Looking back at 2025 with the CEO of Embarc Collective

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In January, I assumed the role of CEO at Embarc Collective. The past year has been filled with moments that reaffirm the importance of our mission and the extraordinary potential of the founders in our community and serve as a daily reminder of the extraordinary impact that Embarc Collective has on those we serve.

Embarc Collective is not an accelerator or an incubator; we are a platform with curated live and on-demand coaching and programming, an ever-growing repository of resources and frameworks, and access to a national network of corporate customers, universities and investors designed to amplify the potential of tech-startup founders and the markets they serve.

Since our founding in 2019, Embarc Collective has embraced a singular mission: to empower founders with the resources, guidance and networks necessary to build bold, thriving companies here in Florida. Our community of 140+ early-stage tech startups and growth companies has created 1,200+ high-paying tech and tech-enabled jobs and raised almost $700 million in seed, venture and growth equity funding to scale their tech companies, driving more than $100 million annually in direct economic returns to the state of Florida while attracting more than $100 million in capital invested into Florida’s startup and innovation economy each year.

Over the past year, I have been continually inspired by our team’s dedication to this mission and by the vibrancy of the community we support.

This year, we welcomed more than 40 new early-stage tech startups that spanned diverse industry verticals like healthcare and life sciences, cybersecurity and data analytics, AI and deep tech, financial services, and defense and national security, while experiencing a staggering 50+% increase in applications. We launched corporate and university partner programs that added resources from organizations like ReliaQuest, A-LIGN, the University of South Florida and Florida Funders, among others, and expanded efforts to provide member companies access to leading institutional investors across the nation, investors like KKR, FTV Capital, Queen City Angels, Weatherford Capital, Fulcrum Equity, Arsenal Growth, DeepWork Capital, Medina Ventures and many, many more. Hosting over 300 events that drew more than 10,000 registered attendees nationwide, alongside our collaboration with EX3 Labs to launch The Digital Suite Tampa, a state-of-the-art hub for exploring AI-powered digital technologies, underscores the reach and impact of our platform.

While growth and external recognition are important, our commitment to our member community remains at the forefront of everything we do. Supporting founders is, and will always be, our highest priority. Over the past year, we have delivered more than one thousand hours of coaching, hosted more than 40 member-only programming events, and curated monthly member socials, among numerous other initiatives – all designed to strengthen the foundation of our community and provide founders with the guidance, connections and tools they need to succeed.

None of this would be possible without the tireless dedication of our coaches and staff. Their expertise, energy and unwavering commitment to our mission are the backbone of Embarc Collective. From delivering thousands of hours of coaching to curating member events and providing critical support behind the scenes, their work ensures that founders have the guidance and tools necessary to succeed. On behalf of the entire community, I extend my deepest gratitude to them.

Looking forward, Embarc Collective will continue to serve as a vital resource for founders navigating the complexities of scaling a business. As we deepen our roots in Tampa Bay, we are also investing time and effort to bring our proven support model to additional cities and entrepreneurial communities across Florida. Our goal is simple: to help more founders realize their vision while simultaneously elevating the profile of Florida as a leading hub for tech innovation. I am honored to lead this journey and excited for what lies ahead as we continue to grow, innovate and invest in the people at the heart of our ecosystem.

Dr. Tim R. Holcomb is CEO of Embarc Collective, a Tampa-based incubation program for business startups.