St. Pete's TEC Garage incubates expansion

Much has been written about Tampa Bay's growing prominence as a hub for startups — particularly in technology.

One of the entrepreneur organizations that helped make it all possible, TEC Garage, wants to stay just as relevant as the companies it has nurtured. That's why the St. Petersburg-based organization has developed a slate of new programs aimed at going above and beyond the role of a traditional business incubator. That includes a renewed focus on individuals.

TEC Garage's parent, the Tampa Bay Innovation Center, was founded 15 years ago. Funding comes from a variety of sources, including a 2003 state grant; a 2012 federal grant; contracts for services; fees from clients; and corporate donations from companies such as Jabil, Duke Energy, Florida Blue and Tucker/Hall. Its annual budget is around $500,000.