"Regardless of size or funding, to be successful, a startup needs to be agile, adaptable and focused. It needs to be able to move fast and execute with precision. Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) assist startups to focus on what is important while allowing for flexibility."

— Bruce Gil on why startups should use OKRs

Founder: Vong Lo

Company: ClearAT

Thoughts: Whatever you do just do it. Jump and take the leap. Be aggressive and once you make the decision to do something, go 100% and never look back.

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Refocus: A CO.STARTERS Workshop
Two-Hour Virtual Workshop on How to Adapt and Refine Your Business Model
Presented by CO.STARTERS
Thursday, July 2 at 3PM ET (Today)


Product-Market Fit & Growth for Early Stage Entrepreneurs
A Virtual Presentation on Creating User Pipelines Organically and Collecting Feedback
Presented by Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center
Thursday, July 9 at 2PM ET


How to Explain Your Value in 20 Words or Fewer
Virtual Workshop on Crafting a Short and Effective Value Proposition
Presented by CO + Hoots Coworking
Thursday, July 9 at 3PM ET

Why Does Healthcare Lag in Innovations?
Edgility • A recent post co-authored by Balaji Ramadoss, Co-Founder and CEO of Tampa-based startup Edgility, and Peter Pronovost, MacArthur Fellow and Chief Transportation Officer at University Hospitals, uncovers the trends and data that cause delays in healthcare innovation. Both authors also highlight how the existing healthcare infrastructures prevent hospitals from making system-wide improvements that truly impact measurable change.


Tech Data Plans $750M Tech Investment as Apollo Global Acquisition is Finalized
TBBJ • Tech Data Corp., one of Tampa Bay's largest public companies, has officially been acquired by New York City-based private equity firm Apollo Global Management for a reported $6B including a $3.75B equity investment. Tech Data's CEO Rich Hume will continue to lead the company from Clearwater.


How the Tampa Bay Tech Community is Committing to Equality
Tampa Bay Inno • Reporter Lauren Coffey has rounded up the initiatives launched, promises made and resources offered to help fight inequity in the region. This piece highlights the programs being developed by non-profit organizations and initiatives carried out by for-profit companies to help improve equity and inclusion in their practices.

Company: TagniFi

Elevator Pitch: A modern financial data platform for finance and investment professionals.

Position: Part-Time Engineer

Position Highlights: TagniFi is looking for an engineer that can help with its entire stack. The front-end is developed in Vue and Typescript and the TagniFi backend is predominantly developed in Rust and Postgres on GCP. Some level of experience with these technologies is required. Experience in Excel plugin development is a plus. The role will start out as part-time but does have the possibility of leading to more hours.

Apply Here

Q3 is here and with so many uncertain variables, it can be hard for startups to plan a clear path forward. This week's resources feature tools, frameworks and playbooks to help you establish goals and metrics with the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) method.

📚 3-Part Modern Guide to Lean OKRs - a great 101 guide on how to approach lean OKRs if it is your first time planning; See part I, part II and part III; we also suggest checking out Google's re:Work overview on OKRs

📐 Startup OKR Template - this simple OKR template can help your team start to outline goals for Q3

✅ How to Make OKRs Actually Work at Your Startup - if you've tried implementing OKRs in your organization before with no luck, or want to ensure your team sticks to these metrics, start with this framework

📎 5-Step Framework and Template for Scenario Planning - a great resource from First Round that fleshes out how founders can determine a decisive response to changing conditions

📈 Financial Forecasting Playbook for Startups - in this playbook, founders can learn how to craft financial plans with clear, measurable metrics

Driving Alignment with OKRs
Workboard CEO and OKR Podcast host Deidre Paknad appears on the Build Podcast by Drift to talk about why OKRs matter, how to use them and how to get the doubters on board.

Listen Here

TechWomen Rising Accelerator
Tampa Bay Wave has opened applications for its TechWomen Rising accelerator, a 90-day program designed for women-led startups enabled by technology. Powered by JPMorgan Chase, the accelerator led by Tampa Bay Wave will provide business development training and intensive mentorship from leaders in the startup industry. Program members will also leverage Embarc Collective coaches to identify and measure key business milestones, while also gaining access to both organizations’ large network of investors.
Deadline: July 21
Apply Here


Reshaping Health Access Challenge
Florida Blue and parent company GuideWell have launched the Reshaping Health Access Challenge and are now accepting submissions. The Reshaping Health Access Challenge is a four-month competition that seeks organizations with novel approaches to enabling access to quality, affordable health care and health education to populations and communities in Florida experiencing high levels of health inequity. Applicants showing the most potential will be selected to compete in one of four regional pitch competitions taking place in Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, and Miami this Fall. Due to social distancing restrictions in response to COVID-19, the regional pitch competitions will be hosted virtually. Awards range from $5,000 to $40,000.
Deadline: July 24
Apply Here


Venture Atlanta Conference 2020 Applications
Venture Atlanta is seeking startups to pitch and/or showcase at their online conference which aims to connect startups with investors in the Southeast. Presenting companies will pitch live on Venture Atlanta's studio stage which will be available to investors. Companies from very early to growth stage across the Southeast are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: August 28
Apply Here


Fueled by Purpose Micro Grant Application
Fueled by Purpose micro grant is seeking women business owners to apply for a $500 grant. Every Monday beginning April 20, 2020, one $500 grant winner will be randomly selected from grant applications submitted the week prior. Grant winners will be contacted via email and announced on My Founder Story’s website and social media. Applications are limited to one entry per week per business and business owner.
Deadline: Rolling
Apply Here