Chamber launches Tech Founders group to propel startups

The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a collaborative committee to support established entrepreneurs and foster the next generation of innovators.

The Tech Founders Committee’s overarching goal is to ensure tech companies can start, grow and thrive in St. Petersburg. Area experts will oversee four key pillars: Funding access, advisory and mentorship, partnership and collaboration and talent and education.

Osama Sabbah, founder of procurement solutions platform Bedrock, is the committee’s inaugural chairperson. He plans to create a “culture of possibilities” by providing curated advisors who can propel tech startups.”

“The mission, for me personally, is to turn St. Pete into a launch pad for bold ideas,” Sabbah said. “Where entrepreneurs in technology see the city as a destination – the place to be at.”

Over 30 people, including city officials, attended the committee’s inaugural meeting April 25. Sabbah said several of the participating founders have successfully exited their startups and believe the initiative will fill gaps in the local tech ecosystem.

The second committee meeting is July 25. Sabbah said program organizers, including the St. Pete Greenhouse, must now identify leaders to oversee each pillar and start building “something that lasts.”

Chamber CEO Chris Steinocher credited Sabbah for putting “that bug in our ear” over a year ago. He noted the serial entrepreneur has long worked to support other startups and wanted to “institutionalize” a culture where rising tides lift all boats.

“We want to make sure that as we’re successful on the attraction side, we’re equally successful on the retention and growth side of things,” Steinocher said. “The last thing we want to do is attract people, and then they boogie out because we just don’t have the thing that they were looking for.”

Local tech stakeholders are welcome to join or help lead the committee, which meets again July 25.

He said the committee is an open call for founders to put their fingerprints on the city. Organizers also need academic and venture capital leaders to help implement the program’s pillars.

Steinocher believes the area has enough support resources to foster the next Raymond James Financial or Power Design. However, he said those exist through a “loosely-knit confederacy of different organizations.”

Steinocher wants to incorporate tech founders into the chamber’s leadership, community and Smart Cities programs. He hopes to “corral them” before they leave the area for greener pastures.

“You get these people who come into your community – they think they’re here for one reason, and next thing you know, they fall in love and start building for you,” Steinocher added. “They start growing for you and doing things … and if you keep them in your community long enough, they give back.”

Sabbah believes the initiative will help mitigate risks for new founders with fresh ideas. Established entrepreneurs will share insight on product development, regulatory compliance, company infrastructure and sales.

Sabbah hopes to create bridges between St. Petersburg startups and eventually extend those connections throughout the region. “We’ve tried a bunch of things to bring people together, and it always seems to be like a one-off,” he said.

“So, let’s just go ahead and do it right and build a committee around it with specific goals so it can continue to grow.”

Increasing awareness of St. Petersburg’s burgeoning reputation as a tech hub is also a focus. Sabbah noted that the industry has seen “massive growth” in Tampa.

He said many outsiders still consider Tampa the place to conduct business while St. Pete is “the place to live.” Sabbah wants people to realize they can “enjoy both sides” in the Sunshine City. “I think that’s missing today.”

In addition to joining the committee, local tech ecosystem stakeholders can offer insight and help identify gaps, volunteer their expertise and nominate businesses for the chamber to spotlight. While Sabbah said success takes time, and program organizers need to establish its leadership, he said the “energy and people who are behind this are here to make it last.”

“We’re trying to attract young entrepreneurs who are willing to take risks and actually change the world,” Sabbah said. “St. Pete is one of the few places where you can come and be whatever you want to be and get support from every single person. High impact, low ego.”

For more information on the Tech Founders Committee, visit the website here.