Newsroom & Press.
Member news, Chamber statements, media coverage and press contacts.
New businesses opening. Milestones reached. Awards won. Partnerships formed. Community impact made. This is where St. Pete business gets to celebrate itself — and where the Chamber makes sure those wins don’t go unnoticed.
We don’t just talk about St. Pete — we show up for it.
From the floors of the State Capitol to City Hall, from community forums to regional partnerships, the St. Pete Chamber is an active, vocal and proud champion for this city’s businesses and the people who run them. We track the legislation that affects you, engage the elected officials who represent you, and make sure the St. Pete business community always has a seat at the table.
Bianca Soler
Vice President, Executive Office & Brand
Where Chamber positions get said out loud.
Statements, testimony and forum remarks are published here alongside the press releases, so there is a single record of what the Chamber has actually said and when.
Chamber press releases and statements.
Official Chamber releases, statements and testimony, published in full. Journalists looking for comment on St. Pete business should contact the Chamber directly.
The live GrowthZone news listing appears here.
St. Pete Pitch Night Celebrates Innovation: Local Startups Shine on Stage
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
St. Pete Pitch Night Celebrates Innovation: Local Startups Shine on Stage
St. Petersburg, FL – May 7, 2025 – St. Pete Pitch Night, an annual showcase of local innovation hosted by the St. Petersburg Greenhouse, brought together the community for a thrilling evening of entrepreneurship, creativity, and competition. As we wrap up Small Business Week, five dynamic startups took the stage at Blackleaf Cigar & Wine Lounge, each presenting their groundbreaking ideas to a live audience and a panel of distinguished judges.
Top Honors Announced
🏆 Grand Prize Winner: Hablamigo – Jamilet Figueroa, a transformative speech therapy app designed to empower parents and professionals.
🌐 Audience Choice Winner: Bike911 – Brian Peret, an innovative platform dedicated to enhancing cyclist safety and support.
Celebrating Our Presenters
In addition to our winners, the following entrepreneurs delivered impressive pitches:
- Connect & Protect – Matthew Beighey
- City Battles – Rob Sanchez
- FareFood – Michael Otis
Expert Judges Panel
The event featured an esteemed panel of judges, including:
- Elisa Caro (Smart Choice Communications)
- Johnny Saye (Stale Chips)
- Jeremy Beal (Tech Founder & Investor)
- Tricia Johnson (Regions Bank)
- Forbes Riley (Actor, Entrepreneur & Industry Leader)
The evening opened with a captivating performance by Zubrick Magic, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience.
"St. Pete Pitch Night is more than just a competition—it’s a celebration of local innovation and entrepreneurial spirit," said Candace Hulcher, Vice President of Business Development at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. "Wrapping up Small Business Week with this event is a reminder of how resilient and creative our community truly is. We are proud to provide a platform through The St. Pete Greenhouse where bold ideas can shine, and we are grateful to everyone who made this event possible."
The St. Petersburg Greenhouse extends its gratitude to Blackleaf Cigar & Wine Lounge for hosting the event, Regions Bank for their continued sponsorship, and all who attended to support the next generation of local innovators.
For more information about St. Pete Pitch Night or upcoming Greenhouse events, please visit https://stpetegreenhouse.com/ or contact Lauren Frawley at lfrawley@stpete.com.
Images
Additional Info
Media Contact : Bianca Soler, bsoler@stpete.com
