Home Blog

UCF’s latest incubator to anchor growth in Lake County

Marco Santana
-
0
UCF’s latest incubator to anchor growth in Lake County

EUSTIS – Business owners in Lake County have a new resource after UCF’s Business Incubation Program opened its latest facility, this one located in Eustis.

The site, located in a small office in the MEGA Workspace on North Bay Street, will support entrepreneurs within the community with business services including coaching, mentoring and other services.

Area leaders said the facility’s debut could serve as a catalyst for growth in the community.

“We have not had the resources here to answer the question of, ‘How do I start my business?’” said Wendy Taylor, an online marketing expert who has helped lead a semi-resurgence of Lake County’s tech community. “This is a huge opportunity for local entrepreneurs, even those who just have an idea on a napkin. It’s an encouragement for business owners.” 

The location becomes the incubation program’s ninth in Central Florida, and first in Lake County. The opening comes amid a concerted effort and commitment to revitalize Eustis.

That’s one reason Lake County officials bought in almost immediately, said Rob Panepinto, an adviser to incubator clients. 

“If we can look back in 20 years and say, ‘We were the anchor that helped build economic diversity, what a great feeling that would be,” said Panepinto, the school’s director of innovation districts strategy and partnerships.

The UCF Business Incubation Program has graduated more than 400 businesses during the past 20 years.

The opening was done in partnership with the Florida Small Business Development Center at UCF.

“We like to leverage our brand and be the catalyst to growth,” Panepinto said. “We know we can’t do it by ourselves.”

Mellisa McHaffie hopes the new location will help her build her candle-making business and accelerate her growth.

She said watching the region’s economic engine grow has been a source of pride for her.

“There are good things happening here,” she said. “It takes Eustis to a new level. I always say, don’t sleep on Eustis. There is value here.”

Officials expect the facility to trigger a growth in the business community, which can often happen when an incubator and business resources arrive.

It’s a natural result of seeing an energized business sector, said Carol Ann Dykes Logue, the incubator program’s director.

“When a community realizes that the future of their economy lies in nurturing businesses starting and growing there, it has an interesting effect,” she said. “It unifies a community and creates a different level of relationship. It could trigger a vision for the future that folks haven’t thought about before.”

LOCATION

UCF Business Incubator Lake County

Address 343 N. Bay St.

Eustis, FL 32726

PH: 407-341-0582

Q&A: Jay Riola, Orlando Magic, says innovation focus no accident as team hosts challenge

Marco Santana
-
1
Q&A: Jay Riola, Orlando Magic, says innovation focus no accident as team hosts challenge

Orlando Magic innovation has a reputation as one of the more tech-forward thinking franchises in the NBA has been well earned.

The Magic was the first in the league to accept Apple Pay way back in 2014.

Not long after that, they installed 900 beacons at the Amway Center. This decreased the amount of time it took for fans to buy concessions or merchandise and find exits.

In 2018, a partnership with Uber brought them into the ride-sharing business.

It’s a responsibility the team’s EVP of Strategy and Innovation Jay Riola takes seriously, with the Magic naming innovation as a core value for its team.

“We promote a culture of creative thinking and foster an environment where employees are encouraged to take risks to achieve breakthrough results,” said Riola, 38.

Sports Business Journal last year named Riola one of the industry’s “40 Under 40.”

“We try to create opportunities for Magic staff to develop new ideas and solutions, as well as listening to others externally with new and different perspectives, for inspiration and ideas or solutions,” he said.

Orlando Tech News chatted with Riola before the Orlando Magic Innovation Challenge, the team’s latest innovation.

The event last weekend brought the city’s community of innovators together to tackle business challenges the organization faces.

Orlando Tech News: How does this event enhance the Magic’s role in the community and offer opportunities for your staff?

Jay Riola: “The Challenge is a great way to realize (Magic staff’s ideas), publicly demonstrate our commitment to innovation and engage the broader Central Florida innovation community in a fun and engaging way.”

OTN: This is the second year, of course. What was it about last year’s event that encouraged you to bring it back?

