CyberTech|X Company Safehill Expands to Tampa, Underscoring Cyber Bay’s Growing Momentum
Innovation ecosystems grow when ambitious founders choose to build where talent, collaboration and opportunity converge.
“We’re a cybersecurity company based out of Chicago because all of our big investors are there. But Tampa Bay really has become Cyber Bay — all the big cybersecurity companies are here: ReliaQuest, A-Lign, Rapid7 — so for us, it just makes sense to have a presence here and be in the same room as some of these researchers,” said Mike Pena, co-founder and CEO of SafeHill.
That’s why SafeHill’s decision to expand to Tampa is especially meaningful. As a member of Tampa Bay Wave’s 2026 CyberTech|X Accelerator, the company experienced firsthand the region’s growing cybersecurity leaders, founders, researchers and industry partners. Now, Safehill is establishing its first office outside of Chicago, plans to hire locally and invest in Tampa Bay as a center for future security research.
“We’re going to start scaling the business with the next round of funding, and we want to hire and build in a place where we can attract other researchers who are in the room and can have these conversations, to be part of that community,” Pena said.
SafeHill’s expansion also highlights the role accelerator programs can play in connecting high-growth companies with emerging innovation hubs. Participation in CyberTech|X gives founders direct access to Tampa Bay’s cybersecurity community, helping build the relationships and market connections that support long-term growth.
“Since we got into the Tampa Bay Wave accelerator program it feels like we’re only one degree of separation from all the big players here. Tampa Bay Wave made the connections and now we have access,” Pena said.
That’s why SafeHill’s decision to expand to Tampa is especially meaningful. The company helps organizations proactively identify and address cybersecurity risks, giving security teams greater visibility into vulnerabilities and attack exposure before threats can be exploited.
The move reflects a broader trend: cybersecurity companies are increasingly looking for communities where innovators, researchers, investors and industry leaders are connected. Tampa Bay’s rise as “Cyber Bay” has created exactly that kind of environment: one where companies can access talent, build partnerships and accelerate growth.
“When promising cybersecurity companies choose to grow in Tampa Bay, it reinforces the strength of the ecosystem being built here,” said Linda Olson, founder and CEO of Tampa Bay Wave. “Seeing SafeHill’s expansion is a win for the company, for our region, and for the continued growth of Cyber Bay.”
For Tampa Bay Wave, it’s another example of the momentum building across our innovation ecosystem. As more cybersecurity startups choose to launch, expand and scale here, Tampa Bay continues to strengthen its position as a leading hub for cybersecurity innovation and entrepreneurship.
“There are a lot of cities trying to be ‘cyber first,’ but Tampa is really going for it. It just feels like the right place to put our chips in,” Pena said.
The future of cyber is being built through collaboration. Increasingly, that future is being shaped right here in Tampa Bay.
To learn more about Tampa Bay Wave’s CyberTech|X Accelerator, visit tampabaywave.org/cybertech.