Startups

Born in a Tanzanian refugee camp, Dieumerci Christel is building Enlightapp to help schools strengthen connection and student engagement.

CareerSource Tampa Bay CEO Keidrian Kunkel is reimagining how the region develops, connects and retains talent.

A Tampa ed-tech startup is using AI to help schools build custom curricula that fit every learner.

Army veteran Valerie Lavin is helping Tampa Bay’s veterans and first responders turn service into successful startups.

From his family kitchen in Clearwater, David Habib built Yo Mama’s Foods into a national clean-label brand sold in 24,000 stores.

Networking is at the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit. Once entrepreneurs connect with investors who see the potential in their companies, incredible things can happen. Through this collaboration process businesses develop, mature and grow. For entrepreneurs, the first step to meeting investors is finding an opportunity to pitch their company. Business accelerator Black Dog Venture

Tampa Bay Wave has appointed Jay Powers as chief operating officer. In this newly created position, Powers will spearhead the execution of strategic initiatives, including the HealthTech|X Accelerator and LatinTech Accelerator, both funded through recent federal grants. He will also oversee all operational, functional and administrative aspects of the organization, according to a statement. “I

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center, an early-stage tech incubator located in St. Petersburg, has opened the application process for its next accelerator program, which will focus on startups developing products that simplify collecting, analyzing or monetizing large sources of data. The program will serve early-stage founders that are working with, and gaining insight from, large

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center, a tech hub for startups, in St. Petersburg, has subleased to Point Chaud Coffee & Crepes. The ARK Innovation Center, at 1101 4th Street South, will house tech startups and innovation partners in a purpose-built, 45,000-square-foot facility. The new café expects that it will be open from 7 am to

► Chef Chris Ponte’s modern Italian restaurant Olivia will open, at 225 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, on the ground floor of the Ascent apartment and hotel tower. (Pictured above) ► Cultösaurus, a gift retail shop, will relocate from 269 16th St. N. to 529 Central Ave., the former location of RockShop.  ► Modera St. Petersburg,

Tampa Bay Wave, a nonprofit technology accelerator for entrepreneurs, has announced the 2023 TechDiversity Accelerator, sponsored by the Nielsen Foundation. This program consists of 15 from across the United States, and around the world, including companies from Spain, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, New York and Oregon, according to a statement. The TechDiversity Accelerator is designed for

The previous CEO talks about the organization’s wins, the growth of the Tampa Bay region and pride for his successor.