JR: “Our goal last year was simply to produce the event, engage the local innovation community and hear some ideas that could potentially enhance our business and fan experiences. The participants’ engagement, creativity and quality of pitches blew us away.”

OTN: How did that and feedback inform this year’s event?

JR: “We listened to the feedback and this year we did a reverse-pitch style event, where we are sharing six specific business challenges facing the Orlando Magic’s business operations and asking participants to develop and pitch solutions that address those areas. This helps provide more definition and structure. It also ensures that the pitch concepts are valuable to us as an organization.”

OTN: How does this approach fit in with the NBA’s approach to innovation?

JR: “The NBA is incredibly innovative and does an amazing job encouraging and cultivating innovation with fans and its teams. The league has hosted data and analytics hackathons, innovation challenges and has its NBA Launchpad, which evaluates emerging technologies that advance basketball and business priorities.”

OTN: Do teams share their work and grow the league together?

JR: “Yes, the NBA supports and facilitates best practice sharing among teams. This event has prompted several other professional sports teams to reach out and hear more about the event and its results.”

OTN: Can you talk a little bit about Central Florida’s tech community and the Magic’s role within it?

JR: “This region has a fantastic innovation and tech community. From startup to corporate innovation, to higher education and non-profit organizations like the Orlando Economic Partnership and their Orlando Tech Community, or Synapse. There are so many ways to participate and get involved both as an individual and as a company.”

OTN: What can having an event like the challenge contribute to this region?

JR: “The challenge brings together participants from all different backgrounds and provide them opportunities for collaboration and networking. So, the event is really a great opportunity not only to source new ideas for the Magic but also to strengthen Orlando’s innovation ecosystem. We see this as another opportunity to step forward as a community leader in tech and innovation.”

Orlando firm pivots, then lands in Techstars Atlanta

Marco Santana
-
0
Orlando firm pivots, then lands in Techstars Atlanta

The decision was not an easy one for Brandon Storms.

After building a startup that revolved around creating a services marketplace in Orlando, the entrepreneur took part in an 8-week program meant to solidify a company’s path.

While there, however, an investor suggested that the company pivot and offer the platform they had built as a white label product for others trying to build marketplaces.

“Building a platform is incredibly expensive. It takes a great amount of time from start to finish,” Storms told Orlando Tech News.

While Storms said it wasn’t an easy decision, he and his team took the plunge and created a new startup Retavo.

Now, the company has signed four clients and will participate in the upcoming cohort of Atlanta’s Techstars powered by JP Morgan. The program begins today.

“So far, it’s been a pretty good decision,” he said.

Hello, Techstars

Retavo CEO Brandon Storms

Techstars powered by JP Morgan has long been considered one of the top accelerator programs around.

Several Orlando tech companies have gone through the accelerator. The program prepares entrepreneurs and their teams for life as a small business.

In a blog post on their website, Techstars officials said the 12 companies that will participate in the program came out of a lengthy application process.

“We are honored and humbled by the opportunity to spend the next 13 weeks working closely with these incredible founders, helping them on their journey to transform their industries, elevate their communities, and change the world,” the site read.

The mentorship in Techstars powered by JP Morgan programs usually includes experts and experienced entrepreneurs in similar fields.

The company will have its demo day in the program Dec. 8.

“The biggest thing I’m looking to take away from it is the wealth of knowledge and feedback from their tremendous network,” Storms said. “Building a startup is hard enough and the program gives you the ability to learn from those who have been there or are on the same journey you are on.”

“It felt validating for my team. All all the hard work has paid off up to this point,” Storms said of being accepted into Techstars powered by JP Morgan. “Building a startup is tough enough and getting into a world-class accelerator program like Techstars to help us navigate this awesome journey as we scale is exactly what we were looking for.”

Still, making the pivot was not exactly an easy decision, he said.

After putting a ton of work into Assistt, the team had been determind to see it succeed.

“My role as the leader of the company is to put the company first. I have to set any emotions aside,” said Storms, whose company employs eight. “I knew this pivot gave us the best chance to be a very successful company. I’m glad my team and cofounder Bryan Walsh supported me in that decision.”

