Founder Intelligence · Randall Prengler
Seize the Night — Florida’s Premier Bioluminescent Experience
Jupiter, Florida Energy Sector Founder 56 Native FL Species Proprietary IP Multi-Market Platform
The Eight Market Verticals

Carpe Noctem is a platform. The same asset — a thriving managed firefly habitat with proprietary IP — generates revenue across eight distinct markets simultaneously, each with its own buyer, price point, and seasonal profile.

💍
Weddings & Proposals
$4,000 – $12,000 per event
A private firefly meadow at dusk is the most romantic setting available in South Florida — and currently unavailable anywhere in the state. Partner with Palm Beach’s top wedding planners (The Breakers, Flagler Museum, The Addison) as the preferred after-dark experience. Venues pre-sell on your behalf. Zero acquisition cost per booking once partnerships are signed.
Peak May–July20–60 guestsRepeat annually
🍻
Celebrations & Private Events
$3,500 – $10,000 per buyout
Milestone birthdays, retirement parties, family reunions, quinceañeras, corporate holiday parties. A three-hour exclusive site buyout under the fireflies is a luxury event experience with no comparable alternative in Florida. Palm Beach County has one of the highest household wealth concentrations in the US.
Year-round10–80 guestsHigh repeat
🌿
Eco-Tourism & General Public
$55 – $250 per person
Ticketed guided evening tours ranging from general admission walks to premium mangrove kayak tours through firefly-lined waterways — a world-class product with no US equivalent. Timed-entry, capacity-limited. Scarcity drives demand. Florida draws 120M+ visitors annually; international guests from Europe and Latin America already have cultural familiarity with firefly tourism.
March–AugustGroups 8–50International draw
🏛
Parks, Sanctuaries & Licensing
$25,000 – $150,000 per agreement
Municipal parks, state parks, nature conservancies, and botanical gardens can license the Carpe Noctem operational playbook and proprietary IP to establish their own firefly programs. Randall becomes the franchisor — providing habitat design, IP licensing, guide training, and brand access without operational complexity. The model that scales nationally without capital-intensive site ownership.
Licensing revenuePassive incomeNational scale
🎓
Education & STEM Programs
$20 – $35 per student
Bioluminescence covers biochemistry, ecology, evolution, and data science in a single field experience — more Florida TEKS science standards than three weeks of classroom instruction. Palm Beach County School District has 200,000+ students. Private schools in Jupiter and Palm Beach have strong science budgets. University research programs at FAU (20 min south), UF IFAS, FIU, and UM pay site access fees.
Year-roundDistrict contractsUniversity fees
🔬
Species Reintroduction & Conservation
Grants + research fees + press value
Florida has 56 native firefly species — most Floridians have never seen one. Carpe Noctem’s captive breeding and reintroduction program, enabled by proprietary longevity IP, brings declining species back to habitats where they were once common. Japan and Taiwan proved the model. This mission unlocks conservation grants ($1.1M+ universe) and generates national press no marketing budget can replicate.
IP-enabledGrant-fundedPress-generating
🌿
Premium Fertilizer — Warehouse Production
$12 – $30 per pound
Natural die-off from managed firefly populations, combined with scaled insect frass from a Black Soldier Fly partner operation, produces a scientifically superior organic soil amendment with 2× higher carbon and nitrogen than conventional compost. Processed in a dedicated warehouse, bagged as “Carpe Noctem Habitat Compost,” sold to organic farms, garden centers, and e-commerce subscribers. Off-season production turns dead months into revenue months.
Off-season revenueCircular economyWarehouse-scaled
💡
EL Art & Bioluminescent Products
$25 – $500 per item
Randall’s electroluminescent (EL) design background creates a product line available to no competitor on earth. Firefly-inspired EL art prints, glowing apparel, bioluminescent event decor kits, and custom installations. Sold at the eco-site gift shop, Shopify, Amazon Handmade, and Etsy. Generates 365-days-per-year revenue completely independent of firefly season. Every item sold is a walking advertisement for the Carpe Noctem experience.
