Local Buzz

TampaBay.Ventures, a newly established venture capital firm, launched its first $20 million seed fund with a goal to support the growing tech scene in the Tampa Bay region. The fund, founded by Marcus Adolfsson, Andreas Calabrese, Tom Frederick and Wesley Barnett, is focused on investing in 20 companies over the next five years. “Tampa Bay

A group of Atlanta Braves fans, sporting the team’s jerseys and caps, were walking along Dunedin’s Douglas Avenue about two hours before their team played the Toronto Blue Jays. One of the fans was overheard saying that he arrived from North Port, home of the Braves’ spring training complex, and was looking forward to spending

Nueva Cantina, a Mexican restaurant located in south St. Petersburg, is partnering with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Teremana to give guests free guacamole with the purchase of a Teremana cocktail. Created in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, Johnson worked with a Mexican family-owned distillery to create Teremana – Destilería Teremana de Agave. Teremana Blanco

MarineMax (NYSE: HZO), a boat and yacht retailer based in Clearwater, acquired KCS International, also known as Cruisers Yachts, headquartered in Oconto, Wisconsin. Cruisers Yachts produces models from 33’ to 60’ feet. The company recently announced the expansion of its production capacity by purchasing a 216,000 square foot, purpose-built boat manufacturing plant in Pulaski, Wisconsin,

After a year of canceled events, golf tournaments are back in full swing with The PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship kicking off this week and St. Pete Fools Charity Club holding its first annual golf tournament on Sunday, May 2. Both tournaments will raise money for philanthropic causes. In 2019, the Valspar Championship, held at the

Rita Lowman, president of Pilot Bank, received the 2021 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Woman of Influence Award by the Tampa Bay Chamber. The Woman of Influence Award recognizes a woman whose leadership has made a positive impact in Hillsborough County. It pays tribute to an individual who exemplifies outstanding professional values; demonstrates the ability to go

Brandon Ford outsold every other Ford dealership in the world in 2020, beating out its biggest competitor, Bill Brown Ford in Detriot, Michigan. In 2017, Brandon Ford also outsold every Ford dealership in the world and in 2019, it was the top seller of new Ford retail sales, according to a statement. Brandon Ford is

Westfield Brandon is launching Dining For A Cause, a charitable rewards program for those dining in, or ordering takeout, at participating restaurants at Westfield Brandon. Beginning on April 1, and throughout the month, guests can upload receipts from The Cheesecake Factory, Red Robin, Panera Bread, P.F. Chang’s and Bahama Breeze to have 10 percent of

ServisFirst Bank, a subsidiary of ServisFirst Bancshares (NASDAQ: SFBS), has named Irene G.M. Ferguson to ServisFirst Bank Tampa as senior vice president, commercial banking. In this role, she is responsible for serving middle-market companies in the Tampa Bay region. “We are pleased to have Irene, a long-time, experienced Tampa Bay banker join our team,” said

Buddy Brew Coffee co-founders, Dave and Susan Ward, presented a donation check for $6,435 to onbikes. The donation represents proceeds from two annual coffee collaborations, Joy Ride Roast, which comes out late fall, and Shipwreck Roast, which comes out each spring. “We love onbikes because their mission is so simple, yet so profound,” said Dave

Ron Pierce, CEO of RSA Consulting, in Tampa, started a new philanthropic program, Steps for Session Challenge, to walk the distance from Tampa to Tallahassee and back during Florida’s 60-day legislative session. The 556-mile challenge commenced on the opening day of the Florida legislative session and will benefit Southeastern Guide Dogs, an organization that provides

Tomlin St Cyr Real Estate Services is one of the fastest-growing brokerages in the Tampa Bay area for home sales, at 59% in growth in 2020, according to data from Stellar MLS – pulled from Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. The brokerage, founded in 2016, produced $107 million in sales volume in 2020. Family-owned by John