Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

What Florida Inventors Hall of Fame does

The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame (FIHF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognition and education organization founded in 2013 by Paul R. Sanberg (President of the National Academy of Inventors and Distinguished University Professor at the University of South Florida) and Dr. Judy Genshaft (President Emerita of USF). It is hosted at the USF Research Park in Tampa, Florida, and is one of only five state-level inventors' halls of fame in the United States, formally recognized by the Florida Senate via Senate Resolution 1756 in April 2014. The organization exists to honor Florida-connected inventors whose inventions have advanced quality of life for Americans; since its inaugural 2014 ceremony it has inducted 87 notable inventors who collectively hold over 5,700 patents, including 2 Nobel Laureates, 10 members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 18 members of the National Academies, and 45 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.

Its product portfolio is a mix of recognition, physical/digital exhibits, events, and K-12 education. The flagship is the annual Induction Ceremony & Gala held in Tampa, which functions as both recognition event and principal fundraising vehicle. Supporting products include the FIHF Museum (free public admission at USF Research Park with indoor exhibits, an outdoor Walk of Fame, and touchscreen kiosks), a Virtual Museum tour for global access, and an archive of inductee biographical videos on YouTube. The 2022-launched IGNITE program and the Invention Convention Florida competition (a USF-led affiliate of Invention Convention Worldwide) extend the mission into K-12 invention education, serving students and educators through curriculum, mentorship, field trips, and a statewide competition pipeline.

The organization is funded through a hybrid nonprofit model: tax-deductible donations processed via the USF Foundation, individual ceremony tickets ($500), and a tiered corporate sponsorship program ranging from $2,500 (Pillar Donor) to $50,000 (Annual Corporate Partner). Sponsors include Florida's research universities (UF, UCF as Diamond sponsors in 2025), the Florida High Tech Corridor, and a network of strategic partners including the National Academy of Inventors, the USPTO, the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center, and The Henry Ford Museum. The organization runs with a small core staff (6 employees, including a Program Manager and a Communications and Events Coordinator) and is governed by an Advisory Board chaired by the founder.

Name

Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

Legal name

Florida Inventors Hall of Fame

Website

https://floridainvents.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2013 that recognizes Florida-connected inventors, operates a museum at USF Research Park in Tampa, runs an annual induction gala, and delivers K-12 invention education through its IGNITE program and Invention Convention Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Innovation Recognition

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)

Keywords

• Inventor recognition
• STEM education
• K-12 innovation
• Invention convention
• Nonprofit recognition

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the museum, educational initiatives, and ongoing programs. Donations can be made online or by mail to the USF Foundation.
2. Annual Ceremony Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from individual event tickets ($500 each) and corporate sponsorship tiers including Diamond ($15,000), Platinum ($12,000), Gold ($6,000), Silver ($3,000), and Pillar Donor ($2,500) levels.
3. Corporate Partnership and Business Sponsorship: Annual Corporate Partner ($50,000) and Annual Business Sponsor ($25,000) programs providing logo placement, event benefits, and advisory board appointments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that recognizes and honors Florida-based inventors through an annual induction process and induction ceremony/gala. It operates a physical museum at USF Research Park in Tampa and a virtual museum online, and runs the IGNITE K-12 invention education program and Invention Convention Florida student competition to foster invention and entrepreneurship among Florida youth.

Product overview

The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is a state-wide initiative that operates as a recognition and education organization rather than a single unified software product. Its portfolio consists of the Hall of Fame Inductee Recognition program (the core service of honoring and celebrating Florida inventors), the FIHF Museum and Virtual Museum (physical and online exhibits showcasing inductees and their inventions), the Annual Induction Ceremony & Gala (the flagship annual event), the IGNITE Program (K-12 outreach for invention education), Invention Convention Florida (statewide K-12 student invention competition), and a Video Library of archived ceremonies and inductee profiles. These offerings work together to fulfill the organization's mission of honoring inventors, inspiring innovation, and educating future generations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IGNITE: Inspiring Generations of New Inventors Through Engagement - a K-12 outreach program teaching invention and innovation education