Hackathon vets build video games for armed forces: ‘This is my sporting event’

Marco Santana
-
0
Hackathon vets build video games for armed forces: ‘This is my sporting event’

Nicholas Walton has been building video games since he was 13.

So, spending his weekend at Central Florida Tech Grove creating a game for Indienomicon Foundation’s Armed Forces Jam was exactly where he wanted to be.

“I just love making games and being with the people in the community,” said Walton, now 20 years old. “I love having an idea and then seeing it on screen.”

By Walton’s count, he has participated in eight hackathons.

The events bring teams together to build a video game or tech experience in a weekend.

The organizers behind the second Armed Forces Jam partnered with Orlando’s military community to create challenges teams could tackle during the weekend.

Among them were creating a Metaverse experience, gamefying military recruitment and creating a sensor-based digital twin.

“It feels great to work on a team, get to know each other and learn to trust each other,” he said.

FOR A FULL LIST OF WINNERS AND PRIZES, CLICK HERE.

An enthusiastic fan of the process

Walton’s enthusiasm for game jams, generally, and Indienomicon, specifically, earned recognition from others.

Participants at Indienomicon’s Armed Forces Jam built games for several platform, including virtual reality-based products.

Chad Hoover, one of Indienomicon Foundation’s organizers of the jam, said his presence helps keep the event fun and interesting.

“He is a key piece of this,” Hoover said. “He can support teams in a unique manner having been a veteran in the game jam space.”

Indienomicon Foundation has been hosting game jams – which challenges teams to build a video game, usually one related to a theme, in a single weekend – for eight years.

Along with the Armed Forces Jam, the group hosts hackathons with health and space themes.

At the end of the weekend, winners receive cash prizes and, at least for the Armed Forces Jam, will show off what they built at the huge industry conference I/ITSEC.

Last year’s winners said they landed contract work based upon their experience at I/ITSEC.

“They stepped up this year,” Hoover said of the region’s military community. “Because it’s the military, they needed to figure out how valuable this event was [during the event’s inaugural 2021 year]. They are able to light fires and were really supportive.”

Roughly 100 people took part in the Armed Forces Jam this year. That is about double the number of attendees to a health-related event in the summer.

‘This is my sporting event’

The Armed Force Jam drew about 80 attendees to the Central Florida Tech Grove.

Another regular at the events is Juan Rivera, a media design instructor for the Orange County library in downtown Orlando, said the jams represent his way of enjoying himself.

“This is my sporting event,” he said. “I do it for fun and for training my skills. It’s a good way to learn new things.”

Rivera often teaches younger people at the library’s digital tech-focused learning space known as Melrose Center. He said seeing students like Walton, who attends Valencia College, at these events represents its positive impact on the community.

“It’s great to see people who are not just trying to learn but putting it into practice,” said Rivera, whose mine detector game for virtual reality platforms took this year’s top prize.

For Hoover, having advocates and supporters like Walton and Rivera create a base of people he knows will push the organization’s message beyond his own networks.

“He embodies what a game jam is in its truest sense,” Hoover said of Walton. “He uses his core skillset, is usually a lone wolf. His projects are usually close to his heart, very retro and unique. He really knows how to use his skills, which makes his games stand out.”

IAAPA 2021 Expo: In pictures

Marco Santana
-
0
IAAPA 2021 Expo: In pictures

For the first time in two years, the International Attractions and Amusement Park Association is hosting its annual expo at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

This is where deals start, as vendors get in front of potential customers for a full week of networking, business card exchanging and collaboration.

This show is all cutting-edge technology for rides, attractions, ticketing systems and, well, pretty much any other area of tourism – both public facing and backend – that you can think of.

On Tuesday, the expo opened its doors and you can see some real heavy virtual reality bent to this year’s event.

We will add to the gallery as the week moves forward but here are roughly 20 pics to whet your appetite.

At Joybreak, local devs debut tough but stylish Zelda-like game – REVIEW

Guest Contributor
-
0
At Joybreak, local devs debut tough but stylish Zelda-like game – REVIEW

Review and photos by Orlando Tech News Reporter Giovan Santiago

A new title from an Orlando video game company has the style and humor to potentially push it to success but may need to tweak the difficulty.

