A St. Petersburg-based entrepreneur is creating a platform that unites artists, venue owners and supporters to bolster the local music scene and mitigate booking challenges. After spending years formulating a plan, enduring “con artist” developers and overcoming some personal challenges, Kate Rose eagerly anticipates launching Giggidy through app stores in the next six months. Helping...Read More

Tampa-based Hook Security, which provides a cybersecurity training platform, has closed a $5.5 million funding round.  The oversubscribed funding round was led by returning investor Tampa Bay Ventures. Orlando-based DeepWork Capital, Colorado-based Stout Street Capital and individual investors also participated in the round, according to an announcement this week.  “This investment will bolster our ability...Read More

A dues-free organization focused on supporting women in technology careers and those looking to start or accelerate businesses is opening a St. Petersburg chapter, just over four months after its launch. According to a February report by Harvard Business Review, companies founded solely by women receive less than 3% of venture capital investments – while...Read More

A St. Petersburg startup plans to secure the future through the world’s oldest random number generator – physically manipulating dice. Data networks hold copious amounts of personal and sensitive information, while cyber attacks are increasingly common and constantly evolving. However, as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has noted for over a decade, computers rely on...Read More

After enduring some pandemic-induced growing pains, a local entrepreneur is riding a wave of interest in adaptogenic mushrooms and expanding her regional footprint. Maria Garces founded St. Petersburg-based Fungible Chocolates in October 2021 and began offering her products to the masses in March 2022. Clean Eating noted that “functional mushrooms are having a moment” the...Read More

A dog poops scooping robot, wireless kitchen accessories and tech built for teachers were among the business concepts University of Tampa students and incubator startups pitched during the annual New Venture Expo event Friday.  Since its founding in 2017, the UT New Venture Expo, held inside the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, has showcased work...Read More

Serial entrepreneur Ed Buckley, the CEO of digital exercise company FitOn Health (formerly Peerfit), is entering the education space with the launch of a new tech company.  The new startup, Scholar, will focus on improving education by using next-gen technology content and artificial intelligence to drive as much personalization as possible in the learning experience.  ...Read More

When Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed March 10 – the largest failure since the 2008 financial crisis – regional banks received a cascade of negative attention. While experts agree SVB’s downfall was due to several factors related to risk management and a subsequent bank run, its focus on venture capital and technology startups also underwent...Read More

St. Petersburg-based SKUx, a blockchain-based startup focusing on the fintech sector, has raised $11 million in a Series A funding round.  SKUx’s Series A round was led by a “strategic family office investor” focused on fintech and payments. New York-based Advection Growth Capital also had significant participation in the round among other strategic investors in...Read More

iBuyXS, a St. Petersburg-based electronic component broker, was recognized by Inc. Magazine as Florida’s fastest-growing private company after its sales exploded by 4,800%. While the national Inc. 5000 list is still months away, the ubiquitous finance publication is compiling its regional lists. With a microchip shortage still gripping the nation, iBuyXS placed fourth in the...Read More