Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology

What Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology does

The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology is a non-profit organization established by the Florida Legislature in 2007 to commercialize technologies developed through publicly-funded research at the state's universities. Headquartered in Boca Raton with offices in Clearwater and Tampa and a staff of 11-50, the Institute operates as a "one-stop-shop" bridging the early-stage funding gap (the "Valley of Death") for Florida-based technology startups by combining seed funding with hands-on company-building services.

Its core programs include the Seed Capital Accelerator Program (SCAP), which provides $50,000 to $300,000 per company and matched companies must raise private capital, and the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, a state-backed vehicle that reached approximately $20 million by 2013. Beyond capital, the Institute offers business plan development, commercialization strategy, market studies, mentorship via an Executive Council of experienced business leaders, and access to an Investor Advisory Board of 26 venture capital members. The Institute partners with Florida's major research universities (UF, UCF, USF, FSU, UM, FIU), angel networks (New World Angels, Florida Angel Nexus), and corporate partners such as Dawson James Securities, SunTrust, and Duane Morris. Sub-brands include Startup Quest (entrepreneurial training across eight Florida regions) and the Innovation Leadership Council.

By the most recently disclosed metrics, the Institute had funded 29+ portfolio companies, reported a $4.1 billion cumulative economic impact for Florida (2022 newsletter), and observed portfolio companies attracting 4-5x follow-on private capital relative to Institute funding. It is led by CEO Jamie Grooms — founder of Regeneration Technologies (IPO $75M, revenues $150M) and co-founder of AxoGen (NASDAQ) — and COO Jane E. Teague. The entity is not VC- or PE-backed, has no subsidiaries, and pursues economic-development outcomes rather than equity-exit returns.

Name

Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology

Legal name

Institute for Commercialization of Florida Technology

Website

https://florida-institute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology is a 2007 state-chartered non-profit that provides $50K-$300K seed funding, mentorship, and investor access to help Florida-based researchers and entrepreneurs commercialize publicly-funded university technologies into startup companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technology Commercialization & Seed Funding Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSANAAAM

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

SECONDARYFSANAAAB

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B)

Financial & Insurance/Private Equity & Venture Capital/Venture Capital Firms

SECONDARYBPADAOAD

Development Finance & Blended Finance Facilities

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/Donor Coordination, Grantmaking & Development Finance Programs

SECONDARYEDAHAEAH

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Technical & Polytechnic Universities

Keywords

• Seed funding programs
• Technology commercialization services
• Startup company building
• Venture development support
• Research-to-market advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Seed Capital Funding: Provides $50,000 to $300,000 in seed funding to qualified companies based on Florida research. Companies must match Institute funding with private capital.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology is a non-profit organization that provides seed and early-stage funding, company-building services, and commercialization support to technology ventures emerging from publicly-funded Florida research. It administers the Seed Capital Accelerator Program (SCAP) and the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, offering $50,000 to $300,000 in capital alongside mentorship, business plan development, and access to investor networks.

Product overview

The Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology is a non-profit organization that serves as a one-stop-shop for investors and entrepreneurs seeking to commercialize technologies developed through publicly-funded research in Florida. The organization operates two primary funding programs: the Seed Capital Accelerator Program (SCAP) and the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, providing $50,000 to $300,000 in seed funding to qualified technology companies. Beyond direct funding, the Institute offers company building support including business plan development, commercialization strategy, and access to a network of mentors through its Executive Council. The organization also administers the Startup Quest workforce development program and maintains an Innovation Leadership Council for corporate partners. The Institute works with a portfolio of companies across multiple science and technology sectors including life sciences, software, materials science, and clean energy, connecting researchers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to accelerate economic growth in Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seed Capital Accelerator Program (SCAP): Seed funding program providing $50,000 to $300,000 to qualified Florida-based technology companies
• Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund
• Innovation Leadership Council
• Executive Council
• Startup Quest