Jurassic Sunset Games debuted “Vice Magic City Mayhem” last week downtown, showing off an aesthetic and control system that invokes the old NES days.

“Mayhem” is an 8-bit action-adventure game in which you explore the titular gang-infested Magic City in search of your one true love.

If you need reference, take a scoop of “Grand Theft Auto” and “Legend of Zelda,” then top it off with a sprinkle of raunchy “South Park” humor.

Like Zelda, you explore the city to obtain money, powerups, and discover small side quests that reward your exploration. You fight your way through thugs, strippers, and killer old ladies with your sword, throwing stars, Molotov cocktails and, of course, a pimp cane that shoots bling projectiles.

While short, the game is easy to pick up, play, and follow its flow with no complicated mechanics stacked on top of each other.

The event last week drew local developers and gamers to hype the game, with several local tech professionals on hand to check it out.

The game became the event’s highlight and drew many players’ interest.

“It’s great! Keep making it rad!” local developer Galo Domaica said.

VR experience developer Mitchell Sanchez said he enjoyed the game.

“Vice Magic City Mayhem” shows some promise.

The concept is hilarious, with vulgar adult humor and an enjoyable gameplay loop.

That said, it’s still early in development and could use some refinement in specific areas.

For instance, the controls, while functional, could be improved by implementing diagonal movement. That may go against its NES-style design concept but it could use improvement.

However, perhaps my biggest criticism is the difficulty. Some screens forced me to fight mobs of enemies; one of these mobs awaited me shortly after I began the game.

If you don’t know what you’re doing and take too long to defeat the enemies, the game will mercilessly overwhelm you by spawning more enemies.

Thankfully, the game has a forgiving checkpoint system and didn’t force me to fight the mobs again after I defeated them and died.

With some practice and efficient usage of your sub-weapons, these mobs are simple, but I would have greatly appreciated a higher drop rate of health from the enemies.

In contrast to that, the pimp boss was relatively easy.

You can see the passion from Jurassic Sunset Games, which is a small company led by former EA developer Matthew Schulz, in the game.

On the company website, they say their goal is to deliver a “bite-sized experience to gamers.”

The company plans to launch a Kickstarter soon. For now, however, you can follow them on social media.

‘Resilience and grit’ of veterans has made for easy hires at KnowRX

Marco Santana
-
0
‘Resilience and grit’ of veterans has made for easy hires at KnowRX

NOTE: Orlando Tech News has partnered with Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative to highlight the veteran-owned businesses that constitute the first cohort for the VEI’s SPEAR Accelerator program. More details and stories to come.

It is no accident that David Franklin has surrounded himself with military veterans at his company, KnowRX Health.

The U.S. Navy vet said service members share traits that allow him to create something of a dream team at KnowRX, which provides personalized, data-driven health records and tools.

The skills developed in the military translate almost perfectly to entrepreneurship, he said.

“There is resilience and grit,” he said. “It’s just, ‘This is what we have to do and you don’t stop.’ We don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

KnowRX leaders will be part of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative’s SPEAR Accelerator, a development program that launches its maiden voyage next month.

SPEAR helps entrepreneurs learn on the fly while building their skillsets, exposing them to experts and connecting them with others who served.

Franklin served in the U.S. Navy from 1988-1996 on the U.S.S. LaSalle and was also part of submarine communications in Bermuda.

He’s excited to see how SPEAR can help the company.

“There are not a lot of resources like this for vets or, at least ,they are not well publicized,” Franklin said. “As entrepreneurs, you are trying to be resourceful and looking for programs. It was exciting to learn that SPEAR has that veteran support. They see the value in who we are.”

KnowRX generates consumer health records, falling within the recent transformation and expansion of digital health.

As it grows, it’s intended to become something of a database for everyday life events related to a person’s medical history. This will create more complete records for doctors to check during hospital visits. 

For instance, an official medical record wouldn’t include data from wearable devices already in use by consumers around the world.

The idea is that this, in turn, would reduce time spent in the hospital because data will be at doctors’ hands immediately.

