If you work in tech in the Tampa Bay area, you already knew that May 20th, 2026 was a day worth circling on the calendar. Tampa Bay Tech’s annual poweredUP festival returned to the Mahaffey Theater in St. Pete — and the SmartChoice team was proud to be right in the middle of it for the second straight year. This year marked the 25th anniversary for the event, and it was loaded with over 1,000 attendees of all different backgrounds from across the region’s tech ecosystem.
For those of you who don’t know us, we are a North American telecommunications provider and technology partner delivering connectivity, voice, network infrastructure, and physical security for multi-location and large organizations. We support corporations that demand reliability at scale, from regional operations to complex, multi-state enterprises. With teams positioned across the country and a 24/7/365 U.S.-based signature service model, we provide the reach of a national provider with the responsiveness of a dedicated partner.
The energy in the room was undeniable
From the moment we walked through the doors of the Mahaffey, it was clear this wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill industry conference. With more than 1,000 business leaders, founders, investors, and technology pros gathered under one roof, the atmosphere was electric. Tampa Bay Tech has built something genuinely special with powered UP, a cornerstone event that captures the pulse of a region that, frankly, has been underrated for far too long.
Meghan O’Keefe, executive director of Tampa Bay Tech, said it best: “Tampa Bay has been an underrated ecosystem for a long time.” That sentiment resonated deeply with our team. SmartChoice has believed in this community and its potential for years — and events like poweredUP are proof that the rest of the world is starting to catch on.
A day packed with real value
What set poweredUP 2026 apart was how purposefully the day was structured. It wasn’t just about showing up and exchanging business cards — every session, demo, and conversation was designed to deliver genuine takeaways.
The day kicked off with a job seeker hiring event through High Tech Connect, followed by a forward-looking “State of Tech – Tampa Bay” conversation that grounded everything to come. Hearing a frank, optimistic assessment of how AI, cybersecurity, healthcare innovation, and enterprise software are shaping our regional economy set exactly the right tone.
The afternoon shifted into technical deep-dives with multiple tracks focused on real-world implementation — the kind of content you can actually bring back to your team on Monday morning. Our people came away with fresh ideas, practical frameworks, and no shortage of things to discuss.
‘Geek Row’ was a highlight
One of our favorite spots during the event was where we were — Geek Row! The interactive expo space tucked into the Mahaffey’s stunning waterfront section with panoramic views of Tampa Bay. Local tech companies and organizations like ours showcased what they’re building, and the one-on-one conversations happening there were some of the most energizing of the entire event.
Getting to see the breadth of innovation happening right here in our backyard — from cybersecurity startups to AI-driven platforms — was a powerful reminder of why SmartChoice is proud to call this region home.
The connections that matter
At SmartChoice, we believe that the best business relationships are built face-to-face, and poweredUP delivered on that front in a big way. Whether it was the pre-event networking session, hallway conversations between sessions, or the celebratory happy hour at the end of the day, every hour offered a chance to meet someone doing something worth knowing about.
We connected with potential partners, had honest conversations with peers facing some of the same macro challenges we face, and got a sharper sense of where the broader Tampa Bay tech ecosystem is heading. That kind of context is invaluable — and it’s the kind of thing you simply can’t get from a webinar or a LinkedIn feed.
Why we’ll be back
poweredUP isn’t just a great event — it’s a signal. It’s a signal that Tampa Bay is serious about its tech future. It’s a signal that the community is investing in collaboration over competition. And it’s a signal that the people driving innovation here are worth knowing.
For SmartChoice, being part of that community isn’t an option — it’s a responsibility. We’re already looking forward to next year.
A huge thank you to Tampa Bay Tech and everyone who made poweredUP 2026 such a memorable day. See you next year.
—
*Want to learn more about what SmartChoice is up to in the Tampa Bay tech community? Get in touch with our team: Contact Us – SmartChoice.