One of the incubator's partners is Florida State University.
Domi Station, a former warehouse in Tallahassee located half-way between the city’s two universities, has been converted to an 8,000-square-foot incubator open to local entrepreneurs. The incubator was officially opened by local officials on May 22, with the vice-president for research at Florida State University, Gary Ostrander, also giving a speech.
It is hoped that the new incubator will function as the final piece in the framework for an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the state capital, and increase commercialisation efforts. The incubator is being managed by Domi Ventures, and was made possible through a $250,000 investment by Leon County’s commissioners to renovate the building, who retain ownership and lease it to Domi Ventures.
The incubator will also be offering venture capital in the future. It has attracted Florida State University as an affiliate, with the university committing $100,000. Domi is working toward a formal commitment from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Both universities have dedicated workspaces in the incubator for their students and faculty. More than 30 startups will begin working in the incubator right away – some occupying the space for free with the promise that they might attract launch capital from investors, and others paying a monthly amount for co-working space.
Kristin Dozier, county commissioner and chair of the Leon County Research and Development Authority, said: “I think it can be the game changer for our local economy, not because it is going to take over and supplement existing businesses or anything else, but it is a component that we have not added to our economic development in the past. This is a unique area for local government, because we cannot do everything. We have to work in partnership, and particularly in economic development.”
