Tampa Bay Tech Awards
Honoring Excellence. Celebrating Impact. Shaping the Future of Tech.
About the Tampa Bay Tech Awards
For over two decades, the Tampa Bay Tech Awards have recognized and celebrated the outstanding people, companies, and community partners driving our region’s thriving technology ecosystem forward.
Each year, we honor the leaders, innovators, and changemakers whose vision and dedication shape Tampa Bay into a nationally recognized hub for technology, talent, and community impact.
The Tampa Bay Tech Awards Show
Our annual Tampa Bay Tech Awards Show is the premier gathering of our region’s technology community where the winners of the Tampa Bay Tech Awards are announced! It’s an evening dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the best and brightest — from emerging tech leaders and innovative companies to community champions making a difference beyond the workplace.
Attendees enjoy an inspiring night of connection, recognition, and storytelling — where we shine a spotlight on the people and teams who define what’s possible in Tampa Bay’s tech landscape.
How We’re Different
Unlike other awards programs in the greater Tampa Bay area, the Tampa Bay Tech Awards are by the tech community, for the tech community. While other events may highlight startups or broader innovation, our focus is solely on elevating and honoring excellence within the technology sector.
Whether it’s a CIO leading transformative change, an enterprise driving growth and sustainability, or a partner expanding opportunities for our future workforce — the Tampa Bay Tech Awards celebrate those making a real impact right here at home.
Below are several other well-known awards programs in our area, which are separate and distinct from our own Tampa Bay Tech Awards:
✅ Hosted by: Tampa Bay Inno (a local arm of American Inno, part of the American City Business Journals network)
✅ Focus: Celebrates the broader innovation and startup ecosystem — not limited to the tech sector alone.
✅ Who/What is Recognized:
Startups and fast-growing companies across various industries
Innovative founders, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers
New products, pivots, or unique business models
Categories often include Startups to Watch, Inno Under 25, and Innovators of the Year
✅ Audience: Entrepreneurs, founders, startup teams, investors, incubators, accelerators, and community partners.
✅ Hosted by: Tampa Bay Business Journal (part of the American City Business Journals network)
✅ Focus: Recognizing business excellence, growth, leadership, workplace culture, and outstanding individuals across industries.
✅ Who/What is Recognized:
Fast-growing companies (Fast 50)
Inspiring women leaders (BusinessWoman of the Year)
Companies with exceptional employee satisfaction (Best Places to Work)
Rising young professionals (40 Under 40)
Industry-specific standouts (e.g., CFO of the Year, Health Care Heroes, Top Corporate Counsel)
✅ Audience: Business owners, C-suite executives, HR leaders, marketing teams, local professionals, corporate sponsors, and the broader business community.
✅ Hosted by: Synapse Florida (nonprofit organization advancing Florida’s innovation ecosystem)
✅ Focus: Spotlighting innovation, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem impact throughout Florida — often tied to the annual Synapse Summit.
✅ Who/What is Recognized:
Startups and scale-ups making significant strides
Founders and innovators solving real problems
Community champions supporting the innovation ecosystem
Pitch competition winners and standout tech solutions
✅ Audience: Startups, founders, investors, tech professionals, students, educators, accelerators, corporate innovators, and government or economic development partners.
✅ Hosted by: Tampa Bay Chamber (longstanding regional chamber of commerce)
✅ Focus: Recognizing small business excellence, community leadership, and outstanding individual contributions to the region’s growth and prosperity.
✅ Who/What is Recognized:
Top-performing small businesses (Small Business of the Year)
Emerging leaders and young professionals (Emerging Leader Awards)
Businesses and individuals demonstrating community impact, volunteerism, or civic leadership
Occasionally special honors for military support or community partnerships
✅ Audience: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, nonprofit partners, local government representatives, and the broader Tampa Bay business community.
Join Us
We invite you to nominate, attend, and support this year’s Awards Show. Help us continue to recognize the people and organizations who make Tampa Bay a place where tech thrives — and where talent, innovation, and community come together to shape what’s next.
