Tech Puts the Shine in the Sunshine City Economy

Code-X is a cybersecurity company that simplifies how organizations protect the world’s most sensitive information and systems. Powered by proprietary tech, Code-X is the industry’s first platform that applies impermeable security from the moment of data creation throughout its entire lifecycle.

“Most notably, we were very recently adopted by AWS and their national security space and are moving out into their commercial space. We are heavy in the U.S. DOD, and we also work with other large providers across the industry,” says CEO Darren LaCroix.

He founded the company in Washington, DC in 2018, but the following year he visited St. Pete and found it to be “a small town community with big city resources.” After a few more visits, he decided it was the right community and political environment to grow a company that would grow with the community and help lift the community. Other business minded folks felt the same, says LaCroix, who grew and sold another startup before Code-X, which employs about 20 people, all in St. Pete, and is in growth mode.

Startup incubators, coworking spaces and meetups create a collaborative environment for startups to thrive. St. Pete’s The Greenhouse provides startups a launchpad with an entrepreneurial center and small business consulting support services. The ARK Innovation Center, with an incubator and office spaces for startups, is under construction, and the city has its own Innovation District, home to one of the largest concentrations of world-class research organizations in the country.

Meet a Few of St. Pete’s Startups and Scaleups

  • CrossBorder Solutions helps some of the world’s largest companies automate their tax departments.
  • Neptune Flood merges technology, math algorithms and insurance expertise into innovative, affordable flood insurance products.
  • AppraisalVision is a tech platform for streamlining and improving residential home appraisals.
  • Procoto is a self-service procurement solution for small and midsize businesses.
  • Marxent is a global leader in 3D ecommerce for office, outdoor, kitchen and bath furniture.

This article by Nancy Dahlberg originally appeared in Florida Trend.

Pictured above: Code-X co-founders Bob Twitchell, Darren LaCroix and Dani Tarino. Photo: Code-X

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