St. Petersburg-based incubator reaches office max capacity

Becca Brown became CEO and president of spARK Labs by ARK Invest in July 2025. Only a few months later, the organization launched a new membership-based incubator program to help technology startup founders. 

Now, the initiative has reached full office capacity with 45 companies.

“It’s a really exciting milestone,” she said. “We’re ahead of schedule. We were targeting to get to this point at the end of April. It speaks to the excitement, momentum and demand for what we are doing.” 

The program, located at the ARK Innovation Center (at 1101 4th Street S.), focuses on companies that are within the artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, blockchain and multiomics biology industries. Founders get one-on-one support while also engaging with other member organizations. 

Brown explained that there is a diverse range of businesses working out of spARK Labs by ARK Invest. Artificial intelligence-based companies are the most common. 

There is a waitlist for offices when they become available. She said that the membership model is designed around a 12-month span. Some organizations may choose to stay longer while others might “outgrow the space.” 

However, Brown added, there are still opportunities for co-working and dedicated desk memberships for those who want to be a part of the spARK Labs by ARK Invest community. 

“We will continue to build out programming,” she said. “We’ve established a good level of support through this incubator model that responds to the demands and needs of these companies.” 

Customized curriculum is key. 

A group of professionals who work in different industries hold monthly workshops and office hours. Members can also participate in pitch practices. Additionally, Brown and her team host Lunch and Learn events where founders can demo their platforms and receive guidance from peers or hear experts speak on a topic.  

Every Thursday, startup leaders are invited to attend a 90-minute brain storm session. 

 “It’s somewhat of an open forum where we come together as a community and share things we are learning and offer feedback to each other,” Brown explained. “I think it’s important to have that space every week to engage in this dialogue because the rate of development and change is so high with AI.” 

She added that spARK Labs by ARK Invest has formed a partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center. Brown and her colleagues will be working with “several” early-stage oncology AI companies. The founders of these organizations will also have the opportunity to collaborate with ARK Invest’s multiomics biology team. 

ARK Investment Management LLC, founded by Cathie Wood, relocated to St. Petersburg in 2021 from New York City. A key aspect of the company’s strategy is investing in disruptive innovations. Wood has backed the incubator. 

“The organic collaboration across companies is probably one of things I’m most excited about,” Brown said. “We are noticing, in multiple cases, companies working with each other and seeing the synergies.” 

This, she believes, creates more value for not only the members but the community as a whole. 

Brown discussed this goal in December for a Catalyze 2026 interview. 

spARK Labs by ARK Invest website