DECEMBER 2 - DECEMBER 8, 2022 | THREE DOLL ARS
FLOR IDA’S NE WSPAPER FOR T HE C - SUI T E
Entrepreneurs | Local NFL player lines up success off the field with tech firm. PG.8 PASCO • H ILL SBOROUG H • PIN ELL AS • P OLK • M A N ATEE • SA R ASOTA • C H A R LOT TE • LEE • COLLIER
STARTUP
Plant a Seed Several startups in the region — some bootstrapped, some with million-dollar investments — prepare for a breakout year. SPECIAL SECTION | PAGES 7-13
Monet Izquierdo and Matt Wolmer| PLANTE LA VIE MARK WEMPLE
inside
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE
3
Lessons from a teenage startup business .................7 The Reliaquest story: from nothing to unicorn ............ 7 Rayze, Tampa ......................8
Plante La Vie, Tampa.........9
Blue.Cloud, Tampa .......... 11
Blockspaces, Tampa.........10
HealthMe, Naples..............12
Sea & Soul Nautical Chart Art, Sarasota.......................10
How to get startup investors to open their wallets .................................13
Tampa tech community mourns entrepreneur. 371585-1
Startups are full of possibilities — and peril. From budding tech stars to a unique retail art business, the goals of startups in the region are similar: Build a sustainable company.
HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTY? AVOID THE NAUGHTY LIST. See Page 3