The company has about 10 people working on it.

“When you get these moments of success (the SPEAR Accelerator acceptance), it reassures the alignment that is so important to founders,” Franklin said. “It’s encouraging to know we are on the right path.”

KnowRX started after Franklin’s father passed away in 2018 because of side effects of a medication he was taking.

The hospital had no “real world” data, instead, as is customary, relying solely on clinical data.

That meant they had no idea he was skipping medications nor could they get a handle on his dietary and lifestyle choices.

“He is very much a part of the application,” he said. “That’s why the passion has turned into a purpose. My dad is still teaching me.”

Starter Studio CEO says ability to support startups a ‘privilege’

Marco Santana
-
0
Starter Studio CEO says ability to support startups a ‘privilege’

Dawn Haynes still gets a rush from helping entrepreneurs pursue their passions.

Across a career that spans more than four decades, the Starter Studio CEO said hearing people get excited about their ideas feeds her energy.

“The ability to take my experience and expertise to help the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs is a privilege; I love it,” she said. “You are dealing with individuals and their passions, their vision. That fills you with energy and positivity.”

Haynes, who has been CEO since 2022, watched the latest group of entrepreneurs who finished Starter Studio’s pre-seed stage accelerator in a demo day last week.

It was a group that Haynes called “exceptional.”

The companies in the cohort include businesses in hardware security, a farm-to-table marketplace application, an offshore wind industry tech company and a biosciences firm.

As Orlando’s tech community continues its post-pandemic resurgence, programs that were once staples will be bellwethers to the ecosystem’s collective re-emergence.

Even as she focuses on the young companies that navigate one of three programs at Starter Studio, Haynes has her eye on the city’s overall entrepreneurial ecosystem.

She said several pieces in the community have started to come together, creating a more robust support program for young entrepreneurs.

“No one organization can give an entrepreneur everything they need,” she said. “The strength of any tech hub is how well the different stakeholders work together around a singular purpose. The vision is to support as many entrepreneurs as possible.”

At the Demo Day, the collective quality of pitches across each startup appeared to be higher than in the past.

Each presentation provided an important problem to solve and each entrepreneur handled judges’ questions smoothly.

Haynes said that is an indicator of a wider awareness of Starter Studio’s benefits among a variety of industries.

“They see and understand the value of the learning opportunity that they have for their entire business,” she said. “What we offer is very complementary to any of the accelerator programs that are very specifically focused on their industry and technology.”

In Orlando, collaboration across sectors, agencies, support services and other entities in tech will be key to the ecosystem’s success and, thus, the number of successful companies that emerge, Haynes said.

“People realize now that the success of Orlando will come about by adopting an ‘and’ attitude versus an ‘or’ philosophy around helping entrepreneurs,” she said. “We are not competitors but collaborators. We are getting better at that and that enables us to support higher quality startups on their journey to success.”

U.S. Air Force vet lands in first SPEAR Accelerator cohort

Marco Santana
-
0
U.S. Air Force vet lands in first SPEAR Accelerator cohort

NOTE: Orlando Tech News has partnered with Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative to highlight the veteran-owned businesses that constitute the first cohort for the VEI’s SPEAR Accelerator program. More details and stories to come.

Crystal Turman compares her upcoming stint in an Orlando accelerator program to basic training in the U.S. Air Force.

It’s a formative experience that she enters with an open mind, expecting great things for her business, Wellspring Brain Care.

“You go in there, they tear you down to build you back up,” she said of the similarities. “I know what my business is and I know where I want to go but, if I have to change, I’m not married to any direction.”

Turman will be in the Orlando-based SPEAR Accelerator’s first cohort.

A new program starts in Orlando

The program, started by the Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative and geared toward veteran-owned businesses, will be the first for VEI.

The accelerator will guide nine businesses through some of the available resources while also providing insight and access to seasoned professionals.

The accelerator selected nine businesses from across the country to participate in its inaugural program, which launches in February.

For Turman, it comes three years after she started Wellspring’s counseling services.

The company primarily focuses on brain health, using technology and a background in counseling to treat patients.

