The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and St. Johns County are hosting this community roundtable for creators, manufacturers, and sellers of Locally Made products and services to gather input on better supporting these businesses and entrepreneurs. Supporting local artisans and product creators is essential for fostering economic growth and promoting unique handmade goods. The Chamber utilized the roundtable to learn more about these groups' specific challenges and how to support them better.
Dave Eyerly, Founder and CEO of AcceleratePV will be the guest speaker for this event. AcceleratePV gives early-stage founders the support, space, and community needed to grow ideas into thriving businesses. His presentation will focus on scaling your business and the tools needed to accomplish that. We will also hear from the attendees on the challenges you faced opening and operating a small business in St. Johns County.
David Eyerly has a background in startups, airlines, blockchain technology, and more. At 28, he launched his first business Surf Air, in Los Angeles, California. Dave developed the original concept for a membership-based airline using private terminals. The vision for Surf Air was developed during his time at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. He served as the COO, Director of Safety, and occasionally as a pilot. He successfully raised funding, hired over 100 people, obtained FAA regulatory licenses, and launched the first three aircraft in the summer of 2011. With his team's help, he oversaw the development of a proprietary booking engine, operations management software, dispatch, maintenance, and strategic relationships.
After his exit from Surf Air in 2016, he transitioned into consulting, working with Dealer Socket, a full-service platform for auto dealers. He has consulted or served as an advisor with companies including Whooshfly, Texas Air Shuttle, and GeoBitMine. He continues to consult and advise various companies.
In 2017, he served as the Director of UAV Programs at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, where he oversaw all UAV operations on hundreds of properties worldwide. He worked with regulators, administrators, operators, educators, and students to develop programs promoting safe UAV use and advancing the technology.
In 2018, he began investing in blockchain technology. He has since worked, advised, and consulted on multiple projects, including gas flare mining operations, cryptocurrencies, trading bots, layer 2 and 3 platforms, and heating greenhouses with the heat from mining operations.
In the summer of 2024 Dave moved with his family to Ponte Vedra Florida to support his wife’s career as a pediatrician. This provided Dave with the opportunity to pursue his true passion of helping early stage businesses grow. In 2025 Dave launched AcceleratePV in Nocatee FL. AcceleratePV is a business accelerator for northeast Florida. Dave has been creating the ecosystem necessary for continual business growth in the area. This ecosystem includes a pipeline of startups and small businesses, mentors and advisors, quality professional services, and significant capital from Venture Capital, Private Equity, and Angel Investors.
The Tourism & Hospitality Council of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce is committed to strengthening the local tourism and hospitality sector by enhancing the ability of businesses to provide exceptional service to visitors. The council serves as a resource for industry-specific training, professional development and educational opportunities, helping members stay informed on the latest trends and best practices through collaboration and shared expertise.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Gold Sponsor - $250
Small Business Sponsorships – Business Builder, and Entrepreneur
Silver Sponsor - $100
Free, members and non-members.
Registration required.
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