Tampa’s tech scene continues to drive investor interest

The Rise of the Rest bus tour, a nod to the notion that tech companies can and do thrive outside Silicon Valley, New York and Boston, has made some stops in Tampa. Now, based on new report from the organization and investment fund Revolution, the city’s tech scene is going to need a bigger bus.

Using data from private capital research firm Pitchbook, the report shows a steady rise in both deal count and total amount of money invested in Tampa companies. Both Rise of the Rest and Revolution are projects backed by AOL founder and tech entrepreneur Steve Case. The bus tour began in 2014, and, according to the report, has since traveled 11,000 miles nationwide to more than 40 cities. The fund has subsequently invested in more than 170 early-stage startups — with more than 300 institutional co-investors. “Our analysis reveals that investor interest is increasingly tipping toward ‘rising cities,’” the report states.