Tampa Bay has developed a reputation as a magnet for tech companies over the last decade. Tampa Bay Wave has been there from the start. So, ten years after the nonprofit tech accelerator and startup support organization launched its first cohort, Tampa Bay Wave gathered with its community of tech founders and regional partners during Tampa Bay Innovation Week to reflect on a decade of accomplishments and look ahead to a promising future.   Click here for full article

Banking is the business of risk and for that reason, it’s highly regulated. That presents challenges for fintech startups that are disrupting the industry with new innovations.   Click here for full article

Steph & Ash talk live at Synapse Summit about the Growth & Partnerships in Florida’s Innovative Ecosystem with some of Florida’s most influential tech leaders. Lakshmi Shenoy (CEO at Embarc Collective), Meghan O’Keefe (Executive Director at Tampa Bay Tech), and Lauren Prager (Chief Strategy Officer at Synapse) share some excellent insight and knowledge on what the tech ecosystem looks like, what the hottest tech is, and why partnerships in the community are so important. This live interview is so energizing […]

Thousands of tech innovators and entrepreneurs connected at Tampa’s Synapse Summit last week, and a few Florida startups walked away with some big investments. The big picture: As Chat GPT and generative AI drive much of the news cycle, artificial intelligence was also the center of much of the conversation at the tech conference last Tuesday. Driving the news: Miami-area startup EVQLV won the conference’s pitch competition. The company aims to use AI to speed up the process of creating antibodies for pharmaceutical companies to get […]

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Calling the Synapse Summit a “SuperBowl of Innovation,” Brian Kornfeld, the organization’s CEO and co-founder, says Synapse’s the mission has always been to “celebrate, discover and engage.” There was a lot of all three going at this week’s Synapse Summit held at Tampa’s Amelie Arena. The Summit attracted more than 6,000 attendees, 800 investors, 300 exhibitors and 150 speakers. The Synapse team’s goal is to connect people from across the state, through its conferences and community leadership. “It’s not just Tampa, it’s […]

Cathie Wood expressed optimism about Elon Musk’s plans as Twitter’s chief executive while speaking virtually at Synapse Summit in Tampa this week. Musk is going to use the platform “in a more profound way” than people suspect, according to Wood. He got his start in the payments world with his first company x.com, an online bank he co-founded and eventually sold to PayPal, she said. Click here for full article

There are the keynotes, the panels, the networking and happy hours aplenty. But the true stars of the annual innovation-focused Synapse Summit are the startups. Amalie Arena was chock-full of emerging companies showcasing their work on Tuesday, from underwater sea technology to AI-powered study guides. We’ve gathered up the 10 startup booths that caught our eye at the annual event below.   Click here for full article

Corporate offices, schools, newsrooms and social media are abuzz with discussions about how generative artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world. As an event meant to highlight and promote Florida’s growing innovation community, it was only fitting that the cutting-edge technology – and its potential use cases – became a recurring theme of the 2023 Synapse Summit. From the mainstage at Tampa’s Amalie Arena to the breakout sessions crowding its halls, several local tech leaders at Tuesday’s event offered their […]

As couples were swooning over heart-shaped gifts and romantic gestures on Tuesday, Valentine’s Day, Synapse was taking over Amalie Arena in Tampa to host its annual tech summit, bringing over 6,000 entrepreneurs and innovators under one roof. The 2023 Synapse Summit drew 800 investors and venture capitalists, 300 exhibitors and 150 speakers. In total, the summit hosted over 40 panels that touched on the latest advancements in defense security, blockchain, artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability. This year’s keynote speakers included […]

When Steve Case’s “Rise of the Rest” tour came to Tampa Bay in 2019 to highlight emerging startup hubs beyond Silicon Valley and Boston, the region was truly on the precipice of rising. Innovation hub Embarc Collective required hard hats to walk through; Sparkman Wharf was months away from reality, and the entirety of Water Street was years away from full completion. Case, who is perhaps best known as the co-founder of AOL, returned to the region on Tuesday for Synapse […]

Like every tech company in 2020, Alexis C. Bell had to pivot during the Covid-19 pandemic. She was in a hotel room two weeks before the pandemic swept the nation, planning to take the technology she had been working on and sell it as software. “We were sitting in a hotel, and all our meetings got canceled at once,” Bell said. “We’ve been heads down building since.” The technology was already 20 years in the making for Bell. She started in forensic accounting before […]

Just before the first keynote address at Tuesday’s Synapse Summit, a daylong innovation and investing conference at Amalie Arena, Brian Kornfeld gave the future the floor. The conference’s CEO pulled up ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot, and asked for an explanation of why Synapse was awesome “as if it was written by Edgar Allan Poe.” Within a moment, the app responded in the style of “The Raven.” Click here for full article    

A Tampa-based company is using its technology to protect astronauts and, most recently, the Ukrainian government. Driving the news: StemRad, a radiation protection technology company that was part of the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator’s first tech cohort in 2017, donated 20 gamma radiation shields to Ukraine, the company announced earlier this month. The shields are designed to protect individuals in the event they’re exposed to high rates of radiation. The company, which is working with NASA, also says its AstRorad radiation protection vests were […]

The University of South Florida Muma College of Business has one of the top entrepreneur programs in the country, according to a new report. The University of South Florida’s entrepreneur program landed at No. 9 in the annual Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine report. It was No. 5 for public schools and No. 1 in the South, according to the list. “We are strong believers in the power of experiential learning. This is what sets us apart. This manifests itself […]

Startup founders have another reason to anxiously await an upcoming local pitch competition, as America’s largest electric utility is contributing $75,000 in prize money. Officials with Florida Power and Light (FPL) and Synapse Florida announced a new partnership this week for Tampa’s 2023 Synapse Innovation Awards. Pamela Rauch, vice president of external affairs and economic development for FPL, said the utility believes the power of partnerships will propel the state’s startup ecosystem… READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

You’ve started your company, built your initial team, figured out who your initial customer is, build an MVP of your solution. Now you need to get that first real customer. You need to find that organization that is willing to take the risk and validate your solution. Join us to hear about how UCF in partnership with the Orlando Tech Council are helping early-stage companies get that initial traction in the market. Learn more about UCF’s Incubator Network at incubator.ucf.edu/ Learn […]

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE This unique interview recorded live at Synapse Orlando last month features Kyle Morrand and Dave Vanz discussing how game designers and developers are changing our perception of the world around us. I promise whether you are a gamer or not you will absolutely find this episode fascinating and compelling.

A bear market didn’t dampen the mood at the Florida Bitcoin & Blockchain Summit (FBBS), as its myriad of speakers focused on new achievements rather than price fluctuations. Friday’s summit was a decidedly scaled-down version of the inaugural Tampa event, held at Amalie Arena last November. Chris Krimitsos, founder of the FBBS, expressed his sincere excitement to see everyone filling the Holiday Inn Westshore’s conference room, as the occasion was about the people that continue to believe in the new […]

How does a region attract technology events? Just ask Tampa Bay, the tech capital of Florida. Some cities like Baltimore invest time and resources into attracting more tech, but Tampa has no such problem. Gone are the days of Silicon Valley’s status as the mecca of the industry. The empire has crumbled. In its place, new leaders arise – coastal superstar cities like Seattle, New York, Austin and now, Tampa Bay. One major event is the Synapse Summit, which boasted an […]

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE Is entrepreneurship right for you? It’s a question that everybody should ask themselves – whether you’ve started multiple companies already or are considering starting your first one. Experienced entrepreneurs and professors John Breed and Mark McNees share with us how that question should be weighed as well as the ups and downs of the journey.

Most people, no matter what their age or stage in life desire to feel a sense of purpose with what they are doing, and to positively contribute to making our world better. There are various elements that make up social change social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise. At its most basic level, social entrepreneurship is about doing business for a social cause. Learn how social entrepreneurs combine commerce and social issues in a way that improves the lives of […]

Orlando’s innovation ecosystem mapped out its future on Friday. Tech and innovation summit Synapse Orlando on Oct. 21 returned to the City Beautiful for the third time since 2019, drawing more than 2,000 registrants and 85 exhibitors showing off the latest in gaming, crypto, venture funding, entertainment tech and more. Specifically, regional economic development organization Orlando Economic Partnership shared its goals to grow tech companies and funding in the next five years….  CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE  

Join top Tampa HR professionals, academics and small business people as they share advice on tips, tactics, and some missteps in dealing with “People Problems” and “People Opportunities.” We’ve lived through it so you don’t have to!

Christina Drake originally wanted Shari Dingle Costantini to join her company as a strategic adviser, but she quickly realized Costantini offered a lot more to Kismet Technologies LLC. After the pair began working together four months ago, Costantini took up the title of president and co-founder of the 3-year-old startup. CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE  

It has been a whirlwind 24 hours for former SpaceX engineer Tim Balz, who now leads Melbourne-based Kalogon. Not only did the company punch a ticket to be a presenter at Synapse Florida next month by impressing a distinguished panel of judges during an event in downtown Orlando Thursday night. But the company also shared news Friday morning that it had raised $1.9 million for its medical-tech company. SeedFundersOrlando led the round, with Sawmill Angel Network, venVelo and DeepWork Capital […]

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE Today, Danielle Mousseau, Manager of Economic Development at Florida Power & Light and 35 Mules, joins Lauren Prager and Wes Lehman in the studio to talk about the unique impact 35 Mules is having on the innovation community in Florida. FPL has literally powered the state of Florida for the last 100 years and now Danielle and her team are bringing that power to the innovation and startup community through 35 Mules. 35 Mules provides […]

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE On this episode of the Synapse Podcast we are joined by Paul Sohl, a former Navy commander and pilot and current CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor as well as Dave Vanz of Orlando Life. The Corridor exists to converge and catalyze the capacity of high tech, innovation, and bright minds across Florida. The Synapse mission and The Corridor mission are so tightly aligned that we just had to have him on as we look ahead to Synapse Orlando on Oct 21st. […]

There are many ways to fund a new business each with pros and cons. Decipher the fundraising jargon to learn if you should bootstrap, take an investment, what defines different fundraising rounds and other financial options for getting your business of the ground.

The Synapse Summit, a marquee summit that attracts thousands of innovators under one roof, will return to Tampa in February. Synapse Florida, the non-profit organization connecting Florida’s innovators, announced the next summit will take place Tuesday, Feb. 14 at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. For the sixth consecutive year, the summit will draw high-profile keynotes and feature thought-leadership, workshops and exhibitors representing 350 Florida companies. Traditionally, the event spanned over multiple days; however, in February, it will be held on […]

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE What is Synapse? How did it all come about and where is it going? Come along the journey with us as we talk about this and more behind the scenes of the Synapse story. Featuring: Brian Kornfeld, Basha Ferdinand, Lauren Prager, & Wes Lehman

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE The Synapse Podcast is a bi-weekly show that focuses on highlighting innovators, learning what makes them who they are, and guiding you on the next step in your innovation journey. Here you can expect to experience long-form conversations, in-depth interviews, as well as both personal and business development content. This isn’t the final destination of your journey, but it is the next step. Welcome to the Synapse Podcast.

Understand the basics that any investor expects to see in a pitch deck and how to make your best impression from your first interaction. This talk will cover the neurology behind pitching, how to create your first pitch, and pitching experiences from a business owner.

An introduction the tried and true methodology that powers entrepreneurs to build quickly and fail fast, powering them to move closer to their ultimate goal. Dr. Cobb presents on the 5 lean principals and the questions we need to ask ourselves to start to transform your organization into a lean organization for the 21st century.

Your message, your voice and your image are what ultimately will sell your new business. What are the most impactful marketing tools for startups, how do you determine your ROI based on data and analytics, and how do you find a marketing partner to bring your vision to the world? If you would like to connect with Ian, please visit his LinkedIn profile.

Accurate bookkeeping and financial management is essential to the success of any business, especially a new one. Understand how to manage vendor contracts and costs, budgets and financial statements, and key questions to ask to keep your operation lean.

Corp? B-Corp? S-Corp? LLC? Other? Learn what structuring options are available for your new company; the pros and cons of each choice; the crucial steps needed to build a healthy and strong foundation; what you need to do to protect your trademarks; how to understand your financial, accounting and tax obligation; and those who can help you make these important decisions.

University of South Florida (USF) President Rhea Law joined University of Central Florida (UCF) President Alexander Cartwright, Ph.D., and University of Florida (UF) President Kent Fuchs, Ph.D., last month at Synapse Summit 2022 to celebrate a 25-year legacy of innovation as partners in the Florida High Tech Corridor and unveil a commitment to “unleash the region’s ‘expotential.’” The three university presidents participated in a discussion moderated by The Corridor CEO Paul Sohl, retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, about their hallmark partnership […]

Florida is home to a powerhouse State University System, with the University of South Florida, the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida leading the way as partners driving the Florida High Tech Corridor. In this special episode captured during Synapse Summit 2022, hear from presidents of our three partner universities as they join The Corridor’s CEO Paul Sohl for a discussion about their hallmark partnership approach, the role of universities in Florida’s innovation economy and how their universities are preparing the next generation of innovators. […]

The Orlando technology scene is on fire. As someone burrowed in the ecosystem for eight years, I have been waiting for a unified front. I thought this was missing and, frankly, I understood why that was. How do you get a series of disparate industries to pull toward the same goal, one that revolves around location and place rather than industry in an effort of making Orlando one of the best tech communities in the state, much less the country? […]

For the first time in two years, robots, simulations and video games will take over the Orlando Science Center in a fully onsite and in-person Otronicon. The annual science and technology expo, started in 2006, will feature interactive technology exhibits, workshops, shows and competitions from Feb. 18-21. Exhibitors range from The Walt Disney Co., Central Florida’s biggest employer, to Winter Garden-based exoskeleton startup Rake Technologies Inc. Otronicon often draws a wide array of attendees, including families and students. For the […]

The 5th annual 2022 Synapse Summit returned to Tampa’s Amalie Arena this February calling together Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which consists of startup founders, funders, tech talent, executives, educational institutions, support organizations and local/regional/state government entities, especially the economic development boards. Synapse Florida, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, expertly designs the annual event to Celebrate, Discover, & Engage the Florida innovation community. Acting as a powerful catalyst, Synapse brings in all community stakeholders together to enable chance meetings, meaningful dialogues, opportunities to brainstorm, be inspired and […]

As travel demand picks up, group trips are on the horizon again and a St. Pete entrepreneur hopes his new app will make planning a little easier. The app Takeoff just launched last week to help plan itineraries and split payments for group travel. The startup’s founder and CEO Chase Harris said his own rescheduled group trips due to the pandemic made him realize there was a gap to fill. “A lot of, like, my bachelor parties and group trips like that got pushed to 2021, […]

Futurists and metaverse experts took center stage during the Synapse Summit in Tampa last week, sharing their own journeys in tech and the future of innovation in Florida. This year, the keynote speakers for the Synapse Summit were Manny Medina, one of South Florida’s best-known serial tech entrepreneurs; Cathy Hackl, dubbed the “Godmother of the Metaverse” and the CEO and Chief Metaverse Officer of the Futures Intelligence Group; and Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition, a nonprofit initiative founded by […]

“Things fall apart; the center cannot hold,” William Butler Yeats wrote in “The Second Coming,” the Irish poet’s famous 1919 work about civilization turning to chaos in the wake of World War I. More than a century later, the center is again being challenged, this time by technology — specifically, the rise of cryptocurrencies, blockchains, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other “Web 3.0” innovations, which present new, decentralized ways of doing business. Web 3.0 was a popular topic at the Synapse Summit […]

TAMPA, Fla. (CW44 News At 10) – Hundreds of young, diverse entrepreneurs are gearing up to showcase their ideas to top Tampa Bay investors in hopes of making their dream of becoming an entrepreneur a reality. “I’m a Tampa native, born and raised. I’ve built four companies in Tampa, had a few successes and failures,” said Sat Ramphal, CEO and Co-Founder of Maya AI. He and his brothers have been bringing fresh startup ideas to the forefront for more than […]

Leaders of the 23-county Florida High Tech Corridor today shared the stage at Synapse Summit 2022 where they celebrated a 25-year legacy of partnership and innovation and unveiled a commitment to “unleash the region’s expotential.” University of Florida President Kent Fuchs, University of Central Florida President Alexander Cartwright and Interim University of South Florida President Rhea Law participated in a discussion moderated by The Corridor’s CEO Paul Sohl, Rear Adm. USN (ret), about their hallmark partnership approach, the role of […]

Tampa techies once again flocked to Amalie Arena yesterday for Synapse Summit, myself included. Why it matters: After last year’s hybrid virtual event, the summit aiming to make Tampa Bay the next big tech hub made a big in-person return, with speakers like “Godmother of the Metaverse” Cathy Hackl. Here are the companies that most impressed me… CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Fast, which offers a secure one-click checkout for online buyers, won the Grand Prize and first place in the Emerging Tech category at Synapse Summit’s Innovation Awards ceremony in Tampa. The San-Francisco-based fintech company in a growth mode has opened a Tampa office. And Tampa’s Glazer Children’s Museum, an interactive learning laboratory where children play, placed first in the Community Impact category. At the fifth summit, which drew more than 5,600 to downtown Tampa on February 17, two other Tampa Bay companies also […]

For the first time, University of South Florida President Rhea Law shared the stage with the presidents of the University of Central Florida and the University of Florida to offer their visions for the role of university innovation in fueling the state’s future economy. The three presidents came together at the recent Synapse Summit in downtown Tampa, an annual event that brings together thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, startups, students and others from the innovation community in Florida and beyond… CLICK […]

We had a blast meeting with founders, accelerators, venture capital firms, and innovation enthusiasts from across the region. If you didn’t get a chance to make a hole-in-one for a free book – check out the titles below for our recommended reading list from PS27 Foundation programs over the years. At PS27 we are always looking for the most creative, innovative, and disciplined students to work with our portfolio companies. We connect with Colleges and Universities throughout the region to […]

With a few thousand people in attendance, Synapse Summit celebrated the 5th year of their exciting annual conference highlighting tech and innovation within the state of Florida. Florida has consistently been ranked as one of the top states for entrepreneurial activity with South Florida leading the pack over the past decade or more, but has struggled to gain the national attention attracting funding and talent. Technology and STEAM related fields have been focus for the region, but only now getting the attention. […]

The Synapse Summit in Tampa managed to squeeze in plenty of panels, networking, keynote speakers and over 5,600 attendees for its 2022 conference, its fifth year. But among all the content were hundreds of startups from across the state — and some from the other side of the nation. Tampa Bay Inno has the local standouts that caught our attention. The Dilemma Exhibit Based: Tampa What they do: A virtual digital agency that creates immersive experiences within the metaverse, including meet and […]

From building mountains and skyscrapers in Minecraft, to communicating with international colleagues, the metaverse is changing the fabric of the virtual world. Technologists and digital experts shared insights and their own experiences of navigating and creating digital dimensions during the Synapse Summit event at Amalie Arena Thursday. St. Pete Catalyst publisher and Metacity Head of Network Joe Hamilton joined Jason Warnke, Accenture’s senior managing director and global digital experiences lead, and Kyle Morrand, CEO of 302 Interactive, to break down the […]

The futuristic, augmented reality eSport Hado is coming to Tampa for this year’s Synapse Summit, offering attendees the chance to throw virtual balls of electricity at their opponents across the floor of Amalie Arena. Developed in Japan in 2014, around 37 countries currently play the competitive eSport, according to Shane Vander Kooi, co-founder of Hado USA. However, Hado is mostly unknown outside of Asia and Europe, and Palm Beach-based Hado USA hopes the Synapse Summit on Feb. 17 is a coming-out party […]

While the fifth annual Synapse Summit brought its signature innovation-focused content to Amalie Arena on Feb. 17, its standout speakers covered a slew of topics. We gathered up the takeaways from each of the three keynote speakers below. Manny Medina, founder and managing partner of Medina Capital, eMerge Americas conference “Crises are the best thing that can happen to you, and once you get over it, that’s your foundation,” Medina said, referencing his former publicly traded company Terremark. “We had […]

You don’t need an MBA to write a business plan, but you do need to know where to start. Learn about the basic components for a strong business plan, the questions it should answer and resources to help you navigate the process.

The fifth annual Synapse Summit was held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, this week The metaverse will attract big business, the field of robotics is expanding and the global pandemic has forever changed business. Those were some of the messages from a gathering of entrepreneurs, corporations, universities and investors all focused on innovation for the future at the fifth annual Synapse Summit held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, this week… CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

A few thousand people showed up to Amalie Arena in Tampa yesterday to connect, share, and celebrate Florida innovation. Hundreds of vendors showed off their businesses and shared their stories. Incredibly talented speakers filled seven stages throughout the day, inspiring, exciting, informing, and educating the energetic crowd. Millions of new connections were made, old connections rekindled, and new friendships started. The arena was filled with energy, optimism, and celebration. What a day! But what now? It’s so tempting to get […]

Robots roamed the halls of Amalie Arena while people strapped on Oculus goggles and played a game of virtual dodgeball during the annual Synapse Summit event Feb. 17. The Synapse Summit celebrates innovation in Florida by bringing entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts together under one roof. During this year’s summit in Tampa, over 300 exhibitors lined the halls of the arena to showcase their latest products to the 5,000-plus attendees at the event. Here were some of the exhibitors that […]

The metaverse will attract big business, the field of robotics is expanding and the global pandemic has forever changed business. Those were some of the messages from a gathering of entrepreneurs, corporations, universities and investors all focused on innovation for the future at the fifth annual Synapse Summit held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, this week. More than 5,000 attendees heard a range of topics from more than 150 speakers and walked through more than 300 exhibits ranging […]

Tampa wasn’t exactly a power player on the global tech scene when Pam Miniati was organizing the Florida Israel Business Accelerator five years ago. “We’d say, ‘Come to Florida!’ and they’d know where Florida is; and we’d say ‘Come to Tampa!’ and they’d say, ‘Tampa? Where is Tampa?’” Miniati said Thursday at the fifth annual Synapse Summit at Amalie Arena. “It was not on the map. It was not on anyone’s radar, especially internationally.” How have things changed since? When […]

Momentum, Metaverse and Miami take center stage at Tampa tech conference The chatter at the daylong Synapse Summit in Tampa this week was equal parts a celebration of how far Florida has come to become an emerging player in the tech and startup world and the massive opportunities that lie ahead for the Sunshine State. Certainly, there’s opportunity in healthcare-related tech, including brain-computer interface, AI and in space tech, all key technologies Florida is playing a role in. But much of the […]

Tampa wasn’t exactly a power player on the global tech scene when Pam Miniati was organizing the Florida Israel Business Accelerator five years ago. “We’d say, ‘Come to Florida!’ and they’d know where Florida is; and we’d say ‘Come to Tampa!’ and they’d say, ‘Tampa? Where is Tampa?’” Miniati said Thursday at the fifth annual Synapse Summit at Amalie Arena. “It was not on the map. It was not on anyone’s radar, especially internationally.” How have things changed since? When […]

Synapse Orlando debuted in 2019 and retuned as a bigger event in 2021. CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Web3. Metaverse. NFT drop. These are innovation buzzwords for this year’s fifth Synapse Summit, expected to draw more than 5,000 to the Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa on February 17. “We’re really leaning into a lot of the hotter technologies,” says Synapse CEO and Co-Founder Brian Kornfeld. “We’re having a lot of fun with that.” From the decentralization of Internet data offered through a Web3, to the metaverse virtual world that will change how people live, to non-fungible tokens for […]

How do you “know” if you have a good idea/concept for a business? How do you know it’s marketable and viable? Find out what questions to ask to pre-determine the viability of your concept!

The Synapse Summit started five years ago with the mission of bringing entrepreneurs, investors and key players in the tech space all under one roof, and this year’s event will carry out the same goal – but on a much bigger scale. The Synapse Summit will be a one-day event at Tampa’s Amalie Arena Feb. 17. The event attracts investors throughout the state and gives the local startup community a spotlight. Synapse CEO and co-founder Brian Kornfeld recalls the moment […]

Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. It’s a rewarding, exciting opportunity to build your dream and live your passion. However, it’s a tough road filled with challenges. Learn the questions you should ask yourself before you start to make sure you start off right. Serial entrepreneurs and faculty with Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Mark McNees and John Breed will lead a frank conversation about the realities of the entrepreneurial journey – the good and the bad. They’ll tap […]

eMerge Americas announced a strategic partnership with Synapse Florida, a nonprofit group that connects Florida’s innovation communities, to strengthen the connections among Florida’s major tech ecosystems. The groups are coordinating a year-round calendar of innovation events across the state, including Synapse Summit (Feb 17, 2022, in Tampa), the global eMerge Americas conference (April 18-19, 2022, in Miami), and Synapse Orlando (Oct. 2022)… CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

A Tampa-based insurance tech startup has closed a $100 million round in its first foray into the funding world. Slide was founded by Bruce Lucas, who previously founded Heritage Insurance (NYSE: HRTG). He served as the company’s CEO until 2020, before leaving and launching his latest venture this September. The company has raised a $100 million hyper-local Series A round, it told the Business Journal exclusively, Friday. The company, which expects to launch to the public next quarter, is a […]

Some of Tampa Bay’s top innovators — and headline makers — gathered on one rooftop Nov. 16 at the Florida Aquarium to celebrate the third annual Fire Awards, hosted by Tampa Bay Inno. With 30 standout companies that closed some of the biggest deals of the year, the competition was fierce for the annual Blazer Awards. The blazer is given to one organization from each category that is truly a trailblazer in their industry, voted on by a panel of esteemed […]

Long lines at the registration desk at Synapse Orlando 2021 were the show’s biggest problem — and proof of its success. For the first time since the inaugural Synapse Orlando at Ace Café in 2019, the innovation expo on Oct. 15 returned to Orlando as a live event. At least 1,500 people registered for Synapse Orlando’s networking, technology panels and exposition areas at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. This year’s iteration of Synapse, a Florida innovation convention […]

The Florida Bitcoin & Blockchain Summit is Florida’s first “blockchain & fintech in Florida” focused event, highlighting the ever expanding financial technology industry. The goal of the summit is to bring together stakeholders, businesses, and political leaders from all over Florida, as well as outside of the State, to collaborate on a strategy that will drive growth inside and outside the State of Florida, benefiting our emerging industry. Our event will unify the fintech communities, businesses, evangelists, and political leaders […]

Mac Gardner’s life mission is to teach the basics of financial literacy to people traditionally excluded from access to financial planning, and he’s targeting children in a way that’s convenient and accessible. A certified financial planner, Gardner is the founder and chief education officer of FinLit Tech. He has published two books on financial literacy. The most recent one, “The Four Money Bears,” teaches children the four functions of money: spending it, saving it, investing it, and giving it away. In […]

In every city across America, the economic recovery after the pandemic looks different. For many industries that consider Tampa Bay their home, it has been a welcome return to opening doors to customers and scaling operations. It is due to Tampa Bay’s overall competitiveness to thrive and innovate that the city solidified as a new tech hub outside Silicon Valley. As more innovative tech solutions originate in Tampa Bay, VCs, startups, incubators, and accelerators improve the economy. These companies contribute […]

The voices of many inspirational individuals who’ve used their courage to create, explore, and share their experiences, resound throughout the Tampa Bay Area. Through successes and failures, passions and beliefs, each has their own unique story that shaped who they are today. Those stories — from neighbors, co-workers, group members, and even complete strangers — can sometimes resonate with you enough to change your view of the world around you. All it takes to hear those stories is taking a […]

Synapse is a leader in supporting and showcasing LGBTQ+ Florida innovators. It recently featured LGBTQ+ speakers and experts in its programming, and also included a “Welcoming LGBTQ+ Leaders into the Innovation Community” in the spring Synapse Summit program. The goal throughout the year is to celebrate innovative leaders who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community and Synapse continues to do that by hosting industry experts, thought leaders, business executives and investors to events around Tampa and beyond. The organization […]

LinkedIn now has proof that technology workers across the nation really are moving to the Tampa Bay region in droves. The website released its top 10 cities for tech employees based on migration patterns, with the Tampa Bay region landing at the No. 6 spot. The Bay area had roughly 128 employees per every 10,000 LinkedIn users relocate to the region between May 2020 and April 2021. It was the top region in the state, beating Orlando at No. 12 […]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Despite the challenges of the pandemic, small companies in the Big Bend are thriving thanks to new partnerships designed to help veteran-owned, minority-owned and women-owned businesses in our community. “Building a business is really hard,” explained Michele Madison. She is founder and CEO of Farming the Future. Madison planted the seed for that company in 2016. They develop science programs for K through 12 schools… CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Synapse Summit may be partially virtual this year, but it won’t stop the innovation-focused conference from being a star-studded event. The summit, which is typically held in Amalie Arena with thousands of attendees, will now be held in a hybrid form across the state. It’s that flexibility that also allows some of the summit’s biggest speakers to be taking the virtual stage. Since the start of the year, Synapse Florida — which hosts the annual event — has been slowly revealing who […]

Steven Galanis, CEO and founder of quickly rising Chicago startup Cameo, will be a keynote speaker for Synapse Florida’s upcoming Synapse Summit. Galanis founded Cameo, a marketplace for celebrity shout-out videos, in 2017. The company has now raised more than $65 million and hosts more than 15,000 celebrities on its platform… CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

The Synapse Summit, an annual networking and education event for Florida’s innovation and tech community that usually packs Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, has gone fully virtual for its 2021 edition, set for March 8-11, and will offer free general admission tickets. Synapse Florida CEO Brian Kornfeld, speaking with the Catalyst, said it was an easy decision to change the event’s business model. “We know there are a lot of barriers and that cost is really hard on a lot of […]

I moved to the Tampa Bay Area from Chicago to launch Embarc Collective, a startup hub in downtown Tampa where early-stage technology and tech-enabled startups can work with experienced advisers, attend regular group programming, access a driven peer community — all in one central place. Even before the pandemic, I was hesitant to center Embarc Collective’s story solely around our 32,000-square-foot physical space, which opened in January 2020. Instead, I chose to focus on what the space enabled: a community […]

Working from home and virtual events have brought a litany of flexibility perks, but one thing has been missing: easy networking. Synapse Florida, the Tampa-based organization that aims to connect innovation-focused entities across the state, is looking to add networking back into events — even virtual ones. The organization has teamed up with Finland-based Brella, a virtual events platform. While Synapse will be using its own platform for the annual Synapse Summit, it will be using Brella’s artificial intelligence software […]

As racial tensions came to a head in June 2020 with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, a similar reckoning began to occur within the walls of higher education institutions. Leaders at the five Tampa Bay institutions in the region initially gave statements expressing their sadness and disappointment as the events unfolded. Some were forthcoming about the change they needed to make on their own campuses, while others made more subtle references to the changes needed beyond Tampa Bay […]

Financial advisor Mac Gardner aims to promote Fintech-focused competition so that more consumers are able to interact with financial literacy apps. There’s a new technology-related track in the financial planning curriculum being offered at the University of South Florida. The Fintech Bullpen, a Fintech competition for college students in the computer programming and financial planning tracks (who are enrolled at the University of South Florida), was unable to attract any USF students. However, the initiative appears to have inspired the launch of a Fintech […]

Have you ever wondered about the best ways to give? In this first of a dynamic two-part series, Danyell Jones will help you transform your approach to philanthropic giving, maximizing your impact in a way that aligns with your values and with your tax returns. Danyell is one of the most sought-after financial advisors in the Tampa Bay Area, having delivered informative keynote talks to notable local and national organizations (including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Women in Sports and Entertainment […]

Last week, as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week and Tallahassee Startup Week, Tallahassee Community College (TCC) and its Center for Innovation announced two partnerships that will support students, entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses across the region with expertise, assets, resources, capital and opportunities across Florida – effectively filling local gaps that limit their growth potential and draw them elsewhere. On Monday, TCC President Jim Murdaugh executed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum with Michael Barerra, the newly appointed Director of the United […]

To celebrate entrepreneurs in the Big Bend ecosystem, Tallahassee Startup Week (TSW) is back again this week through Friday. This year’s lineup includes 12 events that connects motivated professionals with resources, education, and opportunity. Scheduled events feature seminars, workshops and panels with topics including legal, marketing and arts. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, all events are virtual, free, and open to the public. “We especially look forward to FSU alumni who started businesses before turning 30 years old coming back to campus to […]

Across the nation, including in Tampa Bay, entrepreneurs will be celebrated during Global Entrepreneurship Week kicking off Nov. 16. “Entrepreneurs are essential to the growth of an ecosystem, especially in the current economic environment,” said Lauren Prager, VP of Community Engagement at Synapse Florida. “More and more people are using this time, either by necessity or inspiration, to build new businesses. We wanted there to be a celebration and recognition for entrepreneurs and the best way to put Florida on an […]

Synapse Florida has set the date for its fourth Synapse Summit, a chance to celebrate, discover and engage with the state’s innovation community. The summit, scheduled March 8-11, 2021, will be a hybrid event, with a digital platform for virtual attendance as well as limited-capacity in-person events, a news release said. The 2021 summit will feature a couple of new initiatives, including the inaugural Synapse Innovation Awards. The awards will recognize those driving innovation, promoting equity and inclusivity, and making […]

Synapse Summit, an annual event that focuses on the latest in tech and innovation across Florida, will return in 2021 with a new, hybrid focus. The summit, which had more than 7,000 attendees at its February Tampa summit that featured numerous speakers from Central Florida’s tech sector, will return March 8-11, 2021 in a four-day, virtual and in-person event expanding across the state. There will be both general admission and VIP tickets. The general admission tickets will be free, while […]

Women leaders shared their hard-earned knowledge about starting and investing in businesses at IN-AWE, a virtual event that brought together innovators and entrepreneurs from throughout the state. Inspirational speeches, sobering statistics, and real-life stories about finding funding were highlighted during the gathering, with a laser focus on women investors and women-owned companies. The struggle to raise capital is real, Linda Olson, founder and CEO of Tampa Bay Wave, told the 370 people who watched on Zoom. Companies led by women […]

Tampa Bay Tech will honor local technology leaders at its annual awards show in November. The show will be online and will start at 4 p.m. Nov. 12. It’s the 17th year Tampa Bay Tech has held the legacy event. Register here. The organization, a nonprofit technology council, will present awards in seven categories, including a new “Bridge Builder” category, recognizing an individual in the community who is dedicated to building a radically connected tech ecosystem, whether through philanthropy, thought leadership […]

Women entrepreneurs often have to work harder than their male counterparts to find connections for early-stage capital. Five local organizations are working to change that. They are hosting an inaugural IN-AWE virtual event that will bring together partners and resources who support women as innovators and entrepreneurs in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area and across Florida. IN-AWE, which stands for Investing In, Nurturing & Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs, offers an opportunity for networking, exchanging ideas and showcasing how ideas become businesses and […]

After eight years as the executive assistant for Tony DiBenedetto, the co-founder and former CEO of Tribridge, Joelle Paban launched her own executive assistant recruitment firm. Now her former boss is an investor. DiBenedetto, an entrepreneur himself, encouraged his employees to come to him with business ideas. He has now invested — both emotionally and financially — in Paban & Associates, for an undisclosed amount. After DXC Technologies (NYSE: DXC) acquired Tribridge in 2017 in a $152 million deal, Paban moved […]

Women-owned startups are getting a local boost thanks to two Tampa Bay startup supporters. The Tampa Bay Wave revealed 13 Floridian, women-owned startups that make up their first-ever TechWomen Rising Accelerator cohort. The cohort, which was announced in February, is the result of a $500,000 two-year grant from JPMorgan Chase, intended to be split between the Wave and innovation hub Embarc Collective. Members will go through a 90-day accelerator program, which the Wave will take the lead on with mentorship and […]

Synapse Florida will focus on entrepreneurship during a four-day virtual statewide gathering in November. The free event, Synapse Converge, will take place Monday, Nov. 16 through Thursday, Nov. 19, during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Synapse is the co-coordinator for GEW Florida. “Entrepreneurs are the visionaries, leaders and risk takers who are sustaining our economy through this uncertain time. This program will provide community and tools for entrepreneurs at different stages of the journey,” said Lauren Prager, vice president of community engagement […]

How has EDI2 shifted to help startups and small businesses during the pandemic? The program was created about seven years ago from our county commissioners and our leadership. And as you know, we were moving and grooving, everything has been so wonderful with our Hillsborough County tech and innovation community, (there’s) so much growth, so much opportunity. And then coronavirus happened, and we sort of as a community have experienced this different type of standstill. So we’re seeing a total […]

Our exciting lineup includes keynotes from distinguished speakers, as well as a stellar panel of executives from the largest healthcare systems in the country and startups with innovative products and concepts… CLICK TO LEARN MORE

July 17, 2020 – Synapse, a Tampa nonprofit focused on building the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Florida, has launched its latest challenge. Innovators are being challenged to develop a mobile app with a fun and entertaining way to introduce elementary school children, ages 5 to 11, to the concepts of money management. Submissions may consist of a working demo plus supporting documents or a detailed PowerPoint. A five-minute video pitch is due by Sept. 1. The winning team will receive a […]

In light of COVID-19, Tampa Bay Inno is bringing our State of Innovation meetups virtual! On July 15, Join Tampa Bay Inno for our first virtual State of Innovation focused on funding in a post-covid world. Funding has always been a precarious topic in the startup world, does the coronavirus pandemic change that? Hear from some of Tampa Bay’s top venture capital firms on what they’re investing in, what to expect when we return to the “new normal” and what […]

Communication is important now more than ever as companies strive to continue operating during the Covid-19 pandemic, and for many that means reintegrating their workforce. Two Tampa-area executives shared their experiences during Synapse Florida’s virtual June 11 panel discussion on “Rebuilding Your Post-Covid Workforce,” which centered on how companies are working through the pandemic and how virtual meetings are changing the workplace for the long haul. The speakers included Ian Barkin, chief strategy and marketing officer at Sykes Enterprises Inc. (NASDAQ: […]

The health care environment world find itself grappling with the spread of Covid-19, making it a critical time to tap into the latest technologies. Health care experts from the data and artificial intelligence space to doctors discussed the nature of technologies evolving in their practice during a recent Synapse Florida virtual event. Synapse Converge was an online, three-day conference from June 9 to 11, with panels, keynote speakers and Q&As. On June 11, the health care and tech experts congregated virtually […]

Higher education officials across the Sunshine State believe that while the coronavirus pandemic may have been the catalyst to pivot to online classes, it will leave a lasting impact felt long after the virus is eradicated. “I think what a lot of people are processing through is, ‘What are some technologies to help deliver our value prop?’” said Saif Ishoof, vice president for engagement at Florida International University. “But also, ‘What are the human values that will be ended for everyone who is […]

Seedfunders, a St. Petersburg-based early stage investment firm, will invest $5,000 in VetGuardian, with technology designed to keep animals healthier and veterinarians safer. VetGuardian won the Seedfunders pitch event at Synapse Converge, a three-day virtual gathering. VetGuardian was one of three companies presenting to a panel of judges from around the state. Each company got about 10 minutes to pitch, then each judge asked follow-up questions. VetGuardian provides contactless vital sign monitoring for animals. Using doppler radar-based technology, the company’s […]

As conversations swirl on social media regarding climate change, health care and racial discord, a former Airbnb executive said if Tampa Bay leaders want to be successful, they need to lean into tough discussions. “Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching,” Rob Chesnut, Airbnb’s former chief ethics officer, said. “But the thing is, everyone is always watching. So, the need for integrity is more important than ever.” Chesnut was a keynote speaker on Wednesday for Synapse […]

Synapse Florida has launched a diversity, equity and inclusion committee to ensure the Black community is included in Florida’s innovation economy. The committee will “help guide us and hold us accountable to making positive changes, the right changes, lasting changes and impactful changes,” said Brian Kornfeld, Synapse co-founder and president, speaking Wednesday at Synapse Converge, a three-day virtual gathering. Everyone at Synapse, a nonprofit that connects entrepreneurs, talent, investors and others, stands against systemic racism, prejudice and injustice and believes […]

As the world continues to grapple with changes from the COVID-19 pandemic, early-stage investors are open for business. “There is capital coming into the market and venture investors are always looking for opportunity,” said Anna Mason, a partner at Revolution’s Rise of the Rest seed fund. Mason kicked off Synapse Converge, a three-day interactive virtual conference with industry leaders organized by Synapse Florida. Designed to help the state emerge from the pandemic, the conference will highlight innovation that can play […]

Two Tampa-based innovation hubs, Embarc Collective and Synapse, are adapting to find new opportunities to thrive while supporting local startups amid the COVID-19 crisis. The two companies provide tools, workspace, shared experiences, and organizational structure to help startups grow and expand while pursuing new ideas and innovations. All agree that nurturing startups is needed because it’s daunting to find solutions when success is not guaranteed, especially during a global pandemic. When the pandemic hit locally and across the United States […]

While offices and restaurants ease into reopening, other business staples such as events and networking have been put on pause or pivoted virtually. With one of Tampa Bay’s biggest events, the Synapse Summit, doing the same, here are the highlights of what can be expected over the three-day Synapse Converge conference. Like its February predecessor, the virtual event — slated for June 9-11 — will have panels, keynotes and networking opportunities for attendees. General admission for all events is $25… CLICK […]

Synapse Florida, a Tampa-based nonprofit dedicated to fostering the state’s “innovation economy,” is known for large-scale, well-attended events including the annual Synapse Summit at Amalie Arena, home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, in downtown Tampa. But with the COVID-19 crisis completely altering the way business networking is done, the organization has decided to embrace virtual meetings for its next event, Synapse Converge. It’s scheduled to take place June 9-11 in, well, your home — or wherever you attend online meetings […]

We will cover the importance of community and how purpose-driven groups can help support and provide solutions to the challenges we face today. Learn how these communities help support our cities, our entrepreneurs and ecosystem necessary to foster a culture that is driven by purpose. Most importantly, what can we do together to help each other as we prepare to move forward. In addition, our panelists will address questions and suggestions submitted by our attendees during the session. We hope […]

The Southern Startup Report is a twice-monthly, curated newsletter covering the latest tech startup happenings in the American Southeast. It is produced by LookFar, a New Orleans-based software development studio, and Club Discovery, a co-working space for innovators, entrepreneurs and technologists in the heart of New Orleans’ Bywater neighborhood. Learn more about sponsoring the SSR or subscribe here to get the SSR delivered to your inbox. Atlanta-based VC firm Valor Ventures recently released a new report on seed-stage underfunding in the Southeast. They will be hosting a webinar tomorrow, May 7 […]

Synapse Florida, best known for its massive, two-day summit in Amalie Arena at the start of every year, is bringing the connectivity back — and this time, it’s digital. As events came to a complete halt in mid-March due to the novel coronavirus, the Synapse team began to think of ways to still complete its mission of connecting the innovation community not only in Tampa Bay, but throughout Florida… CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

BRINGING FLORIDA’S INNOVATORS TOGETHER. VIRTUALLY.   Participate in live sessions and workshops through interactive chats and Q&A. Access to experts, resources and actionable materials. Easily Connect with other attendees digitally before and during the conference… CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

Synapse Florida — known for its massive, two-day summit in Amalie Arena at the start of every year — is bringing the connectivity back, and this time it’s digital. As gatherings came to a complete halt in mid-March due to the novel coronavirus, the Synapse team began to think of ways to still connect the innovation community not only in Tampa Bay but throughout Florida. “The word that I’ve been using is the renaissance into new growth or the new […]

In a team meeting on Friday, I asked each and every Synapse team member to say what the role of Synapse or the Florida innovation community means to them during a time of crisis. The answers ranged from connection and community, to challenges and critical thinking, to sanity and excitement, to hope and opportunity. I couldn’t help but to sit back and smile for a second, the first time in a while. Then I caught myself wondering why I was […]

ORLANDO, Fla.  – PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: PCT), headquartered in Orlando, is the official sustainability partner for Synapse Orlando 2021, (#SynapseOrlando), taking place on October 15th, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. PureCycle will work with Synapse to help reduce the event’s environmental impact on the Orlando community. The innovative experience brings together entrepreneurs and tech innovators and will attract more than 1,000 attendees this year in person and virtually. This partnership makes a zero-waste footprint a Synapse priority […]

A truly diverse workforce brings different cultures, races, genders, backgrounds and generations together under one roof to collaborate and build camaraderie. CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

Daymond John, entrepreneur and “shark” on ABC’s Shark Tank, speaks during Synapse Summit 2021. CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

He will be one of three keynotes for the summit set for March. CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE

How well you manage your financials has a direct correlation to business success. As we roll into Tax Season, now is an excellent time to establish or revisit: The importance of having a Financial Plan as a Business Owner (One for yourself and one for your business) The power of Tax Deductions and Business Sponsored Retirement Plans (SEP IRA, Simple IRA, Solo 401(k), LIRP) Ways to protect your business and succession Planning (Buy Sell Agreements, Key Person Insurance, Business Valuation) […]

It is Women’s History Month. The Synapse team is proud to partner with InVista, a division of PAR, Inc. — a woman-led company, and LaKendria Robinson, the recent Director, Business Connect & Community Outreach for the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Super Bowl Host Committee — to toast to women leaders. Our journeys are as unique as each of us, with triumphs and challenges, that we should each share and celebrate. We want to hear from you about your experiences […]

A retrospective or ‘retro’ is time intentionally made to reflect and adapt for a team, body of work and/or process, and to define actions that will drive continuous improvement. In this Libate & Learn, you’ll learn how retrospectives can be used to reimagine the way you work and how retros can help your people, processes and technology. With over 55,000 employees around the world, PwC teams have utilized this tool internally and externally to improve team and client output. You’ll […]

Entrepreneurship is tough. Being a CEO is filled with challenges and frustrations that are universal across industries, affecting businesses big and small. In this dynamic conversation, we’ll get to brass tacks with two entrepreneurs, and old friends, who together have tackled the top 5 pain points facing most business leaders: – Lack of control – “People” frustration – whether with employees/vendors/customers – Lack of profit – Nothing has worked – You’ve hit a ceiling Ashley Butler, Fleet Manager of Butler […]

We are consuming content everywhere, all the time. From our phones to our smart TVs, which are now in nearly 80% of American households. Whether live streaming video games or bouncing across streaming platforms, our media engagement is evolving. The team at Nielsen, with a large presence in Tampa Bay, Florida, is the global leader of analyzing media habits and trends. They help the industry understand what consumers are watching and how those behaviors can enable businesses to better engage […]

The average LinkedIn user only gets about 150 visitors to their profiles each month. On average, that’s just five views a day and yet there are over 766+ million users on LinkedIn. If your profile views are similar to the average, it means that your profile isn’t optimized for the growing number of people searching on LinkedIn for your expertise everyday. To make it crystal clear…people just aren’t finding you! As we ramp up for a successful 2021, we need […]

Join us for our last Libate & Learn of 2020. Presented by Reliaquest, our three panelists will share insights on the best ways to enter and grow your career in the cybersecurity industry. In this session you will learn what experience and training was necessary, and insights on, how Joe Partlow became CISO and CTO of ReliaQuest, one of the country’s top cybersecurity companies. They’ll share what recruiters are looking for on an ideal candidate’s resume and during an interview, […]

Join leaders from Embarc Collective – Lakshmi Shenoy and Allie Felix – as they share more insights on their Glaring Gap Report which highlights the disparities between men and women in the innovation ecosystem. This was a special episode of Libate & Learn that aired during Synapse’s Converge: GEW Edition conference in Fall of 2020.

Corporate Leadership can be confusing, stressful and political. However, those who understand the roles can rise to the top effectively. Join this Libate & Learn session to learn about different roles, what they mean, what skills you should have, and how to move up the corporate ladder. Pete Hinojosa – Human Capital Development Director – Insperity Will cover how a company sets up talent for success, along with why culture matters and how specific roles in an organization can be […]

Separating fact from fiction has never been more difficult – or more important – in this time of instant information overload. As an information consumer, how can we know what is accurate or true? How will we know when a social media thread is authentic or generated by a bot? What is the relationship between human researchers and artificial intelligence to monitor information and call out inconsistencies? Join us for a discussion with Aaron Sharockman, Executive Director of Politifact and […]

Join us as we welcome Justice Gennari, President and CEO of Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber and Lauren Reyes, VP Operations of Tampa Metropolitan YMCA as we discuss helpful tools, tips, and resources for ensuring that you and your company are creating and maintaining a culturally inclusive and welcoming workplace. Our panelists will discuss: – Unconscious biases – what they are and how to overcome them – Safe spaces versus brave spaces and how creating them can benefit your organization – […]

The concept of “thought leadership” has become increasingly popular as businesses compete to be a top resource where media, stakeholders and consumers turn for guidance. However, the line between a true thought leader and someone simply chasing a moment in the spotlight is thin. Join us for a conversation about the path to genuine thought leadership with some of the top thought leaders in their fields: Deborah Beidel, Ph.D., ABPP, Executive Director of UCF RESTORES® Kena Lewis, APR, Director of […]

Whether out of necessity, an empty feeling, a motivation, or an inspiration – career change is real and happens to just about everybody at some point or another. How do you know when it is time to take the leap? How do you know what is a good risk vs throwing all caution to the wind? How do you spot the right opportunity for you? Grab a libation and hear from three people who shifted their career paths and in […]

Innovators at every level of research, business and government have been collaborating in battle against COVID. To support innovators in this critical fight, the U.S. Department of Energy has made available a suite of powerful resources through its National Laboratory system, one of the world’s preeminent scientific research enterprises. This sprawling complex of facilities and expert researchers houses two of the top three fastest computers on Earth, the world’s brightest light source, and world-class research into the life sciences and […]

eSports’ sudden appearance in mainstream media has left many wondering what it is, how and why it has grown in popularity so quickly, and what it might mean for the future of the live sports and gaming industry. Join Marcus Howard, Derek Watford, and Juan Rodriguez as they answer these questions and discuss how eSports can benefit local businesses as well.

Corporate social responsibility is a broad concept that takes many forms depending on the company and industry. Through CSR programs, philanthropy, and volunteer efforts, businesses make large scale societal impacts while boosting their brand’s equity. CSR activities can help forge a stronger bond between employees and corporations; boost morale; and help both employees and employers feel more connected with the world around them. In short, CSR efforts are mutually beneficial for both the community and company. In this Libate and […]

Join us remotely for a FREE virtual event with Synapse’s leading restaurant and hospitality experts. The panel will discuss the pros, cons, and lessons learned after restaurants had to quickly pivot to off-premise operations in order to stay in the game, as well as what sustainable digital changes they anticipate for the category as we make our back to normalcy. Expect to learn more about: How a traditionally on-premise and in-store category is pivoting to provide customers digital solutions. How […]

Are you wondering when we’ll get back to events IRL? We are, too. In this episode of Libate & Learn, we’ll get into details with three professionals who are reinventing the way we connect our businesses and helping companies plan for the future. Special thanks to Cori Leaman from ConnectWise, Kimberly Wander from Elevated Events, and Basha Ferninand from Tampa Bay Wave.

This special episode of Libate & Learn was hosted during the Synapse’s Converge conference (Summer 2020). Join and learn about how to successfully network in a virtual world, and outside of it, with Nathan Perez – Executive Career Coach at Career Innovation.

Synapse’s core principle is “community first,” and in this moment we recognize that this is not time for business as usual. We are committed to continuing to provide a space for authenticity, learning and growth. That’s why tonight’s Synapse Libate & Learn topic will feature a direct conversation about the tangible ways each of us can create a truly diverse and inclusive community. Special thanks Nancy Vaughn, Principal of White Book Agency, Abdul Muhammad, CEO of MDM Ventures and Lorna […]

We are at the tipping point of a virtual movement. Synapse’s next episode of Libate & Learn brings you marketing leaders from across the state to discuss how to hone your creative edge, sharpen up your branding and metrics, and create with innovation in mind to reach new audiences. Expect to learn about: – Out of the Box Branding from Paola Schifino, Principal and Founder at Schifino Lee, Synapse Impact Board Member – – How to create and innovate in […]

In this next installment of Synapse Libate* and Learn, we’ll have three Providers from TGH and Florida Blue talk about our new healthcare reality in the era of COVID-19. These doctors and organizations are on the front lines caring for our community whether COVID-19 related or not. This is your opportunity to learn about innovations designed to reach those in need, and what you can do to get the most effective care. PANELISTS – – Dr. Paul Nanda, Chief Medical […]

This week, learn how to use virtual technology when hosting events remotely. Grab a beverage (alcoholic or non), relax, and log in remotely this Tuesday (the 31st) for another FREE Synapse virtual event with our leading event experts from DCE Productions. We’ll share best practices for executing virtual events that are lively, function well, and provide a professional, brand focused environment for the community, and then we’ll open up the discussion for Q&A. Expect to learn more about: What are […]

Are you wondering how to operate and grow your business while heeding social distancing guidelines? Grab a drink, relax, and join us remotely for a FREE virtual event with Synapse’s leading legal, financial, and relationship building experts. They’ll share best practices for conducting business in a socially distant environment, and then we’ll open up the discussion for Q&A. Expect to learn more about: – The implications of the financial markets on your business with Tim Schar (Synapse Board Member and […]

Cope Notes CEO Johnny Crowder noticed that when people had to elect to use mental health services, that they were less likely to do so. Whereas most mental health apps collect data on their users, Cope Notes is completely anonymous. During this year’s Synapse Summit in Tampa, Grit Daily sat down with Crowder, who told us about his life, what led to his idea for Cope Notes and his hopes for the future of the business.

When speaking to Epstein at the 2020 Synapse Summit in Tampa, she explained her inspiration for SoleVenture. Having graduated from law school at the height of the recession, she saw the workforce changing rapidly. “The whole business model of payroll companies and the PEO (Professional Employer Organization) industry is to help small businesses have the leverage of a large company,” says Epstein,

“Transportation really is the region’s Achilles heel,” Mayor Castor told gatherers during the Synapse Summit. When asked how she would prioritize these issues, the mayor responded “I say we’re so far behind we think we’re first, and we really need to have transportation solutions.

Sara Blakely, CEO and founder of Spanx, packed the stands and gave entrepreneur advice to startups on the second day of the Synapse Summit 2020 Conference at Amalie Arena last Wednesday.

More than 7,000 people crowded Amalie Arena in Tampa on Feb. 11-12 for Synapse Summit. The annual summit started in Tampa and held its first Orlando version in October 2019, hosting more than 1,000 attendees.

Cars may not yet be self-driving, but that isn’t stopping them from becoming advertising vehicles. At the third annual Synapse Summit in Tampa, Florida, this week, a local startup showed its approach to on-car advertising combined with state-of-the art location tracking. In a novel twist to outdoor advertising, Nickelytics signs up drivers of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft, wraps their cars in advertising and then tracks who sees the ad.

But it’s important to know how 5G can affect companies and how to use it properly, experts said during a Feb. 11 panel discussion at Synapse Summit in Tampa. The event serves as a showcase for innovation and emerging technology in Central Florida.

Arnie Bellini, the founder of ConnectWise, plans to create thousands of technology jobs and invest millions of dollars in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. Tampa Mayor Jane Castor envisions city government as a catalyst for innovation. Tampa Bay Lightning owner and startup support Jeff Vinik wants to get the word out that the area is a great place to do business. All three shared their visions during the Synapse Summit, a conference celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship held earlier this week in […]

Research from global staffing firm Robert Half shows 61 percent of workers in the Tampa Bay region are engaged and love their job. One in four are somewhat engaged and they say they like their job but would like more of a challenge or professional development.

Hemp could become the state’s next big industry, according to Nikki Fried, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Fried, the only Democrat to hold statewide office and the first woman elected as agriculture commissioner, outlined the potential for hemp and other innovations in agriculture during the Synapse Summit earlier this week in Tampa.

The Synapse Summit in Tampa is brimming with innovative ideas in the tech sphere. During the summit, representatives from JPMorgan Chase announced that it would pledge $500,000 between Tampa Bay Wave and Embarc Collective to increase training and access to capital opportunities for women-owned technology startups in the Tampa Bay area.

The first-place prize comes with a $10,000 equity investment. Half of that total came from SeedFunders St. Petersburg, and the other half came from SeedFunders Orlando, said Dave Chitester. Chitester, co-founder and CEO of St. Petersburg-based SeedFunders, is chairman of SeedFundersOrlando.

During the second day of the 2020 Synapse Summit, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor unveiled a new technology-focused initiative that will work to solve the city’s problems. The program, called Intersection of Innovation, aims to bring local experts, citizens and startups together to solve problems impacting the Tampa area. Companies and individuals who participate will get the chance to pitch projects to the city, which may then be selected for future pilot programs.

Sara Blakely is a rock star to a crowd of business innovators and entrepreneurs a the Synapse Summit in Tampa. She introduced the world to an undergarment called Spanx 20 years ago.

Sara Blakely is a rock star to a crowd of business innovators and entrepreneurs at the Synapse Summit in Tampa. She introduced the world to an undergarment called Spanx 20 years ago. “When I invented Spanx, I heard ‘no’ for two years, but I was trained not to let that stop me,” said Blakely, who made cold calls selling copiers before finding her fortune with Spanx.

Spanx founder Sara Blakely believes you can take her out of Clearwater Beach, but can’t take Clearwater Beach out of her. It was one of several lines that drew laughs delivered to a packed audience in Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa during the second day of the Synapse Summit. Blakely, an Atlanta resident who founded the billion-dollar shapewear company in 2000, took the stage as its keynote speaker on Wednesday.

The event drew about 60 percent of its participants from the bay area, another 30 percent from elsewhere in Florida and 10 percent from outside the state, with many from cities like Atlanta, Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., and a few from as far away as Albania and Brazil.

“Sell the problem you are solving, not the product. People are far more emotionally connected to that to your product,” Blakely said during a keynote presentation at the Synapse Summit. Blakely’s keynote was a highlight of the summit, a two-day celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship produced by Synapse Florida.

JP Morgan Chase has awarded Tampa Bay Wave and Embarc Collective a $500,000 grant to launch a new program exclusively for women tech entrepreneurs in Tampa Bay. Linda Olson, president and CEO of Tampa Bay Wave, and Lakshmi Shenoy, CEO of Embarc Collective, announced the initiative at the Synapse Summit, a two-day celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship in downtown Tampa.

Castor discussed the new initiative during a Fireside Chat at the Synapse Summit where thousands of entrepreneurs, tech-experts, and innovators are currently participating a 2-day series of talks and workshops.

Tampa-based Synapse Florida will host its Synapse Orlando event on Oct. 16. The day-long event, hosted with the Orlando Economic Partnership, features speakers, exhibitors and networking opportunities with members of Central Florida’s technology sector and business community.

Friedman and Soliman, who is CEO, shared some of the lessons learned while building the company during the Synapse Summit, a startup and innovation conference produced by Synapse Florida.

Four out-of-state investors gathered for a panel at the Synapse Summit in downtown Tampa on Tuesday afternoon titled “Venture, Growth and Debt Capital, a Guide to Successfully Capitalize Your Startup.” The men discussed what startups can look out for when it comes to seeking investments, as well as why some believe Tampa is a standout city in Florida.

USF President Steven Currall was a keynote speaker at Synapse Summit 2020 on Tuesday at Amalie Arena and talked about the importance of collaborating with government officials and entrepreneurs as a university to advance the ecosystem of innovation.

Erik Paul is betting that his new innovation will be a hit. It’s a cast or brace that can be made on a digital printer in a doctor’s office. “It’s a total game-changer for the orthopedic industry,” insisted the CEO of Exiom, LLC. “It allows on-site production while the patient waits.”

Innovation and collaboration were the focuses at Amalie Arena Tuesday for the annual Synapse Summit. The two-day event aims to bring entrepreneurs and creators together from all over the Bay area to build and strengthen the community.

Many people believe that innovation and entrepreneurship involve individuals working on their own who stumble upon a discovery. That’s a myth, said University of South Florida President Steve Currall, one of the keynote speakers at the Synapse Summit. The summit, now in its third year, is a startup and innovation conference produced by Synapse Florida. It kicked off Tuesday, Feb. 11 and will continue through Wednesday, Feb. 12 at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa.

Currall kicked off the Synapse Summit on Tuesday afternoon at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, where 7,000 people are expected to attend the two-day tech and innovation conference. “Synapse Summit is where people come from all over to see Florida is much, much more than a great place to live,” said Marc Blumenthal, Synapse Summit’s co-founder.

Brian Kornfeld, president and co-founder of Synapse Florida, and Erik Paul, CEO of Exiom, Inc. talk about how the Synapse Summit 2020 will be a launching pad for many veteran owned businesses.

The summit’s ice level, which has been used in years past for VIP sponsors and showcase its keynotes, is transforming into an innovation exhibit aptly named “Innovation on the Ice.” There will be 14 exhibits from companies with a major presence in Tampa, including PwC, ConnectWise, Tampa General Hospital and Nielsen. Businesses beyond Tampa Bay will also have a presence, including Amazon Web Services, SHARP and GuideWell.

Verapy has been tried by 300 kids in the last four months at hospitals and charter schools in Central Florida. Truong will present his Verapy technology to over 6,000 people on Tuesday during the Synapse Summit 2020 event at Amalie Arena.

Stonehill Vice President of Health Care Strategy and Innovation, Teddi R. Barber, has been selected as a speaker on the “Healthcare Town Hall: A Community Discussion on Data and Population Health” panel at the Synapse Summit. Teddi will join Florida’s best innovators, payers, and providers to discuss how technology can, and will, impact healthcare in 2020 and beyond. The Synapse Summit will take place in the Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL on February 11-12th, 2020.

Synapse Summit attendees may notice a shift in programming, or rather, an increase of non-Florida investors, founders and companies coming to the two-day innovation summit. As the summit, on Feb. 11 and 12 in Amalie Arena, kicks off its third year, word has begun to spread beyond the Sunshine State and Synapse Florida officials say now others want in.

The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon during an invite-only ribbon cutting. An open house will be held for the general public on February 12, following Synapse Summit.

Conferences are usually places where small talk and GaryVee fan boys are more prevalent than big ideas. Downtown Tampa’s Synapse Summit is an exception, and on Tuesday, Amalie Arena plays host to at least 6,000 attendees who’ll take part in two days of speakers including Priceline.com co-founder Jeff Hoffman, new USF president Steve Currall and Spanx founder Sara Blakely (pictured). That’s on top of dozens of breakout sessions, a Pitch Madness competition, nighttime pitches to NASA officials and a few handfuls of after-conference networking […]

Synapse Summit, the technology, startup and innovation conference hosted by Synapse Florida, will kick off in less than two weeks under Amalie Arena’s roof from Feb. 11 to 12. The conference is expected to host around 6,000 attendees from across the state and will be bringing national talent to the main stage.

Startup supporters have specifically been lauded in recent months for helping companies in their former cohorts either relocate or expand to the region. The shift began in July 2019, with the relocation of New York City-based JustProtect after founder Vikas Bhatia spoke with Tampa’s Embarc Collective CEO Lakshmi Shenoy, who convinced Bhatia to come to Synapse Summit, a local tech conference.

While Synapse Summit’s keynote speakers attract most of the limelight, panels and workshops remain the innovative and creative force pushing the conference to new horizons each year. These are where ordinary consumers and industry veterans alike can stand shoulder-to-shoulder and brainstorm tomorrow’s solutions to today’s issues. Each panel, exhibitor, or workshop brings something new and fresh to the conference — thanks in no small part to the innovative business professionals leading the groups — drawing interest from all across the […]

Next up for the accelerator companies is Wave’s Demo Day Feb. 11, during the 2020 Synapse Summit at Amalie Arena. Several of the companies also will have booths at the summit.

The companies took to the packed room at WeWork to give their pitches and will also present at the Synapse Summit during Demo Day… What you need to know: The company is launching at both the Synapse Summit and SXSW in Austin and has hundreds of users on its wait-list.

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.

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 two-day event at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa is packed with exhibiting companies, breakout sessions, and insightful presentations by some of the nation’s most influential business leaders.

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.

If you have an innovative idea and want to take it to the next level, then the Connection for Synapse Summit is for you.

This week, Tampa hosted the 2020 Synapse Summit, an innovation convention showcasing the best that Florida has to offer in terms of startups. Rich among investors and entrepreneurs alike was a deep-seated love for Florida and a desire to showcase its talent. Industry leaders talked about wanting to change what Florida is known for – instead of alligators, “Florida man”, beaches, tourism, and agriculture – they want people to think of it as a tech hub – a place worth investing […]

TAMPA, Fla. — The annual Synapse Summit, which returns to Tampa this week for its third year, will for the first time feature a big name in the aerospace industry looking for potential partnerships with Bay area startups: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Synapse a nonprofit that connects investors with startups NASA looking to make inroads in Tampa Bay area More Destination: Space stories For decades, NASA has loomed large over Central and Coastal Florida. Launches from Kennedy Space Center have become […]

Brian Kornfeld, president and co-founder of Synapse Florida, and Erik Paul, CEO of Exiom, Inc. talk about how the Synapse Summit 2020 will be a launching pad for many veteran-owned businesses.

Florida-based companies raised approximately $2.9 billion in 2019, according to a report from the Florida Venture Forum. While that’s a nearly 60 percent increase from the year before, the sunshine state still has ways to go to catch up to startup hubs across the country. Brian Kornfeld, President and Founder of Synapse, a non-profit focused on accelerating innovation and business growth in Florida, joined Cheddar to discuss.

Stratus provides language interpretation services for the healthcare industry. It has developed proprietary technologies to provide video remote interpretation, over-the-phone interpretation, and in-person interpretation. Kinderhook Industries has agreed to sell Stratus Video in Clearwater to AMN Healthcare Services for $475 million.

Joe Speaks to Jill St. Thomas and Brian Kornfeld about their collaboration in the Tampa Bay ecosystem and the activity driving growth and innovation in our community and across Florida.

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.

Lauren Prager and Brian Kornfeld talk with Bay News 9 about Synapse Summit 2020. The Summit will host more than 300 speakers on 7 stages for over 100 different sessions.

A new list named Tampa as one of the best “tech towns” in the U.S.. Although known as a party state, Florida is home to two cities on the list. Coming in at number 19, Tampa has a decent cost of living compared to wages and a good amount of investment opportunities for tech companies.

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.

From Clearwater, Florida and Florida State University, Sara Blakely began her business journey in 2006 with only $5,000 in savings. She has grown her undergarment business, Spanx, into a $1 billion company. Blakely will be the featured keynote speaker at Synapse Summit 2020. This is a two day conference to highlight the innovation in the Tampa Bay area. Lauren Prager, Synapse Vice President for Community Engagement, said Blakely was the top choice because she is a true innovator. “Her decision to […]

TAMPA — Spanx founder and chief executive officer Sara Blakely will be the keynote speaker for the two-day Synapse Summit 2020, the annual innovation convention hosted by the nonprofit entrepreneurship support group Synapse Florida. Blakely, a 48-year-old native of Clearwater, launched Spanx as a one-woman venture with $5,000 from savings. In 1998, she came up with the idea of cutting the feet from a pair of pantyhose to look better in a pair of cream-colored pants while still being able […]

Spanx founder and CEO Sara Blakely will be the featured keynote speaker at Synapse Summit 2020, a two-day conference to highlight innovation in Florida and in the Tampa-St. Pete area. Blakely is a Clearwater native who launched Spanx with $5,000 in savings and grew the undergarment business to a $1 billion company. She was a top choice for a Synapse keynote because she is a true innovator, said Lauren Prager, Synapse vice president for community engagement. CLICK HERE FOR FULL […]

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.

The all-day Synapse Summit Orlando event drew roughly 1,200 attendees to Ace Cafe in Orlando, with more than 25 expert panels and an exposition hall featuring 33 exhibitors.

Synapse Orlando created networking opportunities for local entrepreneurs, executives and investors, and pushed forward the event’s goal of intensifying the spotlight on Florida’s entrepreneurial scene.

Experts from many high-tech sectors held court throughout the day at the debut of Synapse Orlando, a summit that drew more than 1,000 people. Throughout the day, the summit hosted panels on how virtual reality could improve health, how entrepreneurs raise money here, digital media’s growth in Central Florida and how the military is using simulation, among others.

The panel discussion “Self-Driving Taxis Are the Future of Transportation” opened today’s Synapse Orlando conference, a spinoff from the annual Synapse Summit in Tampa, a conference and exhibit event targeted to innovators, corporations, entrepreneurs and investors.

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.