Corey Thomas, the CEO of publicly-traded cybersecurity company Rapid7, did not choose to expand his Boston company to Tampa because of the sunshine or tax benefits — although those didn't hurt.
He believes the region is on the rise and specifically wants to dip into the burgeoning talent pool.
"[Tampa] is a nice balance to Boston; what's unique about the space here is that we have access to a much more diverse talent base," Thomas said, clarifying it is diverse in race, gender and socioeconomic status. "That's the type of thing that we're actually looking for. When we actually think about going global, it's, 'What's the talent ecosystem that we're participating in?' And we really like the talent ecosystem that we found here."
The company opened a 43,000-square-foot space on Feb.15, which will house the company's 70-plus local employees. It spans two floors in the Industrious building near Sparkman Wharf and includes flexible office seating, multiple gathering spaces for eating and socializing, and a hidden speakeasy.
Take a look at the Rapid7 space in the gallery above.
"We are actually growing the fastest-growing office in Tampa," Thomas said. "That's coming from a smaller base, but it's still very fast growing, and they've delivered results so far."
He added he expects the company's growth to dovetail with the growth of the surrounding Tampa area, specifically Water Street.
"Our family has a place here because they love it, and that means I get to come back every month or so," he said. "I'm like, 'Oh, that's new, that's new, that's coming in.' When we first made the commitment here, the stuff wasn't here, right? But ... you have a committed city, committed partner, and it'll grow and scale and become a great experience. It's not about what's happening today. It's what happens over the next 10 years."
