This Month's Latest Tech News in Tampa, FL - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

Tampa Bay's tech scene accelerated in April and May 2025 as the University of South Florida (USF) officially established the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, thanks to a historic $40 million gift, positioning Tampa as a national nexus for digital innovation.

The college aims to address a persistent cybersecurity talent gap, with Tampa Bay's tech sector growing 28.5% over five years and projected for another 12.5% surge by 2029.

Key local firms are thriving: cybersecurity company ReliaQuest closed a $500 million funding round to expand its AI-driven GreyMatter platform - boasting over $300 million in annual recurring revenue and automating threat response in under five minutes with industry-leading speed.

Simultaneously, USF's collaborative education model is producing hundreds of job-ready graduates annually, many of whom have gone on to roles at Rapid7 and ReliaQuest, amplifying Tampa's nickname "Cyber Bay." The region nurtures startups through programs like Tampa Bay Wave's Tech|X Accelerator, which has propelled over 600 startups to raise $1.1 billion fostering a robust innovation ecosystem.

As USF Board Chair Will Weatherford puts it,

“This investment cements Tampa as a global powerhouse for AI and cybersecurity innovation…”

For an in-depth look at how the Bellini College is shaping Tampa's future-ready workforce, see the USF Bellini College announcement.

The University of South Florida is set to transform Tampa Bay's tech landscape with the launch of the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing in Fall 2025, backed by a record-breaking $40 million donation from Arnie and Lauren Bellini.

This first-of-its-kind named college in the U.S. will integrate AI and cybersecurity education, provide hands-on industry experiences, and address the nation's acute cybersecurity workforce gap, as over 700,000 cybersecurity jobs remain unfilled nationwide.

Through its multidisciplinary approach, the college aims to double annual graduates to 1,000, foster collaborations across fields like business and psychology, and work closely with local and national partners - including Tampa's defense sector - in a bid to keep Tampa “leading the AI revolution.” As Brad Chedister, National Security Advisor, explains:

“The Bellini College is going to be the baseline architecture of workforce development for the future of multiple sectors... There is no sector that cybersecurity and AI do not touch - and USF plays a huge role in that.”

Notably, the initiative comes amid a boom in Tampa Bay's information technology sector, which saw a 28.5% increase in the past five years, with projections of another 12.5% rise by 2029.

The college also features a hub-and-spoke model to promote interdisciplinary degrees and real-world applications, such as medical AI research and behavioral analytics.

For more insights into the program's impact on workforce development and industry partnerships, see USF's official announcement on igniting Tampa Bay's tech talent here, and a thorough coverage of the Bellini College's national significance here.

Key Metric	Value
Initial Gift	$40 million
Projected Annual Graduates	1,000
Cybersecurity Job Gap (US)	700,000+
Tampa IT Sector Growth (5 years)	28.5%
IT Sector Projected Growth by 2029	12.5%

St. Petersburg and Pasco County are deploying a wave of AI-powered smart traffic signals aimed at reducing congestion and boosting safety at some of Tampa Bay's busiest - and most dangerous - intersections.

Funded by a $1.16 million Florida Department of Transportation grant, St. Petersburg will install 15 adaptive signals along high-traffic corridors such as 66th Street North and Tyrone Boulevard, each carrying over 40,000 vehicles daily, with the technology boasting 99.5% accuracy in detecting objects up to 720 feet and learning over time to better recognize pedestrians and cyclists.

In Pasco County, AI-controlled cameras are being installed at several intersections, with capabilities to differentiate between various road users - including cyclists, scooters, and roller-skaters - and to deliver targeted safety alerts in real time.

Cheryl Stacks, the city's transportation manager, explains,

“The AI object detection is good and getting better – getting smarter as it learns. That's particularly important for detection of elements like pedestrians.”

These efforts seek to tackle persistent problems with outdated, fixed-timer traffic lights, whose average red light wait times in Florida (20.4 seconds) exceed the national average and compound daily commuting frustrations.

For a breakdown of project features and objectives, see the table below:

Feature	St. Petersburg	Pasco County
Number of AI Signals	15 (10 on 66th St N, 5 on Tyrone Blvd)	Multiple corridors, with pilots ongoing
Detection Capabilities	AI object & pedestrian tracking	Bike, scooter, pedestrian identification
Emergency Vehicle Priority	Enabled	Planned/Partially Implemented
Completion Target	Dec. 31, 2025	Initial studies and pilots, reporting Summer 2025

These upgrades promise not only smoother traffic but also improved safety for all road users, addressing ongoing concerns and leveraging adaptive solutions for Florida's future.

