Tampa Bay Wave Expands Footprint for Growing Startups

Tampa, FL. (January 30, 2017) – Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. (Wave) a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build successful breakout tech ventures throughout the region, will soon occupy a second location. Thanks to partners including Strategic Property Partners (SPP), Tampa Electric, Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, Vology, and Frontier Communications, WaVE will take over a 14,000-square-foot space in Channelside Bay Plaza to provide needed expansion space for local fast-growing tech companies.

Wave’s downtown Tampa location has been filled to near capacity since it opened in March 2013. This expansion space, which was formerly occupied by the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, plans to open on March 1, 2017, and much of the space has already been leased to three Wave client companies. More than 30 daily workers are expected in month one, and that number should more than double within 12 months.

“Thanks to a vibrant local entrepreneurial ecosystem, we continue to see an increase in the number of quality startups being created and looking for support. We are literally bursting at the seams with the greater demand from companies for space to build their businesses, especially those businesses that are still growing at rates too fast for most commercial real estate options” said Linda Olson, president of Tampa Bay Wave. “Flexible space like this new location in Channelside Bay Plaza is critical for helping companies stay here and grow here.”

“SPP is proud to support Tampa Bay Wave and local tech startups,” said James Nozar, CEO of Strategic Property Partners. “As a company, we are passionate about fostering entrepreneurship throughout our community. We’re delighted that Wave and other new tenants are joining SPP at Channelside Bay Plaza.”

SPP provided Wave a flexible short-term lease arrangement so Wave could provide some immediate relief to their client companies who are outgrowing their current office space. In addition to Wave, SPP’s offices are currently located at Channelside Bay Plaza.

Other partners like Tampa Electric, Hillsborough County, City of Tampa, Vology, and Frontier Communications have stepped up to cover some of the upfront move-in costs and other minor improvements to make the space better suited for fast-growing technology companies.

“Hillsborough County is proud to be a funding partner of the Tampa Bay Wave, supporting the growth of break-out technology startups that will be the foundation of our next-generation economy. This expansion will strengthen key strategies aimed at helping local startups grow here, ensuring the health of our economy going forward,” said Stacy White, Chairman of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners.

“We, at the City of Tampa, could not be more proud of this expansion,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “Tampa Bay Wave has paved the way for young entrepreneurs in the region. Not only does it serve as a testbed for new innovators but it grooms a younger generation of leaders in technology.”

The three companies who will initially occupy the new Channelside location of Tampa Bay Wave are also receiving other critical support from Wave to grow their companies, including mentoring and introductions to capital. Businesses looking for space are encouraged to apply to one of Tampa Bay Wave’s BUILD, LAUNCH, or GROW programs to be eligible for office space at the Channelside location here: https://www.tampabaywave.org/startup-programs/

Media Contact:

Holly Clifford
[email protected]

About Tampa Bay Wave:

Tampa Bay Wave, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing local entrepreneurs with facilitated access to the resources, expertise and capital they need to grow vibrant technology-based companies in Tampa Bay and create high wage tech jobs, thus fostering an innovation-based economy for the region. Tampa Bay Wave actively supports more than 100 tech startups in Tampa Bay thanks to grant funding from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), plus support from its economic development partners Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa. Tampa Bay Wave also receives support from corporate partners such as Bank of America, Florida Blue, Foley & Lardner, Sourcetoad, Spectrum, Sykes Enterprises, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Electric, Trenam Law, and Tribridge.

About Strategic Property Partners:

Strategic Property Partners (“SPP”) is a real estate development joint venture between Cascade Investment, LLC, and Jeff Vinik. SPP owns or controls more than 50 acres in southern downtown on the Tampa waterfront. The phased development project intends to revitalize the surrounding area and create an urban, mixed-use waterfront district consisting of approximately 9 million square feet of new commercial, residential, hospitality, cultural, entertainment, education, and retail uses, totaling approximately $3 billion of investment. Integrating principals of walkability, sustainability, connectivity, quality and wellness, SPP intends to create a world-class development for Tampa.