Benny Pearman learned a big lesson early on in his entrepreneurial journey.
The cofounder of Orlando’s SynMatter, a company that develops small particles with several applications, thought initially that everybody would love what he was building.
However, over time, he learned that not having a specific target market could slow progress.
“It’s not just about if the technology is nice or works well,” said Pearman, whose company recently finished its time in the accelerator Plug and Play’s third cohort. “It’s about whether it solves a problem, how well it solves it and if people are willing to pay for it.”
Pearman, who formerly worked at NASA Kennedy Space Center’s corrosion lab, was one of 11 to showcase their startups at an event in Winter Park last week.
The daylong event included several panels meant to update the community on some high-tech fields in Orlando.
But its main goal was to highlight Plug and Play’s latest Orlando cohort.
For Pearman, plugging in meant more connection which, in turn, he hopes can lead to a greater potential for SynMatter.
“It’s a challenge for small business,” he said. “Finding the right people in the right companies to get the right connections, that has been the best part.”
Bridging Orlando’s exposure gap
It’s a challenge all too many young companies in Orlando are familiar with.
Innovate Orlando CEO Sheena Fowler identified exposure as the No. 1 concern for Orlando’s ecosystem.
“Any effort to bring better exposure and understanding to Central Florida’s deep engineering technology is worth investing in,” she said. “Plug and Play has done a phenomenal job.”
Over the course of about 19 years, Plug and Play has become a critical facilitator for startups in Orlando and worldwide.
Its core mission has been to foster collaboration between the major segments of an ecosystem, including investors, startups and larger corporations.
Smart cities, real-world impact
The program, which launched in Orlando in spring of 2024, specifically targets smart city innovations.
Janis Skriveris, an investor at Plug and Play Ventures, said the latest Orlando cohort are tackling real-world issues.
“These technologies directly impact our lives, whether it’s optimizing transportation, enhancing safety and security or improving wellness,” he said. “Nothing feels more rewarding or impactful than efforts that work to improve how we live.”