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Magic Gaming’s historic match in Lake Nona could usher in new era

Marco Santana
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Magic Gaming’s historic match in Lake Nona could usher in new era

Magic Gaming played a historic game Sunday, hosting an opposing franchise in person for the first time since the team began play in the NBA 2K League’s inaugural 2018 season.

The Orlando Magic’s esports team hosted the Charlotte Hornets Venom GT club at Lake Nona’s leAD Sports & Health Tech Accelerator, a high-tech facility the team moved into this season.

Orlando Magic EVP of Strategy and Innovation Jay Riola said the event ideally could be a precursor to more of these events in the future.

“We wanted to give a glimpse into what an in-person experience looks like,” he said, prior to tipoff. “The hope is that this opportunity becomes more common in the future and we wanted to do it right.”

Throughout the game, a high-energy crowd of about 50 people cheered on the Magic, with occasional chants of “defense” making it seem like an NBA game – on a much smaller scale, of course.

Pregame introductions even had the customary booing of the Hornets from the Magic-friendly crowd.

The atmosphere had the players more excited than usual, said shooting guard Jarvis “Simptoms” Thompson.

“We felt like the whole city was behind us,” he said. “They were definitely pushing us on.”

The NBA 2K League has shifted its home-game strategy throughout its existence. Last year, for example, all games were played in person but with each team playing at a facility in Indianapolis.

The in-person nature of Sunday’s Magic Gaming match made trash talk a lot more prevalent. PHOTO BY GARY BASSING, ORLANDO MAGIC

This year, a smattering of home venues have been tabbed to host events, including Magic Gaming’s on Sunday. For the most part, however, most matches have been taking place in Washington, D.C.

In the excitement of the afternoon, Magic Gaming Head Coach Jonah Edwards still had a game to win.

“The biggest thing for this team is to not get caught up with what’s around us and just have clear communication,” he said. “We have to make sure we drown out the background noise in the room. That’s a hurdle but it’s a hurdle for both teams.”

Of course, for two years, the pandemic forced the NBA 2K League to go 100 percent remote for its matchups.

The City of Orlando has also had a history with the NBA 2K League.

In 2019, Full Sail University hosted one of the NBA 2K League’s most high-profile tournaments.

Magic Gaming results

As for the game, the Magic could not have asked for more drama in the franchise’s first-ever in-person matchup.

Trailing by 8 with less than 3 minutes to play, Magic Gaming went on an 11-2 run to briefly take a 1-point lead with 32.3 seconds remaining.

However, what appeared to be a blown defensive play allowed Venom Gaming’s Antoine “antoinelove” Times to drive in for an uncontested dunk with 1.7 seconds to play.

The basket gave the Venom a 61-60 lead, which became the final score when Magic’s Matt “Matty” Grant missed a jumper at the buzzer.

The loss dropped Magic Gaming to 2-2 in group play of the league’s 5v5 The TIPOFF tournament. That round includes one game against each of the other six teams in a group.

The top four teams of each group will then move on to a best-of-three, single-elimination tournament.

Despite the loss on Sunday, Edwards praised the crowd after the game.

“It was awesome having everybody come out and show support for Magic Gaming,” he said. “We love it out here in Lake Nona. We’re thrilled to be here and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

EDITORIAL: Disney exec a good barometer for Florida Simulation Summit’s impact on Orlando tech

Marco Santana
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EDITORIAL: Disney exec a good barometer for Florida Simulation Summit’s impact on Orlando tech

I remember when I first heard of the Florida Simulation Summit all the way back in 2015, B.C. – that is, “Before COVID.”

As a journalist, of course, my first order of business was to dig through the agenda, looking for any newsworthy discussion.

The agenda had a handful of notable speakers, of course. Orlando is a pretty good source of technology experts in so many fields.

But one speaker, in particular, caught my eye.

The story that I ended up focusing on came, well, into focus when I saw the keynote speaker, Walt Disney World’s Michael Tschanz.

Now, to be clear, efforts to reach Tschanz before the event proved useless, as the famously tight-lipped House of Mouse rebuked several outreach efforts.

No big deal, though.