Randall-exclusive365-day revenueE-commerce
Why This Portfolio Is Defensible
Zero direct competitors
No privately managed firefly experience businesses operate in Florida. The only public programs are two seasonal state park initiatives. Carpe Noctem enters a completely uncontested market with permanent first-mover advantage.
Proprietary IP moat
Randall’s novel techniques for extended firefly longevity and reduced light sensitivity create a technical barrier to entry that money alone cannot replicate. Competitors can copy the concept; they cannot copy the science.
The name is the brand
“Carpe Noctem — Seize the Night” requires no explanation, carries emotional weight, and scales from a local experience to a national licensing brand. It was built before the business — a founder advantage that cannot be manufactured.
Randall’s network
30 years in Florida’s energy sector means warm relationships at NextEra, FPL, Duke Energy Florida — corporate event clients, conservation donors, and potential co-investors accessible without a cold call.
The circular loop
Every visit funds the habitat. The habitat produces the insects. The insects produce the fertilizer. The fertilizer funds conservation. This loop is structurally true — it opens every grant, press story, and investor conversation simultaneously.
Proprietary Technology & Intellectual Property
Randall’s novel techniques represent the most significant competitive moat in the entire business. This IP transforms Carpe Noctem from an eco-tourism site into a technology platform that can be licensed, patented, and deployed globally without Randall operating every site personally.
Core IP — Novel Techniques
Proprietary Method · Patent Eligible
Extended Firefly Longevity Protocol
Randall’s novel technique significantly extends the active lifespan of adult fireflies beyond their natural 2–4 week adult stage. This enables longer viewing seasons, higher captive population density, more research data windows, and the ability to maintain live populations for year-round educational demonstrations. Warrants immediate provisional patent filing — highest-value IP in the portfolio.
File provisional patent nowImmediate commercial value
Proprietary Method · Patent Eligible
Reduced Light Sensitivity Conditioning
Fireflies naturally suppress their bioluminescent displays in ambient light — the primary operational challenge for every firefly tourism site in the world. Randall’s technique conditions fireflies to maintain display activity at higher ambient light thresholds, enabling earlier start times, longer tours, and operation in environments that would ground any competitor site entirely.
File provisional patent nowIndustry-changing
Applied Technique · Trade Secret
Captive Breeding & Larval Banking System
A documented protocol for maintaining viable captive firefly breeding populations — enabling controlled reproduction, species-specific larval banking, and targeted reintroduction into restored habitats. Combined with the longevity protocol, this creates a continuous supply pipeline independent of wild population seasonal variation. If a hurricane eliminates a season’s wild population, captive-bred larvae bridge the gap.
Trade secretConservation valueHurricane insurance
Applied Design · Randall-Exclusive
Off-Grid Dark Sky Infrastructure
A proprietary site electrical design system: solar-powered facilities with zero nighttime light leakage, motion-sensing amber-spectrum safety lighting that extinguishes during active display periods, and smart controls that optimize the viewing environment in real time. Designed in-house at zero consultant cost. Packageable as a paid installation consulting service to parks and venues globally.
Licensable designSeparate revenue stream
IP Monetization Pathways
Provisional patent filing
File provisional patents on longevity and light sensitivity protocols within 60 days. Establishes a 12-month priority date. Cost: $1,500–$3,000 with a patent attorney. Highest-ROI legal spend in the business.
60 days
Technology licensing
License protocols to zoos, aquariums, butterfly houses, and international firefly tourism operators. Annual licensing fees of $5K–$25K per licensee. At 20 licensees globally: $100K–$500K per year in passive revenue.
Year 2–3
University research licensing
Biomedical and pharmaceutical researchers actively seek firefly luciferase. The longevity protocol enables sustained captive populations for research supply. The global luciferase market is valued at $500M+ annually.
Year 2–4
Conservation licensing
State and federal wildlife agencies, national parks, and international conservation organizations will pay for access to a proven larval banking and species reintroduction protocol.
Year 3+
Infrastructure design service
Package the dark sky electrical design as paid consulting for parks and venues. At $15K–$40K per installation design, this generates engineering revenue independent of firefly season.
