In West Palm Beach, founders in fintech and dual-use/defense swapped notes with Fortune-level operators, comparing what they’re building to what Florida is already great at. Finance and insurance have been growing here faster than in New York or California. Defense and aerospace pump more than $100 billion into the state each year.
The signal was clear: if you’re building in these lanes, Florida wants you.
That’s the backdrop for the Gold Coast Tech Accelerator Program, an eight-week hybrid sprint created by The Florida Council of 100 and its Foundation, eMerge Americas, and Related Ross.
The idea is simple and very Florida: pair promising startups with the people who actually move markets here – CEOs, policy insiders, and investors with patient capital – and get them the introductions that shorten sales cycles and open doors.
“Florida’s Gold Coast is fast becoming a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. This accelerator represents our commitment to cultivating the next generation of tech leaders and connecting them with the mentorship, capital, and community they need to thrive,” Michael Simas, President & CEO of The Florida Council of 100, shared in a statement.
“Together with our partners, we’re building an ecosystem where bold ideas can take root and scale across the state,” he added.
The cohorts reflect where Florida has comparative strength. On the dual-use and defense side, teams like Extremis Systems, Phantom Photonics, Thor Dynamics Corporation, Material Hybrid Manufacturing, Symbio Holdings, ProximaVision Aerospace, Impatient Software, Future Optek, bundleIQ, and Farview are working on everything from sensing to advanced manufacturing to software that helps operators make faster decisions.
In fintech, the roster includes Retrievables, Grove, SyncData.ai, Preventor, RISKRATOR, Cypator, Maestro, Clox AI, Delfi, and Eyeclone – companies aimed at underwriting, fraud, data plumbing, market access, and compliance.
Both tracks are building real picks and shovels for giant industries that Florida actually buys.
For Related Ross, the accelerator aligns with a build-the-platform approach they’ve taken across Palm Beach County, connecting talent, office space, and enterprise demand.
“At Related Ross, we are proud to partner with The Florida Council of 100 and eMerge Americas to launch the Gold Coast Tech accelerator program, which will immerse startups in an intense, hands-on experience with some of Florida’s top business leaders,” said Eric Silagy, Vice Chairman of Related Ross. “We are excited to see how these startups take advantage of this unique opportunity and shape the future of the Gold Coast region,” he said.
Yes, there will be programming – workshops, founder-only sessions, and tactical help – but the real asset here is access. The Florida Council of 100 is a who’s-who of statewide operators, people who can green-light pilots or make the one call that matters. The benefits list reads like a go-to-market wish list: direct mentorship with top CEOs and investors, corporate pilots, statewide market access, investor introductions, and workspace. For startups already selling or piloting, this can compress six months of BD into two.
It also fits neatly with eMerge Americas’ year-round push to keep Miami-and-beyond in the global tech conversation.
“The Gold Coast Tech Accelerator is a powerful example of what can happen when business and innovation leaders come together with a shared vision for Florida’s future,” said Melissa Medina, co-founder and CEO of eMerge Americas. “By connecting high-potential startups with mentorship, capital, and opportunity, we’re fueling the next wave of growth and ensuring that innovation thrives across the state,” she said in the press release.
Why does this matter for founders outside Palm Beach County or even outside Florida? Because the state’s economy is unusually connected across sectors that buy tech: finance, healthcare, logistics, aerospace, defense. A founder who lands a pilot with a Florida bank can quickly find themselves introduced to a port operator or a hospital system. The same is true on the defense side, where dual-use tech often needs a commercial proof point to scale. An accelerator that sits at the junction of policy, enterprise, and capital can speed up that loop.
Over the next eight weeks, these founders will be pressure-testing pricing, refining security reviews, and lining up the intros that decide who gets a second meeting. If you’re building in fintech or dual-use and think Florida is just beaches and boosterism, watch what happens when procurement teams meet products that solve their actual problems.
Picture at top of post: Maura Daves, Vice President of Corporate Communications at Related Ross; Melissa Medina, Co-Founder and CEO of eMerge Americas; Eric Silagy, Vice Chairman at Related Ross; and Michael Simas, President and CEO of The Florida Council of 100, take part in a fireside chat during the Gold Coast Tech Accelerator Opening Day in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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