"CEOs are expected to articulate a compelling vision and values for the organization. Just as important, they represent the 'tone at the top' that helps define and maintain a common culture across the organization. So does the board, whether its members realize it or not. How they behave in the boardroom directly affects how the CEO and senior management perceive and embody their roles."

— Kenneth W. Freeman on how to make sure your board sets a good example for your company

 
Founder: Hannibal Baldwin

Organization: SiteZeus

Thoughts: Stop overthinking it and make decisions fast.

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A Conversation with the Founder & CEO of The Grommet
Keynote Presentation from Jules Pieri
Presented by Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization
Friday, November 1 at 8:30AM - 10:30AM


Connect & Propel Tampa 2019 Summit
Keynote Speakers and Panel Discussion on Innovating Tampa Bay
Presented by Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce
Monday, November 4 through Wednesday, November 6


7th Annual Building Entrepreneurship Around Tampa Bay
Startup Showcase, Dynamic Speakers and a Pitch Competition
Presented by USF Connect
Wednesday, November 20 at 8AM - 5PM

Revolution's Steve Case Hopes to Make More Investments in Tampa-St. Pete
St. Pete Catalyst • In light of Revolution's recent news on closing its $150M round, Margie Manning interviewed Steve Case on his plans for the Rise of the Rest Fund II. Steve Case visited Tampa Bay on the Rise of the Rest bus tour back in May. The new fund is focused on making at least 100 new investments in growing markets — including the Tampa-St.Pete area.


SiteZeus Names Jim Mizes, Retired Blaze Pizza CEO, to its Board of Directors
Cision • Tampa-based SiteZeus, a user-driven location intelligence platform that leverages AI and machine learning to solve for market optimization, has named retired Blaze Pizza CEO, Jim Mizes, to its Board of Directors. Mizes has successfully launched more than 1,000 new fast-casual restaurant locations and spearheaded new innovative technology partnerships.


University of South Florida and Jabil Announce $1M Joint Innovation Institute
Tampa Bay Inno • Jabil and the University of South Florida have teamed up to develop an innovation institute that will work with the USF Muma College of Business and the College of Engineering to create innovative research and increase community engagement and talent development within the colleges.

Company: Edgility

Elevator Pitch: A digital platform for healthcare organizations to improve outcomes and eliminate low-value workflows from high-value assets.

Position: Full-Stack Developer

Position Highlights: Edgility is seeking a full-stack developer with product development experience in web-based SaaS products. The developer in this role will design and program at the forefront of data modeling, data acquisition, and data presentation. The goal is to drive "situational awareness," identify and implement process automation, and orchestrate operational workflows in healthcare.

Apply Here

Forming a Board and Running Effective Board Meetings 
Having the right board can significantly impact how an early-stage technology company operates. Your board serves as the key decision-maker as your business scales and, if formed correctly, will have experienced advisors to help you avoid pitfalls and move strategically as your startup grows. We invited Julia Taxin of GroTech Ventures to speak with startups supported by Embarc Collective on how to form a board and run effective board meetings. In this program recap, she shares candid advice on how early-stage startup founders should approach forming their board as well as how to structure your communications with investors and potential stakeholders.


The Holloway Syllabus on Startup Boards
Need a solid 101 on startup boards? Start here. The Holloway Syllabus is a great resource that outlines the basics of board governance. Their detailed outline provides a framework for any size startup to adapt when forming a board, running board meetings, and establishing strong communication practices to run efficiently. The resource also includes links to helpful podcasts, additional board governance reads, and videos from experienced founders and executives.


Take Our 2019 Community Survey

We want to hear from you, Tampa Bay! Take our 2019 Community Survey. Your responses help us develop insightful reports that we share with the broader community. Once you complete the survey, you'll be entered for a chance to win an Embarc Collective Swag Bag—the ultimate Tampa Bay entrepreneur kit.

Take the survey here.

SXSW Pitch 2020 Applications
SXSW is selecting 50 interactive technology companies in 10 different categories to pitch to a live audience and participate in Q&A with their panel of judges. Companies that have raised less than $10M in funding are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: November 15
Apply Here


Ignite The Night
10 companies will be selected to present their best pitch at the upcoming Ignite the Night NASA iTech event. The top presented will land a spot as one of the top 25 semifinalists for the current NASA iTech Cycle. Companies who are developing technologies that could be potential solutions for NASA's challenges are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: January 17
Apply Here