Main Navigation
Sections
Social Media Connect
Tampa Bay Business and Wealth Magazine
Tampa Bay Business & Wealth

Business Innovation

Leaders and team members cut a ribbon during the launch of The Digital Suite Tampa at Embarc Collective.
Interior of Boston Logan Airport with travelers at check-in and an inset photo of a White Castle–branded Just Baked automated food kiosk.
Professional headshot of Jake Kurtz smiling in a navy blazer, placed inside a circular frame on a blue gradient background with the words “Brick By Brick” in bold white text.

More Business Innovation

Meet Dieumerci Christel, whose journey from a refugee camp is reshaping student-teacher connections
 |  Chuck Merlis

Born in a Tanzanian refugee camp, Dieumerci Christel is building Enlightapp to help schools strengthen connection and student engagement.

Read More
Dieumerci Christel sitting in a conference room wearing an NDSU sweatshirt while working on Enlightapp.
National firm opens South Tampa innovation center with full test kitchen
 |  Chuck Merlis

A national consumer goods firm has opened a new South Tampa innovation and experience center with a full test kitchen for real world product testing.

Read More
A collage of four images showing the opening of a new innovation and experience center in South Tampa. The first image shows a ribbon cutting with executives standing in a row inside the facility. The second image shows product displays with kitchenware and housewares on modern shelving. The third image shows an open workspace with glass meeting rooms and product shelves. The fourth image shows a chef preparing food inside the center’s full test kitchen.
Tampa startup using AI to build custom curricula for schools
 |  Chuck Merlis

A Tampa ed-tech startup is using AI to help schools build custom curricula that fit every learner.

Read More
A three-panel collage showing the ryco logo, founder Riley Walker speaking on stage at a student pitch event and the company’s virtual campus where team members work as avatars.
Tampa physician turns personal pain into a mission to heal
 |  Chuck Merlis

Dr. Ali’s story shows how empathy and discipline shaped a Tampa health system built to serve.

Read More
Dr. Ali sitting in his personal office surrounded by books and artwork.
Melting Pot CEO JC Crawford pushes bold menu and expansion strategy
 |  Chuck Merlis

Melting Pot CEO JC Crawford is reinventing how the Tampa-born brand delivers the perfect night out.

Read More
Cheese fondue and a spread of fresh vegetables and dipping items at Melting Pot
Tampa startup uses AI to protect drinking water before problems arise
 |  Chuck Merlis

A Tampa pilot led by SkyTL and ACCIONA uses AI to detect water quality threats before they impact drinking water operations.

Read More
SkyTL founder Rocio Frej Vitalle leads a strategy session with her team in Tampa, focusing on AI-driven water quality technology.
Tampa tech founder buys into European football, looking for investors
 |  Chuck Merlis

Tampa tech founder Will Freeman launches Catalyst Sports Ventures to bring local investors into the global soccer ownership game.

Read More
Haverfordwest County AFC soccer players in blue jerseys on the field during a Cymru Premier league match in Wales.
Tampa’s Neen James redefines what leadership really means
 |  Barbara Lynch

Neen James transforms luxury from a status symbol into a leadership strategy rooted in intention and attention.

Read More
Neen James speaks with her publisher during the launch of Exceptional Experiences at Oxford Exchange in Tampa, surrounded by guests and floral décor.
Tampa Bay coworking market ranks 29th in U.S., 3rd in Florida
 |  Chuck Merlis

Tampa Bay continues to rise in the national coworking rankings. According to CoworkingCafe’s Q3 2025 Coworking Report, the Tampa–St. The Petersburg–Clearwater market now holds the 29th-largest share of coworking space

Read More
Infographic summarizing Tampa Bay’s coworking market: 108 coworking spaces, 1.68 million square feet total, average space size of 15,062 square feet, and median pricing of $225 per month for memberships, $30 per day passes, $50 per hour meeting rooms, and $99 per month virtual offices.
USF just hit $750M in research funding; here’s why it matters
 |  Chuck Merlis

USF’s record $750 million in research funding marks a major milestone for Tampa Bay’s innovation economy.

Read More
Bar chart showing growth in the University of South Florida’s research funding from fiscal year 2022 to 2025, highlighting gains from federal, private and state sources.
Florida Trust helps Tampa Bay business owners build generational wealth
 |  Contributed Content

Florida Trust Wealth Management helps Tampa Bay entrepreneurs turn years of work into generational wealth through strategic exits and expert planning.

Read More
Florida Trust Wealth Management logo displayed on a sandy background with seashells and a starfish, symbolizing financial stability and coastal prosperity in Tampa Bay.
How a Tampa Bay insurer is closing the AI coverage gap
 |  Billy West

Tampa Bay’s ME Wilson explains how outdated insurance leaves leaders exposed — and what it takes to close the Executive Risk Gap.

Read More
A business professional uses a laptop while interacting with a virtual display labeled “AI Insurance,” representing the connection between artificial intelligence and modern risk coverage.