BSides Tampa

What BSides Tampa does

BSides Tampa is a community-driven nonprofit cybersecurity conference operated by the ISC2 Tampa Bay Chapter, a 501(c)(3) organization, and held annually in Tampa, Florida since 2013. The event serves security practitioners, management, students, and career changers across roughly a 60/25/15 persona split, delivering 50+ sessions across seven tracks (Main Stage, Red Team, Blue Team, Cloud Security, GRC & Privacy, AppSec, and AI & Emerging) plus seven hands-on villages covering malware analysis, social engineering, IoT, networking, lockpicking, amateur radio, and maker tooling. Additional programming includes a Capture The Flag competition held since 2016, an annual hardware badge challenge with lifetime "Uber Badge" rewards, a CISO panel, and a Career Track offering resume reviews and free headshots.

The underlying "technology" surface is event infrastructure rather than a software product: an online registration system, CTF platform, custom hardware badges with embedded puzzles, conference scheduling tools, and a Next.js-based website. The organization runs entirely on volunteer labor through a 140+ member Krewe with zero paid staff, and was co-founded by Derrick Thomas and Lori Brown. The core product is the annual one-day conference (plus Training Day on the preceding Friday), with the 2025 event achieving 2,000+ participants, a 4.71/5 satisfaction rating, 100% good-value perception, and 98.6% planned return rate.

The business model combines three revenue streams: general admission tickets held flat at $45 since 2013 (with $30 student/military discounts and complimentary admissions for affordability), tiered corporate sponsorships ranging from $1,000 (Bronze) to $15,000 (Diamond) plus specialty tiers (Happy Hour, Fueled By, Coffee/Refreshments, Arcade), and paid Training Day courses that sold out all 12 offerings in 2025. Sponsorship revenue drives the majority of operations, with Platinum and Silver tiers sold out for 2026. The conference operates on a break-even basis with all proceeds reinvested into community programs, accessibility initiatives, and the following year's event. Marketing is entirely community-led via organic social media (Instagram, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Discord, YouTube), email newsletter, word-of-mouth, and cross-promotion with regional cybersecurity community partners.

Name

BSides Tampa

Legal name

BSides Tampa (operated by ISC2 Tampa Bay Chapter)

Website

https://bsidestampa.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BSides Tampa is a community-organized nonprofit cybersecurity conference operated by the ISC2 Tampa Bay Chapter, serving 2,000+ security professionals, students, and practitioners annually through talks, hands-on villages, training, and CTF competitions at $45 admission.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cybersecurity Conference

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• Cybersecurity conference
• Information security events
• Security training programs
• Capture the flag competition
• Community security workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: General admission tickets at $45, with student and military discounts at $30. Price has remained constant since 2013. Complimentary admissions available for those who cannot afford attendance. This covers partial operational costs.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund the majority of conference operations. Sponsorship tiers include Diamond ($15,000), Platinum ($10,000), Gold ($8,000), Silver ($5,000), Bronze ($1,000), plus specialty sponsorships (Happy Hour $5,000, Fueled By $4,500, Coffee/Refreshments $1,000). Sponsors receive expo hall booths, complimentary admissions, signage, and social media promotion.
3. Training Day Courses: Pre-conference training courses offered at additional cost. In 2025, 425 participants attended training across 12 courses. Training is priced separately from conference admission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BSides Tampa is a community-organized annual cybersecurity conference offering a one-day conference plus optional pre-conference Training Day. The conference delivers 50+ technical sessions across seven specialized tracks, seven hands-on interactive Villages (Malware, IoT, Network/Firewall, Lockpick, Social Engineering, Ham Radio, and Fab Lab), CTF competitions, a custom hardware Badge Challenge, a CISO Panel, Career Track services, and networking events. General admission is priced at $45 with separate paid Training Day courses, and the event is supplemented by corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

