What Embarc Collective does

Embarc Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founder-support platform headquartered in Tampa, Florida, operating from a 32,000 sq ft facility at 802 E Whiting St. Founded in 2018 as Tampa Bay Innovation Hub, Inc. and rebranded in 2021, the organization provides personalized coaching, peer community, and strategic introductions to early-stage and growth-stage technology founders. The core offering is a two-tier subscription membership — $249/month for early-stage founders and $299/month for growth-stage founders — delivered via an application-and-interview process with rolling admissions, no equity taken, and a 75% subsidy that keeps the program accessible.

The platform is organized around a Startup Membership & Coaching Platform, a content/resource sub-brand (Startup Fuel), and a portfolio of signature programs including the quarterly Builder Series, Early-Stage and Growth-Stage Venture Summits, the Glaring Gap Summit, the Tampa Bay Healthtech Meetup, and the Young Professionals Board. Physical assets include the ReliaQuest Auditorium, the EX3 Ideation Lab, and The Digital Suite Tampa (an AI and innovation experimentation space built with EX3 Labs). The organization reports 125+ active founders, a 95% five-year company survival rate among members, $600M+ raised by member companies, and 1,200+ jobs created; it is ranked #1 startup platform in North America by UBI Global.

Revenue is generated through three streams: monthly membership dues, corporate partnerships and event sponsorships (with named partners including ReliaQuest, J.P. Morgan, CDW, Florida Blue, A-LIGN, Florida Funders, and TGH Ventures), and tax-deductible donations and grants. The organization does not take equity and is not venture-backed; it is governed by a Board of Directors that includes representatives from the University of South Florida, ReliaQuest, Weatherford Capital, and Hill Ward Henderson. Geographically, Embarc Collective has expanded from a Tampa Bay focus to a Florida-statewide role through 2025-2026 partnerships with the Florida High Tech Corridor and the Florida Council of 100, anchoring the Tampa Bay healthcare track of the Ambition Accelerated platform.

Name

Embarc Collective

Legal name

Tampa Bay Innovation Hub, Inc.

Website

https://embarccollective.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Embarc Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup support platform based in Tampa, Florida, providing personalized coaching, peer community, and strategic introductions to early-stage and growth-stage technology founders via subsidized monthly memberships ($249-$299), without taking equity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator and Founder Support Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Partner, Channel & Alliance Summits (THAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator
• Founder coaching
• Entrepreneur community
• Venture ecosystem
• Nonprofit incubator

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Monthly subscription fees from member startups. Early-stage founders pay $249/month, growth-stage founders pay $299/month. No equity taken from members. 75% subsidized pricing model making support accessible to founders.
2. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Embarc Collective accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations. Board members and community champions contribute through fundraising.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Organizations sponsor events, join the Collective Advantage Program to offer discounts to member startups, and provide financial support in exchange for access to emerging startups and innovation ecosystem positioning.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Embarc Collective operates a nonprofit membership-based platform that provides early-stage and growth-stage tech founders with personalized coaching from experienced operators, curated peer community access, and warm introductions to investors, corporate partners, and talent. The platform is delivered through monthly membership subscriptions ($249–$299), a 32,000 sq ft Tampa hub, signature summits and the quarterly Builder Series, and corporate partnership programs. No equity is taken from member companies.

