Southeast Shoutouts | Tampa Bay Wave has helped 550 start-ups raise $1 billion in capital
Sir Richard Branson has invested in Titusville-based Space Perspective and will co-pilot the company’s first crewed test flight next year.
From Tampa, FL:
Here’s an impressive statistic.
The Tampa Bay Wave’s portfolio of more than 550 tech start-ups has collectively raised more than $1 billion in investor capital, marking a significant milestone for the nonprofit accelerator. Founded in 2013 thanks to a $1 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Wave aims to strengthen the region’s startup ecosystem by attracting top-tier companies and fostering innovation.
“Reaching $1 billion in capital, raised by our portfolio companies, reflects the power of grassroots entrepreneurship,” said Linda Olson, the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “This achievement highlights our commitment to making Tampa Bay a global destination for technology and innovation.”
The Wave operates several accelerator programs, including the TechDiversity Accelerator, and industry-specific programs such as CyberTech|X and HealthTech|X. A new program, BlueTech|X, is in development, focusing on ocean-based climate resiliency innovations.
Its portfolio companies have generated thousands of high-paying tech jobs in the region, attracting talent from across the U.S. and more than 30 countries.
From Titusville, FL:
Multiple media outlets have reported that Virgin Group Co-Founder Sir Richard Branson has invested in Titusville-based Space Perspective and will co-pilot the company’s first crewed test flight next year, alongside Founder Jane Poynter and Founder and Chief Technology Officer Taber MacCallum. Branson also made an investment in the company, but the amount was not announced.
Space Perspective describes itself as the world’s first carbon-neutral spaceflight experience company. A little more than a month ago, the company successfully completed a full flight profile of its uncrewed Spaceship Neptune-Excelsior, the fully operational test vehicle of the spaceship that will take explorers to space. The flight, which launched from Marine Spaceport (MS) Voyager off the coast of St. Petersburg, FL on September 15, 2024, is a demonstration of the industry-defining spacecraft Space Perspective has designed and built, and marks the next important benchmark on the way to crewed test flights.
From Durham, NC:
NCInnovation (NCI) announced two additions to its leadership team: Wade Fulghum, who will join NCI as Vice President for Grants & Technology Commercialization, and Dr. David Wyrick, who will lead NCI’s presence statewide as Vice President for Regional Networks and Hubs.
- Fulghum most recently served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for North Carolina State University’s Office of Research Commercialization. where he helped build the university into a global powerhouse in university-industry collaboration.
- Wyrick has spent much of his accomplished career at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro where he most recently served as Chief Innovation Officer.
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