As a tech reporter, I was on the list of people that Orange County wanted at the event.

Still, it would have been nice to put together an article in advance … but I digress.

Tschanz was fantastic at the inaugural event.

His walkthrough of how simulation played a role in something as seemingly banal as how lines form at the theme parks was more fascinating than I had anticipated.

At the time, I thought the Florida Simulation Summit could become one of the region’s more influential events.

My opinion on that has not changed, despite a pandemic-driven lull in the event.

In particular, I loved that Disney had jumped into Orlando’s tech community, feet first.

We, as a tech community, thrive when we can show our full potential, not just small companies innovating but the behemoths who have innovated here for decades.

This year, once again, I watched Tschanz on stage except, this time, he had some guests.

Tschanz moderated a panel at the Florida Simulation Summit that included some heavy hitters in the world of simulation.

Lockheed Martin.

NVIDIA.

JetBlue.

The developer of the Unreal Engine, Epic Games.

For a locally organized event, that’s an incredible roster that speaks to the role Orlando could play in this new technology world.

Central Florida has been all-in on so many emerging technologies since long before they became the hype target du jour. It’s one reason I quickly got over my skepticism of its claim to be “The MetaCenter.”

Tschanz expertly led the discussion and it was impressive to note how his role in this event has changed over the last eight years.

Guest to facilitator.

Speaker to, well, facilitator.

As for the event itself, hundreds of professionals were treated to a mini-reset of the simulation industry.

Perhaps an exclamation point on the afternoon’s event – one that even more strongly illustrated the region’s potential – was a tour of the new 37,350-square-foot Brightline train station in Terminal C of Orlando International Airport.

Service, of course, is expected to start there by the end of the year.

All in all, the summit had its flaws, of course.

However, it was an important moment in what I hope becomes a consistent drumbeat of the tech community’s breadth in Orlando.

Perhaps next year we can have a panel that pairs Unity and Unreal on the same stage, with both significant companies sharing why they have chosen to do some work in Orlando.

That would be a fine reward for those who have followed this summit year after year.

Rude awakening: ‘accidental’ alert wakes up Florida in the early morning

Marco Santana
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Rude awakening: ‘accidental’ alert wakes up Florida in the early morning

You may notice your coworkers a little bit more bleary-eyed than usual this morning.

Officials with Seminole County warned residents not to turn off emergency alerts on their cell phones after an accidental test alert rang out across Central Florida at 4:45 a.m.

Central Florida residents hopped on social media Thursday morning complaining that the high-pitched ring had awoken them from deep sleep in the early morning hours.

An email from Seminole County Public Communications Coordinator Ally Linville sent at about 10 a.m. asked residents to keep alerts on.

“Misinformation is circulating regarding this morning’s accidental alert from the State of Florida and a schedule of future test alerts,” the email read. “Residents will NOT receive monthly emergency alert tests from the state going forward.”

Linville explained that the state accidentally used a “live” screen instead of the usual “test” screen when it sent the alert.

In asking residents to keep alerts on, Linville said, “This is the fastest way to receive tornado warnings, evacuation alerts or news about hazardous materials events.”

Falcon’s adds powerhouse executive to team

Marco Santana
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Falcon’s adds powerhouse executive to team

An entertainment powerhouse has come on board with Orlando-based Falcon’s Beyond as president, becoming the first to hold the newly created position.

Simon Philips, who has been involved in the strategic direction of iconic entertainment franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Yu-Gi-Oh, Star Wars and others, represents the company’s first-ever president and will report directly to CEO Cecil D. Magpuri.

As part of the agreement, Philips will relocate to Orlando.

“Falcon’s Beyond is playing in a vast sandbox,” Philips said. “I have been so impressed with the company’s mark on the industry. This is a terrific time to join the team for what we expect to be explosive growth in the industry.”

The announcement comes one day before Falcon’s Beyond is set to formally introduce Falcon’s Resorts by Melia and Katmandu Park in Punta Cana. The sprawling resort represents the company’s first foray into what it’s calling “resortainment.”

Philips has had extensive experience in the entertainment industry.

He comes to Falcon’s from Moonbug Entertainment and has previously served as president of Marvel Entertainment International.

