FinTech
West Palm Beach
Dual-Use
& Defense Tech
Miami
This is not a traditional accelerator.
It is part of a statewide platform designed to connect companies directly into Florida’s economy.
Gold Coast Tech launched in 2025 as the first accelerator initiative powered by The Florida Council of 100 and its Foundation, eMerge Americas, and Related Ross. The inaugural Gold Coast Tech Accelerator brought together two tailored, 8-week programs: FinTech in West Palm Beach and Dual-Use & Defense Tech in Miami. The program connects high-growth startups with mentorship from top CEOs and business leaders, corporate partnerships, and access to Florida’s expanding investor network.
APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN
2026 Applications are Open for Ambition Accelerated’s Four Hybrid, Industry-Focused Accelerators Across Florida
Applications are open through August 21, 2026 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The accelerator will run from the week of October 12 through the week of December 7, with the week of Thanksgiving off. To apply, you will be redirected to an external application portal and asked to create an account before submitting your application.
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The accelerator program is backed by a statewide network of over 75 CEOs, founders, and senior executives, and will connect chosen high-growth startups directly to customers, capital, and leadership across the state, aligning Florida’s regional strengths into a coordinated system designed for scale.
What Companies Gain
Founders are not just entering a program. They are entering a market.
Elite Mentorship
Direct access to top CEOs, investors, and industry leaders
Corporate Partnerships
Pilot and scale with leading enterprises
Market Access
Leverage Florida's thriving ecosystem for growth and customer acquisition
Investor Network
Connect with Florida's vast investor community
Office Space
Meeting and collaboration space provided at no cost to participants
Embarc Collective Scholarship
One founder and co-founder from each company selected for Ambition Accelerated will receive a one-year scholarship for membership in Embarc Collective for 2027, providing unfettered access to their nationally recognized startup platform.
Meet the Inaugural Class
Two Tracks. One Goal: Scale in South Florida
Our inaugural Gold Coast Tech Accelerator concluded—bringing together two tailored, 8-week programs that helped startups grow and expand in Florida.
West Palm Beach
FinTech
Focused on groundbreaking innovations in financial services technologies.
Miami
Dual-Use & Defense Tech
Forging national security through dual-use innovation.
REGION OVERVIEW
Florida’s Gold Coast, which spans West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami and their respective counties, represents a unified economic corridor with the scale to compete nationally. This corridor of explosive growth connects Florida’s deep economic strengths including finance, healthcare, logistics, and dual-use & defense with the latest advancements in AI, FinTech, smart infrastructure, and digital transformation.
