The Maritime and Defense Technology Hub is home to the nonprofit - SOFWOLF - which provides a drone and career-skill program to underserved students throughout the area along with the nation's Gold Star community - those with a family member killed in action.
Last summer, students had the opportunity to work along side Innovation District organizations: U.S. Coast Guard, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and USF College of Marine Science as they developed their drone skills in simulated, real-world scenarios.
Planning is underway for this summer's experience. Once again the SOFWOLF team will blend real-life situations, time with experts, and intensive training into an impactful, unique experience.
(This article was first featured in our April newsletter -to subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here)
The graduation of the CodeBoxx AI Literacy and Applications Bootcamp was held on Saturday, August 9th at the ARK Innovation Center. The celebration included a tour of the ARK building, a sneak peek at the Vu Studio, and a hackathon. This bootcamp is designed to give participants a competitive edge in the job market by teaching practical ways to use AI. AI literacy and tech communication are more important than ever, and we're incredibly proud of this graduating class for taking that step forward.
A joint venture by Tampa Bay Wave and USF, the 2025 cohort of the nationally recognized FinTech|X Accelerator kicked off on August 4th, supporting high-growth fintech startups through an intensive 8-week program. This year’s class includes St. Petersburg-based innovators HappiNest.AI and Congruit Inc. The program leverages USF’s world-class faculty, research, and business networks to help founders scale impactful technologies.
Our summer youth tours are in full swing, and the learning hasn’t stopped. So far, we’ve hosted students ranging from elementary school to college age, with over 60 individuals touring the Innovation District. They’ve explored the world of phytoplankton with scientists from FWC and learned the basics of flight from the team at St. Pete Air.