Electronic Arts’ move into Central Florida goes back to the mid-1990s. That’s when EA acquired the small studio named Tiburon.
Tiburon started as one of the key builders of specific parts of the immensely popular John Madden football series.
Today, that development remains in Maitland about 10 miles north of downtown Orlando.
It’s no surprise that some of the more well-funded businesses often create the most-innovative products.
That’s why the robust theme park industry in Orlando serves as a great asset when it comes to tech development.
We all know Walt Disney World and Universal Studios enjoys an outsized level of influence. But that influence comes from decades of being a large presence here.
Most major businesses today consider themselves tech companies first and the theme parks are no different.
Kissimmee has become known as one of the biggest hotel and timeshare areas in the world.
That means several large companies create tech that affects the hotel industry.
However, Kissimmee is also home to a long-term project meant to position the region as a leader in high-tech sensors.
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.