“Simon’s reputation and acclaim in entertainment have been truly inspirational for me and the greater Falcon’s team,” Magpuri said in the statement. “His visionary cross-channel approach to brand expansion will further strengthen our own IP Expander flywheel. We feel incredibly fortunate to have found someone of Simon’s caliber whose values are so perfectly aligned with Falcon’s culture.”

Q&A: JoAnn Newman, Orlando Science Center, touts partnerships for Spark STEM Fest

Marco Santana
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Q&A: JoAnn Newman, Orlando Science Center, touts partnerships for Spark STEM Fest

EDITORS NOTE: THIS IS THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES, WITH THE SECOND COMING ON FRIDAY.

JoAnn Newman starts the conversation off on a light note.

Why did the Orlando Science Center change the name of its annual tech celebration “Otronicon” to “Spark Stem Fest” this year?

“I’d start with the pronunciation of ‘Otronicon,’” said Newman, the science center’s president and CEO, with a chuckle, acknowledging that it doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. “We have heard it called ‘Oconitron,’ ‘Ocornitron’ and just about every permutation of ‘Otronicon’ you can think of.”

However, as she speaks, she drills down further into the real reason the Orlando Science Center’s premiere event shifted gears this year, sunsetting the popular festival’s name after 17 years.

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“We wanted to create more of a STEM festival feel,” she said. “Tech is still a huge part of it but we wanted to tackle all kinds of science and STEM topics. It’s amazing the new energy we found with the new branding. As much as we loved the name, it was time to evolve.”

The Orlando Science Center will host its first-ever “Spark STEM Fest,” a four-day event that starts Friday at 10 a.m.

In the leadup to the celebration, Newman spoke to Orlando Tech News about the importance of technology, the Science Center’s approach to being a part of the community and how crucial it is for tomorrow’s workforce that young students of all backgrounds are not left behind.

FOR TICKET INFORMATION ON SPARK STEM FEST, VISIT ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER’S WEBSITE (CLICK ON THIS SENTENCE)

Orlando Tech News: Talk about the partnerships you have managed to land, not only for this event but in general.

JoAnn Newman: “It can be difficult for an organization like ours to live on the cutting edge of technology. We rely on amazing, high-profile partners to bring their cool stuff in because they are living and breathing it every day. They are immersed in this stuff. We love leveraging and tapping into these partners to give them their recognition. That’s what makes it a special event.”

OTN: I have been to several events and love the hands-on experiences there.

JN: “We love when they bring that authentic technology because it gives our audience personal access to things they may not always have. Disney is running a coding workshop and bringing in some of their Tron light cycles. The partners are truly amazing. It’s a great two-way street where we benefit from their presence and they benefit from this interaction and exposure to the people in their own backyard.”

OTN: Where does your appreciation for technology and science come from?

JN: “I had (an engineering) career with AT&T. When they shut that down and jobs were sent offshore, I had this passion, especially for being able to engage youth and getting girls interested in science.”

OTN: The tech community has been trying to tackle that for a while now.

JN: “When I was going to school for engineering, there weren’t many and there still aren’t many today. I love what we are able to do at the Science Center and the payoff is really watching these youth – and adults, really – come in an experience what we have to offer. For us, it is inspiring them and sparking their interest and their curiosity. It’s being able to take some of the fear away from these subjects.”

OTN: What is it about science that makes it important for kids to learn?

JN: “We are trying to provide access and teaching them skills about how to solve problems, how to think critically and build their confidence. We help them understand that there is a place for you in these careers. We try to show them what they can do and help them along the pathway. For those who are hooked on it already, we take them on a deeper dive. It feels good and we love doing this.”

OTN: Do you have any final words about Spark STEM Fest?

JN: These kinds of things attract a lot of people. It is just so much of a statement and it’s an opportunity to come to one place and experience all of that. These large festivals are just one tool in our tool bag. They are just so important. It’s great for partners, too. They can’t come out every day of the year to the Science Center but they are certainly willing to come out a couple of times a year. To gather them is a great opportunity for the community.

This is the first of a two-part series. The next will post on Friday morning.

