Innovation has the power to transform businesses, communities, and lives. Tampa Bay Innovation Week kicks off on Monday, February 13th and the Greenhouse is excited to use #TampaBayInnovationWeek to promote awareness, provide resources, and celebrate the achievements of innovators in our community.
In the context of business, the Entrepreneur defines innovation as “creating new products or services, improving processes, or finding new markets for existing products or services.” Businesses can utilize innovation to problem-solve, promote business growth, and increase workplace efficiency. Innovation is especially useful for small businesses as it differentiates them from their competitors.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in recent years industries have spent more money on updating structures, equipment, and software to maintain advancement. While these are useful methods to stimulate improvement, there are other, less costly methods small businesses can implement to encourage growth. Forbes supports the “PAM” method to improve your business.
This approach involves examining your business processes, accountability, and motivation. When examining workplace processes, ensure you have the necessary tools to accomplish each task, proper documentation, and a clearly defined end goal. The next step is accountability, which requires cultivating trust, proper training, and staff check-ins to ensure tasks are completed on time and within budget. The last factor is one of the most important- motivation. As a business owner, you can motivate your staff by providing benefits and communicating the company’s vision, values, and goals.
This may sound overwhelming, but the Greenhouse has you covered with numerous resources at your disposal.
Local Resources
- The Greenhouse
Hey, it’s us! The Greenhouse serves as St. Pete’s home of small business empowerment to encourage the entrepreneurial mindset and create opportunity for all. The office is a unique public-private partnership between the City of St. Petersburg and The St. Pete Area Chamber of Commerce and helps to foster an equitable community where all business owners have access to the resources necessary to start, grow and thrive. Services include business consulting and mentoring, small business navigation, grants and incentives for small businesses, and industry-specific signature programs.
The Greenhouse also offers FREE recorded and online workshops that can be accessed here. For a more hands-on approach, please register to join us in person here.Here are a few of our upcoming workshops:
• “What’s a Good Idea for a Business,” on Monday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m.
Register here.
• “Show me the Money!” on Tuesday, February 21, at 6:00 p.m.
Register here.
• “How to Pitch Your Business,” on Wednesday, February 22, at 6:00 p.m.
Register here.
• “Product Development for Business,” on Thursday, February 23, at 6:00 p.m.
Register here.
• “Champagne Dreams; Kool-Aid Money,” on Monday, February 27, at 6:00 p.m.
Register here. - SBDC Pinellas County
The Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Pinellas County Economic Development (PCED) assists existing and emerging businesses in Pinellas County, through no-cost confidential business consulting information, and low-cost training. The Florida SBDC at PCED Center is part of the Florida SBDC at the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business region. Whether starting, buying, growing, or selling a business, the Florida SBDC at USF has what entrepreneurs need to grow and succeed. Consultants can assist entrepreneurs in a variety of business areas, including marketing, business certification, capital access, market diversification, developing strategic business plans, export services, and web optimization. - Pinellas County SCORE
Pinellas County SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed. They offer free personal, confidential mentoring and educational workshops virtually and in person. - Tampa Bay Innovation Center
The Tampa Bay Innovation Center is a nonprofit association whose mission is to accelerate entrepreneurial success by building technology companies, increasing the innovation community, and collaborating with partners. Located in St. Petersburg, the Tampa Bay Innovation Center offers educational programming, outreach activities, mentoring, and networking. They also have an incubation facility to host growing companies. - ARK Innovation Center
ARK is partnered with the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, the U.S. Economic Development Authority, Pinellas County, and the City of St. Petersburg. The nonprofit aims to support tech startups with its 200-person event center, an innovation lab for prototyping, AR/VR studio, 2 classrooms, conference rooms, and a co-working space. ARK Innovation Center is scheduled to open for business in July 2023. Although the center is not yet open, they are accepting reservations from innovative tech startup companies. - St. Pete Innovation District
Also known as SPID, The St. Pete Innovation District is dedicated to the progression of the City of St. Petersburg through Life Science, Marine Science, Education, Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Art, and Technology. The district facilitates collaboration between industries and organizations to create an innovative ecosystem that is geared toward generating, accelerating, and executing ideas.