JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In this episode of "This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition," host Kent Justice talks with Ryan Smith, founder of First Coast Metalworks and the Jacksonville Innovation Hub.
Smith, a Jacksonville entrepreneur with a background in FinTech and manufacturing, saw a gap in the local innovation ecosystem: “There’s no one place in Jacksonville you can go to get the space to work, to build, to create, to network.”
That insight led to the creation of the Jacksonville Innovation Hub, a new facility designed to provide entrepreneurs with access to workspace, cutting-edge equipment, and a network of resources and investors.
Smith’s own experience with First Coast Metalworks, a fabrication and contract manufacturing shop he co-founded, highlighted the challenges product startups face. “We redesigned everything for manufacturability, but even then, we didn’t have the equipment to build the product. So we bought the equipment,” he said. This hands-on approach inspired the Innovation Hub’s mission to make expensive prototyping tools accessible to startups, reducing the time from idea to prototype from months to weeks.
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The Innovation Hub offers a membership model with tiers that include access to fabrication labs, 3D printing studios, private offices, and community events. Smith explained, “We want to be that center point and that constant that you know when someone looks up, I have an idea in Jacksonville, they’re going to come across the Innovation Hub.”
Beyond physical resources, the Hub emphasizes community and collaboration. An “ecosystem wayfinder” role helps connect founders with the right experts, partners, or investors, creating serendipitous opportunities. “Entrepreneurs are really good at what they do, but they spend a lot of time away from their idea just trying to find the people that can help them,” Smith noted.
The Hub’s advisory board includes experts from robotics, fintech, higher education, and more, ensuring diverse perspectives guide its growth. Smith also highlighted the collaborative spirit in Jacksonville’s innovation scene: “We’ve had conversations with the city of Jacksonville. They’re really excited about it. I haven’t come across any animosity yet.”
The Innovation Hub is open to anyone interested in innovation—from early-stage founders to established companies and service providers. Smith is building a public innovation ecosystem map to showcase all the players supporting growth in the region.
For entrepreneurs looking to accelerate their ideas with access to space, technology, and funding, the Jacksonville Innovation Hub offers a promising new resource.