Archive for category: Blog

SMARTSAT, Inc. of Pinellas County

Nearly 30 years ago, SMARTSAT was founded to solve a critical military communications challenge. Today, the Largo-based company is leveraging support from the Florida SBDC at University of South Florida (USF) to explore new international markets and pursue opportunities with organizations such as the European Space Agency.

Founded by USF Alum, Heidi Akers, SMARTSAT develops satellite simulation technology used by engineers and defense organizations to test and certify communications systems on the ground before deployment. “We’ve been in business now, it’ll be 30 years in December,” said Akers, founder and CEO of SMARTSAT. “We realized that we needed a tool for engineers to do radio and satellite development here on the ground rather than using the live satellites up in space.”

The company’s origins can be traced back to lessons learned during Operation Desert Storm, when military engineers struggled to access limited satellite resources while active operations were underway. “At the time, nobody thought, ‘Goodness, we can take a Nintendo 64 type of product and create an engineering tool that would be effective for engineers to do radio development in a lab,’” Akers said. “The government liked it so much that they decided they would use our tool as a certification tool for radios before they went to live deployment out in the field.”

As SMARTSAT continued to grow, Akers sought assistance in identifying new opportunities beyond the company’s traditional markets. A referral from Pinellas County Economic Development connected her with the Florida SBDC at USF and international trade consultant Selma Canas.

Although SMARTSAT had conducted international business for years, its efforts were largely concentrated among the “Five Eyes” nations: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. As more countries began investing in satellite technologies for defense and communications, Akers recognized the need for a broader market strategy. “There’s a difficulty to reach out into the broader community,” she said. “It’s not always easy to look overseas and understand what the market looks like.”

Through the Florida SBDC at USF, SMARTSAT received a customized Export Marketing Plan that provided detailed analysis of international opportunities, potential customers and market trends. “What she produced for our company was something that was actionable,” Akers said. “It showed us who the customers were worldwide, what the need was near term, midterm, long term.”

The plan also helped SMARTSAT better understand emerging opportunities throughout Europe. “The export marketing plan was an outstanding tool for us to better understand what are the countries that are involved, what’s the budget they have allocated, and what is their plan over the next midterm and long term for each of those nations,” she said.

Shortly after receiving the plan, Akers applied for and received funding through the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), which enabled her to attend GovSatCom, a government and defense satellite communications conference in Luxembourg.

What began as an opportunity to learn more about the European satellite market quickly developed into a significant business prospect. “While standing in the Airbus booth, I was approached by the technical contact at the European Space Agency who said, ‘We need that as a training tool. We need this system in country,’” Akers recalled. That introduction soon led to additional conversations and a referral to a company in Italy.

For Akers, the experience demonstrates the value of business counseling and international trade assistance. “Doing the export marketing plan allowed me to apply for the STEP program,” she said. “The STEP program provided really valuable funds to get to a really important conference over in Europe that, as a small business, might’ve been difficult for me to get to.”

Akers believes she is only beginning to tap into the resources available through the Florida SBDC at USF. As the company plans for future growth, she hopes to explore additional funding opportunities, develop scaling strategies and position the company for long-term sustainability. “I’m only now beginning to understand the breadth and depth of resources that you have at the Florida SBDC,” she said. “Long term, it is every business’ dream to scale.”

Looking back on SMARTSAT’s journey, Akers points to one of the company’s proudest accomplishments: supporting a major military communications program that resulted in the design and manufacture of 455 power amplifiers for the Joint Tactical Terminal system. “We shook sand out of them when they came back in again,” she said. “They had been through some really difficult circumstances, and they worked. That was something that was so satisfying for us.”

Another proud moment was when SMARTSAT responded to a U.S. Government Request for Information (RFI) that was intended for several large defense contractors. Collaborating with a group of small business owners, SMARTSAT developed a response strategy asserting that small businesses could fulfill the government’s requirements with greater speed, higher reliability, and at a much lower cost. “We submitted a proposal, and on July 7, we received the contract award – nearly $1M to retrofit the satellite communications lab at Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts.”

Today, SMARTSAT continues to build on that legacy of innovation while pursuing new international opportunities. Akers credits the Florida SBDC at USF with helping the company navigate unfamiliar territory and prepare for its next chapter. “There is often a tendency among entrepreneurs to think we can do it ourselves,” she said. “The most important thing we do is recognize that we don’t know what we don’t know.”

