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The Tampa Bay Innovation Center has been selected to provide the State of Florida's economic gardening program, GrowFL, to second stage companies located throughout the Tampa Bay region.
The program is targeted at "second stage" companies that have the same needs as larger companies but struggle to make that next leap due to the lack of resources available. To qualify as "second stage" company, a company must have between 10 and 50 employees, generate annual sales of $1 million to $25 million, and have increased sales and employment during three of the last five years.
The program provides participants strategic research/technical assistance, CEO roundtables and CEO Forums. Highlights of the program are below.
Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance matches businesses with the GrowFL team of specialists that help to analyze a company’s overall business strategy to positively affect sales and marketing efforts. Technical assistance uses high end corporate level tools and cutting edge scientific concepts to help entrepreneurial growth companies identify markets, monitor competitors, track industry trends, locate customer clusters on maps, and use search engine optimization/social media for marketing and various customized research. The goal is to help improve a business’ marketing and sales efforts to increase revenues resulting in business growth and sustainable job creation.
CEO Roundtable
CEO Roundtables give participants the opportunity to discuss business practices and management strategies with peer CEOs who deal with similar growth challenges. CEO roundtables bring groups of entrepreneurs together 10 times over a one-year period for collaborative problem-solving sessions that address issues important to business owners. Led by a trained facilitator, these ongoing discussion groups are structured to provide CEOs with timely advice to problems they are currently experiencing. Attendance at the Roundtables is required.
CEO Forum
CEO Forums take place twice a year and allow experienced CEOs to share “lessons learned” with second-stage growth entrepreneurs. The forums are intended for CEOs to learn from entrepreneurs who have grown successful businesses, network with other entrepreneurs and build a stronger entrepreneurial culture in the community or region.
For more information on GrowFL contact: Danielle Weitlauf at 727-547-7340 or weitlaufd@tbinnovates.com.
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