ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - St. Petersburg may be known for its sunshine, but a new wave of startups is putting the city on the map for something else: innovation.
"I think the future is extremely bright for the tech scene in St. Pete," said Rebecca Brown, CEO of spARK Labs.
What we know:
A new incubator, spARK Labs, is drawing founders from across the country, while also creating space for local entrepreneurs to grow.
Inside the facility, the energy is unmistakable. Startups are building everything from artificial intelligence platforms to robotics and even space technology.
"They’ve invented a robot that moves hospital beds around," Brown said during a tour.
Big picture view:
spARK Labs is the first-of-its-kind incubator in St. Petersburg and it’s already seeing rapid growth.
Brown says the space recently hit a major milestone: 45 companies filling its offices, with a growing waitlist behind them.
"This is a manifestation of the demand and the interest for the types of tech support and the innovation that’s happening," Brown said.
Dig deeper:
The incubator supports startups through what leaders call the "three C’s":
- Capital
- Customers
- Community
That community, founders say, is key.
What they're saying:
For Dr. Kazi Hassan, founder of Round Smarter Inc., spARK Labs has accelerated his company’s growth.
"Absolute game changer," Hassan said.
His startup uses artificial intelligence to reduce administrative work for doctors in nursing homes, freeing up more time for patient care.
"We are trying to take everything miserable out of health care and just preserve the human connection that we have," he said.
Local perspective:
And the ideas don’t stop there.
"We’re launching rockets from the ocean," said Michael Anderson, co-founder of Seagate Space.
His company is developing offshore launch infrastructure, another example of the ambitious innovation taking shape inside the lab.
"Big ideas attract others who are doing that," Anderson said.
Why you should care:
Leaders say the goal is not just to launch companies, but to keep them here. With startups planting roots locally, the long-term impact could reshape the region.
"It’s transformational, job creation, economic value creation, and sustained value," Brown said.
That growth could extend even further. spARK Labs is also part of a proposal tied to the Historic Gas Plant District redevelopment, which could expand the city’s innovation footprint even more.
What's next:
While office space is now full, spARK Labs leaders say there is still some availability for coworking and a growing waitlist of companies hoping to get in.
As St. Petersburg’s tech ecosystem continues to build momentum, leaders say this is just the beginning.
The Source: Sources for this story include an interview with Rebecca Brown, CEO of spARK Labs, an interview with Dr. Kazi Hassan, Founder of Round Smarter Inc., and an interview with Michael Anderson, Co-Founder of Seagate Space.