BSides Tampa is a community-driven cybersecurity conference operated through the ISC2 Tampa Bay Chapter. The core offering is the annual conference event featuring seven specialized tracks (Main Stage, Red Team, Blue Team, Cloud Security, GRC & Privacy, AppSec, AI & Emerging) with 50+ sessions. The event is supplemented by Training Day pre-conference courses, seven interactive Villages for hands-on learning (Malware, Social Engineering, IoT, Network/Firewall, Lockpick, Ham Radio, and FCDI/AMRoC Fab Lab), CTF competitions, Badge Challenge puzzles, a CISO executive panel, Career Track services (resume review and headshots), and Happy Hour social networking. The conference serves 2,000+ participants annually with an emphasis on community participation, accessibility ($45 admission), and merit-based speaker selection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Uber Badge: Lifetime recognition award granted to badge challenge winners and exceptional community contributors, providing free lifetime admission to BSides Tampa.

Products and services

• BSides Tampa Annual Conference A community-driven annual cybersecurity conference featuring 50+ technical sessions across seven specialized tracks (Main Stage, Red Team, Blue Team, Cloud Security, GRC & Privacy, AppSec, AI & Emerging), seven hands-on Villages (Malware, Social Engineering Adventure, IoT, Network & Firewall, Lockpick, Ham Radio, FCDI/AMRoC Fab Lab), CTF competitions, custom hardware Badge Challenge, CISO Panel, Career Track services (resume review and headshots), and post-conference Happy Hour networking. General admission is $45 with student/military discount at $30 and complimentary admission available. Designed for individual cybersecurity professionals, students, and career changers in the Tampa Bay region and broader U.S.
• Training Day A pre-conference Training Day held the Friday before the main BSides Tampa conference, offering hands-on cybersecurity courses across multiple topics with expert instructors. Delivered in partnership with training providers including Antisyphon Training. Priced separately from conference admission. In 2025, every class sold out across 12 courses. Designed for cybersecurity practitioners seeking deeper technical skills development beyond the main conference sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.71/5 participant satisfaction rating from 2025 survey
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, supporting and minor.

• ReliaQuestcoreOthers · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. ReliaQuest is a cybersecurity technology company providing automated cybersecurity operations.
• ISC2 Tampa Bay ChapterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor and organizational parent. BSides Tampa is operated through the ISC2 Tampa Bay Chapter, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The chapter provides organizational structure and community network access.
• Hillsborough County (EDi2)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor. Hillsborough County's EDi2 (Economic Development) initiative supports cybersecurity community development in the Tampa Bay region.
• TracebitsupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor and Coffee/Refreshments sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Tracebit is a threat intelligence and security technology company.
• SectigosupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Sectigo provides certificate management and PKI solutions.
• Seal Cybersecurity SolutionssupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Cybersecurity consulting and solutions provider.
• Sumo LogicsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Sumo Logic provides cloud-native machine data analytics and security operations solutions.
• RansomwearminorOthers · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Ransomware preparedness and response specialist.
• ThreatLockerminorOthers · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Endpoint security and application control solutions provider.
• The University of TampaminorOthers · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Tampa Bay higher education institution supporting cybersecurity education.
• Antisyphon TrainingsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor and training provider for BSides Tampa 2026. Provides hands-on cybersecurity training courses as part of Training Day.
• YesWeHackminorOthers · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Bug bounty and vulnerability disclosure platform.
• Ginger CybersecurityminorOthers · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026.
• Claranet Cyber SecurityminorOthers · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Managed security services provider.
• ISC2supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Silver sponsor. ISC2 is the global nonprofit organization providing cybersecurity certifications (CISSP, etc.) and chapters worldwide.
• BAWLS GuaranasupportingOthers · 1 January 2026Fueled By sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Energy drink provider powering conference attendees.
• AmpliXminorOthers · 1 January 2026Coffee/Refreshments sponsor and Bronze sponsor. Provides coffee and refreshments for conference attendees.
• MOXFIVEsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Coffee/Refreshments sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. MOXFIVE provides strategic advisory services during and after cybersecurity incidents.
• ISP SecurityminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Founded by Patrick Gorman, speaker at the conference.
• MetnologyminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026.
• Dark Wolf SolutionsminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Cybersecurity consulting firm.
• Excelsior UniversityminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Online university offering cybersecurity degree programs.
• B & B Cyber Solutions LLCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Founded by Peter Bagley, BSides Tampa Career Track Director.
• SouthOrdminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Physical security and lockpick manufacturer.
• Receptive inSightminorOthers · 1 January 2026Bronze sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026.
• A-LIGNminorOthers · 1 January 2026Arcade Sponsor for BSides Tampa 2026. Compliance and cybersecurity audit firm.
• Cyber FloridasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. Cyber Florida at USF promotes cybersecurity education and research in Florida.
• SCRA Tampa Bay Striker ChapterminorOthers · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. (ISC)2 special interest group.
• ISACA West FloridaminorOthers · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. Professional organization for IT governance and cybersecurity professionals.
• Tampa Bay TechiesminorOthers · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. Tampa Bay technology community organization.
• Tampa DevsminorOthers · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. Tampa developer community organization.
• USF Muma College of BusinesssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. University of South Florida business school supporting cybersecurity education.
• Global NerdyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. Tampa Bay technology blog that has provided extensive press coverage for BSides Tampa events.
• OWASP TampaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Community Partner for BSides Tampa 2026. Tampa chapter of OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project).
• Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Happy Hour venue for BSides Tampa 2026. MOSI provides exhibit space for post-conference networking event, including access to Tesla coil, dinosaur simulator, and other exhibits.
• University of South FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Main venue host for BSides Tampa 2026 at Marshall Student Center. USF provides the conference facility and parking. Tampa Bay is a key market for cybersecurity talent.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DEF CON: DEF CON is the largest community-driven hacker conference in the U.S., directly comparable to BSides Tampa in community-first philosophy and merit-based CFP, but at vastly greater scale (~30,000 attendees) and breadth. Frequently cited by BSides Tampa attendees as the cultural benchmark.
• RSA Conference: RSA Conference is the largest commercial enterprise cybersecurity conference. BSides Tampa's value proposition explicitly cites RSA's high prices and vendor-driven content as the alternative it competes against for practitioner mindshare.
• SANS Institute: SANS Institute is the dominant cybersecurity training organization worldwide, comparable to BSides Tampa on the technical training and certification dimension. Operates at vastly greater scale with paid multi-day courses and industry-recognized credentials like GIAC.
• Black Hat USA: Black Hat USA is the dominant commercial cybersecurity conference that BSides Tampa explicitly positions against with its $45 admission (vs. Black Hat's $500+). Both serve the same information security professional audience but with opposite philosophies on vendor pitches and pricing.

Emerging players

• Wild West Hackin' Fest: Wild West Hackin' Fest is a community-focused cybersecurity conference series that competes with BSides Tampa for the same practitioner and career-changer audience, with a similar hands-on training and village format but different geographic footprint.
• Antisyphon Training: Antisyphon Training is a hands-on cybersecurity training provider and a 2026 BSides Tampa training partner. Directly comparable on the Training Day component, but operates year-round with paid courses ($500-$1,500+) while BSides Tampa's training is a single-day, affordable add-on.

Regional players

• BSides Orlando: BSides Orlando is the closest geographic peer within Florida, sharing the same BSides format and community-driven model but serving the central Florida cybersecurity community rather than Tampa Bay. Directly competes for Florida-based attendees and Florida-based sponsors.

Direct peers

• BSides Las Vegas: BSides Las Vegas is the flagship BSides event held during Black Hat/DEF CON week, sharing the same BSides format, volunteer-driven model, and merit-based CFP as BSides Tampa. Both serve the same cybersecurity community but at different times of year and geographic markets.
• BSides San Francisco: BSides SF is the original West Coast BSides event, sharing the same volunteer-led, community-first model, hands-on villages, and merit-based speaker selection as BSides Tampa. Operates in a different geographic market (San Francisco) with a longer history.
• BSides DC: BSides DC is one of the largest and most established BSides events on the East Coast. Explicitly referenced in BSides Tampa attendee feedback ("I've been to many a BSides DC, and I enjoyed yours more"), making it the most directly comparable peer in the BSides network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bsidestampa
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bsidestampa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bsides-tampa
• Instagraminstagram.com/bsidestampa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BSides Tampa