Read the latest news about North Florida’s premier R&D park specializing in magnetics, aero-propulsion, advanced power systems and high-performance materials
June 2017 Update
Spotlight: The Entrepreneurs’ Forum hosted by TCCSpark! is June 20th
On Tuesday, June 20th from 6:00pm to 7:30pm, the community is invited to attend the first Entrepreneurs’ Forum taking place at the downtown TCC Center for Innovation Center. The event will feature a panel of distinguished members including:
Ron Miller, Executive Director for the Leon County R&D Authority
Keith Bowers, Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center at Florida A&M University
Lucas Lindsey, Executive Director at Domi Station
Steve Dunnivant, Dean of the TCC Division of Business, Industry and Technology
Steve Millaway, Founder/CEO TechFarms, LLC
Dr. Jerry Osteryoung, Chair, Board of Directors, First Commerce Credit Union
Wendy Plant, Director at the Center of Student Engagement for FSU’s Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship
The event is being hosted by TCC Spark!, an initiative that is focused on fueling passionate entrepreneurs with the skills and connections needed to ignite an idea and grow a successful business.
Space is limited, so register to reserve your spot here.
Leon County Research and Development Authority Looking at Additional Options for Technology Incubator
At the June 2017 Leon County R&D Authority Board of Governor’s meeting, the Board voted to consider additional alternatives for the Technology Incubator coming to Innovation Park. The Board will begin exploring other options, including to building an entirely new facility that includes incubator/accelerator space. This new building would be larger and more efficient than the renovation of any existing space. Building a new facility would also allow the Park to build to its needs specifications versus trying to transform an existing structure that may fall short in providing the help that new businesses actually need. Stay tuned as we learn more!
Innovation Park Resident and 2017 TechGrant Recipient, Sensatek Propulsion Technologies Inc. Wins Florida Venture Forum’s Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition
Reamonn Soto and Sensatek received one of the 2017 TechGrant awards during this year’s competition
Last month, Reamonn Soto, Founder of local tech startup Sensatek Propulsion Technologies Inc. beat out 13 university student representatives from across the state to win the Florida Venture Forum’s Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition.
This is one of many competitions Soto and his company have recently won. In May, he won one of the TechGrant awards sponsored by Innovation Park, and last year he won the U.S. Department of Energy’s Megawatt Ventures Competition where Sensatek took home the grand prize.
To learn more about Soto’s recent win, click here.
Entrepreneurial Excellence Program Class 14 to begin on October 3rd. Register Now to Reserve Your Spot
Innovation Park is now accepting applications for Class 14 of the Entrepreneurial Excellence Program, which will begin October 3, 2017.
This is a dynamic and highly interactive 10-class program that helps local start-ups gain the foundation of knowledge to help them build a successful business. Classes are held twice a week for 5 weeks.
The class is limited to twelve companies with up to two members from each company invited to attend. We anticipate this class to fill up very soon.
To learn more about the program or to apply for the next class, click here.
Several IP Residents and LCRDA Governors Named to Office of Economic Vitality Committees
The Tallahassee/ Leon County Office of Economic Vitality recently announced the members of its advisory committees, which will help guide Tallahassee and Leon County’s economic growth in the future.
The Economic Vitality Leadership Council will serve as the executive team. Danfoss Turbocor President, Ricardo Schneider has been appointed to this 7-member committee, as well as Leon County R&D Authority Board of Governor and Vice President of TCC’s Workforce Development, Kimberly Moore.
In addition, several Innovation Park Community Members were appointed to the Economic Vitality Competitiveness Committee, which is responsible for drumming up new ideas and recommendations. Leon County R&D Authority Executive Director, Ron Miller; FSU Research Foundation Executive Director, Heather Cave; Florida A&M University Small Business Development Center Regional Director and Leon County R&D Authority Governor, Keith Bowers; and Leon County R&D Authority Governor and President of Marpan, Kim Williams will all serve on the 33-member Competitiveness Committee.
For a full list of committee members and to read more about them, click here.
November 2016 TechTopics Speaker, Yaacov Petscher, Director of Research at the Florida Center for Reading Research and Dr. Cheryl Xu, Material Scientist for 2017 TechGrant Winner, Sensatek Propulsion Technologies Inc. win Spring GAP Competition Grants
Photo Credit: Florida Center for Reading Research (left) and FSU COE (right)
Last year’s November TechTopics event focused on the different research being conducted in Innovation Park that is being taken to market, and included a presentation by Dr. Yaacov Petscher, Director of Research at FCRR.
During FSU’s latest GAP competition, Dr. Petscher was selected by the panel to receive funding for his education platform to help take it to market. This platform will allow teachers and students to simultaneously access an assessment tool, so teachers can record results as students take assessments. The platform would cut down on the number of forms students and teachers need for performance, and scoring and will allow the information to be more easily accessible for evaluation.
In addition, Dr. Cheryl Xu, Materials Scientist and Advisory Board Member for Sensatek Propulsion Technologies Inc., was selected during the GAP competition. Dr. Xu developed a sensor using ceramic material that can withstand harsh environments, such as the inside of a turbine engine located on a jet or in a power plant. These sensors can provide critical temperature and pressure data, alerting operators to potential problems before they occur. This information can help companies significantly reduce maintenance costs and equipment downtime.
To learn more about the GAP Competition and the other recipients, click here.
Construction in Innovation Park this Summer
We are happy to announce that Innovation Park will have a new resident- the FSU Department of Anthropology! This summer you may see some construction going on in the Johnson Building as we prepare for their arrival. The organization will move into the building in the beginning of August just in time for the Fall Semester. While this will not be a teaching facility, the Park will serve as a great location for the Department to conduct its research. Stay tuned for more information!
Share your News with Us!
Innovation Park publishes this monthly newsletter to highlight the accomplishments in our community. If you would like to share your exciting news, please e-mail Dbilbow@inn-park.com