“It has been wonderful to connect with an organization that has some deep resources and that will allow me, as a small business, to come in and admit I don’t know, and connect me with some other folks who really do and can help us move forward.”

MADTECH.AI of Pinellas County

When Bill Lederer launched MADTECH.AI in downtown St. Petersburg, he had a vision to bring advanced decision intelligence tools to organizations working to make a difference in the world. What started as an idea backed by experience, passion, and a commitment to mission-driven organizations has grown into an emerging technology company serving nonprofits and other purpose-focused institutions.

Along the way, the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) has played a critical role in helping the company move from concept to growth.

Founded by Lederer, a veteran entrepreneur who has led seven startups and three public company divisions, MADTECH.AI specializes in what he describes as “decision intelligence for good.” The company helps nonprofits and mission-based organizations make smarter, faster decisions by leveraging artificial intelligence and data-driven insights.

“We help nonprofit and other mission-based organizations solve a whole variety of challenges, focusing on the need to know as opposed to the nice to know,” Lederer said.

The concept for the company was rooted in Lederer’s extensive experience building AI-powered decision science solutions in the private sector. Having spent years supporting nonprofit organizations as a donor and board member, he saw an opportunity to apply those same capabilities to organizations often operating with limited resources.

“We chose to launch MADTECH.AI because we spent a lot of years building capabilities around decision sciences and AI-based decision intelligence,” Lederer said. “This is an opportunity to bring what we’ve learned to do in the for-profit world for the benefit of nonprofits.”

MADTECH.AI’s growth story began in a Pinellas County-supported accelerator program housed at ARK Innovation Center in downtown St. Petersburg. At the time, the company was little more than a business concept supported by presentations, spreadsheets and ambition.

“We came through a B2B SaaS accelerator program literally from PowerPoint and Excel and a lot of dreams and vision and formulated our business,” Lederer said.

Through every stage of development, Lederer said Florida SBDC at PCED business consultant Kurt provided guidance, strategic counseling and connections that helped turn the idea into a viable business.

“Kurt’s been a great resource in many, many ways,” Lederer said. “The organization has been there every step along the way from the formation all the way through getting us started, helping get us funded.”

That support has translated into tangible results. Since its launch, MadTech.AI has grown from a one-person operation to a team of six employees. The company has also participated in several business competitions, earning recognition and valuable exposure within the entrepreneurial community.

One significant milestone came when the company competed in an Amazon Web Services (AWS) pitch competition. MADTECH.AI advanced to the finals and ultimately won, securing a $50,000 award that helped accelerate growth.

“The SBDC helped us with AWS and a pitch competition in which we were fortunate to be a finalist and then won that competition, which resulted in $50,000,” Lederer said.

Beyond funding opportunities, Lederer credits Florida SBDC at PCED with helping raise the company’s profile and connect it to resources that might otherwise have been difficult to access.

“I think it’s helped to validate us, increase our awareness in the community and made available some good counseling and people that we wouldn’t have known otherwise,” he said. “Literally, they’ve been there every step of the way.”

The impact of that support became especially clear when the company encountered a challenge involving an SBA loan program. Lederer described the situation as potentially threatening to the future of the business and said Florida SBDC at PCED helped navigate a complex government process to find a solution.

“In all truth, without Kurt’s involvement, we would not be able to be the company that we are,” Lederer said. “We were able to have a human being help us find another human being within the government apparatus and get resolution on a problem that was really existential for us as a company.”

Today, MADTECH.AI continues to expand its reach while helping organizations use artificial intelligence to improve outcomes and maximize impact. Lederer expects the company will continue hiring in both technical and business roles as it grows and believes the Florida SBDC at PCED will remain an important partner in that journey.

“I consider the SBDC of Pinellas County a core member of the team,” Lederer said. “It has been, will continue to be, and I’m hopeful that the success we’re having will be a model for others.”

For entrepreneurs considering whether to seek assistance from the Florida SBDC at PCED, Lederer’s message is straightforward.

“Stop thinking about it. Do it,” he said. “We all need help, and sometimes we don’t even know that we need that help. This is an unbelievably high-ROI opportunity where the price is right, and there are all different kinds of skills to meet you where you are and help you on your way.”

He also believes Pinellas County offers an exceptional environment for startups looking to grow. “This is a great place to be an entrepreneur,” Lederer said. “The resources exist, and there are people here that want to help.”

