IGNITE Tallahassee

Setting up a wet lab for biotechnical research can easily cost up to $225,000 for core equipment common in biological research. Some specialized machines can cost up to $500,000 each, adding to the cost for innovative research in fields such as biomedical engineering, pharmacology, and other microbiological applications.

At a sleek building in Innovation Park in Tallahassee, a new deep-tech incubator is helping turn hard science into scalable start-up companies. Its name, IGNITE, is an acronym for Inspiring the Generation of New Ideas and Translational Excellence, which conveys its mission to support researchers in bridging the gap between the lab and the marketplace.

Backed by Florida State University (FSU) and in collaboration with the Leon County Research & Development Authority, IGNITE emerged from FSU’s participation in the National Science Foundation’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) grant program.

Photos by RiMO Photo

“The idea is to run programs that support tech entrepreneurs who might otherwise struggle to find that kind of infrastructure in Tallahassee,” says Alissa Martinez Costabile, program director of IGNITE. “We’re in year two of the grant, and our goal isn’t to duplicate what already exists; it’s to enhance Tallahassee’s ability to attract companies that might otherwise look elsewhere.”

Spread across 40,000 square feet, IGNITE’s modern facility offers what Costabile calls “world-class amenities.” Inside are 24 offices and more than 30 labs, tailored for bio-life sciences, assembly workflow, or chemical research.

Members pay a modest fee for space and services, gaining access to mentorship, investor-readiness support, and introductions to partners and funders. “We don’t invest directly,” she notes, “but we work one-on-one to help companies with business development fundamentals and get them to investability.”

Members have access to over $1 million worth of shared lab equipment, including high-end microscopes and centrifuges, as well as cold storage rooms with freezers ranging from -20 degrees to -80 degrees Celsius and autoclaves for sterilization, all at no additional cost beyond membership. Further, there is a dedicated lab manager who oversees safety and compliance. Beyond the labs, IGNITE provides front-desk staff, shared conference rooms, event and multipurpose spaces, shipping and receiving facilities, and even compressed-air hookups for research benches.

Photos by RiMO Photo

IGNITE’s goal is to make deep-tech entrepreneurship accessible, according to Costabile. “Commercializing drug therapeutics, supercapacitors, or clean-energy systems takes expensive equipment, specialized compliance, and collaboration. This gives founders a place to do that safely and affordably.”

Costabile emphasizes that IGNITE is a community resource, welcoming innovators from other universities, including their faculty, students, and graduates, as well as local entrepreneurs from the private sector.

Among IGNITE’s first member companies is Vsurgic, a health-technology company founded by CEO Lawrence Binder. Vsurgic’s platform captures and securely streams live surgeries for education and compliance to global audiences. “We make it easy to share surgical video in a HIPAA-compliant way,” Binder explains. “Once our system is installed, a hospital can broadcast surgery any time, 24/7.”

Binder notes that Vsurgic joined IGNITE for its community and credibility. “We wanted to be positioned with a group of other technical companies,” Binder says. “I see IGNITE’s long-term vision the same way they do—that it becomes a true hub for technology development, where more companies come through, grow, and eventually advance into larger spaces.”

Another new member, R3ciprocity, represents the academic side of deep-tech entrepreneurship. CEO David Maslach, an FSU professor of innovation strategy, is building an online platform that gamifies scientific publishing. “There’s a lot of uncertainty and waste in research,” he says.

Photos by RiMO Photo

For Maslach, IGNITE provides the legitimacy and mentorship that solo founders often lack. “It’s been night and day since joining,” he says. “Having the IGNITE stamp and a world-class mentor makes a huge difference when you’re trying to raise funds or just convincing people that your idea isn’t crazy. Before this, I was the guy on the internet talking about reinventing research; now I have institutional support.”

“We’re hoping to attract individuals with novel or emerging technologies, as well as those with unique business models,” says Costabile. “We offer a one-year free affiliation. You can use the common spaces in our building, which are available to FSU, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee State College, and any spin-out of a college or university here in Tallahassee; we would honor that.

“We anticipate that companies will typically stay in the incubator program from three to seven years, building traction before ‘graduating’ to independent facilities,” says Costabile. “Success is when a founder can say, ‘I came in as one person with an idea, and now I’ve got a team, funding, and customers.’ That’s when we know IGNITE worked.” ▪

Photo by Bill Lax : Florida State University

IGNITE Tallahassee Application Overview

Florida State University’s IGNITE Tallahassee is a 40,000-square-foot business incubator located at 1729 West Paul Dirac Drive in Innovation Park. Operated through FSU’s Office of Research, it provides wet and dry labs, private offices, coworking areas, and access to shared scientific equipment and conference spaces. Tenants also gain business mentorship, SBIR/STTR grant-writing support, networking events, and commercialization guidance.

→ Application Process

Early-stage technology companies with proprietary innovations and high growth potential may apply online through FSU Research’s IGNITE portal at research.fsu.edu/ignite-tallahassee. Applicants must be registered in Florida, pass a background check, and present a defined business model aligned with IGNITE’s innovation mission. Accepted ventures commit to reporting job growth and economic impact and to actively engaging in IGNITE programs.

→ Contact Information

Prospective tenants can
reach the program via
ignite@fsu.edu or through the FSU Office of Research,
3012 University Center C, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2742. Additional details and the application form are available on the official site’s “Application” page.

→ Key Benefit

IGNITE links start-ups with university expertise, investors, and local resources, helping transform research and technology concepts into viable commercial enterprises in North Florida’s growing innovation ecosystem.