FPL commits $1 million in grants for entrepreneurs through new business innovation hub
Additional executive coaching and resources valued at $1.5 million will also be available to startups 
Feb 10, 2020

JUNO BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 10, 2020) — Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today announced the launch of 35 Mules – an innovation hub powered by FPL, a NextEra Energy company – at an event at its Juno Beach headquarters. The innovation hub will commit $1 million in total for 20 global entrepreneurs who will be selected for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make their vision a reality.

The innovation hub will help entrepreneurs develop their game-changing ideas in energy, water and energy-adjacent industries into a business based in Florida, further supporting the state’s economic growth and flourishing the business environment. The companies will each have a dedicated workspace on FPL’s campus for 12 to 18 months, access to subject matter experts in solar, renewables, innovation and smart grid, and free coaching from executives, along with a grant of at least $50,000 to put toward their venture. In total, in this first year, this is a commitment from FPL of about $2.5 million.

The program’s unique name comes from FPL’s humble beginnings in 1925, when a very unlikely patchwork of enterprises combined to form the precursor to NextEra Energy, including an ice plant, a sponge boat and 35 mules.

“FPL has long prided itself on embracing innovation to deliver affordable, reliable and clean electricity, both now and over the long term,” said FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy. “FPL’s track record of providing exceptional value to customers is the direct result of our employees’ relentless pursuit of continuous improvement and being unafraid to challenge the status quo in tackling tough problems. It’s what makes our company so special and will drive success of our new incubator program, 35 Mules, as FPL finds a new way to continue moving Florida forward.”

FPL is committed to continuing to grow and foster businesses in Florida, both new and existing. The 35 Mules innovation hub will be a way for new businesses to reach their potential as they partner with a leader in the energy industry, creating the new generation of great American innovators right here in Florida.

Applications are now being accepted at 35Mules.com.

B-roll and SOT can be located here.

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Florida Power & Light Company

Florida Power & Light Company is the largest energy company in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold, serving more than 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across the state of Florida. FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30% lower than the latest national average and among the lowest in the U.S. FPL’s service reliability is better than 99.98%, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all electric companies nationwide. The company was recognized in 2018 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International for the fifth consecutive year. A leading Florida employer with approximately 9,100 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2020 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of Gulf Power Company, which serves more than 460,000 customers in eight counties throughout Northwest Florida, and NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.