One of the largest technology conferences in Florida has arrived and provided Tampa Bay-connected startups the chance to pitch.
Emerge Americas is an annual conference seeking to stimulate the Florida ecosystem. The event returns to Florida on April 18. Each year, the conference holds a startup showcase and pitch competition. Six startups from the Tampa Bay Wave program will pitch at the event.
The startup showcase and accelerator require companies to apply. Each accepted company also receives access to the six-week accelerator program and networking events. The program offers these startups the chance to win the event's pitch competition and $500,000 in investments and prizes.
The accelerator program seeks startups of all sizes for each of its application categories. Each category — later-stage companies, early-stage companies and the university track criteria — has its own criteria for acceptance.
Here are the Tampa Bay Wave firms that will be pitching.
Spontivly
This St. Petersburg-based analytics firm has raised more than $2 million in seed funding from investors like the Tampa Bay Ventures and "Shark Tank" investor Mark Cuban. This is the second time that Spontivly has participated in the accelerator program. Co-founder and COO Marissa Huggins said the company had been helped by the program and viewed it as a great opportunity for Tampa startups to broaden their statewide recognition.
Lazo
This Miami-based startup is a software service firm that seeks to help early-stage companies raise money and grow, according to its LinkedIn. Lazo graduated from the Tampa Bay Wave's TechDiversity program in 2023.
Fluix AI
This Tampa-based information technology software consulting service seeks to help data centers conserve energy. It also graduated from Tampa Bay Wave's TechDiversity program in 2023. CEO and founder Abhishek Sastri is a University of Central Florida alumnus, according to his LinkedIn.
CyDeploy
This Baltimore-based startup is a network service that seeks to help companies with cybersecurity management. CyDeploy attended the Tampa Bay Wave CyberTech accelerator program that started in early 2024.
Coco App
This Puebla, Mexico-based startup is a software-enabled food and beverage service.
Pulse Charter Connect
This Chicago-based startup seeks to eliminate inefficiencies and limitations in the organ transport process.