Year 2+
IP as investor currency
Documented, patent-protected IP transforms Carpe Noctem from a lifestyle business into a technology-enabled platform, supporting significantly higher valuations and attracting investors who would not otherwise consider eco-tourism.
Now
The Investment Case for Carpe Noctem
Carpe Noctem is not an eco-tourism startup. It is a multi-market IP platform with a 30-year founder, zero direct competition in a state with no managed firefly sites, a circular business model that funds itself, and proprietary technology that creates a defensible moat across every vertical it enters. The founder is the network. The network is the pipeline. The IP is the multiplier.
$0
Private FL competitors
$1.1M+
Grant universe
8
Revenue verticals
56
Native FL species
Investment Tiers
Seed Round — Friends, Family & Angel $75K – $250K
Pre-season capital to secure land, build initial habitat infrastructure, file provisional patents, and fund the first marketing push. Randall’s energy network contains multiple high-net-worth individuals who are already warm contacts. Convertible note structure with 15–20% discount on Series A. Primary use: site buildout, IP filing, and pre-season corporate client bookings before the first public guest arrives.
Patent filing firstEnergy networkConvertible note
Series A — Impact & ESG Investors $500K – $2M
Post-Season-1 round using real revenue data, documented conservation outcomes, and patent filings. Targets: Florida Funders, Catalyst Fund, ESG-focused family offices in Palm Beach, and national impact networks (Toniic, ImpactAssets). Use of funds: second site, warehouse fertilizer facility, EL product line launch, and technology licensing program rollout.
Impact investorsPost-Season-1 dataMulti-site expansion
Strategic Corporate Investment $250K – $1M+ non-dilutive
Randall’s energy network is uniquely positioned to attract conservation sponsorship investments from NextEra Energy Foundation, FPL Community Relations, Duke Energy Florida, and regional banks with CRA obligations. These provide capital without dilution in exchange for co-branding rights, ESG reporting benefits, and preferred corporate event access. Randall initiates these as existing-relationship conversations today — not cold applications.
Non-dilutiveWarm networkESG co-branding
Technology Licensing Partners Revenue share or equity
Once patents are filed, strategic partners — zoos, aquariums, national parks, international eco-tourism operators — may seek equity stakes in exchange for licensing exclusivity in their markets. A zoo partner brings infrastructure, staff, and existing visitor base. An international operator brings access to markets where firefly tourism is already culturally established (Japan, UK, Germany, Malaysia).
IP-drivenInternational marketsEquity or revenue share
What Makes This Investable
Multiple exit paths
Brand acquisition by a nature/wellness hospitality company (Collective Retreats, Under Canvas, REI Co-op). Technology portfolio acquisition by a biotech or conservation organization. National franchise network sale. IP portfolio licensing to a global zoo or aquarium chain.
Non-seasonal IP revenue
Technology licensing fees, EL product e-commerce, fertilizer sales, and infrastructure design services all generate revenue outside firefly season — reducing the seasonal dependency concern that eco-tourism investors typically flag.
Grants as non-dilutive capital
$1.1M+ in accessible grants functions as non-dilutive revenue that funds conservation operations — reducing the equity capital requirement and extending runway without investor dilution.
The founder is the moat
Randall’s combination of energy network, EL design expertise, nighttime wildlife operations history (BatCave, Inc), and proprietary IP techniques is not replicable. The business is partially defensible just by virtue of who built it.
Conservation press value
A former energy executive building Florida’s first dark sky firefly sanctuary generates earned media (Bloomberg Green, Fast Company, Condé Nast Traveler) worth hundreds of thousands in equivalent advertising — building investor confidence without spending a dollar.
Three parallel grant tracks: (1) LLC applies directly for SBIR, VISIT FL, and HOT grants. (2) Nonprofit arm applies for EPA, NFWF, and FDACS grants. (3) Local government co-applicant unlocks infrastructure funding. Running all three simultaneously maximizes non-dilutive capital and reduces equity requirements.
