Technology


 
Technology 
Technology Resources
The Tampa Bay Technology Forum
The Tampa Bay Technology Forum (TBTF) is a professional association dedicated to growing Tampa Bay's technology businesses and promoting the region as a major center of entrepreneurship and innovation.  Membership includes technology companies, entrepreneurs, investment firms, professional service firms, academic institutions, civic organizations and government agencies.  The not-for profit organization has established itself as the 'go-to' organization for anyone associated with technology in the Tampa Bay region and serves the needs of the members as well as the entire technology business community through networking, educational programs, awareness campaigns and advocacy.  
82 Degrees Tech
82° TECH is a technology advocacy group for companies creating and developing technology in Sarasota and Manatee counties. The organization receives administrative support from a partnership of the economic development organizations in Manatee and Sarasota counties.  Top level executives (CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, CIO, president, vice president, director, partner, regional division manager, etc.) from technology-related companies are invited to join other members who are committed in creating an technology awareness in the region.
The primary focus of the group is:
*Increasing public awareness of the growing technology community.
*Improving the business climate for by developing critical resources.
*Facilitating educational/social opportunities for the area’s technology companies. 
Startup Florida
Startup Florida promotes the creation and acceleration of technology businesses by providing capital, mentoring and a supportive community for entrepreneurs.  Their early-stage venture funds serve to connect entrepreneurs with active angel investors throughout the State of Florida.  The mission of the Startup Florida is to invest time and capital in new technologies that engage successful entrepreneurs, emerging markets and early-stage investors.  In order to support the established technology community and to attract new entrepreneurs and businesses, Startup Florida has taken the initiative to represent the interests of the technology community of Florida.
Florida High Tech Corridor Council
The Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) mission is to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and the workforce to support it within the 23-county Florida High Tech Corridor.  The FHTCC was established by the Legislature in 1996 to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and to help develop the workforce to support those industries in the 21-county service areas of the University of Central Florida (UCF) and the University of South Florida (USF). In January 2005, the Council welcomed the University of Florida (UF) as a full partner of this unique economic development initiative, merging the strengths of three world-class universities.
Gulf Coast Venture Forum
The primary purpose of the Gulf Coast Venture Forum is to promote the success of Southwest Florida’s new and emerging businesses by bringing together the best entrepreneurs and Angel Investors. The GCVF meets periodically at a local Southwest Florida country club to hear presentations by these early stage businesses looking for growth capital. 
Sampling of High Tech & New Economy Companies
Cooper Notification 
w Cooper Notification is a manufacturer of digital wireless public warning and mass notification systems located in south Manatee County.  The company, which was launched in 1994 with three people in New York and Israel, has more than 150 installations of its WAVES (Wireless Audio Visual Emergency System) systems.  WAVES provides anti-terrorism protection for U.S. troops in the Middle East and other locations around the world.  This warning enables troops in the hazard area to immediately seek shelter, minimizing casualties.  For the U.S. Army, Cooper Notification specifically created its portable product called TACWAVES (Tactical Wireless Audio Visual Emergency System), which helps save soldiers lives in the Middle East by warning them within seconds prior to insurgent attacks.  In Iraq, the military uses TACWAVES and WAVES for anti-terrorism force protection. 
Honeywell Cabin Management Systems & Services
w Honeywell Cabin Management Systems & Services Sarasota is a division of Honeywell and is known throughout the sky and around the globe by providing in-flight audio, video, and cabin management systems, liquid crystal display (LCD) technology integration, and other customized solutions to meet entertainment and communications needs.
Benz Research & Development
w Through Benz Research & Development's state-of-the-art chemical processing technologies and ultra-high vacuum glass distillation, they have become the leading worldwide supplier of contact lens raw materials. In fact, 90% of all soft contact lenses made in the United States are made with their raw materials.
Eaton Corporatoin 
w Eaton Corporation produces and services highly engineered interfaces including relays, toggle and rocker switches, miniature switches, limit switches, push-button switches, remote control circuit breakers and power and load management systems. Products and systems from their facility, located in Manatee County, function to control, switch and distribute electrical power in the commercial and general aviation, military aircraft and off-highway vehicle markets.
GE Security
w GE Security is headquarted in Manatee County. They are focused on communication and information technologies for security, safety and lifestyle enhancements. GE Security is represented by some of the best-known brand names for intrusion and fire detection, access and building control, video surveillance, explosive and drug detection, key management and, structured wiring. 
Med X Change Inc.
w Med X Change is a complete Browser-Based Software Development Company, specializing in custom software development, web page development and many other products and services geared towards the medical community.
Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc.
w Goldleaf Financial Solutions, Inc. focuses on providing financial institutions with state-of-the-art teller and platform automation systems, comprehensive cross-selling and customer referral tools as well as intuitive reports, all of which have been designed to increase productivity and the customer base at the same time.
ROBRADY design
w ROBRADY design is a multi-disciplined product design and development studio that combines progressive industrial design, mechanical design, graphics / packaging design, rapid prototyping, and production program management to deliver profitable product solutions for our multinational client base.  Key markets include Consumer / Electronic, Transportation, Marine, Medical, and Graphic products.
Sleek Audio
w Sleek Audio is a  spin off from Eartech Hearing Aids, which was formed in Manatee County 30 years ago. Sleek Audio’s patent-pending technology started as an experiment combining a custom ear mold with a hearing aid speaker to reduce airplane noise.  Last year, Sleek Audio launched the SA6 to rave industry reviews, winning the Popular Science “Best of What’s New” award for 2008. 
Teltronics
w Teltronics - Since 1969, Teltronics has been dedicated to excellence in the innovative design, manufacture, and delivery of electronic equipment and software that enhance telecommunications.
Travelport Business Intelligence
w Travelport Business Intelligence is known in the industry for its innovative solutions and thought leadership in the area of sales and marketing intelligence. Shepherd uses a host of data sources including the potent Market Information Data Transfer (MIDT) tapes, which have become a core source of passenger booking information in the airline industry.
Techology Resource Links
w 82 Degrees Tech
w Florida High Tech Corridor Council
w Manatee Virtual Entrepreneur Center
w Start-Up Florida
w Tampa Bay Techology Forum
w USF Connect
Did you know?
w The Florida High Tech Corridor (FHTC), stretching across the center of the state from Tampa Bay to Emlbourne and up to Gainesville, continues to be a hotbed for high-tech companies large and small.  It incorporates 23 counties, 21,454 technology companies, 263,000 employees and a gross annual payroll of more than $16.6 billion.  
Source: Florida High Tech Corridor
w The distribution of employees in the high technology companies for seven sectors across the 23 counties of the Florida High Tech Corridor are as follows:
42.5% Financial Services
23.7% Other Technologies
15.9% Information Technology
6.9% Microelectronics
5.9% Aviation & Aerospace
4.0% Medical Technologies
1.1% Optics & Photonics
w Since 1996, the Florida High Tech Corridor Council has partnered with more than 300 companies on more than 924 research projects With a total value of more than nearly $635 million. 
w There are roughly 233 medical & bio-medical companies in the Florida High Tech Corridor, employing 10,464 people for an annual payroll of more than $569 million.
Source: florida.High.Tech - The Guide to Florida's High Tech Corridor - 2009