Tampa Bay Dealmaker Forum highlights key deals driving region forward
February 2025 — Tampa Bay’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape was on full display at the inaugural Tampa Bay Dealmaker Forum, showcasing the key financial transactions that have shaped the local market over the past year.
“We are thrilled to announce that our event was a resounding success, with a sold-out attendance. The Tampa Bay Dealmaker Forum showcased the vibrant middle-market deal community at the heart of Tampa Bay’s thriving economy,” said Silvana Capaldi, Dealmaker Forum co-founder and founder and president of Ispirare Group. “Our esteemed panelists captivated the audience with their personal stories of impactful transactions.”
The event, hosted at the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center at the University of Tampa on Jan. 30, featured a panel discussion moderated by Abby Lindenberg, CEO of caa, that offered insights into the region’s financial outlook for 2025. Industry leaders such as Luke Horanski, vice president at Hyde Park Capital, Nicolas Kodati, vice president at Star Mountain Capital, Kurt Frahn, CFO of Homee, Marc Baumann, senior vice president of Business Banking at DFCU Financial, and John “Jay” Rogers, CEO and co-founder of Haddy, spoke at the event.
“Thank you to Silvana Capaldi, Timothy Norstrem, Scott Young, and Speros Margetis for hosting such an impactful inaugural event. I was honored to lead such an informative and lively discussion with experts across the dealmaking landscape,” said Lindenberg.
In addition to industry insights, the forum featured in-depth presentations from students involved with the University of Tampa’s Investment Banking Society, offering a data-driven analysis of notable deals and their broader economic implications.
“Thanks to our partnership with the University of Tampa, we had the privilege of hearing from upper-class finance students who presented their insightful findings on Merger & Acquisition, Private Equity/Venture Capital, and Debt Deals from the last quarter of 2024,” said Capaldi.
Attendees also had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of key market trends and engage with leaders who have played an integral role in the region’s financial transactions.
The forum will take place every quarter this year, with the next Tampa Bay Dealmaker event happening April 25 at the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center. To learn more about future Dealmaker forums, click here.
Images provided by RickVisuals
For more information, please visit:
https://www.tampabaydealmakerforum.com/
https://www.ispiraregroup.com/