Grants — Open Now
EPA Region 4 — Wetland Program Development Grant Apr 24 DEADLINE
Florida is EPA Region 4 (Atlanta). Contact: molly.martin [at] epa.gov. Funds wetland habitat mapping, conservation, monitoring, and education. Florida mangrove and freshwater firefly habitats qualify directly. Nonprofit or local government required as primary applicant. Email today requesting a pre-application consult — EPA staff actively help frame projects.
$50K–$500K
Federal
VISIT FLORIDA — Small Business Tourism Grant Open Now
Florida-only. LLC eligible directly — no nonprofit needed. Dollar-for-dollar reimbursement for tourism marketing: digital advertising, social media, website, print. Apply at visitflorida.org/grants. Fastest grant available to Carpe Noctem. Email grants [at] VISITFLORIDA.org to start.
Up to $5K
LLC direct
FloridaCommerce — Florida Job Growth Grant Fund Open
Up to $500K for workforce training and public infrastructure creating Florida jobs. Eco-guide certification training and boardwalk/viewing platform infrastructure qualifies. Apply through Palm Beach County or Martin County Economic Development Office. County submits on behalf of the project.
Up to $500K
State
FDACS — Conservation, Wildlife Habitat & Eco-Education Rolling
Florida Department of Agriculture funds native plant restoration, wildlife habitat creation, and eco-education. Firefly habitat equals wildlife conservation by definition. Check fdacs.gov/grants for current active cycles.
Varies
State
Palm Beach + Martin County TDC — Hotel Occupancy Tax Events Grant Rolling
Tourism Development Councils allocate HOT funds for events driving overnight hotel stays. A Carpe Noctem Firefly Festival qualifies unambiguously. Contact the Palm Beach County TDC Director directly — Randall’s local business presence accelerates this conversation.
$5K–$50K
County
NFWF Five Star & Urban Waters Restoration Jan cycle
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Invertebrate/wetland habitat restoration, community education, citizen science. Average award $45K. Requires 50% match and diverse local partnerships. Applications open November for January close. Contact: Rachel.Dawson [at] nfwf.org | 202-857-0166.
$30K–$60K
Federal hybrid
NOAA Coastal Resilience Grant — Florida Mangrove Sites Annual
If the site touches mangrove or coastal wetland habitat, NOAA funds restoration, public education, and monitoring. Florida Sea Grant at UF IFAS administers regionally. Firefly habitat in mangroves qualifies as both invertebrate conservation and coastal climate resilience programming.
$25K–$200K
Federal NOAA
USDA NIFA SBIR Phase I — Insect Science & Circular Agriculture Opens July 2026
For-profit LLC eligible directly. Randall’s IP techniques qualify as novel insect science R&D. Partner with UF IFAS or FAU as co-applicant to improve award probability. Phase I: $175K over 8 months. Phase II: $600K over 24 months. Begin prep now with university partner identified.
$175K–$600K
LLC direct
NextEra / FPL Environmental Foundation Warm Network
NextEra Energy Foundation and FPL fund conservation, wetland restoration, and environmental education across Florida. Randall initiates this as a phone call to known contacts — not a cold grant application. Highest ROI per hour of any funding activity in this entire plan.
$10K–$100K
Network
Loans & Capital Programs
SBA 7(a) — Live Oak Bank Eco-Tourism Lending Desk
Live Oak Bank (910-790-5867) has a dedicated outdoor hospitality and eco-tourism lending team that understands seasonal nature businesses — rare in banking. Randall’s 30-year track record is a top-tier 7(a) applicant profile. Up to $5M, 10-year working capital terms, 25-year for real estate.
Up to $5M
SBA
SBA 504 — Land & Eco-Facility Construction
For purchasing land or building an eco-facility. Structure: 50% bank + 40% Sunshine State CDC + 10% down. Fixed rate, 25-year terms. Ideal vehicle for permanent Carpe Noctem site ownership — locks in habitat at today’s land costs before Palm Beach development pressure increases values.
