In 2012 entrepreneur Aakash Patel founded Elevate, Inc., a Florida-based strategic business consulting firm providing public relations, community relations, targeted networking, and social media. Elevate, Inc. has served over 300 companies by making significant connections and achieving results. Patel is a master networker and community leader who earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English Literature in 2006 from the Florida State University.

Prior to Elevate, Inc.’s launch, Patel was an Editorial Assistant at the Tampa Bay Times Tallahassee Bureau, the Public Relations Coordinator for the Westin Tampa Bay hotel and Aqua restaurant, and the founding Business Development Director for Chamber.com. To add to his robust experience, Aakash stays focused on leadership, community, military, life-long learning, and connecting. Current leadership roles include the Tampa Club Board of Directors President Elect, the Gubernatorial appointments to both the HCC Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County. Community-wise, his attention is directed toward serving on the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Corporation and the Visit Tampa Bay Advisory Board. Additionally, he has written Op Ed’s for several local publications, and was featured in Forbes magazine as a rising millennial entrepreneur in 2020.

In 2019 Patel was recognized by the Indo-US Chamber as the Businessman of the Year, which followed his receipt of the Deanne Dewey Roberts Emerging Leader award from the Tampa Bay Chamber. Aakash also formerly served the 6th Air Mobility Wing, Indian International Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, and the College Football Championship Host Committee. Patel ran a community-focused, professional race for the Hillsborough County Commissioner District 7 seat in 2018.

Patel completed the National Security Forum at the prestigious Air Force War College, Tampa Bay Chamber Leadership Tampa, FBI Citizen’s Academy, Tampa Police Citizen’s Academy, Leadership Tampa Bay, Tampa Connection, College Leadership Florida, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Citizen’s Academy, and American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Leadership Network.

Aakash lives in Tampa with his wife, Neha and enjoys extended family time and traveling in his spare time.