Orlando firms take regional approach at Synapse

Marco Santana
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Orlando firms take regional approach at Synapse

TAMPA, Fla. — The 85-mile road trip to Tampa from Orlando is hardly a deterrent when it comes to Synapse Florida at Amalie Arena.

Orlando companies tend to have a sizeable representation both on the show floor and on stage, sharing their expertise.

However, what has emerged recently has been a camaraderie between the two ecosystems, one that grows with each event, said Dawn Haynes, CEO of Orlando-based Starter Studio.

“It’s showing the depth of our technology ecosystems from across Central Florida,” she said. “It’s not Orlando or Tampa or Daytona, it’s Central Florida. It’s about what we all have to brag about here in Central Florida. This shows it.”

The event drew more than 6,000 to Amalie Arena less than four months after its most-recent iteration at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando.

Among those were 800 investors, 300 exhibitors and 150 speakers.

Synapse CEO Brian Kornfeld said the team’s goal has been to connect people from across the state with its series of events.

“It’s not just Tampa, it’s not just Orlando, it’s not just Miami,” he said. “It’s about Pensacola, Jacksonville, Gainesville because that opens doors of opportunity for everybody.”

The one-day event, which was preceded by an opening VIP party on Monday night, included more than 40 sessions and highly regarded keynote sessions from industry leaders like Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention cofounder Phoebe Miles and AOL cofounder and high-profile tech investor Steve Case.

A pitch competition awarded $150,000 to one startup while an innovation awards component resulted in $75,000 of winnings.

All of this was done with three-time Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning’s home as the backdrop.

“We want it to be a place where people want to see each other and want to be seen,” Kornfeld said. “They want to connect and have a good time. We turn a place for world championship hockey and turn it into a world class venue for technology and innovation.”

As has become customary in Synapse events, plenty of Orlando companies were peppered in among the two floors’ worth of businesses showing off their services around the ring of the arena.

But beyond the ability to give the public and the tech community a glimpse into your work, Synapse also allows for real collaboration.

Haynes said she saw two businesses decide to collaborate after meeting at Synapse on Tuesday morning.

“An event like this broadens everybody’s perspective,” Haynes said. “This is an opportunity to make connections that can eventually become collaboration. By walking around seeing what other people are working on, it can spark ideas about how they can work together.”

Synapse often draws the more notable companies to showcase but it’s not just young companies trying to make the most of the event.

Duke Energy, for example, brought in Oculus Quest 2 headsets that walked people through the company’s approach to clean energy.

The non-interactive presentation, which lasted about 10 minutes, was an effort to create educational content and draw in a younger crowd.

“It’s an essential campaign that aims to make clean energy more accessible to customers,” said Elizabeth Escobar-Fernandes, a senior IT manager for the energy giant who was at Synapse. “We have high school students here and they are the future.

The presentation showed virtual representations – often called digital twins – of power plants that use different kinds of energy, including wind, solar and nuclear.

The narration updates the viewer on how Duke uses each type and why supporting all three is critical to the company’s success.

“They will want to work for a company and we want to show them the technology we are using,” Escobar-Fernandes said.

Isabella Johnston has attended six Synapse conferences, including three in both Orlando and Tampa.

The Orlando-based entrepreneur, whose Employers4Change matches students and potential employers, said Synapse is a great asset to the community.

“We feel aligned with Tampa’s innovation ecosystem and Synapse is a huge part of that,” Johnston said. “There is a significant Orlando presence here also, which I want to support.”

For Haynes of StarterStudio, it’s a twice-a-year chance to both get re-energized and encourage others to improve by making connections.

“There is an energy when you get all of these people with different ideas together,” she said.

Orlando startup to appear on Peacock this week

Marco Santana
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Orlando startup to appear on Peacock this week

An Orlando entrepreneur will appear on Comcast NBCUniversal’s upcoming three-part series “Founding in Color,” which looks at the often-unique challenges faced by minority entrepreneurs.

Maryann Kilgallon has been part of Orlando’s tech ecosystem for several years while building her child safety company Pink Lotus Technologies.