$2M–$15M
SBA
Revenue-Based Financing — Seasonal Bridge (Clearco / Capchase)
Non-dilutive advance against future ticket and event bookings. Draw in February/March against the summer season to fund spring setup — repay from summer revenue. No equity loss. No personal guarantee beyond business revenue. Requires 2–3 months of booking history to access.
$10K–$2M
Non-dilutive
Florida Emergency Bridge Loan — Hurricane Contingency
Zero-interest short-term loan up to $50K, activated after Florida governor disaster declarations. Apply within 72 hours of any storm declaration through FloridaCommerce. Establish account and documentation before season begins. Not if, but when.
$50K, 0%
Contingency
Palm Beach SBDC (FAU) — Free Consulting & Grant Access
FAU Small Business Development Center in Boca Raton (20 min south) offers free one-on-one consulting, grant proposal writing support, and connections to local philanthropic funds not publicly listed. Call 561-297-1140 or visit sbdc.fau.edu. Use aggressively — it is free and genuinely valuable.
Free
sbdc.fau.edu
Revenue Engine
Pipeline Projection
Setup
Grants
Fund the build
Season 1
$65K
Tours + events
Year 1 Full
$130K
+ corporate + edu
Year 2
$320K
+ hotels + frass + EL
Year 3+
$600K+
Multi-site + IP licensing
Revenue Streams — Annual Potential (Year 2)
Pricing Architecture
Mangrove kayak tour
Silent paddle, mangrove waterway. 8–12 person max. World-class. No US competitor.
$150–$250/person
Private event buyout
3-hour exclusive site. Weddings, proposals, milestone celebrations.
$4K–$12K
Corporate ESG retreat
Half-day habitat restoration + evening firefly experience. ESG outcome report included.
$5K–$20K
Guided public tour
Timed-entry, 20–50 guests per session. Scarcity-based pricing. Never discount.
$55–$120/person
Hotel concierge (B2B)
Wholesale to The Breakers, Four Seasons, Eau Palm Beach. They sell at +30%.
$100–$200/person
School STEM programs
Pre-visit + guided experience + post-visit. Florida TEKS-aligned. District contracts.
$20–$35/student
EL art products
Prints, apparel, event decor kits. Online + on-site. 365-day revenue.
$25–$500/item
Habitat compost (frass)
5lb / 25lb bags. Organic farms, garden centers, e-commerce. Off-season production.
$12–$30/lb
Film & content licensing
Exclusive site access. BBC, NatGeo, Miami ad agencies. Day-rate licensing.
$3K–$20K/day
IP technology licensing
Annual license to zoos, parks, international sites for longevity + conditioning protocols.
$5K–$25K/year
Research site access
Academic access to documented population. Grants co-applicant status in return.
$500–$3K/season
Parks & sanctuary license
Operational playbook + IP + brand access for partner venues establishing programs.
$25K–$150K
Seasonal Cash Flow Calendar
March–April
Early-season emergence. Soft-launch private events and photography clients. Spring break school groups. Draw seasonal working capital from revenue-based financing advance to cover spring setup costs.
May–July
Peak season. All revenue streams active. Ticket waitlists. Corporate retreats. Weddings. Document everything: visitor counts, species observations, revenue, ESG outcomes. This data funds two years of grants.
August
Late season wind-down. Education groups continue. Next season pre-sale opens. Begin frass fertilizer processing and packaging from end-of-season collection and BSFL partner supply.
Sept–Nov
Off-season programming: Indian River Lagoon bioluminescent kayak (30 min north), dark sky stargazing, EL art installations, corporate planning events. Frass fertilizer retail launch. Grant writing season begins.
Dec–Feb
NFWF Five Star application (January deadline). USDA SBIR Phase I prep. FedEx Grant Contest (February). EL merchandise holiday e-commerce push. Pre-season bookings open with waitlist incentive pricing.
Operations & Supply Chain
Carpe Noctem’s supply chain is its land. Healthy habitat produces the inventory. Randall’s proprietary IP — extended longevity and light sensitivity conditioning — transforms a seasonally constrained natural supply chain into a managed, partially controllable production system.
