Here’s what’s happening in the thriving tech scene in Tampa Bay and surrounding areas for the week of Monday, February 23 through Sunday, March 1!
This list includes both in-person and online events. Note that each item in the list includes:
✅ When the event will take place
✅ What the event is
✅ Where the event will take place
✅ Who is holding the event
This week’s events
- Monday, February 23
- Tuesday, February 24
- Wednesday, February 25
- Thursday, February 26
- Friday, February 27
- Saturday, February 28
- Sunday, March 1
Monday, February 23
Tuesday, February 24
Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. online: Explore the power of community support in finding job opportunities and learn how to leverage unconventional networking strategies. Register now and expand your professional network!
Find out more and register here.
Tuesday at 5:30 at Hidden Springs Ale Works (Tampa): It’s the last Tuesday of the month, which means it’s time for another TampaTech Taps & Taco Tuesday! Come connect with industry peers, have some of Hidden Springs’ fine beers at 15% off, and of course, free tacos!
No speakers, no presentations — just great conversations and a raffle (because that’s way more fun!)
Find out more and register here.
Tuesday at 6:00 at Buffalo Wild Wings (Oldsmar): It’s a casual and engaging evening of AI discussions, great food, and new connections! Whether you’re an AI enthusiast, developer, artist, or just curious about the future of Generative AI, this meetup is the perfect place to share ideas, ask questions, and explore the possibilities of AI.
Find out more and register here.
Tuesday at 6:00 at Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (Tampa): As businesses grow, productivity challenges rarely come from a lack of effort—they come from limited systems, unclear processes, and overloaded teams. This session focuses on how entrepreneurs can use AI to support their teams, increase output, and improve execution without adding headcount.
Here’s what they’ll cover:
- How AI can support teams across operations, sales, and customer support
- Using AI to reduce manual work and repetitive decision-making
- Where AI adds the most value as a team assistant, not a replacement
- How to integrate AI into existing workflows without disruption
- Common mistakes that reduce adoption and create resistance within teams
Find out more and register here.
Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at Embarc Collective (Tampa): Network, Collaborate, and Scale — Where Tampa’s Digital Marketers Connect. Two free drink tickets with admission.
Calling all e-commerce operators, remote workers, digital marketers, Shopify entrepreneurs, Facebook Ads pros and AI enthusiasts and start-up entrepreneurs — join us for an evening of high-impact networking and actionable conversations in the heart of Tampa Bay.
Who Should Attend:
- Shopify Store Owners
- Paid Media Consultants & Facebook Advertisers
- DTC Founders & Ecommerce Operators
- Affiliate Marketers & UGC Creators
- Growth Hackers & Funnel Builders
- AI Enthusiasts & Professionals
- Anyone serious about scaling online or leveraging tech in Tampa Bay
Find out more and register here.
Tuesday at 6:00 at MakerSpace Pinellas (Largo): Come one come all, those with no experience and those who have published their own games alike! They’ll be getting together every other week to build video games. We will primarily be working in Godot, a free and open source game development engine, but we are open to building in Unity, Unreal, etc.
Find out more and register here.
Wednesday, February 25
Wednesday at 12:30 online: It’s back!
The Heart of Agile’s Coffee Corner brings people together via Zoom in a casual setting to share and discuss ways we Collaborate, Deliver, Reflect, and Improve.
This month’s session is a reset for the St. Pete – Tampa – Orlando group. We’ve been quiet for a while, and we’d like to reconnect, hear what you need, and shape what this Coffee Corner becomes next.
In this 60-minute session, you can expect:
- A brief re-introduction to the Heart of Agile and the four imperatives
- Lightly facilitated small-group conversations about where your work is strong and where it’s stuck
- A collaborative discussion about what would make this monthly gathering truly valuable for you
Find out more and register here.
Wednesday at 5:00 at the WeWork Building (Tampa): Get a comprehensive summary of key re:Invent 2025 announcements and insights from the keynotes, followed by three deep dive sessions selected from the most popular re:Invent presentations covering Amazon Bedrock, AgentCore, Kiro, and Amazon Quick Suite.
Find out more and register here.
Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at Geographic Solutions (Palm Harbor):
Tampa Devs will be joining the Pinellas Tech Network for a fast‑paced look at the trends shaping the web in 2026.
They’ll explore how AI is becoming a true collaborator in development, why performance and composable architectures now define modern builds, and how design is shifting toward more organic, minimal, and human‑focused experiences.
Whether you’re a developer, designer, digital strategist, or simply tech curious, you’ll walk away with practical insights to apply to your next project—and connect with fellow tech leaders across Pinellas and Tampa Bay.
Speakers:
- Adam Heaton, Attack Surface Management Lead, Taxwell
- Yukti Goyal, Technical Lead, Kforce
- Alexis Menard, Senior Software Engineer, Intel
- Nisha Patel, Product Manager, Clearly Agile
- David Rivera, Web Designer II, Geographic Solutions
- RC Clements, Founder, Byte Bot
- Jeremy Rivera, Developer Advocate, Deque Systems
Find out more and register here.
Thursday, February 26
Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at American Legion Post 138 (Tampa): It’s the Tampa/MacDill AFB Orange Call! In a military context, an “orange call” refers to an alert signaling a heightened cybersecurity state of readiness.
This orange call’s purpose is to gather and network amongst fellow communicators, guardians, and enablers of all ranks, titles, and experience levels, share resources, and seek professional development. They’ll will conduct a round table meet-and-greet and discuss MacDill communicators and missions, including the increasing role of cyber and the importance of defending our nation’s networks.
Find out more and register here.
Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Dynaway (Tampa): Ready to get your hands dirty and learn by doing? Join the DUG Meetup for a 3-month group hackathon where we’ll design, build, and ship a real solution together!
This month, they’re kicking things off by choosing a use case and mapping out a plan. Bring your ideas, your curiosity, and your willingness to experiment. There’ll be a vote on what to build and start sketching out the approach.
What to Expect
- A relaxed, collaborative environment where learning is the goal
- Hands-on experience with Power Platform tools
- A chance to try something new alongside fellow community members
Find out more and register here.
Friday, February 27
Friday at 8:30 a.m. at Rapid7 (Tampa): Meet your fellow local techies and get a tour of the Rapid7 office! A leader in security operations, Rapid7 is dedicated to providing intelligent threat detection and vulnerability management through product offerings such as InsightVM, InsightIDR, and Threat Command.
Homebrew Hillsborough is Hillsborough County’s collaborative coffee networking for techies and entrepreneurs. They’re taking the conversation to a community business resource near you and providing real-time relevant tech talks and tours. Come meet with others in our community to expand the network and see how we are creating a Homegrown Hillsborough.
This is a great opportunity for businesses, local innovators and entrepreneurs and anyone interested in helping strengthen and grow our local economy to come together to network, share ideas, collaborate, ask for help and offer it.
Find out more and register here.
Friday at 12:00 p.m. online: Cracking the Code: How to Win AI-Driven Job Interviews features a panel of industry professionals who work closely with hiring technology, talent acquisition, and career development. This session breaks down how AI is used throughout the interview process and what employers are actually evaluating behind the scenes.
This live panel discussion will explore how AI tools assess resumes, analyze interview responses, and measure candidate fit. The speakers share practical guidance on how to prepare for AI-driven interviews, communicate skills clearly, and avoid common mistakes that can hold candidates back. Attendees will also gain insight into how human decision makers interact with AI systems and where candidates can stand out.
Find out more and register here.
| Event name and location | Group | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Let’s Open The House of Doors Friday, Feb 27 · 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM EST |
Pages and Plates Book Club | 11:00 AM |
| Computer Repair Clinic 2079 Range Rd |
Tampa Bay Technology Center | 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST |
| Feb 2026 Homebrew Hillsborough: Rapid7 Rapid7 |
Homebrew Hillsborough | 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM EST |
| Cracking the Code: How to Win AI-Driven Job Interviews Online event |
Tech Success Network | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EST |
| Woodshop Safety (Members Only) Tampa Hackerspace West |
Tampa Hackerspace | 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST |
| Friday Board Game Night Bridge Club |
Tampa Gaming Guild | 5:30 PM to 11:00 PM EST |
| Friday Night Magic at Conworlds Emporium Conworlds Emporium |
Tarpon Springs Community Fun & Games | 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM EST |
| MTG: Commander FNM Critical Hit Games |
Critical Hit Games | 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM EST |
| Taps & Drafts | EDH/MtG Night 1Up Entertainment, Tampa |
Nerdbrew Events | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST |
| Modern FNM Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! |
Sunshine Games | 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM EST |
| Mario Kart @ Grand Prix – Clearwater Tampa Bay Grand Prix |
Gen Geek | 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM EST |
| Friday Pokemon Tournament Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! |
Sunshine Games | 7:30 PM to 11:30 PM EST |
| Return to the top of the list | ||
Saturday, February 28
Sunday, March 1
| Event name and location | Group | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Geeks Go Celebrate My Birthday At The Plant City Strawberry Festival Florida Strawberry Festival |
Geekocracy! | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM EST |
| Sunday Chess at Wholefoods in Midtown, Tampa Whole Foods Market |
Chess Republic | 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EST |
| D&D Adventurers League Critical Hit Games |
Critical Hit Games | 2:00 PM to 7:30 PM EST |
| IMPROV Drop-In Class! (FUN! No experience required) [$20] Spitfire Theater |
Tampa 20’s and 30’s Social Crew | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST |
| Numenera: A one shot of a science fantasy RPG Emerald City Comics 4902 113th Ave N, Clearwater, Florida 33760 |
St Pete and Pinellas Tabletop RPG Group | 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM EST |
| Sunday Pokemon League Sunshine Games | Magic the Gathering, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh! |
Sunshine Games | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST |
| Sew Awesome! (Textile Arts & Crafts) 4933 W Nassau St |
Tampa Hackerspace | 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM EST |
| A Duck Presents NB Movie Night Discord.io/Nerdbrew |
Nerd Night Out | 7:00 PM to 11:30 PM EST |
| Return to the top of the list | ||
About this list
How do I put this list together?
It’s largely automated. I have a collection of Python scripts in a Jupyter Notebook that scrapes Meetup and Eventbrite for events in categories that I consider to be “tech,” “entrepreneur,” and “nerd.” The result is a checklist that I review. I make judgment calls and uncheck any items that I don’t think fit on this list.
In addition to events that my scripts find, I also manually add events when their organizers contact me with their details.
What goes into this list?
I prefer to cast a wide net, so the list includes events that would be of interest to techies, nerds, and entrepreneurs. It includes (but isn’t limited to) events that fall under any of these categories:
-
- Programming, DevOps, systems administration, and testing
- Tech project management / agile processes
- Video, board, and role-playing games
- Book, philosophy, and discussion clubs
- Tech, business, and entrepreneur networking events
- Toastmasters and other events related to improving your presentation and public speaking skills, because nerds really need to up their presentation game
- Sci-fi, fantasy, and other genre fandoms
- Self-improvement, especially of the sort that appeals to techies
- Anything I deem geeky