The Tampa Bay Innovation Center’s Accelerator program was named a finalist for Powderkeg’s 2020 National Tech Culture Awards. TBIC was honored in the start-up culture category.
As a business incubator and coworking entrepreneurial center, this award recognizes TBIC as having one of the best cultures in the tech community outside of Silicon Valley.
“We are delighted to have been recognized by Powderkeg for workplace culture,” said Tonya Elmore, president and CEO of the TBIC. “We emphasize culture and wellness in our Accelerator program because it is a big part of a startup’s success to attract and retain talent. Though we are a small team, we serve a large community and like to set forth the [Powderkeg criteria] on examples for leadership, diversity and inclusion and work-life balance.”
Elmore said the global pandemic forced the TBIC to work remotely and she is proud of her team’s ability to pivot and still maintain a high level of client services.
The awards were presented at Powderkeg’s first-ever two-day Unvalley Virtual Conference, which focused on best practices within emerging tech ecosystems worldwide. The conference highlighted the importance of the resources and leadership needed to support entrepreneurs.
A survey was used to gather information from technology-powered software, hardware, product, and services companies across the U.S. about the cultures of their workplaces. The Powderkeg selection committee used the information to select award winners. Employees rated their employers and companies on several topics that contribute to company culture, including career path, leadership, diversity and inclusion, remote work, and work-life balance.
