SpeakerSara Hand Herald
TiE President
TiE Tampa Bay
Welcome Note & TiE Commerce Launch
TiE Tampa Bay Presents
TiE WomenEntrepreneur Summit 2026
Inspire. Empower. Succeed.
120+Attendees
10+Speakers
Investors & Partners
7Finalist Pitches
Powerful Connections
About the Summit
A stage for ideas, insight, and opportunity.
TiE Women Entrepreneur Summit 2026 brings together founders, business leaders, investors, mentors, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurial ecosystem leaders for an afternoon of meaningful conversations, connections, and opportunity.
The program features conversations around women's health, strengthening entrepreneurial ecosystems, founder finance and investor readiness, the TiE Women journey, and a live pitch competition featuring seven finalist presentations.
The summit creates a space where entrepreneurs can learn, connect, share experiences, and build relationships across the Tampa Bay business and innovation community.
The day in brief
Event at a Glance
AUG 28, 2026Friday
12:00 PM – 7:30 PMFull-Day Summit
HCC PERFORMING ARTSYbor City, Tampa
7 FINALIST PITCHESTiE Women Competition
10+ SPEAKERSFounders & Experts
Featured Sessions
WOMEN & HEALTH•THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM: CONNECTING FOUNDERS TO OPPORTUNITY•FOUNDERS & FINANCES: FROM FIRST DOLLAR TO EXIT
Voices on Stage
Speakers & Moderators
Speaker
SpeakerChitra Kanagaraj
TiE Program Chair
TiE Tampa Bay
Welcome Note
SpeakerDr. Sureka Bollepalli
Clinical Research Physician
Tampa Bay Medical Research
Women and Health
SpeakerWilliams Grazione
CEO
The Educated Dieter
Women and Health
SpeakerDr. Sonali Judd
Medical Doctor
BayCare Concierge Medicine
Women and Health
SpeakerDr. Sheetal Patel
COO
Patel Family Office
Women and Health
ModeratorBlair Bloomston
Founder & CEO
Leaders Uplifted
Women and Health · Host / Emcee
SpeakerLynn Kroesen
Manager, Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
Entrepreneur Collaborative Center
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
SpeakerDr. Kimberly S. Rankin
Director
Tampa Bay Women's Business Centre / Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
SpeakerLinda Olson
CEO & Founder
Tampa Bay Wave
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
ModeratorPriya Balasundaram
CEO & Founder
Nimitta Technologies
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
SpeakerKadi Findling
Principal & Vice President
Stony Lonesome Group LLC
Founders and Finances
SpeakerLaura Marie Henderson
CEO
Gulf Works Lab
Founders and Finances
SpeakerVishal Mahtani
Founder & Chairman
Besitos
Founders and Finances
ModeratorTravis Jennings
Executive Producer
Twenty-Five
Founders and Finances
SpeakerRuth A. Buchanan, MBA, CEcD
Economic Development Expert & Growth Advisor
Buchanan Advisors
Networking
Featured Guest
Featuring Tampa Mayor Jane Castor
TiE Tampa Bay is honored to welcome Mayor Jane Castor to the TiE Women Entrepreneur Summit 2026.
Schedule
Agenda Preview
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM45 min
Arrival
Registration & Networking
12:45 PM – 1:00 PM15 min
Program
Welcome Note & TiE Commerce Launch
Sara HandPresident, TiE Tampa Bay
1:05 PM – 1:45 PM40 min
Panel
Women and Health
Dr. Sureka BollepalliPanelistWilliams GrazionePanelistDr. Sonali JuddPanelistDr. Sheetal PatelPanelistBlair BloomstonModerator
1:50 PM – 2:30 PM40 min
Panel
The Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Connecting Founders to Opportunity
Linda OlsonPanelistDr. Kimberly S. RankinPanelistLynn KroesenPanelistPriya BalasundaramModerator
2:35 PM – 3:15 PM40 min
Panel
Founders and Finances: From First Dollar to Exit
Kadi FindlingPanelistLaura Marie HendersonPanelistVishal MahtaniPanelistTravis JenningsModerator
3:45 PM – 5:30 PM105 min
Pitch Competition
TiE Women Pitch Competition
5:30 PM – 5:45 PM15 min
Featured Address
Mayor's Address
Mayor of Tampa, Mayor Jane Castor, will be joining us.
5:45 PM – 6:00 PM15 min
Announcement
Winner Announcement
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM90 min
Networking
Networking
Come ready to Bring a Founder and share your Ask & Offer:
What do you need from your network, and what can you offer someone else?
Ruth A. Buchanan, MBA, CEcDEconomic Development Expert & Growth Advisor
TiE Women Pitch Competition
Judges
Meet the judging panel for the TiE Women Pitch Competition.
JudgeDeepak Kumar
CEO
Ahaansh Investments
TiE Women Pitch Competition Judge
JudgeMartika Brianne Jones
Founder & CEO
BŪP®
TiE Women Pitch Competition Judge
JudgeSaravana Pat Bhava
Co-Founder & CEO
PikMyKid
TiE Women Pitch Competition Judge
TiE Women Pitch Competition
Seven Finalists. One Stage.
Seven women-led ventures take the stage for the TiE Women Pitch Competition, presenting their businesses before the judging panel and Tampa Bay's entrepreneurial community.
SEHG (DBA Synergy University Education LLC)
MoneyPOP
The Memory Box DBA Timely Presence
Cosito Inc.
Sidepiece Snacks
FMX Flex LLC
Faeve
With gratitude
Sponsors and Supporters
We are grateful to the organizations and community leaders helping make the TiE Women Entrepreneur Summit possible.
Sponsors
Summit Sponsors
Supporters
Community Supporters
Join us in Ybor City.
Friday, August 28 · registration begins at 12:00 PM.