Ryan’s Journal: Live from PoweredUp 2018
by Ryan Pew
I had the opportunity to attend PoweredUp 2018 hosted by Tampa Bay Tech. It was an opportunity to meet with others in the Tampa Bay, Florida area that are involved in tech, see the latest trends and learn what is working.
One takeaway from the event that I was not aware of. Tampa Bay is the largest tech hub in Florida and one of the fastest growing in the Southeast.
You may think of Florida as white sand beaches, warm weather, and retirees; and you would be right! However certain parts of the state are changing significantly.
I live in St Petersburg, Fl and learned the median age is 38. We have world-class museums, excellent restaurants, and a thriving arts scene. We also have some of the largest public access to the water in all of North America.
Other things else contributing to our growth is a large university system, thriving downtown and lower cost of living than places like San Francisco and New York. Why do I say all of this? I say it because I live here and I did not know that about my own city.
Tech has been primarily centered in large metropolitan areas along the major coastal cities. It makes sense but times are changing. As markets become too constricted and families grow there becomes a need to look outside of the bubble to see what else is out there.
That is where places like Tampa Bay come into play. They offer all the amenities that one needs and a value-add.
There are many offices opening in our city for companies that are Silicon Valley based and venture backed. Those organizations recognize that there is a talent base here that has yet to be tapped.
So this takes me back to the event I attended. Part of the reason for the event is to educate the tech community here that we are not alone.
We are a thriving part of the economy and its only getting better. Senior leaders in companies live and work here; its no longer God’s Waiting Room and we have a bright future.
So if you’re looking for a place to open an office or move, look at the St Petersburg/Tampa area and I’m sure you will feel right at home.
Image credit: Antoine Gady