The Circular Production Loop
🌿
Habitat Management
Moist soil, leaf litter, native plants, dark sky, pesticide-free
Firefly Population
56 native FL species, IP-extended longevity, captive breeding backup
🎟
Guest Experience
Tours, events, weddings, education, corporate retreats
💰
Revenue
12 streams across 8 market verticals
🌿
Frass Fertilizer
Dead fireflies + BSFL partner → warehouse → premium compost
Reinvestment
Revenue funds habitat → more fireflies → more experiences
Fertilizer Warehouse Operations
From Dead Insects to Premium Organic Product
The natural die-off from managed firefly populations is a raw material stream most operators discard. Carpe Noctem converts this into a premium branded product commanding 3–5× the price of conventional fertilizer. Combined with volume from a BSFL partner, the warehouse produces year-round regardless of firefly season.
Raw material sources
Natural firefly die-off + contracted Black Soldier Fly (BSFL) operation in Central Florida for volume. BSFL frass has 2× higher C and N than conventional compost with near-zero heavy metal content.
Processing protocol
Heat treatment at 70°C for 60 minutes (USDA NOP pathogen standard). Drying and pelletizing equipment. Bagging in 5lb and 25lb units. FDACS fertilizer product registration required before commercial sale — budget 60–90 days.
Distribution channels
Jupiter Farms organic growers (direct supply contracts), Palm Beach garden centers, hotel and resort properties with on-site gardens, farmers markets in Delray Beach and Jupiter, Shopify e-commerce for direct-to-consumer subscription boxes.
Pricing advantage
The “Carpe Noctem Habitat Compost — from Florida’s firefly sanctuary” narrative supports $18–$30 retail vs $4–$8 for commodity fertilizer. Story is the margin. Chitin content also reduces plant herbivory 38–45% — a demonstrable second value proposition for organic farmers.
Year-round production
Warehouse operates September through April — the off-season for firefly tourism. BSFL supply is continuous regardless of firefly activity. This converts dead revenue months into active production months, fundamentally changing the annual cash flow profile.
Operational Infrastructure Strengths
Off-grid dark sky systems
Randall designs the site electrical infrastructure himself: solar-powered facilities, zero nighttime light leakage, motion-activated amber-spectrum safety paths, smart display-period controls. Built in-house at a fraction of consultant cost. Eliminates the primary light pollution threat from the site itself.
Captive breeding insurance
Larval banking with UF IFAS provides biological supply chain backup. If a hurricane eliminates a season’s wild population, captive-bred larvae bridge the gap and restore the habitat within 1–2 seasons. No other nature-based tourism business in Florida has this operational resilience.
IP-extended season
The light sensitivity conditioning technique expands the viable viewing window beyond natural firefly activity patterns — earlier start times, longer tours, and the ability to operate at ambient light levels that would shut down any non-IP competitor site.
Contingency programming
Indian River Lagoon bioluminescent kayak (dinoflagellates, 30 min north), dark sky stargazing, EL art science night (Randall-exclusive), and Florida bat ecology night (BatCave heritage). Four alternative programming streams deployable with zero capital investment.
Hurricane financial plan
Florida Emergency Bridge Loan (zero-interest, up to $50K) activated immediately post-storm. Multi-site portfolio reroutes guests if one site is damaged. Site insurance covers eco-tourism loss and natural disaster downtime. Pre-register with FloridaCommerce disaster programs before opening day.
Best Site Locations Near Jupiter
Jonathan Dickinson SP area
30 min north. Martin County. Loxahatchee River watershed with mangrove access. Dark skies. Established canoe tour infrastructure nearby. Best candidate for the mangrove kayak tour. Adjacent private land available now.
Loxahatchee / Arthur Marshall NWR
20 min west. 145,000 acres of wetland. Federal wildlife refuge creates natural dark sky buffer. Private agricultural land on eastern perimeter available. Strong IDA designation candidacy.
Lake Okeechobee northern shore
60 min west. Massive wetland. Lower land cost. Accessible from Palm Beach AND Fort Myers markets simultaneously. Agricultural buffer land at prices unavailable in Palm Beach County proper.
