Company enters UCF Business Incubation Program as it launches its solar-powered lighting systems

Orlando, Fla. (June 8, 2022) – An Orlando company is focused on helping people cut the cord for their outdoor lighting, instead turning to the sun for power.

Studio Calathea took a major step in May, signing several agreements to be sold by Walmart, Wayfair, HomeRoots, and several independent retailers. Plus, the company became the newest client of the UCF Business Incubation Program at its East Colonial location.

“It’s considered a normal practice to run cords and wires to lighting outside because that’s what usually looks good or they utilize solar lighting designed more for function than for aesthetics.” Says Teresa Guastella, founder, Studio Calathea.“I believe what we are offering is unique in the marketplace in that it’s designed to look good, it’s portable, modern, and foldable. We are also excited about the next generation of our products that are coming to market this summer.”

The lights offered by Studio Calathea are great for indoor and outdoor alike but have the function and customizable aesthetics along with accessories, along with hours of light on a single charge.”

Guastella certainly understands what it takes to light an outdoor space. For years, her company has been a successful event design and production company in Central Florida. As the event business closed down and then transitioned into outdoor gatherings during the COVID pandemic, Guastella searched for a solution.

She found it with the Genesis collection, a premium series of handheld solar lanterns. They are functional, waterproof, aesthetically pleasing, foldable, and easy to transport.

Since then, Guastella phased out the event company, and started working with Noah McNeely, an award-winning expert in product development, particularly in the fields of mechanical engineering and industrial design to help her to develop a next generation of outdoor solar lighting and accessories, which will be unveiled at The Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo in Daytona Beach on June 8.

“While my background is in the event branding and design space, there is so much more potential in solar lighting from disaster relief to lifestyle and decor,” Guastella says. “For instance, as hurricane season starts, these can be essential after the storm, but also for camping, boating, patios, and other outdoor activities.”

Currently, the portable solar lights can be found online at StudioCalathea.com, Walmart, Wayfair, and HomeRoots and in stores at several independent retailers

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For more information please contact:

For Studio Calathea:  Teresa Guastella, 352-988-3483, teresa@studiocalathea.com

For the UCF Business Incubation Program: Michael Weiss, UCF Business Incubation Program, 321-281-8384, Michael.weiss@ucf.edu or Alan Byrd, Alan Byrd & Associates, 407-415-8470, alan@byrdconnections.com

About Studio Calathea:

Headquartered in Orlando, FL Studio Calathea is a gold standard provider of portable solar lanterns and products for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing, distribution, and customer service. For more information, please visit StudioCalathea.com

About the UCF Business Incubation Program:

The University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program is a community resource that provides early-stage companies with the tools, training and infrastructure to become financially stable, high growth/impact enterprises. Since 1999, this award-winning program has provided vital business development resources resulting in over 300 local startup companies reaching their potential faster and graduating into the community where they continue to grow and positively impact the local economy.

With seven facilities throughout the region, the UCF Business Incubation Program is an economic development partnership between the University of Central Florida, the Corridor, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties, and the cities of Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Springs. For the 2017/2018 fiscal years, the activities of these participating firms have helped to sustain more than 6,725 local jobs and have had a cumulative impact of over $725 million on regional GDP and over $1.3 billion on regional sales. During the same period, the program has returned more than $12.00 in state and local taxes for every $1.00 invested in the program. In addition, for every $1.00 of public investment the firms also produced $118 of additional regional GDP and $226 of regional sales.  For more information, visit www.incubator.ucf.edu