#0002 – The Exception Not The Rule ft. Lakshmi Shenoy

Sunshine and beaches might be first thing you think of when you think of the Tampa Bay, Florida region. And rightly so, it's gorgeous and has a handful of the top beaches in the country if not the world. But there's more than crystal clear ocean water in the upcoming startup community. Tampa is a rising city for starting and running a business but is coupled with a solid work, live, and play lifestyle. On this episode of Somewhat Frank, I talk with Lakshmi Shenoy the CEO of innovation hub in Tampa Bay, Florida about her newly launched initiative called Embarc Collective. Embarc Collective was spearheaded by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, and it continues to garner support from others in the community under Shenoy's leadership. Embarc Collective will be located just north of the Water Street Tampa neighborhood in downtown Tampa, where Vinik has partnered with Cascade Investment, LLC to transform the area into an urban, mixed-use waterfront district. As a central physical hub for the region as it will bring together startup companies, venture capitalists, academic resources, and startup-focused partners to help open opportunities, inspire iteration, push progress, and put Tampa Bay on the map as a prime destination for diverse startup talent both locally and globally – and did I mention the beaches? Find out what's behind Embarc Collective, from the CEO herself as she asks the community for feedback via a survey as a guide to helping the Tampa Bay startup ecosystem.