2019 was a very big year for existing Tampa Bay technology companies startups and entrepreneurs in the region. We had multi-million dollar acquisitions, startups hit the coveted million dollar unicorn status and a slew of new C-level executives across the board.
We've gathered up the top 10 acquisitions, partnerships and promotions you need to remember from this year.
• It was a partnership-heavy year for the University of South Florida. The Tampa-based university teamed up with Jabil to create the USF Jabil Innovation Institute, thanks in part to a $1 million gift. The institute will work with the USF Muma College of Business and College of Engineering to create innovative research and increase community engagement and talent development within the colleges. The announcement, made Oct. 24, comes after Jabil donated an $800,000 gift and $200,000 in research support.
• The university also teamed up with Florida Funders to create the SEED Florida Early Stage Investment Fund through a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to the university. The fund will work with The Institute for Commercialization of Florida Technology, a $23M fund through Florida Funders.
• Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay also had a strong partnership year. It created an entrepreneurship academy and lab with Embarc Collective, called the JA Entrepreneurship & Lab at Embarc Collective. It will educate and encourage middle and high school students within the region about entrepreneurship and innovation. While Junior Achievement currently has an entrepreneurial program, the new academy and lab will give it a home base and also access to real-life entrepreneurs. Students will also learn skills — such as product evaluation, speaking, sales, leadership, creativity and teamwork — from the Junior Achievement staff and startup leaders.
• Junior Achievement teamed up with BlockSpaces, which does everything from host panels on how to use blockchain within specific sectors to meetups for tech professionals. The duo will kick off its partnership with a Blockchain for Teens workshop on Feb. 20, 2020 at the #PAY Tampa Bay fintech event.
• In an effort to give back over a half a million dollars in the next five years, A-LIGN CEO Scott Price announced he will donate $100,000 to Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay, $150,000 to Think Big for Kids and $250,000 to tech incubators spanned over a three year period, to spur job growth, grow startups, help youth otherwise unexposed to technology and help the Tampa Bay ecosystem flourish.
• KnowBe4, the Clearwater-based cybersecurity firm that was inching toward unicorn status in the spring, reached the magic billion dollar valuation in June. Private equity firm KKR lead the $300 million dollar investment, with additional participation from existing investors Elephant and TenEleven Ventures. KKR previously invested $50 million to KnowBe4 in March.
• ConnectWise, the largest software development firm in Tampa Bay last valued at over $1 billion, was acquired by Thoma Bravo, a leading private equity firm. While the deal was made for an undisclosed amount, founder Arnie Bellini was able to say $270 million in stock was being redeemed by ConnectWise’s non-C-level employees — making around 70 of their employees millionaires.
• And ConnectWise made some shifts among C-level executives. Continuum’s CFO Geoffrey Willison will become COO at ConnectWise, according to Channele2e. The change comes after ConnectWise acquired Continuum in October. Willison stepped into Continuum’s CFO role in May 2017 after replacing the company’s founding CFO. He previously worked at The Boston Consulting Group and was the CEO for Valore, an e-commerce and digital textbook publisher.
• Tech Data, the largest public company in Florida which is happens to be in Tampa Bay, is in the process of getting acquired by Apollo Global Management for $6 billion.
• The city was also chosen as the fourth office for a Boston-based startup, the new headquarters for a New York City-based startup and snagged two Israeli founders to make Tampa their home.
