"We are thrilled to relocate our corporate headquarters to St. Petersburg, Florida, as we believe the Tampa Bay region's talent, innovative spirit, and quality of life will accelerate our growth initiatives," stated Cathie Wood, ARK's Founder, CEO, and Chief Investment Officer in their recent press release. "ARK is not a traditional Wall Street asset management firm, and we are looking forward to breaking the mold further by relocating to St. Petersburg, a city investing in technology, science, and innovation.
Our relocation and the ARK Innovation Center will allow us to be more innovative and to impact the broader community while shining a spotlight on the technological advances and creativity permeating the Tampa Bay region." The new headquarters will be in the heart of downtown at 200 Central. While a substantial number of employees have chosen to relocate and work in the office, ARK's hybrid back-to-work model will harness technology to accommodate working remotely.
In tandem with the relocation, ARK is collaborating with the Tampa Bay Innovation Center on a new incubator that Pinellas County will build and own. The incubator, designated as ARK Innovation Center, is scheduled to open in July 2023 and will be located at 4th Street South and 11th Avenue South in the St. Pete Innovation District.
By 2026, the 45,000-square-foot building is expected to impact the county by $28 million thanks to the 1,265 direct and indirect jobs expected. Moreover, its clients and graduates are expected to generate $127 million in annual revenue.
To learn more about the move: ARK Investment Relocates-Plans St. Petersburg, Florida, Corporate Headquarters - Area Development
source: SPID October Newsletter
Saildrone and Palantir have announced a new strategic partnership that is set to transform maritime security. By accelerating the deployment of autonomous systems, this collaboration unlocks advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven maritime solutions at scale. In a world grappling with rising global threats and a shipbuilding industry pushed to its limits, this alliance signals a seismic shift in how we safeguard our seas.
The Innovation District has partnered once again with Pinellas County Economic Development and the FIU Global Forensic and Justice Center for the annual Pinellas Defense Networking Forum. This is a great opportunity to meet with fellow defense contractors to discuss key challenges and explore potential partnerships.
The Innovation District hosts a quarterly breakfast series called Morning Sparks: Innovation X-change. At each session we explore emerging technologies, invite District partners to share their current related efforts, and engage in thoughtful (and hopefully spirited) discussions that will spark future innovation.