Products and services

• Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala Annual black-tie ceremony and gala event at which selected Florida inventors are formally inducted into the Hall of Fame, with inductees, families, sponsors, university leaders, and community supporters in attendance.
• Florida Inventors Hall of Fame Museum Physical museum located at USF Research Park in Tampa, Florida, showcasing the achievements, inventions, and contributions of inducted Florida inventors for general public visitors and educational groups.
• Virtual Museum Online digital museum that allows remote visitors to explore inductee profiles, inventions, and stories of Florida inventors via the organization's website.
• IGNITE K-12 Invention Education Program Educational program for K-12 students and teachers in Florida that teaches invention, innovation, and entrepreneurship through classroom curriculum and engagement with inducted inventors.
• Invention Convention Florida Student invention competition for Florida K-12 students, giving young inventors an opportunity to develop, present, and compete with original inventions.
• Inductee Video Library Online library of video profiles featuring each Hall of Fame inductee, their inventions, and their impact, available on the organization's website.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87 notable inventors inducted with over 5,700 combined patents
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• University of FloridaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Diamond sponsor of the 2025 Annual Induction Ceremony and Gala. UF is one of Florida's major research universities with multiple inductees in the Hall of Fame.
• University of Central FloridaflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Diamond sponsor of the 2025 Annual Induction Ceremony and Gala. UCF has had multiple faculty members inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• The Florida High Tech CorridorflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Listed as an Innovation Partner and Diamond sponsor. The Corridor is a regional economic development initiative supporting Florida's high tech ecosystem.
• Black Inventors Hall of FameflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025James Howard, Executive Director of Black Inventors Hall of Fame, serves on the Advisory Board and Selection Committee.
• Dr. Kiran C. Patel High School STEM FestminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Florida Inventors Hall of Fame served as Title Sponsor and Award Presenter for the Patel STEM Fest, demonstrating commitment to fostering innovation education.
• Girl Scouts and Bits4BotsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024IGNITE collaborated with Girl Scouts and Bits4Bots for events celebrating National Inventors Day and National Women and Girls in Science Day.
• Smithsonian's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and InnovationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Biographical videos of inductees are archived with the Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian Institution.
• The Henry Ford Museum / Invention Convention WorldwideflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023USF was named the official Florida state affiliate for Invention Convention Worldwide (ICW), bringing the nationally recognized program to Florida students.
• Hillsborough County Public SchoolsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partner in launching the IGNITE program to provide innovative learning opportunities to students in the Tampa Bay community.
• Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022IHMC, led by inductee Kenneth Ford, is a key partner in the innovation ecosystem. Multiple IHMC researchers have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
• USF Upward Bound ProgramminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration through the Rising TIDE Program to bring innovation education to underrepresented students.
• University of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame was founded at USF and is hosted at the USF Research Park. USF provides administrative support, facilities, and partnership on programs like IGNITE and Invention Convention Florida.
• National Academy of InventorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013The NAI was co-founded by Paul Sanberg, who also founded the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame. The organizations share leadership and strategic alignment in recognizing inventors.
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Elizabeth Dougherty, Eastern Regional Outreach Director of USPTO, serves on the Advisory Board and Selection Committee. Videos are archived with the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Direct peers

• National Inventors Hall of Fame: The flagship U.S. inventors hall of fame based in Akron, Ohio. Directly comparable recognition mission with a national scope; 10 FIHF inductees are also NIHF inductees, demonstrating overlapping content and prestige dynamics.
• National Academy of Inventors: Fellowship-based inventor recognition organization co-founded by the same founder as FIHF (Paul Sanberg). Operates a parallel recognition ecosystem for U.S. inventors and shares strategic alignment, leadership, and fellow constituencies.
• National Aviation Hall of Fame: Specialty hall of fame honoring aviation pioneers, with a museum and annual enshrinement gala. Equivalent recognition-and-education operating model applied to a different inventor category, useful as a scale and revenue benchmark.
• Automotive Hall of Fame: Mid-century U.S. industry-focused hall of fame located in Dearborn, Michigan. Closely comparable operating model — physical museum, annual induction ceremony, education programming — but anchored to the automotive industry rather than Florida inventors.
• National Women's Hall of Fame: Recognition organization for women contributors in diverse fields, with an induction process, physical exhibits, and K-12 educational programming. Comparable model as a nonprofit hall-of-fame operator with education mission.
• Black Inventors Hall of Fame: Niche demographic-focused inventors recognition organization whose Executive Director (James Howard) sits on FIHF's Advisory Board and Selection Committee. Operates an equivalent state/national recognition-and-education model targeting a specialized inventor cohort.
• International Space Hall of Fame: Specialty hall of fame in Alamogordo, New Mexico, honoring space and technology pioneers. Comparable museum-plus-induction operating model focused on a specialized technical inventor cohort.

Broad incumbents

• The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: Major national innovation museum in Dearborn, Michigan and operator of Invention Convention Worldwide — FIHF's K-12 competition partner. Larger, broader-scope institution with much greater resources and visitor scale, serving as FIHF's national umbrella partner.

Others

• Smithsonian Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation: Smithsonian program that archives FIHF's inductee biographical videos. Functions as a national-level enabling partner and content validator, but does not directly compete for induction or K-12 market share.

Regional players

• Texas Inventors Hall of Fame: State-level inventors hall of fame serving Texas inventors with parallel recognition mission, induction ceremony, and education programming. Closest regional competitor in scale and structure, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@floridainventorshalloffame
• Facebookfacebook.com/FloridaInvents
• Instagraminstagram.com/floridainventorshalloffame
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/florida-invents

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Florida Inventors Hall of Fame