Helping patients through breakthroughs

Sometimes, that means breaking down internal obstacles that might come from trauma or other experiences.

Turman said patients often express relief when they learn that these internal blocks can be overcome.

“They will say, ‘You’re telling me that’s the reason and not because I’m broken or stupid?’” she said. “There is a reason for it. What we do, it’s like taking the brain to the gym.”

Turman is a U.S. Air Force veteran, which helped satisfy one qualifying requirement for VEI’s program.

Heading into the program, she said she cannot wait to see how the program’s connection with Johns Hopkins University will help those in the cohort.

“They are always on the cutting edge of the healthcare industry,” said Turman, who took part in both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Provide Comfort. “It excited me that they would think about a small business like us.”

Wellspring’s inclusion in the SPEAR Accelerator returns Turman to some familiar relationships.

The veteran-focused program has a curriculum targeted at people with experiences like Turman, who enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at 17 years old.

Her service time took her to Albuquerque, N.M., then England and then Turkey.

With the program bringing her together with other veterans, Turman said she’s excited to start.

“Being around other veterans, we are like nobody else,” she said.

To Orlando for pickleball … and deep defense tech ecosystem

Marco Santana
-
0
To Orlando for pickleball … and deep defense tech ecosystem

With the immediate future of his company Bubo Defense now trained squarely on the defense industry, Mark Evans made an all-in style move.

The Dallas-based headquarters of his artificial intelligence company needed to be closer to the epicenter of defense technology.

So he moved to Orlando, hoping to connect with the city’s deep community of defense industry experts and businesses.

Now, he’s a regular on Oviedo pickleball courts and has his office at UCF’s business incubator at its research park.

“You can’t do it without that level of commitment,” he said. “If you are weekend warriors, you’ll have a more challenging time.”

Orlando is home to a deep ecosystem of defense contractors, technology centers for each official U.S. military service and potential clients.

Bubo’s leadership says these factors made the community the perfect homebase.

At its core, Bubo’s platform uses AI to help businesses mine email data and content in real-time to improve existing infrastructure.

Its just the latest use in the artificial intelligence arena, which has been on a roll lately, Evans said.

“AI is going through a whole new revolution and it’s here,” he said. “The wave is here now and a tsunami is coming so we wanted to get up to speed.”

Artificial intelligence, of course, has been around for a while now but it’s often a dependent technology. That is, to establish parameters, it must be informed with existing data and actions.

Bubo’s email service, for instance, will depend primarily on existing data and ongoing information.

Evans points out that the biggest data set in an organization – email – is also its biggest vulnerability.

Bubo’s product solutions are designed to learn what information specific email chains or users require. As a learning model, the system improves with every interaction, with each solution needing to understand its unique organizational culture.

Cofounder Eric Cordell calls these solutions “alive.”

“It’s somewhat of a living, breathing solution over time,” he said. “You don’t get the full value on Day 1; it learns about the humans it’s supporting.”

Despite a heavy emphasis on technology, the company also places a heavy focus on the human side of the equation, as well.

Cordell explains how the company integrates human dynamics with technological advancements, likening the process to the company’s own learning experiences – much like how humans learn not to touch a hot stove through trial and error.

“At one point, I couldn’t walk,” Cordell reflects. “Now, I know kung fu.”

As Bubo Defense continues to grow within the dynamic landscape of Orlando’s defense sector, it remains committed to evolving its AI solutions while fostering meaningful connections within the community, company officials added.

OPINION: Familiar face’s return a good first step in 2025 for Kissimmee

Marco Santana
-
0
OPINION: Familiar face’s return a good first step in 2025 for Kissimmee

A familiar face to our tech community has returned and, frankly, it’s a great time for it.

I don’t remember when I first ran into Chester Kennedy, an executive for Lockheed Martin while I was the Orlando Sentinel’s tech reporter. I do, however, remember how cordial, straightforward and accessible he was when we did chat.

For that, alone, it would be exciting news to see him returning from just a news perspective.

However, that he’s bringing LocatorX’s headquarters to Kissimmee has the potential to be even more game-changing than it appears on the surface.

