The St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce has launched a new initiative aimed at empowering local tech entrepreneurs and growing the city’s innovation economy.

The Tech Founders Committee, a collaborative effort led by local industry leaders, is designed to help startups launch, scale, and succeed in St. Petersburg. The group will focus on four key areas: access to funding, mentorship and advisory, talent and education, and strategic partnerships.

Osama Sabbah, founder of procurement platform Bedrock, is serving as the committee’s first chair. He said the initiative is about creating a “culture of possibilities” where startups have the tools and support to thrive.

“My mission is to make St. Pete a launchpad for bold ideas,” Sabbah said. “A destination for tech entrepreneurs who see this city as the place to be.”

The committee held its inaugural meeting on April 25, with more than 30 attendees, including city officials and seasoned founders—some of whom have successfully exited their startups. Sabbah said the group aims to fill longstanding gaps in the local tech ecosystem.

The second meeting is scheduled for July 25, where organizers will begin assigning leaders to each of the four pillars and lay the groundwork for sustainable progress.

Chamber President & CEO Chris Steinocher credited Sabbah for sparking the idea, noting his long-standing commitment to building up the local startup scene.

“We’ve done well attracting people to the area,” Steinocher said. “But we also need to keep them here and help them grow. This is a way for founders to leave their mark on St. Pete.”

Steinocher said the region has the right ingredients to nurture the next major tech success story—but those resources are currently scattered across disconnected organizations. The goal, he added, is to better coordinate those assets and integrate tech leaders into broader Chamber efforts, including Smart Cities and civic leadership programs.

Sabbah emphasized that the committee will help de-risk the startup journey for new founders by connecting them with experienced advisors who can offer guidance on product development, compliance, operations, and scaling.

He also wants to strengthen ties between St. Pete’s tech community and the broader Tampa Bay region. While Tampa is often seen as the business center and St. Pete as the lifestyle destination, Sabbah believes the two identities can—and should—merge.

“People still see Tampa as where you work and St. Pete as where you live,” he said. “We want to change that perception. You can do both here.”

Stakeholders from the local tech ecosystem are encouraged to get involved—whether by identifying gaps, mentoring startups, or nominating businesses to be spotlighted. While building momentum will take time, Sabbah is confident the initiative has staying power.

“We’re looking for entrepreneurs who want to take risks and change the world,” he said. “St. Pete is one of the few places where you can show up with an idea and be supported by an entire community—high impact, low ego.”

Learn more or get involved at: stpete.com/tech-founder

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(Image credit: St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce)

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