Maryann Kilgallon Photo by Kahleel "AyooKanon" Frazier
Orlando entrepreneur Maryann Kilgallon will appear on a Peacock show this week.
Photo by Kahleel “AyooKanon” Frazier

The show will begin its second season on Thursday. Kilgallon is one of 11 founders set to be highlighted in the series.

Pink Lotus developed a wearable connected child safety device that incorporates a mobile app and sends user information to emergency services with a button.

The idea for the product called POMM is to keep children connected with parents and others that are designated through a simple communication interface.

A Comcast Cable executive said the program, along with its “Road to Rise” program, showcase its commitment to lifting up diverse entrepreneurs.

“At Comcast, we are committed to amplifying the voices of diverse founders – during Black History Month
and throughout the year – through various avenues,” said Loren Hudson, Senior Vice President and Chief
Diversity Officer Comcast Cable, in a press release announcing the show.

New grant for Orlando tech companies

The Orlando Economic Partnership announced a new grant from the City of Orlando that will help the tech community.

The Orlando Technology Community Support Grant Program will provide funding to programs and activities that enhance the region’s tech scene.

Interested programs should apply at the website for the program HERE.

The City of Orlando’s grant program will fund $65,000, which will be divided between four winners. Last year, seven programs were awarded a total of $67,820 to seven programs.

Applications are due Feb. 28 with awards expected to be doled out my March 14.

Magic challenge a bridge between NBA team, Orlando tech

Marco Santana
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Magic challenge a bridge between NBA team, Orlando tech

When Lauren Carbaugh arrived at the Orlando Magic Innovation Challenge on Feb. 3, she had no intention of pitching her idea, much less working with a team to make it a reality.

By the end of the weekend, however, she was on stage, celebrating as her SportsVerse idea took home first place in the event.

Carbaugh said the intensity of a weekend-long startup building activity was new to her.

“It is just really interesting just how close you get in just a couple of days and how much you can accomplish,” said Carbaugh, a 21-year-old UCF finance student.  “My big takeaway is to just never doubt yourself.”

The event eventually saw 10 projects finished with the majority of them based on specific challenges the Orlando Magic shared on Friday.

Among the finished  projects were a Magic-themed Metaverse environment that offered fans games and quests, a party bus that would pick up fans and bring them to Amway Center for home games and esports-related experiences.

Magic: event a ‘no brainer’

Orlando Magic Assistant Director of Innovation Andrew Bekemeyer said the team considered it a “no-brainer” to return a second year after 2022’s inaugural event.

“We recognize the value of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology in Central Florida,” he said. “There is this collaborative spirit in this community. We want to be an integral part of that.”

The Orlando Magic has become known as one of the more innovative franchises in the NBA.

The team was the first in the league to accept Apple Pay in 2014.

Beacons throughout Amway Center work with the team’s mobile app to enable a handful of technologies.

And in 2018 they partnered with ride-sharing service Uber to offer drop-off spots around the arena.

The team behind Magic Bus, a party bus that would run to Amway Center for Orlando Magic games, listens to mentor Roger Osorio during Innovation Challenge.

“Innovation is one of our four core principles,” Bekemeyer said. “It’s a buzzword in this day and age but … we embrace it.”

So-called hackathons usually put teams together at the start of a weekend and have them build a product by Sunday night.

The Magic and local event company HyperValidation hosted the Innovation Challenge.

The buy in of a major organization like the Orlando Magic not only lends credence to the event.

It also benefits participants, said Cameron Ford, executive director of UCF’s Blackstone Launchpad.

“To see that (the Magic) saw value in it and they made an investment was really great, especially seeing them at the event to encourage the students,” said Ford, one of the event’s judges. “It’s a great opportunity for young people to be in a corporate environment around really high-quality professionals.”

Students relish chance to build

That was one benefit Rollins College student Evie Flaugh took away from the event, which was her first hackathon.

Her team finished in third place for the idea of a party bus hyping up Magic fans during home games.

She said the Magic’s participation was crucial and impressive.

“They asked us genuine questions,” she said. “They took our ideas seriously.”

Flaugh pitched the party bus idea and quickly recruited a team to build it.

However, she said one of the biggest lessons she learned during the weekend was to be collaborative.

