COVER STORY
babm.com/coverstory
6 | JAN/FEB/MAR 2012
BRINGING INNOVATION TO TAMPA BAY
NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED By Ramona Hurley
During tough economic times, technology is often seen as the one bright spot. In the United States this past year, technology jobs outpaced the overall rate of new employment almost four times.1
saying, a community rich in innovation and technology is a sustainable community that prospers, in good times and bad. For this reason we are elated to share the story of Tampa Bay’s Gazelle Lab.
Formed in early 2011, Gazelle Lab describes itself as a community initiative, which is true in every aspect of its program. They are a member of the very successful TechStars Network, founded by two of the most respected technology investors and entrepreneurs, Brad Feld and David Cohen, and are a mentor-driven, three-month, seed stage investment program with the goal of developing Tampa Bay’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Simply put, they are a 90-day business accelerator that helps competitively chosen start-up companies take root and grow. Luckily for each of us, they have set their sights on doing great things for Tampa Bay, like building a stronger entrepreneurship community, creating a seed stage pipeline for start- ups, and creating more jobs.
Aligned with USF St. Petersburg, Gazelle Lab was founded by Brent Britton, Bill Jackson, John Morrow, Marvin Scaff and Daniel James Scott, all with incredibly impressive credentials and each bringing exceptional experience to the participants who are selected to participate in this intensive, all-in program. Legal maven Brent Britton has been helping start-ups for 20+ years in Boston, San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, New York, and Florida. Bill Jackson is a Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Director of the Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Innovation Alliance at USF St. Petersburg’s College of Business, whose students assist the companies selected to participate in the Gazelle Lab 90 Day program. John Morrow is the Entrepreneur-In-Residence with the Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Innovation Alliance at USF St. Petersburg. Marvin Scaff is a highly experienced software entrepreneur and technology innovator; and accomplished entrepreneur, visionary and author Daniel James Scott, named “one of 10 who
1
Forbes.com: The Best Cities For Technology; Nov. 18, 2011
So it goes without
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