Product overview

Embarc Collective is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit startup support platform based in Tampa, Florida, ranked #1 startup platform in North America by UBI Global. The platform provides personalized coaching, expert guidance, and founder community support through its core Startup Membership & Coaching Platform. The ecosystem includes Startup Fuel (resource library), Builder Series (quarterly educational program), Tampa Bay Healthtech Meetup, Early-Stage Venture Summit, Growth-Stage Venture Summit, Glaring Gap Summit, and Young Professionals Board. Physical offerings include event spaces (ReliaQuest Auditorium, EX3 Ideation Lab, conference rooms) and The Digital Suite Tampa (AI and innovation experimentation space created with EX3 Labs). The platform supports 125+ active founders and reports $600M+ raised by member companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Startup Membership & Coaching Platform Application-based monthly membership that assigns each founder a dedicated coach, develops a personalized support plan, connects them to a curated peer community of 125+ tech founders, and provides warm introductions to investors, corporate partners, and talent. Includes Early-Stage Founder Membership ($249/month) and Growth-Stage Founder Membership ($299/month), with no equity taken.
• Builder Series Quarterly program offering founders access to business icons and thought leaders who share innovative leadership lessons and frameworks (e.g., Tampa Bay Rays, ReliaQuest, USF, Tampa International Airport speakers).
• Early-Stage Venture Summit Annual summit for pre-seed and seed founders making less than $1M ARR, providing strategies to refine products, build teams, and understand investor evaluation criteria, with angel investor participation powered by Florida Funders.
• Growth-Stage Venture Summit Two-day annual event connecting growth-stage founders (Series A to Series C, minimum $1M ARR) with leading venture capital and growth-equity investors, held in October at the Embarc Collective Tampa headquarters.
• Glaring Gap Summit Two-day annual summit aimed at closing the gender gap in startup investing through inspirational speakers, rigorous investing curriculum, and networking, with tracks for accredited investors, emerging professionals, and college student leaders.
• Tampa Bay Healthtech Meetup Quarterly meetup for healthcare professionals, startup operators, investors, and community members passionate about health technology trends, co-hosted with Tampa General Hospital.
• Young Professionals Board Program for emerging Tampa Bay professionals (15 or fewer years of experience) to support the startup community, gain early access to tech trends, and develop professional networks via four annual meetings and committee involvement.
• ReliaQuest Auditorium (Event Space Rental) Event space suitable for conferences, meetup groups, fireside chats, panels, and team all-hands, with state-of-the-art AV setup, mounted TV screens, handheld microphones, and virtual conferencing capabilities, available for external event hosting.
• EX3 Ideation Lab Flexible collaborative environment suitable for workshops, intimate discussions, breakout sessions, and team all-hands, designed to transform sessions into collaborative experiences via the EX3 Labs partnership.
• The Digital Suite Tampa State-of-the-art environment created with EX3 Labs for innovation and experimentation, enabling teams to explore emerging technologies including interactive AI experiences and design-thinking sessions, and to prototype bold ideas.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of member companies still growing after 5 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Florida Council of 100coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Partnership supporting the Ambition Accelerated platform, launching sector-focused accelerator tracks including Tampa Bay healthcare solutions anchored by Embarc Collective. Part of statewide effort to attract, build, and scale companies in Florida's priority industries.
• Babcock RanchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Anchoring the Southwest Florida track of Ambition Accelerated focused on infrastructure resilience and climate adaptation as part of the statewide accelerator network.
• Florida High Tech CorridormajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 October 2025Partnership with USF and the ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg to support startups working on advanced technologies including machine learning, energy, fintech, AI, and blockchain. Fosters collaboration between academia, industry, and entrepreneurs.
• Tampa General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare innovation partnership with Tampa General Hospital includes co-hosting the Tampa Bay Healthtech Meetup quarterly. TGH Ventures is the health system's investment arm invested in the ecosystem. Rachel Feinman, SVP of Innovation, serves on Embarc Collective's board.
• University of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership connecting USF's research, talent, and technology transfer opportunities with Embarc's network of 125+ startups and corporate partners. President Rhea Law and current President Moez Limayem serve on Embarc's board. Provost Prasant Mohapatra quoted on joint innovation mission.
• ReliaQuestcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFlagship corporate partner. CEO Brian Murphy is featured in the Builder Series. The ReliaQuest Auditorium is the main event space at Embarc Collective. Chief of Staff Kim Hill serves on Embarc's board. Supports innovation and entrepreneurship across Tampa Bay.