As we reported yesterday, the supply chain tech company will set up shop at NeoCity in Kissimmee after years elsewhere.

The fast-growing research, innovation and education community has had some great successes of late, including landing some significant funding through a large-scale, multi-year grant from the NSF.

But the official tenants in the community, while impactful, remained relatively scarce. My assumption has been that they are growing deliberately in an effort to establish themselves in their specific niche, which would be a smart move.

You don’t dominate a high-profile but relatively new niche like sensors by letting just anyone bring their operations under your umbrella.

But LocatorX, the region’s leaders concluded, wasn’t just anyone.

They rolled out the red carpet because the company has been innovating in the field of Internet of Things sensors and supply chain data, which both fall right in line with NeoCity.

I’m sure Kennedy’s involvement helped that deal come through, as well.

Kennedy connection to the region became stronger after he left Lockheed, as he served as BRIDG CEO before current CEO Jay Galbraith.

In the company’s press release, BRIDG CEO Galbraith credited that NSF grant with leading to the move.

As we step into this new year, one thing to keep a close eye on is the growth and emergence of Kissimmee as a national leader.

I know that’s definitely something I plan to track for the next 12 months.

Bringing Kennedy back into the fold marks a great first big move of 2025.

Briefs: Orlando tech advocate picked to lead innovation group

Marco Santana
-
0
Briefs: Orlando tech advocate picked to lead innovation group

A longtime figure in Orlando’s tech community will lead one of the city’s most prominent, tech-centric groups.

Sheena Fowler, who most recently served as business development manager for the augmented reality firm Red 6, will begin her time as Innovate Orlando’s CEO on Jan. 20.

Fowler had previously worked with the Orlando Economic Partnership for more than a decade, spending the last couple of years leading innovation directives.

Innovate Orlando is a nonprofit that emerged in recent years with the goal of improving and promoting the city’s tech ecosystem.

In a social media post, outgoing CEO David Adelson praised the decision to turn the reins over to Fowler.

“I can’t think of anyone better than Sheena Fowler to continue the momentum and energy that has made the City of Orlando and the Orlando Tech Community one of the best places to start a business in the United States,” he said.

Hatalom lands Navy contract

Orlando-based Hatalom Corporation announced Friday that it had been awarded a contract from the Department of Defense and U.S. Navy.

The SeaPort Next Generation contract includes work on a range of services, including cybersecurity, logistics support, training and research and development.

“We are thrilled to join the esteemed group of companies providing mission-critical support under the SeaPort-NXG contract,” said John Hinnant, Hatalom CEO, in a press release.

Hatalom is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business.

Black Orlando Tech event ahead

Black Orlando Tech will host its first event of 2025 next week when it welcomes the community in for “The 2025 State of Tech Future of Startup and Work.”

BOT Executive Director Safia Porter and Startup Program Director Jehue Francois will host the session, which will focus upon tech’s future and how to prepare for continued growth.

The organization in recent years has made programming and education a top priority

You can go to Eventbrite for tickets to the event, which will be held at The Conduit, 1001 N. Orange Ave., in downtown Orlando.

Atlanta tech company relocates to Kissimmee’s NeoCity

Marco Santana
-
0
Atlanta tech company relocates to Kissimmee’s NeoCity

An Atlanta tech company that was once based in Jacksonville will return to the Sunshine State, this time taking up residence in Kissimmee’s high-tech NeoCity region.

LocatorX officials said in a press release on Wednesday that the move was made so that the company could be near support structures in the sensor and semiconductor industries.

NeoCity, which has become a leader in those industries, announced last year a National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award that will help establish itself as a hub for semiconductors.

The LocatorX move “is a testament to the vision set forth by Osceola County, as we catalyze the innovation ecosystem in Central Florida,” said Tawny Olore, CEO of the NSF Central Florida Semiconductor Innovation Engine, in a release.

LocatorX officials said the move to Kissimmee proves its commitment to innovation and collaboration.

The company was recently awarded multiple multi-year contracts within the defense and government sector.

LocatorX CEO Chester Kennedy, who was previously CEO of Kissimmee-based BRIDG, said the region would be best for the company’s continued growth.

