
Paresh Patel, chairman/CEO HCI Group Inc. will discuss
how to build a powerful tech team in Tampa Bay
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – (Oct. 20, 2020) –The Tampa Bay Innovation Center, an incubator and accelerator for technology businesses, will hold its quarterly “Diary of an Entrepreneur” webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at 2 p.m.
The November “Diary of an Entrepreneur” program, “Building a powerful tech team in Tampa Bay,” will be presented by Paresh Patel, Chairman/CEO of Tampa-based insurance company HCI Group, Inc. Mr. Patel has led the creation of one of the nation’s fastest-growing “insurtech” companies – HCI subsidiary TypTap Insurance.
Paresh was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and lived between Nairobi and India until he was 10 years old when his parents migrated to East London. He matriculated to Cambridge University in the U.K. and obtained a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering, with Honors.
After graduating, he moved to America and started working at Paradyne in Largo, a technology company focused on hardware and communications equipment. Paresh takes great pride in his service at Paradyne and the lifelong friendships made there.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to developing products and ventures on his own. Along the way, with a few friends, he worked with TechForce, which went public in 1994. After that, Paresh moved on with his entrepreneurial ventures in international consulting, taking him to projects in Russia, Brazil, Spain, and back to England. Eventually, in 1998, he went to work at Global Crossings as its 40th employee. Over the next two years the company grew to 15,000 employees and $5 billion in revenue.
Along the way, Paresh became involved in the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce. Paresh and other Indo-US Chamber members founded NorthStar Bank in Tampa. From 2006 to 2010, Paresh served on the Board of Directors of its parent company, NorthStar Banking Corporation. Later, with more acquaintances made through the Indo-US Chamber, the idea of starting an insurance company in Florida was formed, the start of what is now known as the HCI Group family of companies. Paresh not only co-founded but also led the endeavor to form HCI Group in 2006, where he now serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
Presented by Tampa Bay Innovation Center, “Diary of an Entrepreneur” is the area’s premier networking and education event developed specifically to meet the interests of the local technology community. Attendees include leaders from new and start-up technology companies, as well as entrepreneurs and those interested in the growth and success of technology innovation and entrepreneurism in the Tampa Bay area.
There is no fee to attend, but space is limited. Visit https://tbinnovates.com/tech-talk to register.
Additional information is available by contacting Mary Rodriguez Gort at 727-547-7341 or gortm@tbinnovates.com.
Tampa Bay Innovation Center offers a number of programs geared toward entrepreneurs, innovators, investors and others interested in the growth of the local technology community.
About HCI Group, Inc.
HCI Group is a multi-national, New York Stock Exchange listed company, and a leader in the “insurtech” industry with operations in insurance, software development and real estate.
HCI’s leading insurance operation, TypTap Insurance, is a rapidly growing InsurTech company that currently provides homeowners’ insurance and flood insurance primarily in Florida, but is launching a national homeowners insurance expansion in January. TypTap’s operations are powered in large part by insurance-related information technology developed by HCI’s software subsidiary.
Follow HCI Group, Inc. on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/7319170/
About Tampa Bay Innovation Center:
Tampa Bay Innovation Center supports entrepreneurial success, fosters the creation of high-tech jobs and develops new sources of technology and manufacturing capabilities by nurturing early stage ventures as they grow and launch their products into the marketplace. The Innovation Center offers programs that are tailored to the innovator/entrepreneur and address business intelligence, planning and business formation, strategy execution and technology transition.
Follow Tampa Bay Innovation Center on Twitter, www.twitter.com/tbinnovates, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tbinnovationcenter.
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