• J.P. MorgancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner supporting Florida's innovation ecosystem. Jacob Rios from J.P. Morgan serves on the Young Professionals Board. Works with Embarc to create collaborations that deliver real business impact.
• CDWmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTechnology partner providing startups with technology resources and support. Southeast Sales Manager Josh Shannon quoted on empowering startups with technology and support to thrive.
• Florida BluemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare-focused corporate partner collaborating on healthcare innovation and startup ecosystem development alongside Tampa General Hospital.
• Florida FunderscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partner powering the Early-Stage Venture Summit, connecting pre-seed and seed founders with angel investors. Provides deal flow and investor network access.
• A-LIGNmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner in compliance and cybersecurity. CEO Scott Price featured as Builder Series speaker. Nicholas Ludy from A-LIGN serves on the Young Professionals Board.
• Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PCmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner with Haley Ayure serving on the Young Professionals Board. Venture, M&A and Business Transactions Attorney providing startup legal expertise.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Techstars: Techstars is one of the largest global startup accelerators, running cohort-based mentorship programs in multiple cities with equity participation. It is directly comparable to Embarc Collective in providing founder coaching, mentor matching, and demo-day access, though Techstars takes equity and operates for-profit across many geographies.
• MassChallenge: MassChallenge is a global nonprofit startup accelerator that takes no equity from founders and provides mentorship, industry connections, and prize funding. It is the closest structural analog to Embarc Collective given its nonprofit, no-equity model and cohort-based programming, though it operates globally.
• Newlab: Newlab is a venture studio and innovation hub operating physical campuses and running programs for early-stage deep-tech and applied-tech startups. It is comparable to Embarc Collective in operating flagship physical facilities, providing structured founder programming, and brokering corporate-startup partnerships in specific industry verticals.
• Innovation Works: Innovation Works is one of the most active seed-stage venture investors and supports the AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear accelerators in Pittsburgh. It is comparable to Embarc Collective as a regional nonprofit-affiliated startup support organization providing seed funding, mentorship, and accelerator programming to early-stage tech founders.
• Capital Factory: Capital Factory is a Texas-based startup accelerator, coworking hub, and venture fund based in Austin. It is comparable to Embarc Collective in providing accelerator programming, mentorship, demo days, and corporate partnership access for early-stage founders in a regional hub, though it operates as a for-profit.
• Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play is a global startup accelerator and corporate innovation platform running industry-specific programs (fintech, health, brand & retail). It is comparable to Embarc Collective's vertical-specific (healthcare) programming model and corporate partnership approach, though it operates at a much larger scale across 50+ locations.
• gener8tor: gener8tor runs concierge-style startup accelerator programs across multiple U.S. cities (including in the Southeast) with seed investment in exchange for equity. It is comparable to Embarc Collective in providing personalized founder support, cohort programming, and corporate connections.
• 500 Global (500 Startups): 500 Global is a venture firm and startup accelerator operating programs worldwide with equity participation. It is comparable to Embarc Collective in offering accelerator programming, founder education, and global network access, though it is for-profit and equity-backed rather than nonprofit.

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the dominant global startup accelerator, running biannual cohorts and offering seed funding in exchange for equity. It serves as the broad incumbent benchmark for startup support platforms, with a much larger portfolio, though its remote-friendly model directly competes with regional accelerators like Embarc.

Regional players

• Tampa Bay WaVE: Tampa Bay WaVE is a nonprofit startup accelerator and coworking hub serving the same Tampa Bay region as Embarc Collective. It is highly comparable in mission and target market (early-stage tech founders in Tampa), though Embarc has explicitly expanded into a more senior/coaching-focused positioning while WaVE serves earlier-stage companies. Kailah Matyas of Embarc's leadership also sits on the Tampa Bay WaVE board.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EmbarcCollectiv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@embarccollective9530
• Facebookfacebook.com/embarccollectiv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/embarc-collective
• Instagraminstagram.com/EmbarcCollective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Embarc Collective