The Synapse Summit, which has morphed into the Tampa Bay innovation ecosystem's premier event since it launched five years ago, is going back to basics.
While previously held for two days at Amalie Arena then pivoting entirely online in 2021, it will return to the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning Feb. 17, 2022, for a one-day event.
"Every time we put out a program, we want to be very intentional in making sure we structure it to hit the goals the community told us they need," said Lauren Prager, VP of community engagement. "Our goal is to connect the Florida innovation community, to make it easier to celebrate, discover and engage. And we realized it's a lot easier to do that when we all do that one day in one place."
The summit will essentially be the same format, with 10 stages across the arena culminating in the main stage on the ice level for the keynote speakers, which have yet to be announced.
The Synapse Orlando summit, recently held Oct. 15, follows the one-day format. The event had roughly 1,500 people; the Synapse team expects the Tampa summit to have 5,000 attendees.
"It's exciting to see how much energy comes together and see how rapid the connectivity can take place [in one day]," said Brian Kornfeld, CEO of Synapse Florida. "It shows how much engagement is happening, and it will leave people saying, 'I didn't get a chance to see everything.' And that's a good thing because people will understand just the sheer volume that we've grown to in this region the last couple of years."
The Tampa Bay region has been on the national stage in the past year, as tech CEOs and companies alike have flocked to the area.
The summit will be part of a weeklong "innovation week," in which related events will be held on both sides of the bay by several community organizations, including startup supporters Embarc Collective and the Tampa Bay Wave.
"It's a way of broadening engagement, showcasing the resources and really, the rich tapestry of organizations across the region," Prager said. "It allows us to get in innovative spaces and places across the region, which is important especially as our region and community is growing."
