Tampa Bay's Founders Live: Spotlighting Startups with $1M Perks!

340 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, FL - As the sun sets on another bustling week in Tampa Bay, excitement is building for an event that promises to uplift the local startup scene. The Founders Live Pitch Night is set to take place on July 17, 2025, at Birchwood in St. Petersburg. This platform offers early-stage founders a unique opportunity to present their innovative ideas in a brief 99-second pitch, aiming to secure connections and support needed for their entrepreneurial journeys.

The Pitch Night isn’t just a competition; it’s a launchpad for local entrepreneurs. Participants will have the chance to enter global Prime Time qualifying rounds and could walk away with a startup-perk package valued at over $1 million. This package includes essential tools, visibility, and resources from global partners to assist startups in developing and scaling their ideas as they make their mark on the economy.

Paving the Way for Innovation

Tampa Bay is not just any startup hub; it has a thriving ecosystem drawing attention from across the country. In 2025 alone, the region saw over $650 million invested in local startups, underscoring a robust investor interest in innovative ideas. Events like Founders Live are crucial as they fill the visibility gap for startups that are yet to connect with venture capitalists or accelerators. Karla Jo Helms, City Leader of Founders Live Tampa Bay, emphasizes the importance of credibility and publicity, particularly for startups looking to scale nationally.

Five founders will pitch their groundbreaking concepts during the event, followed by a lively Q&A session and audience voting. This immediate public validation not only fosters community connections but also gives attendees a voice in choosing the next potential success story of the startup world.

Spotlight on Tampa’s Startup Scene

The Tampa Bay area is ranked among the top five U.S. cities for startup creation, and this event is a reflection of that dynamic growth. The targeted sectors—HealthTech, FinTech, AI, and MedTech—are particularly poised for innovation, bringing forward solutions relevant to today’s global challenges. Established entities in the region recognize the economic impact of this startup boom, a sentiment echoed by local business and civic leaders who are keen to engage with emerging talent at events like these.

As the clock ticks down to pitch night, tickets are flying off the virtual shelves, nearly sold out as of now, with prices set to increase soon. Those interested in witnessing firsthand the creativity and ambition of Tampa Bay’s founders would do well to grab a ticket while they can.

JOTO PR Disruptors, the agency behind this vibrant initiative, is known for its innovative strategy in public relations, specifically tailored for the tech and innovation sectors. Founded by Nick Hughes, Founders Live operates in over 125 cities and across 50 countries, and is dedicated to connecting founders, investors, and startup communities through engaging events and digital storytelling.

Get ready, Tampa Bay! The Founders Live Pitch Night promises to be an exhilarating evening filled with bold ideas and potential collaborations that could shape the future landscape of business in our community.

For more information, check out IT Boltwise and Yahoo Finance.