What do...
HOAs startups
and Steve Jobs
... have in common?
When I wrote the article“ From California to Florida... HOA Coast To Coast” in 2024, I had left the San Francisco Bay area for the Gulf coast of Florida. I’ d spent my technology career in high-energy Silicon Valley, where we re-invent everything! Non-stop innovation produces new business models and inventions like the self-driving car. Most exciting was the IPO of SpaceX, whose reusable rockets originated in CA and will make space tourism real.
While I’ ve been exploring the startup community in Tampa, it got me thinking about how to bring that spirit of innovation to where we live … and our HOA.
HOAs need disruption. Florida has so much building going on that competition is fierce. Trends like wellness and resort-style living have become the norm. What else should HOAs be doing to grow their appeal … and their bank accounts? How can HOAs be as \ inventive as the startups?
In Silicon Valley, venture capitalists look for startups that grow organically; ie, that scale through word-of-mouth and community building. These startups grow a loyal client base without expensive advertising. They become self-funding and sustainable. What can we learn from the startups to make our HOAs self-funding and sustainable?
By Jacqueline Vanacek | BeachWalk by Manasota Key, Englewood FL | Palo Alto, CA
Bootstrapping
Since our new home site is just over half built at 900 of 1600 homes, bylaws call for electing one owner to join the three-person Builder Board. That could change everything!
Our HOA has reached a pivotal growth point. It’ s like the point when a startup needs to:
22 community • September 2026 WWW. CAIW�STFLO�IDA. O�G