Read more about the AI-enabled "Smart Signals" arriving in St. Petersburg, the traffic safety transformation in St. Pete and Pasco, and insights from a recent study highlighting the urgent need for upgrades across Florida intersections.

Tampa-based startup Improving Aviation is making national headlines for its partnership with Google to revolutionize AI-powered disaster response, specifically in wildfire prediction.

Leveraging Google Cloud's Vertex AI and Gemini technologies, their WindTL platform enables real-time situational awareness, ember spread forecasting (a key factor accounting for 90% of wildfire-related structural loss), and data-driven emergency management.

This collaboration accelerated the development and scalability of their AI models, reducing execution time while delivering actionable intelligence for first responders.

As part of Google's broader AI Collaboratives for wildfires, which has invested over $27 million to harness AI for wildfire tracking and risk reduction, Improving Aviation's success highlights how Tampa startups are at the forefront of social impact technology.

According to a detailed Tampa Bay Business Journal report, the startup graduated from the Google for Startups Founders Accelerator and is driving public safety innovation through SkyTL and WindTL platforms.

A recent video feature by Google Cloud Tech showcases these solutions in action, showing how AI advances are transforming disaster management and giving firefighters instant, critical insights; you can learn more by watching the demonstration of WindTL's real-time wildfire prediction.

As Improving Aviation continues to scale, its partnership with Google exemplifies Tampa Bay's growing influence in next-generation emergency response and AI-driven social good.

Dr. Indra Sandal, Chief of Innovation at Tampa's James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, has been awarded the Federal Excellence in Healthcare Management Award at the 29th annual Joint Federal Sector Awards, recognized during the American College of Healthcare Executive (ACHE) 2025 Congress for her transformative approach to leveraging AI for veteran care.

Dr. Sandal's leadership has spearheaded significant initiatives such as the VHA-Uber Health Connect (VUHC), which since 2022 has facilitated over 450,000 rides for 50,000 veterans across 101 VA medical centers, saving the VA an estimated $250 million.

Under her direction, the Veterans Health Venture Studio - powered by Microsoft AI - has accelerated novel healthcare solutions from ideation to nationwide implementation, including the large-scale Veterans Health–MIT Hacking Medicine Hackathon.

This event gathered more than 300 innovators and yielded AI-driven solutions in critical areas such as suicide prevention, care access, and VA hiring, with winning teams advancing through a rigorous accelerator process for real-world deployment.

As Dr. Sandal shared at the ACHE Congress,

“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.”

Her accomplishments and community-focused vision have positioned Tampa as a leader in healthcare technology.

For a detailed overview of Dr. Sandal's achievements and her impact on veteran healthcare innovation, visit the official VA announcement on Dr. Indra Sandal's recognition, learn more about the ACHE 2025 Congress event details, or explore highlights from the Veterans Health Make-a-thon innovation initiative.

AI-powered tools are rapidly transforming how Tampa Bay residents plan and book their vacations, offering more personalized and efficient experiences than ever before.

Google recently launched a suite of new features across Search, Maps, and Gemini, enabling travelers to generate day-by-day itineraries, track flight and hotel prices with real-time alerts, and even turn screenshots into interactive travel plans on their mobile devices.

According to TechCrunch's in-depth coverage of Google's vacation planning features, users can request sample itineraries, export them to Google Docs, and take advantage of custom “Gems” - personal AI trip planners that remember individual travel preferences.

Local Tampa businesses are also embracing this tech shift; Clearwater-based Honeyfund's CEO, Sara Margulis, announced major investments in machine learning to power a recommendation engine that leverages data from over a million couples' honeymoons.

This innovation aims to make trip planning more social and tailored, integrating financial gifting with suggestions for unique experiences. As BrandBomb PR CEO Lindsay Feldman shared, “I was basically getting the answers that I needed in that moment, and instantly.

It mapped out from my starting point to where the closest train station was and what train to get on and if there were any transfers involved, which was such a game-changer.”

“First of all, there's not a lot of great travel planning tools that are comprehensive. It's important to me to innovate in that space, especially when the registry can be part of it, because then friends and family can not only contribute financially to the trip, but they could also be suggesting restaurants to go to in Rome or the best boat rental in Hawaii.”

AI startups are surfacing too - MaaltalkNow's app, for example, provides personalized eSIM data plans, real-time translation, and expense tracking, supporting over 200,000 users globally (read more about MaaltalkNow's AI travel app).

Travelers are advised to double-check AI recommendations, but these innovations are poised to make planning, booking, and enjoying trips notably smoother for the upcoming summer season.

For a local spotlight on how businesses are leveraging these trends, visit the Tampa Bay Business Journal's feature on Honeyfund's innovative travel gifting platform.

Tampa's tech job market continues its remarkable ascent, marked by a 30% increase in IT roles over the past five years and projections to add more than 3,700 tech jobs by 2027 - a 14% growth according to recent city analyses.

The metro now supports over 50,000 tech workers and nearly 17,000 IT businesses, earning accolades as Forbes' #1 emerging tech hub with special distinction in cybersecurity.

While the region ranks second-highest in Florida for private sector job gains, early-stage tech startups still face funding hurdles - founders persistently seek innovative solutions and partnerships as local investor ecosystems mature amid evolving early-stage funding challenges.

Leading organizations like Embarc Collective, now a network of nearly 300 founders representing more than 135 startups, have helped member firms achieve a 96% survival rate, create over 1,200 jobs, and collectively raise in excess of $600 million by connecting startups to strategic partners and corporate programs.

The broader job landscape shows steady private sector growth, a stable 3.8% regional unemployment rate, and robust expansions in education and health services.

As Mayor Jane Castor remarked,

“Our thriving tech sector is attracting top talent and innovative entrepreneurs.”

The table below summarizes key sector data:

Metric	Value
IT Job Growth (2019-2024)	+30%
Projected Tech Jobs (by 2027)	+3,700 (14% growth)
Tech Businesses	~17,000 (2021)
Embarc Member Companies' Capital Raised	$600M+
Regional Unemployment Rate	3.8% (Jan 2025)

For a deeper dive into the shift to digital roles and local tech growth metrics, visit the official Tampa city technology report.

Tampa Bay is taking significant strides to improve intersection safety for cyclists and pedestrians by rolling out AI-powered smart traffic signals in St. Petersburg and Pasco County.

With a $1.16 million state grant, St. Pete is installing 15 adaptive signals along high-risk corridors such as 66th Street North and Tyrone Boulevard, locations noted for both heavy use (about 40,000 vehicles daily) and frequent accidents.

These next-generation systems leverage artificial intelligence to detect, classify, and track all roadway users - including cyclists, pedestrians, and scooters - with up to 99.5% accuracy, and dynamically adjust green light durations based on real-time conditions.

Buses and emergency vehicles receive priority signaling to ensure rapid passage, while advanced features can push real-time alerts about hazards or flooding to drivers.

As reported by the St. Pete Catalyst about AI-enabled smart signals arriving in St. Petersburg, these smart signals also improve safety for vulnerable users, especially at intersections rated among the city's “Top 10 Dangerous Crash Intersections.” Community members like Hudson resident Scott Lester, a daily cyclist, are hopeful the initiative will reduce fatalities:

“I bike every day. My girlfriend bikes every day and it's scary out here. We've had many friends get killed.”

According to a WTSP feature on Pasco County AI traffic safety cameras, Pasco County's AI can differentiate between types of travelers, providing detailed situational awareness to traffic managers.

On a national level, AI's promise goes beyond timing signals; platforms using geospatial data now map real-time pedestrian flows, anticipate risks, and help cities prioritize equity-focused upgrades, as outlined in this Urban SDK analysis of next-generation pedestrian safety using AI.

By prioritizing data-driven solutions rather than road widening, Tampa Bay's tech advancements aim to proactively save lives and foster safer, walkable communities.

The James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital (JAHVH) in Tampa recently hosted the first-ever Veterans Health–MIT Hacking Medicine Hackathon, a groundbreaking event that convened over 300 participants - including innovators, clinicians, engineers, and artists - to address top Veteran health care challenges such as improving care access, suicide prevention, and modernizing VA hiring processes.

Supported by Microsoft's AI tools and extensive mentorship, the hackathon marked the start of a year-long innovation program, guiding 17 teams from initial ideation through prototyping and into the Make-a-thon and Accelerator phases.

Winning solutions included AI-driven mental health risk detection and resume evaluation tools, with six leading teams advancing to pilot their prototypes within the VA system.

Dr. Indra Sandal, JAHVH's Chief of Innovation and the event's organizer, emphasized the power of collaboration:

“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.”

The event not only highlighted Tampa's growing status as a national health tech hub but also set an example for democratizing innovation and addressing Veterans' needs through cross-sector teamwork.

Learn more about the hackathon's impact at Tampa VA leader recognized as Trailblazer in Health Care Technology Innovation, discover the hackathon's year-long innovation process at Tampa Veterans Health Venture Studio's 2024 Cohort Harnesses AI to Address Top VA Challenges, and see how a collaborative approach is reshaping Veteran healthcare at Hackathon harnesses AI for health care innovation.

Event Phase	Dates	Outcome
Hackathon	May 2024	17 teams formed AI solutions
Make-a-thon	Oct–Dec 2024	Teams refined prototypes
Accelerator	Mar–Aug 2025	6 teams piloted within VA

In Manatee County, a local entrepreneur is capturing attention by revitalizing his marketing agency with cutting-edge artificial intelligence, spearheading the wider adoption of AI-driven strategies across Florida's vibrant digital marketing sector.

By leveraging AI to automate campaign analysis, optimize ad targeting, and personalize content, the agency achieved a remarkable 120% surge in web traffic and a 150% revenue increase - a result echoing broader national trends, where organizations report an average $3.70 return for every $1 invested in generative AI according to Bay News 9's coverage.

As detailed in recent national research, over 85% of the Fortune 500 are integrating AI into their marketing and business processes to enhance efficiency, creativity, and ROI. Top Florida agencies now routinely combine AI and automation with foundational specialties such as SEO, PPC, influencer partnerships, and data analytics, a trend spotlighted by Open Lead's 2025 agency rankings.

The current landscape is characterized by rapid AI uptake, influencer campaign growth, and measurable results through real-time analytics - placing Florida's firms at the national forefront of data-driven innovation.

As one entrepreneur noted,

“We were able to actually grow our traffic by about 120%, and it's led to an increase in revenue by about 150%.”

For a deeper look into how generative AI and machine learning are transforming real-world marketing - from customer segmentation to predictive analytics - see these machine learning marketing success stories, which illustrate why AI-powered agencies are leading the next phase of Florida's tech-fueled business growth.

The University of South Florida (USF) and Tampa-based cybersecurity leader ReliaQuest are forging a robust talent pipeline through their innovative ReliaQuest Labs program, preparing students to meet the surging demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals both in Tampa Bay and nationwide.

Since launching in 2018, the program has produced over 445 graduates as of spring 2025, with nearly 90% finding immediate employment - many at ReliaQuest or in other major cybersecurity roles - by immersing students in hands-on labs, cybersecurity analysis, and enterprise-grade tools like GreyMatter.

Notably, USF's $40 million Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, the first of its kind in the U.S., will further expand workforce development, integrating interdisciplinary learning and strategic partnerships to solidify Tampa's status as “Cyber Bay.” As CEO Brian Murphy notes,

“While we often hear about the shortage of trained and skilled cybersecurity professionals, there is no shortage of people who would like to join the cybersecurity industry if given the chance. Connecting the immense amount of talent with opportunities to build their knowledge and skills is the real issue, and it's what programs like this are all about.”

This collaboration stands poised to address the 3.4 million unfilled cybersecurity positions worldwide and an expected 32% job growth for information security analysts in the next decade.

For a closer look at program structure and outcomes, see the table below:

Year Established	USF Graduates (Spring 2025)	Job Placement Rate	National Cybersecurity Workforce Gap
2018	445+	~90%	700,000+ (U.S.), 3.4 million (Global)

Learn more about the ReliaQuest Labs Program at USF, USF's industry partnerships and workforce impact through the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing, and the program's role in addressing the crucial cybersecurity job gap.

Tampa Bay's rise as a national tech and AI powerhouse is no longer speculative - it's quantifiable and dynamic, driven by transformative education and an ecosystem primed for growth.

The University of South Florida's new Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Computing stands at the forefront, launching hundreds of graduates annually into sectors vital for the regional and national economy.

As noted at USF's prominent role in Synapse Summit 2025, this collaborative culture fuels robust startup creation and translates research into industry-ready talent, with Tampa Bay tech jobs up 30% in five years and 3,700 more slated by 2027 (full forecast and jobs outlook).

High-profile investment - from ARK Invest's headquarters relocation to major commercial redevelopments - is matched by a unique infrastructure of accelerators and hubs.

As Tim Holcomb, CEO of Embarc Collective, puts it:

“The pace of progress in Tampa right now is unlike anything we've seen before. The energy, the collaboration, the talent - it's all here.”

The result is a region where industry, academia, and leadership coalesce, offering aspiring professionals pathways into cybersecurity, software, and AI, whether through university routes or innovative offerings like Nucamp's Cybersecurity Fundamentals bootcamp.

With continued collaboration, strategic investment, and inclusive training, Tampa Bay is cementing its place as Florida's premier engine for digital transformation.

The broader outlook, including detailed metrics on jobs, real estate, and infrastructure, is available in the latest Tampa Bay economic trends, while an in-depth exploration of Tampa's cultural tech shift can be found here.