E-Mobilize Bike Service, LLC of Pinellas County

What began as an idea to fill a service gap in the growing electric bike market has quickly evolved into a thriving mobile repair business for E-Mobilize Bike Service, LLC.

Founded by Jake McFadden and supported by operating officer and marketing director Russ Hilton, the company delivers on-demand repair services for bicycles and a range of electric mobility devices throughout the Tampa Bay region.

“We are a 100% mobile electric bike and regular bicycle repair service,” McFadden said. “We do more than just work on electric bikes and bicycles. We also work on e-scooters, electric motorcycles, light electric vehicles in general, um, and we do it where we come right to you. So we fix it fast, we fix it right, we fix it right in your driveway, and we have a good time doing it.”

The idea for E-Mobilize came from firsthand industry experience and a clear need in the market.

“We decided to start E-Mobilize because we saw a giant gap in service, basically. There was this big need for somebody to be able to come out to someone’s location to be able to work on their electric bike. Not only to work on it, but to have the expertise to be able to diagnose any type of not only bicycle issue, but electronic issue as well, and that’s really where we shine,” McFadden said.

To build and scale the business effectively, the team turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED), where they began working with consultant Kurt Forster.

“So we’ve utilized Kurt as our consultant through the Florida SBDC at Pinellas County Economic Development, and it’s been fantastic for us,” McFadden explained. “We’ve used him for all sorts of different things, questions about how to move forward with marketing, how to move forward with growing the business. We’ve taken classes like a Profit Mastery class at St. Petersburg College, and it’s just been fantastic to have an extra resource there. I come from a bicycle repair background, so being a business owner is something that I’ve had to really learn, and it’s been great to have help when it comes to that.”

Hilton emphasized the value of having a trusted advisor as the business evaluated new opportunities and strategic decisions.

“With my background with being in marketing and business, I don’t know everything, and so reaching out to a resource like Kurt has been fantastic,” Hilton said. “He’s been kind of that right-hand person to consult us on different projects that we’ve had. I mean, we’ve had different projects from looking at bike shops, [to] looking at vehicles. No matter what it’s been, we’ve always had to be able to bounce it off of Kurt to get the best ideas and make the best decisions for our business.”

With guidance from the Florida SBDC at PCED, E-Mobilize has experienced strong and measurable growth.

“So our business has grown by utilizing the Florida SBDC by using a lot of techniques that they have given us,” Hilton added. “With the marketing stuff, we increased our email marketing alone, which every time we sent out an email blast, we’d get 10 reservations just from one email blast. We have grown our business from 3,000 customers to 4,000 customers in just about a year and a half. Our business has increased by 16% over a year.”

In addition to customer growth, the company has strengthened its reputation through improved online engagement and customer feedback, further positioning itself as a leader in mobile repair services.

The company’s expansion beyond its original service area stands out as one of its greatest accomplishments.

“I think our biggest success so far has been expanding our business out of just Pinellas County,” McFadden said. “We started in Pinellas County, but we now have a technician that lives in Pasco County and one that lives in Hillsborough County, so we cover the whole Tampa Bay area, and we do it really well. We are able to support our other employees and, and they really enjoy it.”

Looking ahead, the E-Mobilize team plans to continue leaning on the Florida SBDC at PCED as they scale operations and enter new phases of growth.

“As we grow this business, we know we’re gonna need help,” Hilton said. “I mean, ’cause we are entrepreneurs, we don’t know everything on it. So we will use the Florida SBDC and Kurt along this way. We’re gonna take this journey together.”

For other small business owners, McFadden encourages building relationships and taking advantage of available support systems.

“Really check it out and make a relationship with somebody there, whether it be a consultant or just getting in touch with the program in general in any way,” he said. “That may be through a class, maybe it’s through your chamber of commerce. That’s how we got introduced to it. You’ve really got to utilize the resources that are available to you to help you grow your business. You can’t do everything yourself when you’re a business owner. I’m sure you’ve tried if you own a business, and it’s just impossible. You gotta have help, and that’s where they come in.”

With continued momentum and a strong support network, E-Mobilize Bike Service is well-positioned to keep expanding its reach and redefining convenience in the bicycle and electric mobility repair industry.

Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition of Pinellas County

What began as a grassroots response to persistent poverty in one of Pinellas County’s most underserved communities has evolved into an ambitious economic development initiative designed to create opportunity, foster entrepreneurship and revitalize a historic corridor.

The Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition, led by Executive Director Gloria Campbell and Director of Communications Marilyn Turman, is spearheading “The Village,” an innovative small-business incubator in the North Greenwood area. The project aims to support 10 to 12 small businesses and create up to 15 jobs in a neighborhood long impacted by disinvestment.

“We are a grassroots community organization focused on economic development,” Campbell said. “North Greenwood is the highest concentration of poverty in Pinellas County, and we wanted to create a vehicle to bring opportunity back to the community.”

The vision for The Village emerged after coalition leaders recognized that the area’s once-thriving commercial corridor had all but disappeared.

“As we looked down what was a commercial corridor… all the buildings are gone,” Campbell said. “There were no resources to put people into. So, this became a way to house new businesses and support existing ones.”

Since its inception nearly seven years ago, the coalition has worked to educate residents, build community support and develop a sustainable model for economic revitalization.

Central to the coalition’s progress has been its partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development, particularly business consultant Jenee Skipper.

“We have worked with Jenee Skipper in a number of ways,” Campbell said. “She has been such a resource helping us as we rolled out our business plan and put together our pitch for our development.”

From refining financial strategies to shaping tenant selection and operational planning, Skipper’s guidance helped transform the coalition’s concept into a viable, structured initiative.

“When we first approached this project, she looked at all aspects of our proposal, including financing and cash flow,” Campbell said. “She helped us figure out how we were going to make this successful.”

Turman echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the SBDC’s role in preparing future business owners for long-term success.

“She has been an amazing resource,” Turman said. “Once we gathered our potential tenants, she helped us develop a curriculum to prepare them. We want to make sure they don’t just have a grand opening and a grand closing.”

The training component is a key part of The Village’s strategy. Participants receive education on financial management, business planning, risk mitigation and other fundamentals critical to sustaining a business.

“You may be the best cook on the planet,” Turman said, “but you better know about financial statements, balance sheets and cash flow projections.”

Campbell added that Skipper’s proactive approach has helped keep the coalition on track.

“She doesn’t wait for us to call — she calls us,” Campbell said. “She keeps us on track and makes sure our businesses are getting what they need.”

The Village is designed to be more than just a collection of storefronts. Leaders envision it as a supportive ecosystem where small businesses can grow, collaborate and eventually expand beyond the incubator.

“The key is to build an ecosystem where businesses can thrive, not just survive,” Campbell said.

The project will initially house 11 businesses, some sharing space to reduce costs and encourage collaboration. In addition, the coalition plans to host pop-up opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs who are not yet ready for a permanent location.

“That gives them an opportunity to test their product and grow,” Campbell said. “When spaces open up, we’ll have businesses ready to move in.”

The coalition also ties training participation to future funding opportunities and offers reduced rents to ease the financial burden on entrepreneurs. These measures are intended to improve success rates and address the high failure rates typically associated with small businesses.

“Our goal is at least a 90 percent success rate,” Campbell said. “We’re putting the tools in place to make that happen.”

Since partnering with the Florida SBDC, the coalition has seen significant progress, moving from concept to near completion of the project.

“Our business has grown significantly,” Campbell said. “We’ve partnered with multiple entities, and we’ve gone from an idea to a business model to a project that will be coming out of the ground very shortly.”

Collaborations with organizations such as St. Petersburg College have helped validate the coalition’s market strategies, including tenant and product mix decisions. Support from the City of Clearwater and Pinellas County Economic Development has also provided essential funding and resources.

Among the coalition’s biggest achievements is securing land for the project and providing opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

“We’ve been able to give 11 businesses a home,” Campbell said. “That’s huge.”

For many in North Greenwood, The Village represents more than economic development — it symbolizes renewed hope and investment in a historically overlooked community.

As the project moves closer to completion, the coalition plans to continue leveraging SBDC resources for ongoing training, mentorship and funding opportunities.

“We know that as businesses hit roadblocks, we’ll have resources to help them navigate,” Campbell said. “And we’re looking at how this model could be replicated in other communities.”

Turman encouraged other entrepreneurs to take advantage of the SBDC’s offerings.

“They’re free services,” she said. “If you don’t take advantage of them, you’re missing out on great opportunities.”

Campbell offered a similar message.

“If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it,” she said. “These resources are there to help you grow your business — whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand.”

With The Village poised to open its doors, the Clearwater Urban Leadership Coalition is demonstrating how community-driven vision, combined with strategic partnerships, can create pathways to economic opportunity and long-term success.