ARK Invest and Capital Factory Launch St. Pete Network
The firms are stationing an investment scout at the ARK Innovation Center to source early-stage technologies for their portfolios.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Startups
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ARK Invest and Capital Factory are partnering to expand investment networks in St. Petersburg, Florida. The collaboration includes stationing a dedicated investment scout at the 45,000-square-foot ARK Innovation Center to identify local emerging technologies.
Why it matters
The alliance streamlines due diligence by aligning three prominent investment groups that have historically co-invested in the same startups. For local entrepreneurs, the physical presence of a venture scout in St. Petersburg creates a new pipeline for securing early-stage capital.
Capital Factory maintains a portfolio of more than 1,000 early-stage companies, while the partnership aims to leverage an ecosystem that includes 1,000 venture funds and angel investors. The collaborators operate out of the 45,000-square-foot ARK Innovation Center in St. Petersburg.
The players
ARK Invest
An investment management firm focused on disruptive innovation that relocated its headquarters to St. Petersburg in 2021.
Capital Factory
An Austin-based startup accelerator and venture firm managing a portfolio of over 1,000 early-stage companies.
Tim Draper
A venture capitalist and founder of Draper Associates who has partnered with ARK Invest and Capital Factory.
The details
Under this partnership, the firms will conduct joint due diligence and share prospective deal flow to accelerate investment into local Florida technologies. A dedicated member of the Capital Factory investment team will work on-site at the ARK Innovation Center to scout deals, bridging the gap between local developers and the broader ARK and Capital Factory networks. This operational shift provides startups with faster access to institutional expertise and capital through an established, co-invested model.
Timeline
1985: Tim Draper founded Draper Associates.
2017: Capital Factory invested in Apptronik.
2021: ARK Invest moved headquarters to St. Petersburg.
October 29, 2026: The partnership between ARK Invest and Capital Factory was announced.
Market Landscape
This partnership formalizes and localizes the collaborative investment model established under the broader All Access 2027 program. It signals a move toward creating concentrated regional venture hubs that replicate successful startup ecosystems in secondary technology markets.
Local startups should prepare for increased venture scrutiny and engagement as a dedicated investment scout begins operations at the ARK Innovation Center. Operators seeking capital should evaluate their documentation for the joint due diligence process now used by these firms.
The takeaway
This partnership marks a significant increase in available venture oversight for St. Petersburg technology businesses. Founders should update their investor decks to align with the co-investment criteria used by ARK Invest and Capital Factory to prepare for active scouting sessions.
Further reading
For broader trends in regional venture capital, monitor developments in St. Petersburg Startups.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
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