Vertex Applied Innovation Hub

What Vertex Applied Innovation Hub does

Vertex Applied Innovation Hub is the industry-facing applied innovation arm of Florida Institute of Technology, located on Florida's Space Coast in Palm Bay. It provides state-of-the-art physical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing equipment, and applied research capabilities to startups, small and mid-sized businesses, established industry partners, and government/defense clients. The hub operates through a SPOKES (Specialized Programs for Outreach, Knowledge, and Enterprise) framework, with two core centers: CAMID (Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design) for prototyping and computer-driven manufacturing, and FTRI (Florida Tech Research Institute) for applied R&D in cybersecurity, space and applied electromagnetics, and biomedical engineering, with an emphasis on supporting the defense industrial base.

Vertex's core technical assets include additive and subtractive manufacturing equipment, digital engineering platforms, and materials testing and characterization tools, supported by Florida Tech's faculty and student talent. The hub delivers a diversified service portfolio spanning Business-in-Residence programs, equipment access, contracted R&D, facility rental for events (boardroom seating 20, venue halls seating 60-100), custom workforce development training, and a business acceleration program for startups and SMEs.

The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven, leveraging Florida Tech's academic network and Space Coast industry connections to attract partners and clients through word-of-mouth, direct outreach by the executive director, and facility-based engagement. Revenue is generated via a mix of recurring Business-in-Residence and subscription-style program fees, one-time facility rentals, usage-based equipment access fees, and professional services revenue from R&D contracting and workforce training. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The leadership team is led by Executive Director Samantha Miles, and the organization operates with approximately 8 employees as a unit of Florida Institute of Technology.

Name

Vertex Applied Innovation Hub

Legal name

Florida Institute of Technology

Website

https://vertex.fit.edu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vertex Applied Innovation Hub is the industry-facing innovation arm of Florida Institute of Technology, providing advanced manufacturing, prototyping, and applied R&D services to startups, industry, and government/defense clients on Florida's Space Coast.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Palm Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Business-in-Residence Programs: Operating fees from businesses that reside in Vertex facilities, leveraging advanced infrastructure and collaboration with Florida Tech experts.
2. Facility Rentals: Rental revenue from professional event spaces including boardrooms (seats 20) and venue halls (seats 60-100), with A/V and catering options.
3. R&D Contracting Services: Contracted research and development services spanning design, prototyping, materials characterization, and optimization for industry clients.
4. Equipment Access Fees: Fees for accessing advanced tools including 3D printers, digital engineering platforms, and materials testing equipment.
5. Workforce Development Programs: Custom training program fees for addressing industry skill gaps.
6. Business Acceleration Program: Program fees for startup and SME acceleration services including mentorship and strategic guidance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Vertex is an applied innovation hub on Florida's Space Coast that provides state-of-the-art facilities, advanced manufacturing and digital engineering equipment, contracted research and development services, business-in-residence programs, business acceleration, workforce development training, and event space rentals. It operates as the industry-facing arm of Florida Institute of Technology, connecting industry, government, and academia through specialized programs such as CAMID (manufacturing prototyping) and FTRI (applied R&D in cybersecurity, space, and biomedical engineering).

Product overview

Vertex Applied Innovation Hub is an integrated applied innovation platform operated by Florida Tech on the Space Coast. The hub operates through specialized centers including CAMID (Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design) for prototyping and computer-driven manufacturing, and FTRI (Florida Tech Research Institute) for applied R&D in cybersecurity, space electromagnetics, and biomedical engineering. The platform also provides a suite of services including business-in-residence facilities, equipment access (3D printers, digital engineering tools, materials testing), R&D contracting, facility rental, workforce development programs, and a business acceleration program. These components work together to support economic growth through collaborative partnerships across industry, government, and academia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPOKES (Specialized Programs for Outreach, Knowledge, and Enterprise): Extension programs that extend Vertex's capabilities, with centers like CAMID and FTRI driving research, technology, and industry collaboration.

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Florida High Tech CorridorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development initiative supporting technology-driven economic growth across Florida's High Tech Corridor. Vertex participates as an innovation hub within this collaborative network fostering industry-academia partnerships.
• Florida Tech Research Institute (FTRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFTRI is a Vertex spoke (Specialized Program for Outreach, Knowledge, and Enterprise) focused on applied R&D supporting national security needs and the defense industrial base in areas including cybersecurity, space, and biomedical engineering.
• Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Design (CAMID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAMID is a Vertex spoke and the prototyping/development facility providing businesses-in-residence and partners access to cutting-edge computer-driven manufacturing equipment, project space, and expert assistance.
• City of Palm BaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner supporting regional economic development through collaboration with Vertex's innovation ecosystem.
• Economic Development Commission - Florida's Space CoastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization promoting Florida's Space Coast as a technology and innovation hub, partnering with Vertex to support business growth.
• The Greater Palm Bay Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chamber of commerce supporting business community connections and economic development in the Palm Bay region.
• FloridaMakescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association focused on advancing manufacturing innovation and competitiveness, collaborating with Vertex on manufacturing-related initiatives.
• Leonardo DRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefense contractor partner collaborating with FTRI on applied R&D for national security needs and defense industrial base support.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Plug and Play Tech Center: Global innovation platform running accelerator programs, corporate partnerships, and startup residencies across multiple verticals — broader scale than Vertex but overlapping in the acceleration, residency, and industry-connection model.
• Techstars: Large global accelerator network running mentor-driven programs for early-stage startups — comparable in the acceleration and mentorship dimension, though Techstars operates at a much larger scale and without Vertex's manufacturing focus.
• MassChallenge: Global non-profit accelerator running startup programs with mentorship, corporate connections, and a zero-equity model — overlapping with Vertex's business acceleration program in structure and target audience.

Direct peers

• University of Florida Innovate / Sid Martin Biotech: UF's technology commercialization and biotech incubator offering business-in-residence, lab access, and industry collaboration — comparable in operating model to Vertex's hub-and-spoke university innovation structure.
• Purdue Foundry: Purdue's startup accelerator and commercialization hub, supporting student/faculty startups and external founders with workspace, mentorship, and access to university R&D — directly comparable to Vertex's CAMID and FTRI spokes.
• Greentown Labs: Large cleantech/advanced-manufacturing incubator providing prototyping equipment, lab space, and a startup community — directly comparable to Vertex's CAMID manufacturing capabilities and resident-startup model.
• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Shared innovation and coworking infrastructure provider serving startups, corporates, and research institutions with flexible space and curated communities — comparable to Vertex's facility rental and business-in-residence offerings.
• Georgia Tech Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC): University-affiliated startup incubator and accelerator at Georgia Tech, providing mentorship, facilities, and R&D access — directly comparable to Vertex's business-in-residence, acceleration, and academic-industry collaboration model.
• UCF Business Incubation Program: Florida-based university incubator offering business acceleration, facility access, and industry partnerships to startups and SMEs — the closest geographic and structural analog to Vertex on the Space Coast ecosystem.

Regional players

• Space Florida: Florida's state aerospace economic development agency supporting space industry growth on the Space Coast — overlapping with Vertex in regional ecosystem building, defense/aerospace R&D promotion, and government partnership facilitation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vertexfloridatech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Vertex Applied Innovation Hub