“The new location places us at the epicenter of semiconductor innovation and provides access to talent from surrounding universities,” he said. “By establishing our headquarters in NeoCity, we are able to leverage resources to enhance our R&D capabilities, expand our workforce, and accelerate bringing our cutting-edge solutions to market faster for our defense, government, and enterprise clients.”

The move will be completed by the end of January.

“Our future depends on being able to deploy revolutionary IoT sensors as well as to continue to scale and evolve our visibility platform,” Kennedy said. “Having our headquarters co-located with such entities as BRIDG, imec, Plug and Play, and SkyWaterTechnology will create the environment to keep us on the cutting edge.”

Plug and Play’s 2024 arrival signals good things for Orlando tech

Marco Santana
-
0
Plug and Play’s 2024 arrival signals good things for Orlando tech

When Plug and Play Tech Center announced it was coming to Orlando in February, little was known locally about the Silicon Valley-based dynamic and wide-reaching network of startups and accelerators.

The organization is a national effort that has opened dozens of industry-specific incubators, accelerators and other support-like initiatives around the world.

The announcement meant that Plug and Play was finally bringing its operations to Orlando, just months after it was announced that a Kissimmee-area program was on the way, as well.

Support from high-profile organizations including UCF, Orange County, Duke Energy, Orlando Economic Partnership and Tavistock meant a solid bridge into the community. It was a smart and aggressive move. It lent almost immediate credibility to a group that had no meaningful footprint here.

Initially, I met the group’s arrival with a high level of interest, curiosity and a healthy level of skepticism. As a journalist in Orlando for more than 10 years, I have seen my share of stops and starts. That is, efforts meant to build Orlando’s tech community that fizzle out before they reach their ambitions.

Yes, I did write about their efforts when they held their first show-and-tell in the spring. You can READ ABOUT IT HERE.

However, more importantly in my eyes was what they were going to do in the subsequent months and years.

After attending their open house last week, consider me someone who believes in their mission and who now thinks their presence will positively impact Orlando’s tech ecosystem.

Orlando’s technology scene has had some great initiatives started up in the 10 years I have been here. After several chats with those within Plug and Play, I’m convinced that it will become a staple and driver in the community.

It appears to have some staying power.

In a brief chat with another Orlando tech leader, we talked about the initial reaction to Plug and Play. Both skeptics by nature, we wanted to see exactly what the organization brought to the table.

When we reconnected at the event in December, we agreed that Plug and Play might be something that the Orlando ecosystem needed.

That is, a high-profile effort that brings real results, is beholden to real milestone check-ins for funding and produces real wins with pizzazz – for instance, a showcase and meetup.

“Through the partnership, we will together shape the landscape of smart cities for the future and amplify impact for our region and our state.”

That is what UCF President Alexander Cartwright said when the Plug and Play program’s arrival was announced.

Has that happened? Well, it’s too early to tell.

However, from the turnout at the event, it appears that, at the very least, a push has started on that path.

Job fair to push ThreatLocker’s continued growth in Maitland

Marco Santana
-
0
Job fair to push ThreatLocker’s continued growth in Maitland

One of Central Florida’s fastest-growing companies is, well, growing some more.

Maitland-based cybersecurity firm ThreatLocker announced plans to add hundreds of new workers to its payroll in 2025, a move that would help the company continue growth that saw it double in size this year.

A job fair for Wednesday will seek to fill positions in “multiple cybersecurity positions” with on-the-spot hiring managers expected to conduct interviews that day. Those seeking jobs should arrive with their resumes, the announcement said.

ThreatLocker has been one of the region’s fastest-growing companies ever since it took over the building in Maitland left vacant by Electronic Arts when that company moved downtown.

The company’s growth comes from a growing list of clients.

ThreatLocker provides cybersecurity services to big-name companies, including several professional sports organizations, JetBlue and about 200 banks worldwide.

More recently, it has seen success in attracting business from larger enterprises, CEO Danny Jenkins said Tuesday.

The job fair is scheduled for Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its headquarters, 1950 Summit Park Drive, Maitland.

123...37Page 1 of 37
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv