Moez Limayem Named Tampa Bay Wave’s 2026 Tampa Bay Tech Legend
University of South Florida president will be honored Dec. 10 at Tampa Bay Wave’s annual Hall of Fame Awards Celebration
Strong innovation ecosystems don’t grow through entrepreneurship alone. They take universities developing talent and research, businesses creating opportunities, investors backing new ideas, and leaders who can strengthen the connections among them.
That kind of leadership is increasingly important to Tampa Bay’s growth.
Tampa Bay Wave is proud to name Moez Limayem, Ph.D., president of the University of South Florida, as the 2026 Tampa Bay Tech Legend, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the region’s growing technology and innovation economy.
President Limayem will receive the honor during Tampa Bay Wave’s annual Hall of Fame Awards Celebration on Dec. 10 at Centro Asturiano de Tampa. The annual event brings together entrepreneurs, investors, executives and community leaders helping shape what comes next for technology and innovation across Tampa Bay.
“Dr. Limayem represents the kind of leadership that helps an innovation ecosystem grow stronger and more connected,” said Linda Olson, CEO and founder of Tampa Bay Wave. “By bringing together talent, research, entrepreneurship and opportunity, higher education plays an essential role in Tampa Bay’s continued growth. We are proud to recognize Dr. Limayem’s leadership and impact on our region.”
Connecting higher education and Tampa Bay’s innovation economy
As president of the University of South Florida, Limayem leads one of the region’s most influential institutions at an important moment for Tampa Bay.
The connections among higher education, technology, entrepreneurship and economic development continue to matter as the region grows. Universities play a unique role in that landscape, developing talent while creating connections to research, businesses, founders and new opportunities.
For Tampa Bay, those connections can help strengthen an ecosystem capable of supporting companies and talent over the long term.
“Tampa Bay has tremendous opportunity ahead, and realizing that potential will take continued collaboration across universities, founders, investors, businesses and community leaders,” Olson said. “Dr. Limayem understands the power of those connections and the role institutions like USF can play in shaping what comes next.”
Recognizing the leaders behind Tampa Bay’s momentum
The Tampa Bay Tech Legend recognition celebrates individuals whose leadership and contributions have helped advance Tampa Bay’s technology and innovation community over time.
Limayem joins a growing legacy of regional leaders recognized with the honor, including 2025 Tampa Bay Tech Legend Arnie Bellini, former CEO of ConnectWise. Bellini’s career as a technology entrepreneur and community leader reflects the kind of sustained commitment to Tampa Bay that the recognition was created to celebrate.
“To have my name added to an honoree list that includes Arnie Bellini and Tony DiBenedetto, who have done so much to shape Tampa Bay’s innovation community, is a privilege,” said Limayem. “At USF, my colleagues and I have the opportunity to educate future innovators as well as conduct research that changes lives. Best of all, we get to work alongside extraordinary partners in a growing, vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. I am proud to share this recognition with the hard working faculty, staff and partners, who make this work possible.”
Honoring Dr. Limayem in 2026 also reflects an important part of where the region is headed: stronger connections between the institutions educating Tampa Bay’s talent, the entrepreneurs building its next companies and the broader community creating opportunities for them to succeed.
Join us Dec. 10
Tampa Bay Wave’s 2026 Hall of Fame Awards Celebration will take place Dec. 10 at Centro Asturiano de Tampa.
The celebration will recognize Limayem alongside entrepreneurs, investors, executives and community leaders contributing to Tampa Bay’s technology and innovation ecosystem.