Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Daytona International Speedway represent a dynamic duo in helps Daytona Beach’s tech story.
While ERAU trains the next generation of astronauts and science leaders, the Speedway has some of the more-advanced technology in sports.
That combo helps set the region off as its own mini-ecosystem.
While the Speedway shows off what is happening, ERAU shows off what is to come in the thriving space indusry.
It’s no accident that University of Central Florida gets the bulk of the attention when it comes to tech education. It’s the second-largest school in the country.
But other institutions like Embry-Riddle, Rollins and Valencia make up what has become a deep tech education community.
They all do it in their own way, too.
The University of Central Florida is the second-largest school in the country.
What does that mean?
It’s 70,000 students in town during non-pandemic school years.
It’s thousands receiving support from the school’s multiple entrepreneurial programs like Blackstone Launchpad.
That is no small thing.
The Orlando business community has realized in recent years that the future of a tech workforce starts before college.
While schools now introduce programs and concepts in early education, high school is where students really dive into creating.
Orange County Public Schools has the depth to contribute to our tech scene.
Education in Central Florida benefits from depth.
Orange County Public Schools represents one of the largest districts in the country.
So it’s no surprise that the school district, along with private schools here, try to lead the way in technology resources.
The key component of that is pushing students to learn tech-based curriculum as early as possible.
The technology industry has been staring down an oncoming workforce shortage.
As fewer people possess specialized skillsets they seek, they have had to become more proactive.
Large businesses across the region – and across the country – have forged partnerships with school districts.
Support for student entrepreneurs can be one way to ensure an ecosystem thrives and survives.
A steady stream of new businesses and tech startups coming from schools only means more potentially successful companies.
In addition, it’s more lessons from those that fail. Failures are just as important as successes.
Let’s face it: startups as individual companies can be low-impact businesses that don’t create a lot of energy in town.
Naturally, there are some exceptions to this (see Fattmerchant).
However, for the most part, a startup community has more impact when the businesses are united and pushing toward the same goal.
One thing that brings public officials to the scene? JOBS, JOBS, JOBS.
If company fundraises aren’t publicized, why would anyone think it’s a good idea to build a business here?
More than any other sector, perhaps, fundraising relies on storytelling.
When a company wins $5,000 at a pitch competition or raises $20 million from a VC firm, it’s time to celebrate.
The human story has entrepreneurship embedded within it.
You have the thrill of victory (hello, funding round). It’s the agony of defeat (hello, pivot – or worse). You have everything in between.
One guiding principle behind stories I have told about entrepreneurs is that entrepreneurship is hard.
You can be on top of the world one week and then have to shut down the next.