Newsletter July 17th, 2025

Happy Thursday! Welcome to Mind Your Business, your insider’s guide to Tampa’s biggest moves. From drones soaring with fresh capital to a booming VC scene outpacing the nation, Tampa’s flexing its muscle. Campus startups are bridging gaps, medical tech is hitting elite status, and health innovations are breathing new life into the industry. Plus, Tampa’s stepping up to the plate in a big way. Buckle up, here’s the pulse of the week!

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

🛡️ Drones Taking Flight with Big Bucks
📈 Tampa Bay VC Deal Flow Doubles While the Nation Stalls
🚀 Big Win for Campus Startups as Ecosystem Bridges Tighten
⚕️ Tampa’s Medical Mojo Just Hit Tier 1 Status
🫁 Breathing New Life into Health Tech
⚾ It’s Tampa's Turn at Bat


Scroll down to learn more…

🛡️DEFENSE TECH

XTEND Secures $30M Extension to Series B for Scaling Autonomous AI Robots

Picture this: a drone tech whiz from Israel plants its flag in Tampa and snags an extra $30 million to beef up its $70M Series B round. XTEND's not just buzzing around… they're ramping up production of those slick, AI-powered drones that team up with soldiers on the battlefield, all while eyeing bigger deals with the U.S. military and allies. It's like giving robots a turbo boost to handle the tough stuff humans shouldn't have to.

⚡Why It Matters:
This influx of capital positions Tampa Bay as a rising hub for defense tech innovation, potentially creating high-tech jobs and drawing more venture interest to the area's startup scene. It underscores the region's shift toward cutting-edge AI and robotics, fostering economic growth through global partnerships.

📈VENTURE CAPITAL

Q2 Venture Capital Doubles in Tampa Bay

While national venture trends cooled, Tampa Bay turned up the heat. Local startups brought in $119.3 million across 19 deals in Q2 which is double the activity from Q1. AI, biotech, cyber, and advanced manufacturing led the charge, putting the region back on investors’ maps.

⚡Why It Matters:
Investors are leaning into Tampa Bay’s upside. This kind of capital flow strengthens founder confidence, attracts talent, and keeps the growth flywheel spinning.

🧠TICKLE YOUR BRAIN

Riddle of the Week:
I am born in a garage, yet I can conquer the globe,
With code as my heart and ambition my soul.
I scale with the cloud, but my costs can explode,
Investors I woo, till their wallets unfold.

What am I? 🤔
(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter)

Pause for some deep thinking…

🚀STARTUPS & ECOSYSTEM

USF and Embarc Team Up to Fuel Campus Spinouts

Big win for academic founders: USF just joined forces with Embarc Collective to turn more lab innovations into real companies. Through founder coaching, investor support, and startup resources, the new partnership helps researchers and students bring intellectual property to market.

⚡Why It Matters:
This tightens the loop between campus and community, leading to more spinouts, stronger deal flow, and deeper innovation roots in the region.

⚕️BIOTECH & HEALTH

USF’s Morsani College Now a Tier 1 Med Research Institution

USF’s Morsani College just hit a major milestone, earning Tier 1 status for medical research which is a first for any Florida med school. From NIH-backed research to strong student outcomes and biotech training, it’s solidifying Tampa Bay’s reputation as a health innovation hub.

⚡Why It Matters:
This is a credibility boost for the region’s life sciences scene. Expect more funding, stronger partnerships, and a pipeline of talent and startups focused on medtech and biotech breakthroughs.

😂MEME STREET

Here’s a Meme You Can Probably Relate To

🫁BIOTECH

Florida Leads Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Innovation at USF Tampa for Treating Brain Injuries and More

Dive into the future of healing… USF Health in Tampa is pioneering hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to tackle traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer's, and beyond, turning high-pressure chambers into lifesavers. It's academic medicine at its coolest, blending cutting-edge research with real-world rescues to make Floridians healthier one breath at a time.

⚡Why It Matters:
This advancement cements Tampa Bay as a frontrunner in health tech innovation, potentially spinning off startups and attracting venture funding in biotech. It promises economic ripple effects through job creation and collaborations between universities and local businesses.

⚾SPORTS & ECONOMY

Rays Deal Could Make Tampa Their Forever Home

A new ownership group led by Dream Finders Homes CEO Patrick Zalupski is closing in on a $1.7 billion deal to buy the Tampa Bay Rays and their vision points squarely toward Tampa. With Tropicana Field out of commission post-hurricane and Steinbrenner Field filling up game after game, momentum is shifting across the bridge.

⚡Why it matters:
A permanent home in Tampa could supercharge downtown economic activity, boost tourism and hospitality, and finally bring MLB closer to the city’s core energy.

📢ANNOUNCEMENT

(Only 2 Spots Left) Pitch Your Health-Tech Startup in Front of Cathie Wood (Ark Invest)

Got What It Takes to Pitch in Front of a $40B Titan?

This November 13th, we're hosting a landmark event featuring Cathie Wood, legendary founder of Ark Invest and visionary leader managing over $40 billion in assets.

We're selecting 5 standout health-tech startups to pitch live on stage, in front of Cathie and a room full of investors, operators, and key decision-makers in tech and venture.

🎤 What’s at stake?
The prize is still under wraps, but the real win is who you’ll be pitching in front of.

To apply:
Reply to this email with 1 short paragraph about your startup and what you’re aiming to achieve. Think of it as your elevator pitch – concise, bold, and clear.

📅 Event Date: Wednesday, November 13
📍 Location: Ark Innovation Center

Space is limited! Don’t miss the chance to put your startup in front of one of the most influential investors in the world.

WORTHY MENTIONS: UPDATES, EVENTS, RESOURCES, ETC…

• ⚖️ Fear & Greed Index: 76 (EXTREME GREED) per CNN

• 📈 Bitcoin is now at $119k with ETH at $3423.25 and SOL at $174.05

• ✨ Want a front-row seat to our biggest events and a chance to connect with Tampa Bay’s top founders, investors and innovators? Apply to join our team!

• 🚀 We’re growing our private Masterminds Slack community — and we want you in it! Connect with top entrepreneurs, founders, and techies building big things in Tampa Bay and beyond. Join now

• 📅 Want to sponsor an upcoming Masterminds event? Apply here!

RIDDLE ANSWER

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