Tampa Bay startup news so fresh it makes mint jealous.

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

• An AI In Tampa is taking over marketing automation.

• We’re getting our first “Squid-Game” VR location.

• Tampa Bay Wave’s “Pitch Night” was a huge success.

• UT is a big player in the local startup scene.

FEATURED

Conversational AI Startup Acquires Marketing Automation Platform

Tampa-based Satisfi Labs, known for enhancing customer engagement with AI, recently acquired Factoreal, an omnichannel marketing automation platform from Bangalore, India.

This acquisition will boost Satisfi Labs’ Conversational Experience Platform by integrating inbound and outbound messaging capabilities. The startup, which collaborates with major sports teams and entertainment venues, aims to offer a more personalized customer experience. CEO Donny White emphasized that this move will enable continuous engagement beyond real-time interactions, creating a seamless and intuitive communication platform for users.

TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

I'm the spark of an idea, turned into a plan. From a garage or a dorm, where it all began. Risk and reward, my constant friends. With innovation and grit, my journey never ends.

What am I?

(Pause for some deep thinking...)

V.R.

Sandbox VR Opens First Florida Location

Sandbox VR is bringing its immersive full-body virtual reality experience to Florida, opening its first location in St. Pete’s Grand Central district on June 27. This marks the 49th location for the company, offering games inspired by "Squid Game," pirate adventures, and zombie battles.

Equipped with haptic vests, motion sensors, and advanced headsets, players can fully interact within the virtual worlds. CEO Steve Zhao highlighted Florida's demand for Sandbox VR, and local president Amit Ahluwalia expressed excitement for the Tampa Bay community to experience this cutting-edge technology.

STARTUPS

Diverse Entrepreneurs Shine at Tropicana Field's Pitch Event

Tampa Bay Wave’s TechDiversity Accelerator celebrated its annual Pitch Night at Tropicana Field, featuring 15 diverse startup founders from around the globe. 

Supported by the Nielsen Foundation, the event highlighted the ongoing challenges in equity for minority and women-owned startups. Linda Olson, Wave's founder, emphasized the program’s success in supporting underrepresented founders, with 86% of participants meeting diversity criteria. Notable startups included women-owned telehealth company Luna Joy Health and customer service platform 360 Direct Video. The Tampa Bay Rays also contributed a $10,000 check to support Wave's initiatives.

MONEY

Local Entrepreneurs Thrive Through UT’s Top-Ranked Programs

Martika Jones and Akshay Bhuva, once aspiring startup founders, credit The University of Tampa’s (UT) entrepreneurship programs for their success. UT's programs, ranked among the best in the South by the 2024 Princeton Review, combine theoretical knowledge with real-world experience.

Jones, a concert trombonist, launched BŪP, an AI-driven lead management startup, while engineer Bhuva founded Kitchenery, pioneering cordless kitchen appliances. Both founders utilized UT’s resources and mentorship to turn their ideas into thriving businesses, showcasing how UT fosters innovation and entrepreneurship.

MEME STREET

Here’s a Meme You Can Probably Relate To

WORTHY MENTIONS: UPDATES, TOOLS, RESOURCES

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Riddle Answer:

A startup.

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