Blog

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.

Two helpful opportunities are available for small businesses focused on growth and innovation: FL FAST Webinars: The next session is on August 5 and will cover Communicating with the DoD — a key step for companies interested in Department of Defense SBIR/STTR funding. Learn more.

Our neighbors at the ARK Innovation Center, MADTECH.AI, are doing some seriously impressive work. As a Marketing Decision Intelligence platform, they’ve built a system that takes the headache out of data wrangling and lets teams focus on strategy. Their tools unify, transform, and visualize data in one AI-powered hub—saving time and uncovering insights faster.

Congratulations to the USF College of Marine Science for their collaboration with Telemundo on a powerful new documentary. This Spanish-language series explores how weather buoys help forecast storms and hurricanes forming in the Gulf. Meteorologist Rubén Capote and news anchor Samantha Díaz explain why this technology is vital for Florida and beyond.

Our next Tech X-Change will feature Dr. Ahmed introducing Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS, a FDA-cleared treatment that uses electromagnetic pulses to stimulate neurons in specific parts of the brain found to be under-active due to depression.

We’re developing a Tampa Bay Ocean Strategy and your input is a vital part of this process. Your feedback helps guide the course ahead, making sure this strategy reflects the needs and strengths of our coastal community.

After a long shift, the last thing you want is a stressful commute. That’s why we’re giving kudos to Orlando Health and their new UPass program, which provides free public transit to thousands of healthcare workers and students.

Lauren Bell has been a St. Pete Innovation District employee for three and a half years, but more than that, she's been a driving force for improvement, collaboration, and community outreach. With all of these amazing traits and diligent efforts, it's no surprise that Lauren has earned the title of Chief Operating Officer for the Innovation District.

In 2014, St. Petersburg’s Grow Smarter Initiative conducted a target business analysis to identify industries that were growing and could become pivotal for our future. One of the industries identified was “marine science.” This was no surprise. We have had a long-standing, robust collaboration of academic, government, and nonprofit organizations working on water-related issues.

We are a little more than a month away from an exciting Morning Sparks where we will explore our role as one of the largest innovation districts globally! Expect to learn new information on how we plan to drive greater regional economic growth.

What's next for launching rockets into space? Launching rockets from the sea. With limited land availability and significant costs, companies like Seagate Space see a game-changing solution in developing offshore launchpads. There is also a sense of urgency as other countries have included offshore infrastructure as part of their space strategy. Seagate Space and The Spaceport Company are positioned to lead the way for Florida in this new frontier.

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) is more than just helicopters or planes; it’s the future of transportation. St. Petersburg is looking ahead into electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that can perform tasks beyond the capabilities of traditional aviation. Think faster disaster relief response, private air taxis, and much more.

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center has graduated their tenth accelerator program. This program consisted of eight tech-based companies that all presented at TBIC’s Innovation Showcase held in early June. Initiated in late 2019, the program, which consists of weekly workshops focusing on product and go-to-market strategy, has worked with 70+ B2B tech startups. We are excited to see how these companies shape the future.

PVM, a tenant at the Maritime Defense and Technology Hub, was recognized at the Third Annual Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at USF Business Awards. PVM’s founder and CEO Pat Mack was named the 2025 South Florida Veteran Small Business Owner of the Year.

Our very own Lauren Bell has graduated from Leadership St Pete’s (LSP) #BestClassEver. Lauren has served the Innovation District for three and a half years and extended her leadership skills to the Chamber of Commerce’s six-month, volunteer-run program.

Not so long ago, talent and innovation blossomed in an area just south of Downtown St. Petersburg. City officials and community partners wanted to leverage the capabilities of key institutions—USF St. Petersburg, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and the Poynter Institute, to name a few. The point was to foster collaboration and show our initiatives to the world.

We will host another Trolley Tour and Happy Hour on Friday, June 13th. You will board a trolley with other Innovation District partners and learn about the history and future plans for the area. This tour will feature stops at Albert Whitted Airport, Florida Institute of Oceanography, and The Dalí Museum. The tour will conclude back at the Hub with a networking happy hour.

The St. Petersburg Ocean Team is the premier consortium for marine science and related research, education and entrepreneurship in the Southeast. The Team is comprised of over 20 complementary firms, government entities, and institutions.

The Poynter Institute and the National Association of Black Journalists both turn 50 in 2025. As the organizations celebrate a legacy of impact and lasting values, they are focused on the challenges and opportunities ahead for journalists. This lively webinar will feature respected industry voices to discuss the realities journalists are grappling with today, including key issues where Poynter and NABJ can support and lead.

Join a professor, a student, and a quirky robot for a lively, unscripted conversation about AI, its promises, pitfalls, and everything in between. From ai-generated art to robot rebellions, this interactive talk will spark debate, challenge perspectives, and leave you wondering if your new robot friend is secretly plotting world domination.

April’s Tech X-change was a hit, thanks to an engaging presentation from Digital Twin Marine. Shoutout to all the Eckerd College students who joined us! The audience was curious and interactive, asking great questions and eager to try out the virtual reality headset.

April’s event, Morning Sparks: Innovation X-change (GIS...Beyond Mapping) was postponed, but we're still buzzing with ideas. We’d love to know: is there a topic you'd like us to explore next?

The District extends a warm congratulations to Natalia López Figueroa on earning her doctorate in Biological Oceanography from the University of South Florida. Natalia has made significant contributions to her community, particularly through her role as Chair of the Junior Scientist Program at the St. Pete Science Festival.

Many of you know there is a small but mighty Innovation District team – Luke Farris (intern), Lauren Bell, and Alison Barlow. The District is thrilled to announce the expansion of the Innovation District team to include Nisuka Williams, District Community Manager and Amber Pacetti, Hub Coordinator. See below for brief introductions they have shared about themselves.