This Month's Latest Tech News in Tampa, FL - Saturday May 31st 2025 Edition

Tampa's tech sector is surging in 2025, with the area leading the nation in AI-driven workforce transformation and venture investment. The Florida Senate has unanimously advanced a bill to study AI's impact on jobs, spotlighting Tampa Bay as the top region for automation risk - but also opportunity - as new workforce training and job creation programs are proposed in a landmark state initiative.

Startups are thriving, with over $203 million in local VC funding and new accelerators like Tampa Bay Wave supporting high-growth companies in AI, cybersecurity, and healthcare; the Wave alone has helped 600 startups raise $1.1 billion and create thousands of jobs, reflecting a diverse and dynamic entrepreneurial landscape as reported by TBBW.

This environment is fueling rapid job growth (30% IT job increase over five years) and attracting record VC dollars, propelling innovation and making Tampa a prime destination for tech professionals and founders according to Visible's 2025 analysis.

The city's trajectory underscores both the opportunities and adaptation required as AI, capital, and talent reshape the region's economic future.

The University of South Florida (USF) is set to ignite Tampa Bay's tech workforce with the upcoming launch of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing - fuelled by a historic $40 million gift from Arnie and Lauren Bellini, the largest in USF's history.

Opening in Fall 2025, the Bellini College will be the nation's first named college dedicated exclusively to the convergence of AI and cybersecurity, addressing a surge in cyberattacks and a critical national workforce shortage - with over 700,000 cybersecurity positions unfilled and U.S. cybercrime losses exceeding $12 billion in 2023.

As Arnie Bellini emphasizes,

“The future of warfare, economic power, and national security is digital. Cyberattacks are the new missiles, and AI is the arms race of our time. Right now, America is under siege in cyberspace every nanosecond of every day. We are failing to produce the talent and technology needed to defend ourselves. That changes today. Tampa and USF are stepping up to lead the charge in securing our nation's future.”

Launching with innovative undergraduate and graduate programs that fuse AI and cybersecurity, the college will collaborate closely with industry and government - drawing on Tampa's status as “Cyber Bay,” home to U.S. Central Command and major cybersecurity firms like KnowBe4, ReliaQuest, and ConnectSecure.

Key features include AI-driven research, partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, and a strong focus on ethical governance. Matching donations up to $5 million and a goal to raise an additional $10 million underscore the Bellinis' long-term vision of making Tampa a global technology leader.

To learn more, see the official announcement on USF's official website, in-depth workforce and program details at GovTech technology news, and broader coverage from BusinessWire press release.

Key Metric	Value
Gift Amount	$40 million
Cybercrime Losses (2023)	Over $12 billion
Unfilled Cybersecurity Jobs (US)	700,000+

Tampa startup Improving Aviation is making national headlines by partnering with Google to deliver advanced AI tools for disaster response and wildfire prediction.

Under the leadership of founder Rocio Frej Vitalle, the company leverages Google Cloud and Gemini platforms to power SkyTL - a mission management solution for emergency agencies - and WindTL, which models real-time wildfire behavior to enhance public safety outcomes.

The partnership, fostered through the Google for Startups Founders Accelerator, brought $150,000 in funding, $100,000 in cloud credits, and direct access to expert mentorship, allowing Improving Aviation to integrate their innovations with Google Public Safety initiatives and even advocate for stronger AI adoption at Google's Washington, D.C. offices.

The AI-driven approach tackles a critical first-responder challenge: slow and error-prone manual disaster assessments. By automating aerial image analysis, as seen in other industry efforts using vision-language models, response efforts can rapidly pinpoint hard-hit zones and direct relief teams more accurately.

As Vitalle observes,

“One of the biggest lessons I learned from the last year is you have this amazing idea, you think you're going to solve the world's biggest problems, but at least at the beginning, no one's going to listen to [you] until you're working with [big-name] partners.”

This collaboration positions Tampa as a center for AI innovation in public safety.

For more insights into Improving Aviation's Google partnership, read the full Tampa Bay Business Journal feature on Improving Aviation and Google partnership.

Learn how aerial AI transforms disaster response through cutting-edge vision-language modeling for disaster response, and explore how Google-backed ventures are shaping emergency management nationwide in the Fox Business report on Google AI ventures in emergency management.

Alpha School Carrollwood is set to transform Tampa's K–8 education landscape this fall by launching a campus where artificial intelligence, not traditional teachers, powers academic learning and life skills development.

Founded by McKenzie Price to revive her children's enthusiasm for learning, Alpha replaces standard lectures with two hours of AI-personalized academics each morning - students progress at their own pace, with the AI tutor dynamically adjusting content based on performance.

