Three Tampa blockchain companies move into the spotlight

Three startups ready to graduate from BlockSpaces will pitch their ideas next week at the organization’s first public showcase.

Each of the companies has a diverse set of blockchain solutions, according to BlockSpaces, a Tampa incubator for blockchain-focused firms.

• EzLawyer is a cloud platform for businesses and lawyers to create blockchain-secured, self-managing smart legal contacts and find collaborative consensus faster.
• Project Marlin is a solution for home loans and mortgage insurance.
• CoinCatcher is a loyalty program game for businesses.

Each of the founders will talk about their companies and their timeline for launch at the showcase, March 28, 6-8 p.m. at The Attic, 500 E. Kennedy Blvd. in downtown Tampa. The event is free and open to the public. Register here.

Blockchain is a digital information storage system. Blockchain technology stores information chronologically in “blocks” to allow for the efficient and nearly instantaneous processing and transfer of data. While its best known as the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, it has a variety of uses.

More than a half-dozen innovators in the blockchain space have been work at the BlockSpaces Innovation Lab since January.

“We are incredibly proud of all our startups this quarter, and we are amazed with the startups that are already joining the LAB for next quarter,” Chris Williams, chief technology officer, said in a news release. “We are making BlockSpaces the home of blockchain innovation in the Tampa Bay area.”

BlockSpaces, located at Tampa Bay Wave, was founded in 2017 by Gabe Higgins and Rosa Shores. The organization provides specialized education, development and support services in a collaborative learning community of innovators and early-stage entrepreneurs.