A new accelerator program is coming to the Tampa Bay area this fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Florida Council of 100 is a network of business leaders who are focused on improving statewide quality of life and economic growth. In 2025, the organization launched the Gold Coast Tech Accelerator initiative in south Florida with partners eMerge Americas and Related Ross.\u00a0<\/p>\n
According to the council\u2019s president and CEO Michael Simas, the goal is to bring companies to Florida and help them grow. This, in turn, can create more jobs in the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Tampa-based network, which comprises more than 200 CEOs in various different industries, initially developed accelerator tracks for startups in fintech and dual-use and defense tech. This helped create a model for connecting business founders with clients, capital and networking connections.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, the council is expanding the \u201cAmbition Accelerated\u201d initiative statewide. It introduced two new sector-focused tracks Monday. One will be based at Tampa startup hub Embarc Collective.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The local program will focus on companies that create products and services within the healthcare delivery, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health industries.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A southwest Florida track at the solar-powered community Babcock Ranch (in Charlotte and Lee counties) will support companies that develop infrastructure resilience, energy and climate adaptation technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The expansion was based on the council\u2019s broader strategy, which was discussed in the Beyond Sunshine <\/a>report. \u201cThis looked at the state\u2019s economy and identified resilient sectors by region that we should really focus our efforts around,\u201d Simas explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe have access to the market in a really interesting way,\u201d he added. \u201cWith healthcare, there\u2019s this huge base of opportunity in Tampa. What we\u2019re able to do is bring hospital and healthcare CEOs from around the state to this accelerator program and really give entrepreneurs and innovators a faster track to scale their companies in Florida.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The initiative is based on an eight-week timeline. Founders will receive on-demand mentorship, coaching and access to resources. There will also be curated programming.\u00a0<\/p>\n Startup leaders can learn more about the needs of local organizations, Simas said, before even applying for the accelerator. This will help determine if they are a good fit.\u00a0<\/p>\n Previously, the council has partnered with Embarc Collective on programmatic and thought leadership activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur goal is to build an economy here in Florida that supports Floridians over the next 50 to 100 years,\u201d he added. \u201cThe cost of living is not going to go down. That\u2019s why we are hyper-focused on bringing high-wage jobs to our state and really building the infrastructure around these clusters.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Embarc Collective CEO Tim Holcomb said that discussions about an accelerator partnership began about eight months ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe biggest attraction is the Florida Council of 100\u2019s vision for elevating Florida\u2019s startup ecosystem,\u201d he explained. \u201cThis will allow us to attract and retain some of the top early stage, enterprise-ready tech startups across the nation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Holcomb argued that the Tampa Bay area has one of \u201cthe most cohesive, innovation-forward and research-anchored healthcare ecosystems in the state.\u201d Founders will be able to engage with Tampa General Hospital, BayCare Health System and Moffitt Cancer Center leaders.\u00a0<\/p>\n The expanded initiative, which will consist of the four tracks, will begin in October and end in December. Company founders will culminate the program by participating in a series of investor pitch demo days at Embarc Collective.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity for the region,\u201d he said, \u201cto benefit from the innovation that startups around the country are implementing as part of their platforms.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Applications will open this summer.<\/p>\n