Fast-growing tech firm plans 100 hires in region

TAMPA — Drift, a Boston-based conversational marketing firm that serves some 50,000 businesses, has opened an office in Tampa.

The tech startup, in a press release, says it plans to hire up to 100 workers in Tampa by the end of 2021. The company also has offices in San Francisco and Seattle.

Drift’s conversational marketing platform, the release states, combines chat, email, video and automation to remove the friction from business buying. The rapidly growing company has expanded its workforce by 60% this year.

“Our goal at Drift is to provide the best possible experience for our customers,” founder and CEO David Cancel states in the release. “And as we grow to support our customers’ diverse needs, we recognized that we had to expand our footprint and seek out a location with a budding tech scene and a diverse talent pool.”

He adds, “Not only does Tampa have access to students from schools like University of South Florida, University of Tampa and Eckerd College, but in the past five years, tech-related jobs in the Tampa Bay area were up 27.6% and the city has been rated as one of the top places to start a career. We’re excited to capitalize on this pipeline of talent and are committed to investing in the future of the Tampa Bay area.”

Drift’s Tampa office is at 401 E. Jackson Street.

“Drift’s announcement to expand in Tampa solidifies the fact that our city is on a roll when it comes to attracting top-notch companies and talent,” Mayor Jane Castor states in the release. “We are beyond excited Drift has chosen Tampa for the creation of new high-quality jobs and we’re excited for the company’s future here.”