As Price explained,

“Our students are able to learn twice as fast in only a couple of hours a day compared to students in traditional classrooms.”

Afternoons are dedicated to hands-on projects that build leadership, communication, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship.

Early results from Alpha's Texas and Miami campuses are striking, with students completing a grade in under 80 days and an average SAT score of 1474 out of 1600 - well above the national average - while 98% of graduates pursue college.

The initiative reflects a growing movement in local education, joining Hillsborough County's experimentation with Amira Learning and Magic School AI to automate tasks and support teachers.

For deeper detail on this educational shift, see how Alpha School's Tampa model is profiled in WTSP's coverage of AI-driven classrooms, a FOX 13 News deep-dive into the no-teacher approach, and an on-the-ground video preview of Alpha School's AI-powered opening.

This table summarizes Alpha's reported educational outcomes:

Metric	Alpha School Result
Grade Completion Time	Under 80 days
Average SAT Score	1474/1600
College Matriculation Rate	98%
Academic Speed vs. Traditional	2x faster

The Alpha model signals a bold reimagining of education - one in which AI's potential to individualize and accelerate learning is front and center for Tampa's next generation.

This month, St. Petersburg and Pasco County are launching state-of-the-art AI-enabled smart traffic lights in a major push to enhance street safety and reduce congestion along some of the Bay Area's busiest and most hazardous corridors.

Supported by a $1.16 million Florida Department of Transportation grant, the installation targets 15 intersections - ten along 66th Street North and five on Tyrone Boulevard - both corridors seeing 40,000 vehicles daily and ranked on local “Top 10 Dangerous Crash Intersections” lists.

These adaptive systems leverage video detection and high-accuracy AI to monitor real-time traffic, extending green lights as needed and prioritizing passage for emergency vehicles and buses.

As city officials highlight, live monitoring from a new video wall and robust flood protections aim to future-proof the infrastructure. The rollout is a cost-effective, forward-looking strategy, with features that could eventually support vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) communications and dynamic weather or hazard alerts directly to drivers.

According to St. Pete's Transportation Manager Cheryl Stacks,

“If there are a lot of vehicles in a certain direction, then it will give more green time to that one particular direction. So, it can be more responsive.”

For a breakdown of project elements, see the table below.

To learn more about the AI traffic management rollout, see the detailed overview from St. Pete Catalyst's coverage of AI-enabled 'Smart Signals', or read FOX 13's report on AI for safer streets in St. Pete.

For a broader look at the impact and cost-effectiveness of these initiatives, My Q105 breaks down how AI smart lights cut down on delays.

Feature	Details
Intersections Upgraded	15 (10 on 66th St N, 5 on Tyrone Blvd)
Technology	AI video detection (99.5% accuracy), adaptive signals, flood-proofing
Funding	$1.16 million FDOT grant
Key Benefits	Dynamic traffic flow, emergency/bus priority, real-time hazard alerts
Projected Completion	December 31, 2025

Tampa General Hospital has significantly advanced its cardiac care program by integrating two GE HealthCare Revolution APEX 512-slice CT scanners, harnessing artificial intelligence and deep learning to deliver ultra-high-resolution imaging and faster diagnostic results.

Funded through a generous donation to the TGH Foundation, these scanners enhance the hospital's Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention Program by enabling detailed imaging of the heart and coronary arteries, facilitating early detection, risk assessment, and personalized interventions for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

As reported by Tampa Bay Business Journal, experts at TGH note that the AI-driven system improves diagnostic accuracy and efficiency while reducing patient scan time and radiation exposure.

This is echoed by leaders at other hospitals, as Dennis Knox, CEO of Memorial Medical Center, stated,

“The addition of the new 512-slice CT Scanner, with its multidimensional capabilities, will offer patients faster, more accurate, and high-quality diagnostic imaging, ultimately enhancing diagnosis and treatment outcomes.”

The Revolution APEX platform includes features such as motion correction, dose reduction technology, and a larger opening to ease patient anxiety, making it one of the fastest and most patient-friendly CT units in the industry (Practical Patient Care).

For a deeper dive into the platform's AI-powered capabilities and industry impact, review GE's Revolution Apex Platform product overview.

The introduction of this technology sets a new benchmark for cardiac imaging in Tampa and positions TGH at the forefront of AI-enabled patient care.

Feature	Benefit
512-slice CT scanner	Ultra-high resolution, captures larger areas in one rotation
AI & Deep Learning Integration	Enhanced accuracy, faster scans, reduced radiation
Larger Scanner Opening	Improved patient comfort and reduced anxiety

Dr. Indra Sandal, Chief of Innovation at Tampa's James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, has been awarded the prestigious Federal Excellence in Healthcare Management Award during the 29th annual Joint Federal Sector Awards, recognizing her exceptional leadership in AI-driven healthcare innovation.

Dr. Sandal's groundbreaking initiatives - such as the VHA-Uber Health Connect (VUHC) program, which has provided more than 450,000 rides to 50,000 Veterans across 101 VA medical centers, saving over $250 million - underscore her impact on access to care.

She also founded the Veterans Health Venture Studio, powered by Microsoft AI, driving healthcare solutions from concept to implementation. The Veterans Health–MIT Hacking Medicine Hackathon brought together over 300 innovators and resulted in 17 AI-powered healthcare solutions, with 8 Accelerator teams set to showcase their advancements in Tampa this July.

Key achievements are summarized in the following table:

Initiative	Impact
VUHC Rideshare	450,000+ rides, 50,000 Veterans, $250M+ saved
Hackathon Solutions	17 AI-driven projects, 8 teams in Accelerator

At the 2025 American College of Healthcare Executives Congress, Dr. Sandal emphasized,

“Public-private partnerships are an excellent way to accelerate health care innovation, while drawing upon diverse experiences and resources that push the boundaries of what is possible. Our hope is that this model can serve as a pipeline for innovation at any organization.”

Learn more about Dr. Sandal's award-winning work by visiting the official Tampa VA innovation announcement, review a detailed overview from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare innovation article, or see additional highlights in the Forward March Veterans' Newsletter.

This month, Tampa-based Shumaker, a law firm with over a century of presence in Florida, announced the immediate nationwide launch of its dedicated Technology, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) legal practice, led by Partner Jade Davis in Sarasota.

The move formalizes and expands Shumaker's longstanding tech-focused expertise, positioning the firm to help clients navigate the swelling complexity of digital regulation, privacy frameworks, and AI governance.

“As the legal landscape continues to evolve, we're proud to expand our services in key growth areas and appoint experienced leaders to guide these efforts,” shared Managing Partner Jennifer Compton, emphasizing the importance of forward-thinking legal counsel in a rapidly shifting environment.

“We were already doing the work, but sort of tangential… the amount of data privacy laws that have proliferated in the past five years throughout the U.S. specifically - and abroad - I mean, it's just incredible. Now you're missing out on providing the clients the services they need if you're not actually focusing on it.” - Jade Davis, Shumaker Partner

Shumaker's new service line - live across 13 offices - integrates specialists in intellectual property, AI compliance, and cross-border data management, providing tailored guidance across sectors such as health care, finance, technology, and retail.

For a breakdown of Shumaker's new service lines and industry sectors, see the table below:

Service Line	Industry Sector
Immigration	Technology
Technology, Data Privacy, Cybersecurity & AI	Technology

Learn more about this legal innovation at Shumaker's official announcement of new service line leaders and launches, additional reporting from the Tampa Bay Business Journal covering Jade Davis' leadership, and a detailed overview of Shumaker's AI legal strategy and practice offerings.

The University of Florida is spearheading a dramatic transformation in urban planning and disaster preparedness through its ambitious Digital Twin initiative, powered by the newly upgraded HiPerGator supercomputer.

The Digital Twin provides a high-fidelity, AI-powered virtual replica of Florida - beginning with a detailed model of Jacksonville - that synthesizes data on buildings, elevation, water flow, and infrastructure, enabling advanced simulations for hurricane evacuations, water quality management, and climate resilience strategies.

Notably, the HiPerGator's fourth generation, a $24 million investment featuring 63 NVIDIA DGX B200 systems, delivers up to 3x faster AI training and 15x improved inferencing at no extra energy cost compared to its predecessor, supporting sustainable growth in computing capability (HiPerGator 4th Gen Supercomputer Overview).

UF's digital twin technology stands at the forefront of global smart city development, with projections for the digital twin market reaching $154 billion by 2030, and is already contributing to cutting-edge climate adaptation and infrastructure monitoring (Florida's Digital Twin: Applications and Global Trends).

As Dr. Christine Angelini, project lead, notes,

“We're giving residents and officials the tools to visualize flooding or test scenarios for infrastructure changes before they're built,”

which underscores the solution's practical value in policy and resilience planning (Tampa Bay Times: UF and other research universities will fuel AI).

With innovative partnerships, real-time data integration, and a focus on community impact, UF's AI-driven digital twin projects are setting new standards for smart, sustainable, and disaster-ready urban environments.

Tampa residents are benefiting from a new wave of AI-enhanced travel tools that make trip planning more intuitive, personalized, and sustainable than ever before.

Industry leaders like Kayak and Fliggy are rolling out AI-driven innovations - from Kayak's "Ask Kayak" suite for conversational trip searches and price comparison, to Fliggy's agentic "AskMe" assistant that assembles real-time, bookable, multi-day itineraries tailored to user needs.

Meanwhile, Google has expanded its AI-powered features across Search, Maps, and Gemini, enabling travelers to visualize day-by-day itineraries, track hotel deals, and even turn screenshots into collaborative plans with location data right in Google Maps.

Notably, advanced AI agents now rival traditional travel advisors in convenience and speed, with market research forecasting AI in travel to exceed $1.2 billion globally by 2026 at a CAGR of 9.8%.

For a comparison of key travel AI options, see the table below.

Feature	AI Agents	ChatGPT
Real-time Booking	Yes	No
Personalization	High	Moderate
Flexibility	Travel-specific	Broad, any topic

These tools not only streamline logistics but promote responsible tourism by suggesting lower carbon routes and supporting local businesses.

As one expert writes,

“AI is the catalyst for a tourism revolution - enabling travelers to plan more responsibly, minimize carbon footprints, and maximize positive outcomes for local communities.”

For a deeper dive into the latest AI trip planning platforms, check out May's top airline-tech innovations at OAG, explore Google's new travel features on their official blog, and review the comparative advantages of AI travel agents and ChatGPT at Eastgate Software.

AI-powered safety features are rolling out across Tampa Bay's most dangerous intersections, as multiple municipalities adopt advanced smart traffic signal systems to reduce accidents and congestion. St. Petersburg has begun installing 15 AI-enabled “smart signals” along 66th Street North and Tyrone Boulevard - two corridors each serving about 40,000 vehicles daily and cited as crash hotspots - funded by a $1.16 million state grant.

These adaptive signals use high-accuracy cameras and AI detection to dynamically adjust green lights based on real-time traffic volume while distinguishing vehicles, bicycles, scooters, and even pedestrians, offering critical enhancements in safety and flow.

The technology extends priority to buses and emergency vehicles, alerts drivers to weather or road hazards, and is designed to integrate with future connected car systems; live video feeds now allow city officials to monitor conditions and respond more quickly to incidents.

As Cheryl Stacks, the city's Transportation Manager, explains in a recent interview on St. Pete's smart traffic initiative,

“If there are a lot of vehicles in a certain direction, then it will give more green time to that one particular direction. So, it can be more responsive.”

Hillsborough and Pasco counties are also piloting similar AI-driven vehicle and pedestrian detection technologies, culminating in broader safety studies and upcoming expansions.

The practical benefits - from reduced rear-end collisions and faster emergency response to improved pedestrian detection - were outlined in a comprehensive overview by Brooks Law Group on the impact of AI traffic signals on accident prevention in Tampa.

For project specifics and system features, including hardware, software, and flood-resilient installations, a city council report details St. Petersburg's approach to maximizing intersection safety and efficiency through cutting-edge adaptations, as summarized at the St. Pete Catalyst's coverage of AI-enabled smart signals.

Tampa Bay is surging ahead as a regional AI and tech powerhouse, buoyed by record-setting startup investments, thriving innovation hubs, and a robust drive for talent.

Flagship funding rounds - such as ReliaQuest's $500 million to expand its AI security platform (now valued at $3.4 billion), Optiversal's $5.5 million Series A for e-commerce AI, and Togal.AI's $5 million seed - underscore investor confidence in Tampa's diverse tech ecosystem (ReliaQuest secures $500M to fuel AI expansion, Optiversal closes $5.5M Series A funding round, Togal.AI 2025 funding and investors information).

The annual Synapse Summit and upcoming Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit highlight Tampa's role as a magnet for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors, showcasing collaborative energy across cybersecurity, FinTech, sustainability, and healthcare.

As FinTech and AI converge, momentum is fueled by universities, accelerators like Embarc Collective, and abundant networking opportunities. Notably, stakeholders stress the importance of talent, data readiness, and ethical innovation - reinforcing that the region's continued leadership relies on both cutting-edge tech and community engagement.

As Tampa invests in skills-driven pathways - from Nucamp's AI tech entrepreneurship bootcamps to dynamic industry partnerships - the city exemplifies how local action shapes global tech relevance and economic impact.