Florida Council of 100 opens applications for Ambition Accelerated platform
The Florida Council of 100 and its Foundation announced applications are now open for the 2026 accelerator program within Ambition Accelerated, the Council’s statewide platform designed to help build the next generation of American companies.
As states compete for founders, investment, and innovation, The Florida Council of 100 is advancing a new model for strengthening Florida’s economic competitiveness. To win over the next generation of companies, states must do more than attract founders — they must surround them with the relationships, expertise, and opportunities needed to succeed. Understanding that, the Council is bringing together CEOs, founders, investors, universities, and corporate partners in a collaborative effort to help build and scale companies in Florida.
Ambition Accelerated is the Council’s flagship platform for doing just that. The accelerator program gives high-growth founders direct access to executive mentors, enterprise customers, strategic partners, investors, and experienced operators who can help accelerate growth. More than 75 CEOs from some of Florida’s leading companies are engaged to support this year’s program.
The 2026 accelerator is organized around four tracks across the Gold Coast, Tampa Bay, and Southwest Florida, focusing on industries where Florida is well positioned to lead: FinTech, Dual-Use & Defense Technology, HealthTech, and Resilience. These sectors reflect areas where Florida has distinct competitive advantages and the potential to grow nationally significant companies.
Ambition Accelerated builds on the Florida Council of 100’s long-term competitiveness work. Through Beyond Sunshine, the Council identified the industries where Florida has the greatest opportunity to lead over the coming decades. Gold Coast Tech then demonstrated how business leaders could help founders succeed by connecting them directly with customers, investors and experienced operators. Ambition Accelerated expands that proven model into a statewide platform focused on helping build the next generation of American companies.
“The next generation of iconic American companies are being built in Florida,” said George LeMieux, Chairman of The Florida Council of 100 and Chairman of the Board at Gunster. “Florida has created an environment where founders can find customers, attract investment, build partnerships, and grow. Florida is where America succeeds.”
The 2026 program features an exclusive eight-week hybrid accelerator, with ten companies selected for each track. Participants will receive executive coaching and strategic guidance, connect directly with business leaders and potential customers, participate in a statewide showcase with members of The Florida Council of 100, receive access to eMerge Americas’ invitation-only Miami AI Summit, and one founder and one cofounder or member of the founding team will receive a free one-year membership to Embarc Collective, Florida’s largest startup hub, in 2027, which will provide founders continuing access to curated startup programming, on-demand coaching and mentorship, and university resources, including matching grants for research, SBIR/STTR guidance, workforce and talent, and IP portfolios; connectivity to corporates and investors; use of open collaboration workspace, conference rooms, and event space; and engagement with a community of more than 300 founders of 150 Florida-based startups and growth-stage companies in healthcare, frontier tech, fintech, resilience and climate tech, and defense and national security, among sixty sectors.
“The states that lead over the next decade won’t just be the ones that attract great companies,” said Mike Simas, President and CEO of The Florida Council of 100. “They’ll be the ones that help build them. Florida has all the ingredients to become that kind of place, and Ambition Accelerated is about connecting founders with the customers, capital, talent, and business leaders they need to grow.”
“I’ve seen firsthand how founders decide where to build,” said Francis Suarez, former two-term Mayor of Miami and Senior Advisor to the Gold Coast Campaign. “They’re looking for customers they couldn’t reach otherwise, investors who understand their business, and operators who’ve already navigated the challenges they’re about to face. Florida has distinct competitive advantages in the industries this accelerator is focused on, and Ambition Accelerated gives founders a direct path into the relationships that matter most. This accelerator will show founders nationwide that Florida is not just a place to launch, but a place to scale, compete, and stay.”
Industry-Led Accelerators
Each accelerator focuses on an industry critical to Florida’s future and is supported by business leaders investing in the next generation of innovation.
Ambition Accelerated: Gold Coast Tech
Powered by The Florida Council of 100, Related Ross, eMerge Americas, and Embarc Collective, and presented by Truist, Gold Coast Tech includes a FinTech track in West Palm Beach and a Dual-Use & Defense Technology track in Miami.
“At Truist, our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and one way we bring that to life is by supporting founders who are building solutions that can strengthen industries and local economies,” said Scott Cathcart, Florida regional president at Truist. “Through Ambition Accelerated, we’re proud to help connect high-growth founders with the relationships, market perspective and resources they need to scale in Florida and create lasting impact.”
Ambition Accelerated: Tampa Bay
Powered by The Florida Council of 100, Embarc Collective, and eMerge Americas, and presented by GuideWell and Tampa General Hospital, the Tampa Bay accelerator is anchored at Embarc Collective within the Tampa Medical & Research District and focuses on healthcare delivery, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health.
The entrepreneurs in this accelerator have an opportunity to build more than a company —they can help build a better system of care,” said Brian Pieninck, President and CEO of GuideWell. “People deserve healthcare that works with and for them. We get there by bringing the whole system together, focused on what people and communities need. Florida will lead and show that better is possible at scale.
“Healthcare innovation happens when providers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry work together to solve real problems,” said John Couris, President and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “We’re proud to support founders whose ideas have the potential to improve patient care and strengthen Florida’s leadership in health innovation.”
Ambition Accelerated: Southwest Florida
Powered by The Florida Council of 100, Embarc Collective, and eMerge Americas, and presented by Babcock Ranch, the Southwest Florida accelerator is anchored at Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, and focuses on technologies that strengthen resilient communities through innovations in infrastructure, energy, water, construction, and disaster preparedness.
“Babcock Ranch was built on the belief that resilience and innovation go hand in hand,” said Syd Kitson, Chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners and founder of Babcock Ranch. “By supporting entrepreneurs developing the next generation of resilience technologies, we’re investing in solutions that will benefit communities across Florida and beyond.”
Platform Partners
Founding Platform Partners Related Ross and eMerge Americas helped launch Ambition Accelerated alongside FC100 through the Gold Coast Tech Accelerator and continue to support its statewide expansion, while Embarc Collective has joined as a Statewide Platform Partner to provide coaching and programming support across all accelerator programs.
“The Gold Coast has become one of America’s most dynamic regions for entrepreneurship and investment,” said Eric Silagy, Chair of The Florida Council of 100 Foundation and Vice Chairman of Related Ross. “Connecting founders with customers, capital, and experienced business leaders gives promising companies a better opportunity to successfully grow their business.”
“eMerge Americas was created to connect entrepreneurs, investors, corporations, and innovators shaping the future of technology,” said Melissa Medina, Co-Founder and CEO of eMerge Americas. “Ambition Accelerated builds on that mission by creating more opportunities for founders across Florida.”
“Founders need experienced coaches, trusted advisors, and a community committed to helping them succeed,” said Tim Holcomb, President and CEO of Embarc Collective. “We’re excited to help founders build enduring companies through this statewide effort.”
Applications for the 2026 accelerator program are open through August 21, 2026.
To learn more or apply, visit AmbitionAccelerated.com.