Products and services

• Seed Capital Accelerator Program (SCAP) A seed funding program providing $50,000 to $300,000 in financing to qualified technology companies based on Florida research, designed to bridge the early-stage funding gap for startups.
• Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund A seed capital fund launched in 2013 providing additional early-stage funding opportunities to emerging technology companies in Florida.
• Company Building Programs Support services including business plan development, commercialization strategy, market studies, and access to a network of mentors and entrepreneurs-in-residence to help funded companies grow.
• Innovation Leadership Council A corporate membership program that provides visibility for member companies through Institute marketing materials and connects them to Florida's innovation ecosystem.
• Startup Quest A 10-week entrepreneurial training program implemented across multiple Florida regions that teaches unemployed and underemployed professionals about entrepreneurship, advanced technologies, and emerging industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.1 billion economic impact for Florida
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Christopher & Weisberg, P.A.minorOthersParticipated in establishment of Florida Patent Pro Bono Program; member of Steering Committee; volunteer patent attorneys assist entrepreneurs in Florida with invention protection.
• University of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary research partner institution. UF ranked 4th nationally for launching startups and 11th for licenses and options. Hub houses Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research.
• University of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner ranked #15 globally for patents with 79 patents. USF established Technology Transfer Office for Patents and Licensing.
• University of Central FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner ranked #21 globally for patents with 72 patents. Home to NanoScience Center developing graphene spray technology through Garmor spinout.
• University of MiamicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner ranked #92 globally for patents. Home to U Innovation for technology advancement and Life Science and Technology Park.
• Florida State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner ranked #55 globally for patents with 32 patents. Home to High Performance Materials Institute researching Buckypaper technology.
• Florida International UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner participating in Life Sciences South Florida initiative and joint funding programs with UM Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute.
• Innovation Leadership CouncilminorOthersCouncil of corporate, academic, and investment partners shaping Florida's innovation future. Members gain visibility in Institute marketing materials.
• Executive CouncilminorOthersVibrant community of experienced business leaders who volunteer to mentor and coach entrepreneurs with less experience.
• Workforce One / FloridaWorksminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional workforce development partners managing Startup Quest program in Broward and Alachua/Gainesville regions.
• Southeast BIOminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional non-profit fostering growth of life science industry by connecting entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Institute-assisted companies compete in annual Investor & Partnering Forum.
• BioFloridaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStatewide trade association for bioscience industry. Institute participates in annual conferences and legislative days.
• Florida Innovation HubcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUF incubator housing Institute for Commercialization of Public Research. Contributed to creation of 250 jobs and attracted $10 million in private investment in 20 months.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MaRS Discovery District: MaRS is a Toronto-based innovation hub that supports science and technology companies with funding, mentorship, and commercialization services. It is highly comparable to the Florida Institute as a public-private commercialization hub for university and research-derived technologies, and the two share the model of bridging the "Valley of Death" for early-stage ventures.
• Innovation Works: Innovation Works is one of the most active seed-stage investors in the U.S., providing pre-seed and seed capital to technology startups (with a strong robotics/AI tilt in Pittsburgh). It is comparable to the Florida Institute as a regional seed-stage technology investor and accelerator, though Innovation Works is independent rather than state-chartered.
• 1871: 1871 is a Chicago-based technology hub and incubator providing workspace, mentorship, programming, and investor access to early-stage startups. It is comparable to the Florida Institute as a regional startup hub supporting entrepreneurs with company-building services and investor connections, though 1871 is membership-driven rather than state-chartered.
• BioEnterprise (JumpStart Health): BioEnterprise, now part of JumpStart Health, commercializes bioscience technologies and supports healthcare startups in Cleveland. It is comparable to the Florida Institute as a regional technology commercialization organization, with overlap in life-sciences/healthcare portfolio companies and university tech-transfer partnerships.

Regional players

• BioGenerator: BioGenerator is a St. Louis-based organization that creates and grows bioscience companies, combining seed funding, lab space, and company-building services. It is comparable to the Florida Institute as a regional life-sciences seed accelerator, with overlap in company-creation support for university-derived technologies.
• The Venture Center: The Venture Center is a Little Rock, Arkansas-based startup accelerator providing mentorship, capital connections, and programming to early-stage companies. It is comparable to the Florida Institute as a regional seed/early-stage accelerator, though the Venture Center is privately operated while the Institute is state-chartered.

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the world's most prominent startup accelerator, providing seed funding, mentorship, and demo day investor access to early-stage technology companies. It is comparable to the Florida Institute as a seed-stage accelerator, though YC operates at much greater scale and is software/internet-leaning rather than state-chartered and tech-agnostic.
• Techstars: Techstars is one of the largest global accelerator networks, running programs that provide seed funding, mentorship, and investor access to early-stage technology companies. Like the Florida Institute, it combines capital with structured company-building support, though Techstars operates a global portfolio of programs while the Institute is Florida-only.

Emerging players

• CIC (Cambridge Innovation Center): CIC is a global innovation campus operator providing shared workspace, lab facilities, and programming to early-stage technology companies. It is comparable to the Florida Institute in supporting innovation ecosystems and hosting university-derived startups, but its primary offering is real estate and infrastructure rather than seed capital.
• ARCH Venture Partners: ARCH Venture Partners invests in early-stage technology companies, with a strong focus on university- and national-lab-derived innovations in life sciences, physical sciences, and clean energy. It is comparable to the Florida Institute in commercializing research-derived technologies, though ARCH operates as a private venture firm without a state-chartered mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FL_Institute
• Facebookfacebook.com/FICPR

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments107 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Florida Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology