Tampa Bay to Host Week of Tech and Entrepreneur Events
A series of technology and entrepreneurship events are scheduled in the Tampa Bay area from February 16th to 22nd. The gatherings are designed to provide networking and educational opportunities for the region's growing tech sector. The specific events cover a range of topics relevant to local technology professionals and founders.
- The week's events are set against the backdrop of significant growth in Tampa's tech sector, which saw a 28% increase in jobs over the last five years, outpacing the national average by 7%. - A highlight of the week is a joint meetup of the Tampa Bay AI Meetup and the Tampa Bay Java User Group on Thursday, February 19th, featuring Pratik Patel, a Java Champion and developer advocate at Azul, who will speak on the architecture of AI-native applications. - On Monday, February 16th, the Saint Petersburg AI Collaborative Intelligence Group will host an interactive online workshop focused on multi-agent coding, a technique used by major tech companies to accelerate software development. - Also on Monday, a "CEO Summit/Power Lunch" is scheduled, featuring hands-on workshops and networking opportunities with business leaders and venture capitalist Bill Walsh. - The University of South Florida's Muma College of Business will host a meetup for data analytics and AI professionals, covering current trends in the field, including machine learning, data science, and database management. - These gatherings are part of a broader trend that has seen Tampa Bay recognized as the #1 emerging tech market in the U.S. by Forbes and one of the top ten tech markets to grow by CBRE. - Local organizations such as Tampa Bay Tech and Embarc Collective are instrumental in fostering the region's tech ecosystem, which now includes over 50,000 residents employed in tech occupations. - The week's focus on professional development aligns with the needs of a growing workforce that has seen a 14.9% increase in its tech talent pool between 2018 and 2023.
