This years’ Synapse tech conference will host more than 350 speakers and 6,000 attendees, staying on-par with the heavy-hitters of tech conferences like CES and TechCrunch Disrupt. Indeed, this years’ keynote speakers are comprised of the cream of the crop, cultivated in every corner of the industry. It seems only natural that an event of this scale would attract some extremely qualified speakers.

St. Petersburg City Council will consider changes to the South St. Petersburg Community Revitalization Area (CRA) Redevelopment Microloan Program Thursday, as the city aims to better serve start-up businesses within South St. Petersburg. The program, approved and established by City Council in December 2018, currently provides up to $5,000 of funding in the form of forgivable loans to existing small businesses upon complete required business education curriculum administered by The Greenhouse.

The idea for Synapse came from a number of hard-working people who all realized that Florida needs one innovation community to really make it thrive to its fullest potential. Back in the 2016 timeframe, the state was stagnant. On the surface, it appeared that there was not enough money, not enough talent, and not enough customers to have a thriving innovation ecosystem.

The 2020 Synapse Summit, set to take place February 11-12, is designed to gather together innovators, entrepreneurs, and executives to invigorate the region and state’s innovation ecosystem. The caliber of speakers continues to get better with each Summit, he says. There are more than 300 on tap for next month’s event, highlighted by three keynote speakers.

National buzz over Tampa’s arrival as a go-to region for tech startups and companies continues to percolate. Brian Kornfeld has played a key role in the rise. For the 2020 summit, another big part will be virtual reality, augmented reality and how the technology intersects with health care, financial and other sectors.

Florida has all of the resources it needs to succeed. It has more than 20 research institutions, over 200,000 accredited investors and in addition to that, the state is only growing with new people moving in every day. The mission at Synapse is to make sure that nobody feels that they are not capable. He wants to enable people to feel inspired and to make success possible and even probable.

Synapse Summit will round out the keynote speakers for its 2020 summit with Priceline co-founder Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman joins Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, who will be the keynote speaker the next day. While Blakely grew up in Clearwater and now lives in Atlanta, Hoffman resides in Orlando. Kornfeld said the organization wanted to continue to choose speakers with Florida roots.

Synapse Summit wants to prove innovation goes beyond tech and they’re doing it in a big way: bringing in Spanx founder Sara Blakely to the stage.

Synapse Summit 2020 will be packed with two full days of hands-on workshops, dynamic panel discussions, skill-building and trend-spotting. The Summit will host more than 300 speakers on seven stages for over 100 sessions.

If you haven’t heard of a Miami-based tech firm called Kaseya, you may soon. On Tuesday, the company, whose software allows companies to manage their information technology, announced it had received a $500 million investment from San Francisco-based private equity group TPG, along with its current majority holder, New York-based venture and private equity group Insight Partners.

Synapse co-founders Brian Kornfeld and Marc Blumenthal join Holly Gregory on Tampa Bay’s Bay News 9 to discuss Synapse Summit 2020, and the role that Synapse plays in the greater innovation community across Florida.

Tampa Bay area entrepreneurs have made another strong showing at the annual StartupBus competition in New Orleans. Hyve, a software startup project that fights spam, phishing, and other underhanded email practices, finished in the top three nationally. HospitalFee, a platform that helps prospective patients find physicians and medical providers and compare prices, reached the national finals.

A subset of Jabil is looking for a 5G network for its autonomous robots, and AT&T is stepping up.

The 45,000-square-foot innovation center could be a game changer for St. Petersburg’s fledgling innovation district.

A big name speaker, more hands-on experiences and opportunities to talk to people who share common interests are among the highlights expected at the 2020 Synapse Summit.

The Tampa Bay Wave is looking to highlight the next great startups in Tampa Bay.

The company previously has hosted conferences in the Tampa Bay area.

LG Electronics, which has long been in the laundry business creating washers, dryers and extended clothing care solutions, will lead a Series A-1 equity financing round for Washlava. That comes after the Series A funding round which Washlava began in 2016 with a $1 million investment, according to previous Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. Series B is typically reserved for equity financing.

It wasn’t the warm weather, affordability or even slowly increasing tech scene that lured Vikas Bhatia to move his startup from New York City to Tampa. Well, maybe a little. But Bhatia gives a large credit to the eager community for being the final deal maker.

The two companies will have over 3,000 employees in the new deal.

Synapse Florida is living up to its name and expanding its efforts across the state, most recently to Orlando with a $40,000 innovation challenge.

Goodwill and YMCA of the Suncoast will be seeking solutions, along with an Orlando business.

The Synapse Summit is coming back and wants to be bigger (and more connected) than ever. Synapse Summit, which brought in 5,500 people under one roof in Amalie Arena for the two-day conference, will be back on Feb. 11-12, 2020 for its third year. The venue will still be the arena, but shifts in the venue will be made after survey results were taken into consideration.

Technology entrepreneur Craig Mandeville launched Innovate Jax with the creation of a podcast to share what he wants the world to know. “Smart, innovative things are happening here,” he told the estimated 150 like-minded creators of ideas, technology and businesses in Northeast Florida at a launch event June 27.

Synapse Florida today announced a $50,000 grant from the SunTrust Foundation to support Synapse Challenges, a competition that empowers Florida’s most innovative and talented minds

It’s a rare chance to speak with a rocket scientist, entrepreneur, and connector all at once – but Brian Kornfeld has done it all, and seen it all.

What do a Hollywood star, a co-founder of a Fortune 1000 company, a molecular biologist and a WWII-era engineer have in common? They’re all inductees into the 2019 Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.

Bold Business exclusively interviewed Vincent Jackson during the 2019 Synapse Summit regarding his tips on entrepreneurial success.

The mission of the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation is to provide support to military families.

Grit Daily caught up with the company’s Marine-turned-entrepreneur CEO, Erik Maltais, after Synapse — Florida’s answer to Texas’ SxSW and Charleston’s DigSouth — to take a deeper look at why the company has a shot at investors and media to take a more serious look at Florida tech.

Bold Business interviewed Lisa Merkle, the Co-Founder of Box Greens, at the Synapse Summit regarding the future of indoor farming.

Every year we talk about how this will be the Year of the Woman because of the incredible advances women are making. There’s no doubt that 2019 will go down in history as the first time we saw a record number of diverse women serving…

Bold Business exclusively interviewed Chris Castro, Orlando’s Director for sustainability at the 2019 Synapse Summit.

FIRST Tech Challenge Team 2845, Team Duct Tape, a youth robotics team based at the new Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics Center (AMRoC) Fab Lab at University Mall in Tampa, just advanced to the Houston FIRST Championship in April.

Tomorrow’s advertisers are going to, through machine learning and automation, give you an elaborate menu of the things that they know you want – or will want. They will know who you are, who you know, where you go, what you have already purchased, and so on.

With less than 2 percent of Florida’s venture capital being spent in Florida, AOL co-founder Steve Case wants to bring a bit more attention — and funding — to the Sunshine State.

Metro Development Group and Synapse, an organization that connects members of Florida’s ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’ via an online platform and events such as the Synapse Summit, awarded $10,000 to Ibrahim Allam…

Paired in bracket-style matchups, the founders of eight startups went head to head at the Synapse Summit on a series of metaphorical scenarios and business philosophies and were judged by a panel of five judges from successful local companies.

The new year has brought a slew of conferences: Synapse Summit in mid-January, Tampa Bay Startup Week will kick off in February, and this week the Florida Venture Capital Conference comes to town.

Tampa International Airport to evaluate using facial recognition tech, spokeswoman Janet Scherberger said during the Synapse Summit.

Female founders often find it tougher than their male counterparts to win venture capital backing. They shared their secrets for success during a panel discussion at the Synapse Summit.

The Synapse 2019 Summit—orchestrated by a regional nonprofit to accelerate innovation and business opportunities in Florida—called forth startup companies, universities, local government economic development officers, accelerators, VC investors and cross-industry business leaders.

The partnership gives Tampa-based Synapse a foothold in Orlando as it tries to expand its support for business innovation across the state.

Harvest CROO Robotics has spent years developing a robot that can precisely recognize and pick ripe strawberries in the field. This month, they had the opportunity to showcase their progress at the 2019 Synapse Summit in Tampa, FL.

As the Synapse 2019 conference took over downtown Tampa last week, representatives from several communities around Florida shared their experiences and perspectives on what it means to be a Smart City.

Organizers of the Synapse Summit are considering fine-tuning a few details when the event is held again next year.

You go to a conference, hear sage advice and brilliant insights, and think, “I have to remember that” — and then you forget what you heard. Click through the gallery for some of the quotes that will stick.

Brightline’s vice president of governmental affairs, Bob O’Malley, spoke about Brightline’s intercity passenger rail system at Synapse Summit on Jan. 23.

At the annual Synapse Summit in Tampa, Florida, Larry Quinlan, global CIO of Deloitte, suggested that the future may not end up looking like some may think.

Steve MacDonald, a board member at Florida Funders, made his mark in healthcare technology as an entrepreneur, but he generally avoids the healthcare sector as an investor.

Another Synapse Summit has passed, but here are some things that happened while more than 5,000 attendees walked away from Amalie Arena with increased knowledge of tech an innovation.

The Synapse Summit brought out some of the biggest players in the region, which have transcended the state.

The founders of eight startups went head to head at the Synapse Summit on a series of metaphorical scenarios and business philosophies.

About 600 people attended three years ago. Last year, 3,300 came. This year, the crowd topped 5,500, turning Amalie Arena into an anthill of tech and entrepreneurship.

Immertec CEO Erik Maltais and Johnson & Johnson Global Professional Education Manager Gregory Lightbourn announced the pilot program during the Synapse Summit on Jan. 23.

Tampa Bay Inno officially launched this week at the Synapse Summit. American Inno’s mission is to reach the business leaders of tomorrow through a network of digital media and events.

Experts and investors from the Tampa Bay area and beyond gathered Thursday morning to discuss not only how entrepreneurs can get ahead in the ecosystem with or without venture capital, but also what should be the focus for Tampa Bay investors.

The Synapse Summit is like an all-you-can-eat buffet, with hundreds of choices of sessions to attend, speakers to listen to, exhibitors to visit and connections to make.

With innovation, technology and new opportunities all at the forefront of the upcoming Synapse Summit, the one that combines all those sectors and is perhaps the most-watched at the summit will be transportation.

The Synapse Summit, held Jan. 23 and 24 at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, is bringing together executives from technology, transportation and finance alongside entrepreneurs.

Ultimate Medical Academyis pleased to sponsor and participate in the Synapse Summit, Tampa Bay’s trong growth in the areas of innovation and technology.

We can tell the world what we already know – the true story of how incredible it is to build and grow a business here in Tampa Bay.

While the Synapse Summit will bring together technology, transportation, finance and entrepreneurs for the next two days, the organizers’ focus at the kickoff event was the one thing all attendants are striving for: to create and foster innovation in the Tampa Bay area.

Two main stage events, multiple panels and even more informational sessions will all take place under one roof on Wednesday at the first day of the Synapse Summit.

Thousands of innovation-minded individuals will converge on Amalie Arena Wednesdday and Thursday for the 2019 Synapse Summit, and organizers say it’s on track to be the largest tech event the Tampa Bay Area has ever seen.

If you are an educator, business executive, entrepreneur, or other individual fascinated by how various aspects of technology and innovation are coming together to change today’s world, then you will want to attend the Synapse Summit.

With five-thousand attendees, 250 speakers, 300 exhibitors and a dose of Pitch Madness, Synapse is growing innovators among military veterans and university students.

Check out the Synapse Summit. This year’s theme is Innovation Lives Here and will showcase the best of Florida’s tech and development community.

Community Brands will highlight its economic development and community involvement initiatives by participating in this week’s Synapse Summit.

Eight Florida companies have been selected for Pitch Madness, the competition for funding and awareness that will be a centerpiece at the 2019 Synapse Summit.

At the 2019 Synapse Summit, attendees are encouraged to experience Magic Leap’s augmented reality headsets and check out the seven companies in Tampa Bay Wave’s post-accelerator cohort.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal breaks down nine can’t miss events at this year’s Synapse Summit.

Won by Team Blitz, led by Ibrahim Allam, the Synapse Challenge invited local teams and individuals to create a high-tech wearable device for Crystal Lagoons in Wesley Chapel.

Steve Tingiris, founder and managing director of Dabble Lab, will talk about the role of artificial intelligence and digital assistants during the Synapse Summit.

The SunTrust Foundation-Tampa/Southwest Florida has awarded a $50,000 grant to Synapse to help companies and…

On this episode of SPx, Joe welcomes Marc Blumenthal, founder of Synapse and partner at Florida Funders. In this acumen-packed episode, Blumenthal shares his thoughts on the Tampa Bay startup community and…

Speakers will run across all industries at the upcoming Synapse Summit, which will feature key players in Tampa’s banking, startup, technology and real estate scenes.

Two early-stage venture capitalists from the San Francisco Bay area will be at the Synapse Summit to check out local investment possibilities

The second Synapse innovation summit–Tampa’s answer to SxSW–was expected to attract 5,000 people in January.

A push into making products for the cloud computing space is expected to be a $1 billion a year business for Jabil Inc.

Daniel Cura, President of Tidal Marketing, is a University of South Florida alumnus and first-generation Cuban-American entrepreneur

Remember the web 20 years ago in 1998, or mobile apps a decade ago in 2008? That’s where artificial intelligence is now, with enormous possibilities ahead, a Tampa tech veteran says.

The 2019 Synapse Summit returns to downtown Tampa January 23rd and 24th with a full slate of programming designed to spotlight Florida’s growing presence in the world of innovation.

When Synapse holds its pitch competition for startups next month, one of the judges will have some specific criteria in mind that will make winners stand out.

In the startup world, Synapse is an organization that connects entities in the entrepreneur economy to allow everyone to work together.

One Tampa accelerator is moving right past Christmas and getting in the spirit of March Madness instead.

He was one of five finalists who presented in Synapse’s Innovation Challenge this past weekend, with the winner receiving $10,000.

Synapse is proud to be sponsored and affiliated with BNY Mellon Wealth Management and we encourage all attendees to connect with the firm at the second annual Synapse Summit on January 23 and 24, 2019.

Publix has been innovating for 89 years, and today has more than 1,200 locations as well as online ordering and delivery options.

Representatives from BayCare Health System, Publix Super Markets, University of South Florida and a retired major general are all part of the inaugural board of advisors and directors for Synapse.

The 335,000 square foot Straz Center is one of the largest performing arts complexes in the country.

Staying true to its mantra of “Innovate or Die,” Schifino Lee finds countless ways to push the boundaries of advertising and branding.

As Tampa-based company Synapse tries to prove innovation lives in Florida, it just secured a good example.

“We’re essentially going to be the Netflix of surgical training experiences.”

The former Florida CFO, gubernatorial candidate and longtime banker and entrepreneurial advocate was officially named board chair earlier this month.

Brian Kornfeld says he wakes up every day determined to break entrepreneurs free from fear by providing them with the encouragement, guidance and resourcefulness “to achieve their dreams.”

Metro Development is seeking a payment solution for its 7.5-acre Crystal Lagoons; the first is complete but not open yet in Wesley Chapel.

Synapse Summit is a live celebration of innovation, where visionaries, doers, and success-makers connect with the latest transformational innovations across all industries.

According to a recent announcement, Synapse, an accelerator for innovation in Florida, is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from the SunTrust Foundation – Tampa/Southwest Florida, to support future Synapse Challenges.

In partnership with the nonprofit Synapse, Women Ambassadors Forum is holding a one-day conference on January 22 to help women of all ages achieve their break-throughs.

A growing talent pool and a deeper capital base have made the Tampa Bay area a better place for startup tech companies. But the area still has a way to go to achieve its full potential, said Linda Olson, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Wave, a non-profit that services and houses growing companies.

Freedom Bank, the only community bank headquartered in St. Petersburg, nearly tripled its net income in the third quarter of 2018.

Tampa Bay has come a long way from being a place known just for its weather and vacation hotspots. Now, the area has an opportunity to capitalize on the burgeoning technology industry here and create a brand around it

As the Tampa Bay entrepreneurial ecosystem heats up, the community has for the first time coordinated its GEW programs into a calendar of events that are easier for the community to access.

It’s called MEDOPTIC and It’s real-time, 3D virtual reality streaming used in the medical field for training, observation and even consultations. Doctors, wearing VR goggles, can watch surgeries or procedures as they happen.

Brian Kornfeld is the co-founder of Synapse

Brian Kornfeld’s brain runs hotter and faster than an average person’s. Some serious organizations have put that brain to serious use for things like making sure very expensive satellites don’t float off into deep space. As it turns out…

There are people who sit still. There are people who do small things. And there is Marc Blumenthal who does the complete opposite of those people. Blumenthal has left a trail of success throughout Tampa Bay.

Synapse, a Tampa organization formed to help local entrepreneurs, investors and others make connections, has opened registration for its second Innovation Summit and is taking nominations for speakers.

Published in 2016, Best of Tampa Bay is an oversized, stylish, full-color hardcover book – yes, it looks weighty and important on a coffee table

Brian Kornfeld’s brain runs hotter and faster than an average person’s. Some serious organizations have put that brain to serious use for things like making sure very expensive satellites don’t float off into deep space. As it turns out…

Organizers told CL that the date change (the 2017 edition was in March) is all about looking to expand Synapse and turn it into the region’s premier innovation event.

Following up on the success of the 2018 summit, the Synapse Innovation Summit will return to Tampa in 2019. The summit will be held Jan. 23 and 24 at Amalie Arena.

Medical tech executive Scott Minniear discovered the Tampa Bay Technology Incubator at the Innovation Summit in March.

Health providers, doctors, and health insurance companies take a huge role in healthcare. However, people should be at the helm of their own well-being. Here are a few steps to take.

On April 12, 2018, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies announced the shipment of the very first full-scale freight and passenger tubes.

The definition of “fitness” may vary from one person to another. Some employees who are just starting to get on a healthy lifestyle may choose the stairs over riding the elevator.

What does digital transformation really mean in the future of retail? It is simply transferring an old, obsolete product-centered model that has been followed for so many years to a customer-centered model.

Utilizing their military expertise and backgrounds, they are now applying their bold strategies in running a distillery. American Freedom Distillery is a dream come true for a special group of colleagues who served America in its darkest period.

With so many new players in the rideshare space, competition for services and new users is stiff. This shakeup has inspired a new company to come up with the bold idea of creating a third party app which provides a complementary service…

Privately held startups worth over $1 billion, are disrupting several industries in the last few years. ConnectWise, currently worth about $1.2 billion, is paving the way and making a solid example of how to do it well – but they did not get there overnight.

Ecosystems that support entrepreneurs and innovation hubs are sprouting across America. Regions of the country are working hard to be startup havens. This includes creating an environment that supports innovations and helps investors find the next bold idea.

Disruptions turn traditional business models upside down. The need for a more resilient and more efficient innovation infrastructure has become more crucial. Cities and communities must create ecosystems that supports innovation.

Autonomous driving is the future of transportation. And by future, we mean not so distant future. We are already seeing some of these disruptive concepts racing their way to the market.

Crowdstorming is HyperloopTT’s method of planning and achieving their innovation. It is the ability to obtain fresh ideas from several sources, mostly external, managing brainstorming via the Internet.

Synapse, a Tampa organization formed to help local entrepreneurs, investors and others make connections, has opened registration for its second Innovation Summit and is taking nominations for speakers.

Marc Blumenthal is a Partner with Florida Funders and is a high tech entrepreneur in the Tampa Bay area. He sold his company to Tony DiBenedetto of Tribridge a few years ago, and he is currently organizing an Innovation Summit in Tampa at the end of March.

What is the formula for entrepreneurial success? Bold Business asked the founders, CEOs and managers of companies making bold impacts what traits propel entrepreneurs to success.

Research recently conducted at Columbia University highlights how common gender discrepancies vary when it comes to investment funding. Because of this, women entrepreneurs are at a clear disadvantage compared to men.

Over 3,500 participants, 50 speakers, and 257 exhibitors attended the recently concluded Synapse Innovation Summit at the Amalie Arena in Downtown Tampa on March 28 and 29.

Imagine traveling from Tampa to Tallahassee or from Tampa to Miami in 20 minutes or so? Or zipping across the continent from Florida to California on the ground, at airplane speeds, safely and securely? It may sound like a science fiction plot, but it isn’t.

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik told his love story with his adopted hometown to hundreds of local tech workers Wednesday. But it was a message of tough love, too.

What is the Holy Grail for economic development? For most cities it is a thriving start-up ecosystem. Cities everywhere want to become the next Silicon Valley. States want their economic engines loaded with fuel. Non-for-profit Synapse is trying to do just that in the state of Florida.

The Tampa Bay Lightning owner and summit organizers offered ideas on how the area could help the startup community succeed.

A veteran of a top-ranked Chicago innovation center tells what worked in the Windy City.

More than 5,500 entrepreneurs, startup founders, investors and assorted techies converged on Amalie Arena Wednesday and Thursday for the second annual Synapse Summit.

Leaders in the innovation scene started off the summit by going more in-depth into what they have been doing within their organizations and region.

Florida Funders has dramatically expanded its assets under management, after winning a bid to manage the portfolio of the Institute for the Commercialization of Florida Technology.

A veteran of a top-ranked Chicago innovation center tells what worked in the Windy City.

It’s part of a series of moves by Tampa-based Florida Funders to broaden the base of technology investors in the state and support a growing technology sector that is expected to bring more high-skill and high-wage jobs to Florida.

The panel of startup gurus chose a South Florida-based company for the top prize in a four-round, March Madness style event.

Vinik invested heavily in the downtown Tampa area through property purchases and Water Street Tampa, which is currently being developed.

Organizers of the Synapse Summit are considering fine-tuning a few details when the event is held again next year.

What makes them unique? What makes them work? What makes them grow? — that led to the creation of an innovation strategy known as the lean start-up method.