Dealmaker Forum - April 7th, 2026
Tampa Bay Dealmaker Forum: April Event
Join us on April 7th at the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club for our spring Dealmaker Forum. As part of our ongoing quarterly series, this event brings together Tampa Bay’s top M&A professionals, capital providers, and corporate executives for an evening of high-level networking and actionable market insights.
Meet Our Moderator: Dara Shareef We are excited to announce Dara Shareef, Shareholder and Board Director at Benchmark International, as the moderator for our April 7th panel!
Current Role: Shareholder and Board Director at Benchmark International, one of the world's leading middle-market M&A advisory firms.
360-Degree Experience: Dara has held virtually every seat around the deal table, bringing direct experience as a CEO, CFO, COO, board member, and venture capital investor.
Unique Perspective: Because he has been both a buyer and an operator himself, he brings a lived perspective to M&A, deeply understanding how buyers think and what operators fear.
Industry Expertise: His diverse transaction experience spans multiple sectors, including SaaS, healthcare, IT services, and niche manufacturing
What to Expect:
In-Depth Panel Discussion: Hear directly from the dealmakers driving capital formation and economic growth in our region. Our expert panelists will unpack recent middle-market transactions, share lessons learned from the trenches, and forecast what is on the horizon for the Tampa Bay deal ecosystem.
Premier Networking: Connect with the region's leading investment bankers, private equity investors, M&A attorneys, and business owners before and after the panel.
Market Insights: Gain a deeper understanding of the mechanics behind successful local transactions across the M&A, PE/VC, and debt financing spaces.
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club
Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and collaborate with the professionals shaping the financial landscape of Tampa Bay!
Annual Dealmaker Summit
Annual Dealmaker Summit
Our Annual Dealmaker Summit is the prestigious culmination of a year's worth of insightful analysis and dynamic presentations. At this gala event, we honor the exceptional achievements within Tampa Bay's M&A community.
Nominate an award candidate here: https://www.tampabaydealmakerforum.com/summit-nomination
We will recognize the region's most impactful deals and the brilliant minds behind them.
This gala provides an unparalleled opportunity to:
Showcase Top Deals: Spotlight the most significant and innovative transactions that have shaped the Tampa Bay business landscape.
Recognize Dealmakers: Acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the individuals and firms who have driven these successful deals.
Inspire Future Leaders: Motivate and encourage the next generation of finance professionals through the celebration of excellence.
Foster Networking: Connect industry leaders in a collaborative environment of shared success.
Join us as we celebrate the ingenuity, dedication, and vision that fuels Tampa Bay's thriving deal-making community.
Dealmaker Forum
First Annual Dealmaker Summit - February 2026
Date: Thursday, February 26th, 2026 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET Location: Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club
The Annual Dealmaker Summit
The Annual Dealmaker Summit is the prestigious culmination of a year's worth of insightful analysis and dynamic presentations. At this gala event, we honor the exceptional achievements within Tampa Bay's M&A community.
Based on the research presented by our talented student analysts throughout our quarterly forums, we will recognize the region's most impactful deals and the brilliant minds behind them.
This gala provides an unparalleled opportunity to:
Showcase Top Deals: Spotlight the most significant and innovative transactions that have shaped the Tampa Bay business landscape.
Recognize Dealmakers: Acknowledge the outstanding contributions of the individuals and firms who have driven these successful deals.
Inspire Future Leaders: Motivate and encourage the next generation of finance professionals through the celebration of excellence.
Foster Networking: Connect industry leaders in a collaborative environment of shared success.
Join us as we celebrate the ingenuity, dedication, and vision that fuels Tampa Bay's thriving deal-making community.
Dealmaker Forum
Tampa Bay Dealmaker Forum: August Event
Date: Thursday, August 21st, 2025 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET Location: John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, University of Tampa
We're incredibly honored to have Nelson T. Castellano, Managing Shareholder of Trenam Law, serving as the moderator for our panel at the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Nelson brings incredible expertise in corporate and business law, M&A, and venture capital, and we're excited for his leadership in guiding our discussion.
The event includes an overview of the area’s top deals by the University of Tampa Finance students and an in-depth panel discussion of select deals. This is preceded and followed by networking with industry leaders in the M&A and dealmaking financial landscape. Don't miss this celebration of Tampa Bay's vibrant financial community! Sign up today!
Event Highlights:
Spotlight on Q2-2025's Top Deals: Gain insights into the most significant deals that shaped Tampa Bay's business landscape in the most recent quarter.
Student-Led Presentations: Hear from University of Tampa finance students as they unveil their in-depth analysis of these groundbreaking deals.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with industry leaders, dealmakers, and aspiring finance professionals in a dynamic environment.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the Tampa Bay Dealmaker Summit and celebrate the accomplishments of our vibrant financial community!
Sign up today!
Dealmaker Forum - April Event
Tampa Bay Dealmaker Forum: April Event
Christina Georgacopoulos of the Tampa Bay Business Journal will moderate a panel discussing recent deals impacting the Tampa Bay area. Panelists Jerrett Smith of Ballast Point Ventures, Joe Vattamattam of Healthmap Solutions, John Astrab of BMO Harris Bank, and Brian Model of Topmark Partners will discuss their recent deals. The event includes an overview of the area’s top deals by the University of Tampa Finance students and an in-depth panel discussion of select deals. This is preceded and followed by networking with industry leaders in M&A and dealmaking and a vision for 2025's financial landscape. Don't miss this celebration of Tampa Bay's vibrant financial community! Sign up today!
Thursday, April 24, 2025
5:30 PM 8:00 PM
John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center (map)
Date: Thursday, April 24th, 2025 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM ET Location: John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, University of Tampa