St Pete Catalyst • 27th June 2025

Bay area AI startup receives $1.3M in pre-seed round

Iteright, a Tampa Bay area-based startup, recently received $1.3 million in a pre-seed round led by New World Angels’ Innovation Fund. 
A pre-seed round helps startup companies get initial funding to bring their products and services to life. 
Over 30 investors took part in the round. 
The company, founded by Alex Brodsky, has developed an innovative artificial intelligence platform that helps guide business executives through investment decisions.  
A “growth management system,” Itright provide...

St Pete Catalyst • 26th June 2025

Homeless: The Studio Public House is losing its lease

The Studio Public House, a popular British restaurant in the Grand Central District, is being forced to close this summer. 
Owner Mike Crippin said that his landlord – the building’s owner – is planning on selling the 2950 Central Ave. building for redevelopment. 
Crippin contacted his landlord late last year to renew his lease for the next five years. 
“In late January, he sent me back all the numbers by email. I agreed. I liked him. I verbally agreed because we communicate by text and email an...

St Pete Catalyst • 26th June 2025

United Way Suncoast invests $14.13M in community programs

United Way Suncoast (UWS) will invest $14.13 million in community programs that encourage educational opportunity and financial security. 
The Tampa-based nonprofit will fund 67 programs over a span of three years throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties. 
UWS strives to serve the ALICE population (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). These individuals often live paycheck to paycheck due to the rising costs of living (childcare, transportation, housing, e...

St Pete Catalyst • 24th June 2025

Registration still open for July 4 Pier Run

A popular St. Petersburg Independence Day tradition is set to make its return.  
The 5th annual Orlando Health St. Pete Pier Run will take place Friday, July 4. Attendees will be able to participate in a timed 4-mile run starting from Spa Beach Park on the St. Pete Pier. The course will go along the waterfront and end back on The Pier. 
There will be two “waves” of runners. The first group will start at 6:30 a.m. and the second at 7:45 a.m. Each can have a maximum of 1,500 participants. Registra...

St Pete Catalyst • 23rd June 2025

Despite funding loss, overdose nonprofit remains optimistic

Florida Harm Reduction Collective (FHRC), a St. Petersburg-based nonprofit, has been providing free Naloxone kits through mail distribution to individuals around Florida since 2022. 
Naloxone (also known under the brand name Narcan), typically a nasal spray, is a medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses. 
Between 400 to 600 kits are delivered every month on average. 
Every kit has four doses of Naloxone as well as literature about opioid overdose prevention, addiction treatments and local resou...

St Pete Catalyst • 21st June 2025

Clearwater complex to offer affordable housing again 

Sunrise Affordable Housing Group has acquired the Indigo, a Clearwater apartment complex, for $25.5 million. Under the new ownership, it will return to affordable housing.  
Once known as Prospect Towers, the circa 1971 complex at 801 Chestnut Street offered affordable housing for senior citizens for half a century.
Sunrise Affordable, which has offices in Palm Beach, Florida and Toronto, Canada, received approvals for the $51 million project by the City of Clearwater in September 2024. 

The 17...

St Pete Catalyst • 19th June 2025

Kava is key at Gateway area’s new Lucid Coffee Bar

Lucid Coffee & Kava, the latest addition to Pinellas County coffee culture, will host its grand opening celebration Saturday and Sunday, 5-11 p.m.
The 1,700-square-foot shop is located at 10328 Roosevelt Boulevard North in St. Petersburg.
Lokesh Vale, who is also the owner of the Twisted Indian restaurant and food truck, partnered with Abram Jacobson, vice president of sales for Pure Infinity Botanicals (a kava and kratom tea distributor) and Amar Nathwani of Barkett Realty. 
Choosing the Gatewa...

St Pete Catalyst • 18th June 2025

Foundation awards $2.2 million to bay area nonprofits

Community Foundation Tampa Bay has awarded more than $2.2 million to 84 nonprofit projects within the Greater Tampa Bay area. 
The grantmaking organization’s competitive grants support projects in five key focus areas. They include economic opportunity, environmental resiliency and sustainability, physical and mental health and wellbeing, quality youth education and vibrant and engaged communities.  
“The five areas of focus are based off community conversations,” said Brandi Sanchez, Senior Dir...

St Pete Catalyst • 16th June 2025

Teenage entrepreneur develops energy storage product

Noah Bild always knew he wanted to make a difference and build something impactful, ever since he was a little kid. 
The OffGrid Pro, a Bild-designed energy storage solution, is the 19-year-old Pinellas entrepreneur’s first product on the market. It will be available in October through his company, Bild Power.  
An advanced power station, it features a battery with 30 individual cells and a 7200 watt power output. In other words, it can handle electrical needs for long periods of time. OffGrid P...

St Pete Catalyst • 16th June 2025

Largo’s Pickle & Pint rides the indoor pickleball wave

Pickle & Pint, an indoor pickleball facility with a restaurant and bar, recently opened in Largo.
The 32,000-square-foot, family-friendly sports venue isn’t the first in the Pinellas County area – there’s the slightly smaller Dink House Pickleball Club, which also is in Largo.
More indoor pickleball courts are in the works, including St. Pete Athletic Paddle & Social, the Pickleball Kingdom franchise and the Dill Dinkers franchise.  
These recent investments in the sport demonstrate its skyrocke...