Tampa, Fla., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Florida High Tech Corridor and Tampa Bay Wave are expanding their long-running partnership to create more opportunity for founders and accelerate growth of innovation-driven companies drawn to Wave’s award-winning accelerator programs.
The partnership expands on The Corridor’s previous support of Wave’s HealthTech|X Accelerator. It will create an ongoing collaboration serving a diverse portfolio of high-growth startups throughout The Corridor's 23-county region, as well as high-potential startups affiliated with its industry clustering initiative, Cenfluence. The collaboration also establishes a long-term framework to connect entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, industry expertise and other programming needed to scale startups and bring innovations to market.
Under the enhanced partnership, the two organizations will work together in:
- Developing a pipeline and process to prepare and refer Corridor and Cenfluence-affiliated companies to the Wave for its accelerator programs;
- Aligning programming with the needs of innovation-driven companies within The Corridor region; and
- Identifying future accelerator cohort focus areas based on regional industry strengths, emerging technologies and market opportunities.
Both organizations will also collaborate on accelerator-readiness and investor-readiness programming to help entrepreneurs become more competitive for funding and growth opportunities. Among the programming to be extended to Wave-affiliated companies is The Corridor’s FL FAST initiative, which focuses on preparing startups to be successful in winning nondilutive funding through federal technology development grants under the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.
Tampa Bay Wave President and CEO, Linda Olson, said, “The Corridor has stood behind Wave founders for more than a decade. With this new expanded partnership, we're putting a formal, multi-year framework around the work that's already proven itself. Our founders have shown what nondilutive funding can do for a company's trajectory. Now we get to build that path at scale for founders across Central Florida.”
"Our region is fortunate to be home to Tampa Bay Wave and its nationally leading programs that strengthen the innovation ecosystem, elevate locally founded companies and bring new founders and investment to the Tampa Bay market. By more closely aligning our resources and expertise, together we can help more entrepreneurs navigate the path from innovation to commercialization," said Corridor CEO Paul Sohl. “This expanded partnership will better connect the region’s innovation network and help founders scale their businesses while strengthening Florida's position as a leading destination for technology and innovation."
About the Florida High Tech CorridorThe Florida High Tech Corridor is an economic development initiative that spans a 23-county region from the Suncoast to the Space Coast. Anchored by the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Florida, The Corridor works to connect academia, industry and economic development partners to advance innovation, strengthen the workforce and talent pipeline, and support the growth of high-tech industry throughout the region. Founded in 1996, The Corridor serves as a catalyst for research collaboration, entrepreneurship support and strategic investments that accelerate regional prosperity.
About Tampa Bay WaveTampa Bay Wave, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing entrepreneurs with facilitated access to the resources, expertise and capital they need to grow vibrant technology-based companies in Tampa Bay. Since 2013, Tampa Bay Wave has supported more than 670 tech startups that have raised more than $1.8 billion in capital, created more than 7,600 jobs and completed 34 exits, driving an estimated $450 million in annual economic impact, thanks to grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), plus support from its economic development partners: Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and the City of Tampa. Tampa Bay Wave also receives support from academics, individuals, corporations and foundations such as: A-LIGN, Appspace, Bank of America, Celestar, Delta Air Lines/Virgin Atlantic Airlines, Florida High Tech Corridor, Foley & Lardner, JustWorks Kuducom, Nielsen Foundation, NextPath Workforce Solutions, St. Petersburg College, TECO, Thoropass, the University of South Florida and others. Tampa Bay Wave is ranked #3 accelerator in the U.S. and #1 in Florida by TIME. For more information, visit tampabaywave.org.
Attachment
Jack Phillips Vistra Communications 8133222590 jackp@consultvistra.com Vickie Chachere Florida High Tech Corridor 813-787-2990 communications@floridahightech.com