LARGO, Fla., Jan. 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tampa Bay Innovation Center, an innovation and entrepreneurship center for technology businesses, has recorded a year of significant community impact, including work with more than 35 clients that created 400+ jobs and $63 million in revenue.
"Accountability for client and community results is an important feature of our operations," says Tonya Elmore, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Innovation Center. "We are grateful to our staff, volunteers and partners for their efforts that have helped us achieve our mission of 'accelerating entrepreneurial success.'"
Major initiatives announced during the year included:
- Received a grant of $400,000 from the state of Florida for a St. Petersburg-based incubator
- Partnered with the City of Clearwater to establish the Virtual Incubator Program (VIP) for early- to mid-stage information technology and software companies
- Partnered to launch 1 Million Cups program to help build local startup community
- Launched StartUp Studio 1.0, a test lab for business ideas
- Launched StartUp Studio 2.0, featuring the Kauffman FastTrac® Program
- Achieved Level 1 program certification from the National Center for Economic Gardening
Following are the numbers on the Innovation Center's client impact:
- 35+ clients served
- 400+ jobs created
- $63+ million in revenue
- 19 patents pending
- 22 patents created
- One licensed patent
- 25 new products developed
Following are details on community impact:
- 60 programs and seminars
- 600+ TECH Talk attendees
- 175+ assisted through StartUp Xchange
- Federal Defense & Technology Showcase: 250 attendees and 50 exhibitors
In addition, Innovation Center volunteers logged more than 325 volunteer hours.
About Tampa Bay Innovation Center:
Tampa Bay Innovation Center (http://www.tbinnovates.com) supports entrepreneurial success, fosters the creation of high-tech jobs and develops new sources of technology and manufacturing capabilities by nurturing early stage ventures as they grow and launch their products into the marketplace. Programs are tailored to the innovator/entrepreneur and address business intelligence, planning and business formation, strategy execution and technology transition. Tampa Bay Innovation Center supports the Entrepreneurs' Hub, which includes programming and an online community geared toward entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and others interested in the growth of the local technology community. Follow Tampa Bay Innovation Center on Twitter, http://www.twitter.com/tbinnovates, or on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/tbinnovationcenter.