Corkscrew Swamp (Collier County)
90 min SW. Old-growth cypress swamp. One of Florida’s premier firefly habitats. Audubon Society partnership potential. Premium nature tourism market. Ideal second site after Jupiter-area establishment.
Growth Roadmap
Phase 1 — Now through Month 6
Foundation & First Season
File provisional patents on longevity and light sensitivity IP. Secure site (Jonathan Dickinson area preferred). Build dark sky infrastructure using Randall’s energy expertise. Sign hotel concierge partnerships at The Breakers, Four Seasons PB, and Eau Palm Beach. Activate energy network for corporate pre-sales — 5 corporate bookings before opening converts to $50K+ revenue before the first public guest arrives. Obtain Xerces Society sustainable firefly tourism certification. Apply for VISIT FLORIDA grant and EPA Region 4 WPDG.
File patentsHotel partners signedCorporate pre-salesXerces certification
Phase 1 — Peak Season (May–August)
Revenue Launch & Data Collection
Full public tours, private events, weddings, corporate retreats, school programs. Document everything: visitor counts, species observations, revenue, ESG outcomes for corporate clients, testimonials. Season 1 data is the asset that funds every investor conversation, grant application, and press story for the next two years. Every guest photograph is marketing. Every corporate booking is a case study. Every school visit is a district contract negotiation opener.
All 8 verticals activeData collectionPress pitches
Phase 2 — Year 2
Product Expansion & IP Monetization
Launch the mangrove firefly kayak tour — the world-class product that generates international press coverage on its own. Launch EL art product line e-commerce. Establish fertilizer warehouse operations and begin FDACS product registration. Form “Carpe Noctem Conservation Foundation” 501(c)(3) to unlock the $300K+ grant tier. Begin IP licensing outreach to zoos, aquariums, and national parks. Series A investor conversations begin with Season 1 data and patent filings in hand.
Mangrove kayak launchIP licensing activeNonprofit arm formedSeries A
Phase 3 — Years 3–4
Multi-Site Network & National Brand
Establish second Florida site (Corkscrew Swamp or Lake Okeechobee area). Launch “The Florida Firefly Trail” tourism circuit — positioning Carpe Noctem as a destination network rather than a single location. Begin Texas Hill Country licensing arrangement with a local co-founder operating under the Carpe Noctem brand and IP. Royalty revenue without operational complexity. Technology licensing program generates passive income from 10–20 international partners annually.
Florida Firefly TrailTexas licensing20 IP licensees
Phase 4 — Years 4–5
Platform Scale & Strategic Exit Options
Carpe Noctem by Year 5 operates as a multi-site brand, a technology licensing platform, an e-commerce product company, a fertilizer manufacturer, and a conservation foundation. Exit options: brand acquisition by a nature/wellness hospitality company (Collective Retreats, Under Canvas, REI Co-op), technology portfolio acquisition by a biotech or conservation organization, international franchise sale, or a conservation endowment that ensures the mission continues in perpetuity while providing founder liquidity.
Multiple exit pathsBrand acquisitionTech portfolio saleConservation endowment
Non-Cash Programs with Strategic Value
Xerces Society Certification
Sustainable firefly tourism site listing, national tourism map co-marketing, press mentions, and grant co-sponsorship eligibility. Contact info [at] xerces.org — establish this relationship before first guests arrive.
IDA Dark Sky Place Designation
International Dark Sky Association designation creates legal protection from development encroachment, generates national press coverage, and adds grant eligibility no marketing budget replicates. Randall’s energy expertise makes the light audit achievable in-house. darksky.org.
UF IFAS Research Partnership
UF’s firefly research program provides larval banking, species ID expertise, citizen science credibility, and co-applicant access to USDA SBIR and NSF grants. FAU’s biology department (20 min south) is the natural starting point.
Conservation Easement (Tax)
Restrict development rights on a buffer land parcel to a Florida land trust. Returns: property tax reduction, federal income tax deduction up to 50% of AGI, and estate tax benefits. Florida’s Nature Conservancy or Conservation Fund.
Action Plan
This Week — Maximum Urgency
Email EPA Region 4: molly.martin [at] epa.gov — request pre-application consult for Wetland Program Development Grant before April 24 deadline
Apr 24
Register at SAM.gov — get your Unique Entity Identifier (required for all federal grants, takes 10 business days — start today)
Today
Register at Grants.gov — federal grant submission portal, required for USDA SBIR and EPA applications
Today
Apply to VISIT FLORIDA Small Business Tourism Grant at visitflorida.org/grants — fastest grant available, LLC eligible directly
This week
Call Palm Beach SBDC (FAU): 561-297-1140 — free consulting, grant proposal writing, and philanthropic fund connections
This week
Contact Xerces Society at xerces.org/fireflies — sustainable firefly tourism site certification (opens grant doors and generates press)
This week
30 Days — IP & Network
Engage a patent attorney — file provisional patents on the firefly longevity and light sensitivity conditioning protocols (establishes 12-month priority date, cost $1,500–$3,000)
30 days
Call NextEra / FPL / Duke Energy FL contacts — propose conservation partnership, corporate event pilot booking, and potential sponsorship conversation
30 days
Call Live Oak Bank eco-tourism SBA desk: 910-790-5867 — SBA 7(a) pre-qualification for site acquisition and buildout financing
30 days
Contact UF IFAS Extension and FAU Biology Dept — propose research partnership, larval banking program, and USDA SBIR co-applicant arrangement
30 days
Drive and assess: Jonathan Dickinson State Park adjacent private land + Loxahatchee NWR eastern perimeter — site selection with Randall’s infrastructure eyes
30 days
Contact concierge directors at The Breakers, Four Seasons Palm Beach, Eau Palm Beach — propose preferred evening experience partnership agreement
30 days
60 Days — Structures & Designations
Apply for International Dark Sky Place designation at darksky.org — Randall’s energy expertise makes the technical light pollution audit achievable in-house
60 days
Contact Palm Beach County TDC Director — propose Carpe Noctem Firefly Festival for Hotel Occupancy Tax tourism event grant ($5K–$50K)
60 days
Begin 501(c)(3) formation — “Carpe Noctem Conservation Foundation” (3–6 month IRS approval; begin now to be operational for Year 2 grant cycles)
60 days
Contact top 3 Palm Beach wedding planners — propose Carpe Noctem as preferred after-dark evening experience for wedding weekends (zero per-booking acquisition cost)
60 days
Pitch story to Bloomberg Green, Florida Trend, Fast Company — “energy sector veteran seizes the night as Florida’s first firefly conservationist”
60 days
Begin FDACS fertilizer product registration for “Carpe Noctem Habitat Compost” — required before any commercial fertilizer sales, budget 60–90 days for approval
60 days
Before July — Federal R&D
Prepare USDA NIFA SBIR Phase I application — longevity protocol + frass circular ag + UF IFAS or FAU as co-applicant (solicitation opens July, proposals due October)
By July
Begin building NFWF Five Star partnership list — identify county government, school district, NGO, and corporate partners now for the January application
Fall 2026
Key Contacts
EPA Region 4 — WPDG
Molly Martin
molly.martin [at] epa.gov
DEADLINE: April 24, 2026
VISIT FLORIDA
Grants Program
visitflorida.org/grants
Fastest FL grant — apply now
NFWF Five Star
Rachel Dawson
Rachel.Dawson [at] nfwf.org
202-857-0166 · January cycle
Xerces Society
Firefly Program
xerces.org/fireflies
info [at] xerces.org
Palm Beach SBDC (FAU)
Free consulting + grants
561-297-1140
sbdc.fau.edu
Live Oak Bank — SBA
Eco-Tourism Lending Desk
910-790-5867
liveoakbank.com
UF IFAS Firefly Research
Extension Program
blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/polkco
Primary FL research partner
Dark Sky Association
IDA Place Designation
darksky.org
Audit achievable in-house
FloridaCommerce
Job Growth Grant + VC
floridajobs.org
Up to $500K
FDACS
Conservation + Fertilizer
fdacs.gov/grants
Wildlife habitat + product reg