TALLAHASSEE, FL – Innovation Park of Tallahassee is pleased to announce the five finalists who will compete at the 2021 TechGrant Pitch Night for a chance to win up to $15,000 in grant funding for their early-stage technology-based companies. Innovation Park launched the TechGrant program in 2005 to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Leon County. Since its inception, 28 companies have benefitted from $487,000 in grants awarded for the commercialization of their technologies. Many of these companies are still flourishing in the local community today.
The 2021 finalists, in alphabetical order, are: Blue Ocean Discover which is an early STEM education company using novel augmented reality technologies; Genetic Biocontrols which is genetically engineering tilapia fish; Manser Edbrooke Technology that is developing a rapid product prototyping system; Moye Consultants who are developing simultaneous battery and capacitor technologies; and StayingIn which has a web-based application for meal kit delivery.
The exciting annual TechGrant Pitch Night will take place on Thursday, October 21 at 5:30pm at Goodwood Museum and Gardens, and will feature each finalist presenting a five-minute “Shark Tank” like pitch to a panel of judges and an audience of established investors, mentors, and researchers. Two winners will be chosen at the end of the night based on overall scoring that will include audience participation.
This year’s TechGrant Pitch Night is presented by Hancock Whitney Bank and is also sponsored by NAI Talcor, The Office of Economic Vitality, and several other local partners interested in supporting technology-based entrepreneurship.
About Innovation Park of Tallahassee
Innovation Park of Tallahassee is a unique community collaboration of FSU, FAMU, TCC, County, City and private sector leaders charged with driving innovation based economic development to recruit, retain and develop organizations which capitalize on the distinctive Innovation Park research assets focused on magnetics, aero-propulsion, materials, energy, health, and life sciences. Innovation Park will be the location for the new 40,000 square foot regional technology entrepreneurship center, North Florida Innovation Labs opening in 2023. The new state-of-the-art building will have advanced lab facilities and training programs as well as offices and coworking spaces for technology-based companies. The mission of Innovation Park is to work in affiliation with these partners to promote our region’s research and development assets, and to foster the attraction, startup and growth of private innovative companies that create high wage jobs in Leon County. Learn more at www.innovation-park.com.