“I had moments where I was really stuck on my idea, got stuck defending it,” she said. “But I found most meaningful progress we made was when everyone was able to talk about it and contribute.”

Carbaugh, the UCF student considered her Roblox-obsessed cousins and nephews when she came up with her pitch.

That helped her come up with a Metaverse-like experience for Magic fans.

The initial idea is a 3D world based in Amway Center that allows virtual visitors a chance to shoot hoops and participate in other mini-games.

She attended once she received an email from Ford, laying out the event.

“When I got the email about the event, it was him giving me resources to succeed beyond college,” she said.

Energy level high all weekend

Ford said he was impressed by the energy level throughout the weekend.

Before the event, he told students that it’s as much about perseverance as it is about building a company.

“Some teams fall apart and it’s a survival thing,” he said. “But if they leave when they are feeling down, they miss the upside of coming back again and not understand the whole experience. You don’t really get it unless you stick with it, start to finish. The ‘innovation challenge’ is called a ‘challenge’ for a reason.”

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

Marco Santana
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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.”

CEO: Constant evolution is key to Synapse’s relevance

Marco Santana
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CEO: Constant evolution is key to Synapse’s relevance

Tampa-based nonprofit has formed ties with Orlando tech through annual event hosted here. Event’s marquee Synapse Summit returns to Amalie Arena on Feb. 14 AOL cofounder, startup advocate Steve Case.

The chance to welcome AOL cofounder and longtime tech startup advocate Steve Case to Tampa at next month’s Synapse Summit means far more to Brian Kornfeld than the ability to land something of a big fish.

Beyond that, Kornfeld says it’s a chance to showcase the region’s progress since Case’s last official visit in 2019 with his “Rise of the Rest” tour bus, which crosses the country to highlight innovation ecosystems not named New York or Silicon Valley.

The 2019 visit made stops in Miami, Space Coast, Orlando and Tampa.

“When he came to Florida in 2019, it really was a different state, especially in terms of innovation,” he said. “I’m looking forward to hearing his viewpoints; how far along he thinks we have come and what else we can do to build a great and thriving innovation community.”

Case will serve as one of the keynote speakers at the Feb. 14 Synapse Summit at Amalie Arena. Organizers expect more than 6,000 people to attend.

The event series has become one of the more anticipated in Central Florida’s technology community.

“He has alwlays been a top target of ours because of his views on investing in markets like Florida,” Kornfeld said. “That is, up-and-coming big markets.”

The last time he visited, Case cautiously tempered his analysis of Florida tech. He compared the growth to a baseball game, saying it was still early in the game.

Specifically, he indicated that Florida’s tech community was in the second inning.

“I am curious now, are we in the third or fourth inning? Fifth? Sixth?” Kornfeld said. “There are very few leaders in the world who have the viewpoints of growing and building innovation communities like a Steve Case.”

Beyond Case, Synapse Summit’s goals

Florida’s pre-pandemic focus on technology and building companies that were tech-forward ended up being an advantage once the economy shut down in March of 2020.

Industries that were able to thrive during that historic period – medtech, remote work, gaming, etc. – are a big part of the state’s ecosystem.

The result was a larger market to capture.

“Our innovation communities have seen a major jump in talent and investment,” Kornfeld said. “We have seen a large jump in growth-stage companies, companies that have really propelled themselves past being in that early startup stage.”

Tampa and Orlando’s connective tissue

As Synapse Summit approaches, Kornfeld says he looks forward to providing an event that could serve as a connective tissue between regions of the state, including Orlando.

Those opportunities, at least for now, have been fewer and further in between, although they have grown in recent months.

“Everything we do is to contribute to grow the community and to get people under one roof,” he said. “We want people to celebrate the community, discover others and engage with each other. We want them to create this giant ball of energy to propel themselves for the next couple of months, couple of quarters, maybe the next 364 days.”

As Kornfeld prepares for the event, he hopes to see a large contingent from Orlando show up to support it and the region.

“Entrepreneurs and startups may view themselves as an Orlando startup,” he said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re only doing business in Orlando or they can only take Orlando investment. Those types of connections (made at Synapse) are truly important for growth opportunities.”

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