The Tampa Bay Wave has gotten backing from local cybersecurity giants to help startups in the same industry.
The Wave, a nonprofit startup supporter that helps companies in Tampa Bay and beyond, announced Friday the launch of its Cybertech | X Accelerator program. The accelerator would help startups in the cybersecurity sector and further solidify the region on the map as a cybersecurity hub.
Bellini Better World, a foundation created by ConnectWise co-founder Arnie Bellini and his wife, Lauren, donated $100,000 to kick off the program. Tampa-based cybersecurity compliance company A-LIGN also donated to the program, along with Ernst & Young and Clearwater-based cybersecurity firm KnowBe4. Cyber Florida, Jabil, Sykes, University of South Florida Muma College of Business and Aditum are strategic partners.
“The CyberTech | X Accelerator idea was created to address the essential need to cultivate and develop tech and cybersecurity talent here in Tampa Bay,” A-LIGN CEO Scott Price said in a statement. “We realized that to attract and retain this highly sought after workforce, we needed to expand our tech and cybersecurity ecosystem to one that welcomes and attracts innovative startups and provides them with the resources they need to be successful to reach the summit of their full potential.”
Tampa Bay is home to some of the largest cybersecurity companies in the country: KnowBe4 is rumored to be interested in filing an IPO and cyber company ReliaQuest raised a $300 million investment from global investment firm KKR in August. In the last five years, cybersecurity firms in Tampa Bay have raised at least $450 million.
“The new CyberTech | X Accelerator is yet more evidence of Tampa Bay’s potential as a significant hub for technology startups and is another game-changer for the Tampa Bay tech community,” Tampa Bay Wave CEO Linda Olson said in a statement. “By coalescing around the cybersecurity industry sector at a time when Tampa Bay’s cyber giants are experiencing exponential growth and demand for cybersecurity talent is growing at record pace, the region can better attract new talent and capital, ultimately creating many new high-wage jobs in the area.”
Companies in the cohort will receive a mentor, have one-on-one feedback with tech founders, undergo pitch coaching, investment readiness programs and have strategic introductions to investors and potential customers. Applications are open through Nov. 30, with the program launching in January 2021.
This is the latest in several cohort programs run by the Tampa Bay Wave. Earlier this month, the Wave revealed the participants in its first ever women in tech cohort. The organization also has a TechDiversity cohort in conjunction with the Nielsen Foundation, which features companies that are 51 percent owned by a person of color, veteran, an LGBTQ community member, person with disabilities or a woman.
