Climate-tech discussion to feature PODS executive

Tampa Bay Innovation Center, a St. Petersburg-based business accelerator, has scheduled the latest edition of its Tech Talk Innovation Series for 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16 at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce office in downtown St. Pete.

According to TBIC Managing Director Ken Evans, the event will focus on the emerging field of climate tech. The “fireside chat” format will feature Opal Perry, chief strategy and digital transformation office at PODS, a Clearwater-based moving and storage company that operates nationwide.

“This will be a discussion about climate initiatives in the enterprise and the adoption of new technologies, processes, etc.,” Evans writes in an email to the Business Observer. “Additionally, we will be providing a virtual tour of our new headquarters building (opening fall 2023) and promoting the upcoming climate tech accelerator program scheduled to kick off in January 2023.”

TBIC’s new home, located at the intersection of 4th Street South and 11th Avenue South in St. Pete, will be known as the ARK Innovation Center thanks to a $2 million donation from the Cathie Wood-led ARK Investment Management LLC. Wood notably moved the firm from Manhattan to St. Pete in November 2021.

Pinellas County and St. Peter leaders, along with Wood, broke ground on the 45,000-square-foot, $15.8 million project in February.

Admission to the Tech Talk event is free. Click here to register.