Florida Council of 100 launching new initiatives to increase healthcare and infrastructure firms

The Florida Council of 100 hopes to draw more healthcare and infrastructure businesses to the state by expanding one of its platforms designed to lure companies to and expand the economy.

“Ambition Accelerated” is the business platform Council of 100 officials hope will lure those companies to the Sunshine State. The Florida Council of 100 is an organization of business leaders in the Sunshine State. 

The Ambition Accelerator is an offshoot of the Council’s Gold Coast Tech Accelerator, designed to support financial technology companies in the state. It seeks to connect FinTech companies with commercial networks in Florida.

The Ambition Accelerator has the same philosophy. But seeks to hook in specifically healthcare and infrastructure companies.

“Florida has the underlying strengths to compete at a much higher level, but realizing that potential requires coordination,” said George LeMieux, Chairman of The Florida Council of 100 and Chairman of the Board at Gunster. “What’s different about this effort is that it brings together business leadership, industry, and regional assets in a way that is aligned and intentional. That’s how you create the conditions for long-term economic competitiveness.”

The accelerator already has “tracks” in some areas of the state, most notably in Southeast Florida. But the Council of 100 officials is adding new tracks both in the Tampa Bay area and Southwest Florida. Those networks should be operational by Fall.

The main anchor business in the Tampa Bay area will be Embarc Collective, focusing on new businesses that will provide delivery services, medical devices, diagnostics and digital health.

The Southwest Florida anchor business will be Babcock Ranch, which will focus on attracting firms committed to technology support, infrastructure resilience, water systems, energy and climate adaptation, among other firms.

“What we’re seeing across the Gold Coast and throughout Florida is not incremental growth, it’s a fundamental shift in how and where companies are choosing to build,” said Eric Silagy, Chair of The Florida Council of 100 Foundation and Vice Chair of Related Ross. “When you combine capital, infrastructure, and leadership at scale, you create the conditions for companies to grow with speed and certainty. That’s what makes this moment different, and why this platform matters.”

The platform should expand the number of partners and new businesses by leveraging a growing network of collaborative firms already operational in the state. It’s part of the Council of 100’s strategy to become more competitive with high-growth companies.