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From fitness to learning, Orlando startups ready for World Cup

It has been months since the Startup World Cup’s Orlando stop was first announced.

Now, it’s just days away.

Ten Orlando-area startups continue to prepare for a chance to travel to Silicon Valley in pursuit of a $1 million grand prize and, perhaps more importantly, showing off what they do for potential investors.

Here are three more businesses to check out.

YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER THREE AT THIS LINK

PETE Learning

Why enter the Startup World Cup?

Startup World Cup represents another opportunity to give PETE visibility to our local technology ecosystem and the possibility of national projection. We are a pioneer in AI-driven learning platforms.

How does PETE Learning stand out?

We are the only company in the cohort focused on learning technologies and helping growing small to medium-sized companies overcome their training challenges. We enable organizations to deliver personalized workforce learning at scale.

What is PETE Learning’s “why?”

Workforce training becomes vital for organizations once they surpass 50 employees. However, for those organizations, creating or licensing online courses is expensive. Often, the solution is to rely on functional leaders who lack the experience to create training. The result is a mediocre training experience for the workforce. Our technology solves this problem effectively and inexpensively.

EVQLV

Why enter the Startup World Cup?

Participating in pitch competitions allows EVQLV to connect with the broader entrepreneurial community while continuously refining how we communicate the company’s vision. It’s a valuable opportunity to engage with peers, investors and experts, all while sharpening the clarity and impact of my message.

How does EVQLV stand out?

What truly differentiates EVQLV is our ability to integrate customer-specific data into our platform without compromising their competitive edge. This level of customization, combined with our computational prowess, ensures we deliver tailored solutions that reduce failure rates and maximize success in antibody discovery.

What is EVQLV’s “why?”

My personal connection to healthcare has shaped the “why” behind EVQLV. My mother has been ill for most of my life, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the gaps in the healthcare system. I launched EVQLV with a mission to change that—by using AI to discover and develop life-saving therapies faster, I want to contribute to a world where fewer people suffer through healthcare failures.

SPOT Fitness

Why enter the Startup World Cup?

We entered Startup World Cup to gain exposure to investors and experts who can help us scale our platform and grow our community. The competition provides a unique opportunity to pitch Spot on a global stage, connect with mentors and learn from other innovative startups. The exposure from this event is invaluable as we are entering the post-revenue stage and looking to grow.

How does Spot Fitness stand out?

Spot combines AI technology with the concept of social engagement, creating a platform that doesn’t just help people find activities but also connects them with others who share their passions. Our consumer customer retention and acquisition metrics are exceptional, and we have a waiting list of 170 Central Florida businesses. Our marketing model can be tied explicitly to revenue. Combined with our team of veteran domain experts and relationships with global brands like Urban Air, Victory Martial Arts, Orangetheory and more, we are designed and well-positioned for long-term massive scale. 

What is Spot Fitness’ “why?”

We launched Spot because we saw a growing disconnect between people wanting to live an active life and the lack of a simple, effective way to make that happen. We also had the skillset and background to build habit-forming apps, and we were looking for an opportunity where we could apply that skill to a habit that provides value to the individual as well as businesses and society at large, and in a market that was quickly accelerating to mass adoption. Our mission is to use technology to bring people together, helping them form meaningful connections while staying healthy and active.

Startup World Cup has some area tech firms thinking globally

NOTE: DURING THE NEXT THREE DAYS, WE WILL BE SHOWCASING THE 10 COMPANIES THAT WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE STARTUP WORLD CUP ON WEDNESDAY AT THE ORLANDO SCIENCE CENTER. FOR A FULL LIST OF THE COMPANIES, CLICK HERE.

Ten relatively local tech companies hope to get some face time in Silicon Valley with some of the world’s most successful investors.

However, first things first: they must compete in Orlando for the chance to do so.

If they win, they will head to California for a $1 million pitch off competition in front of some of tech’s more notable luminaries at the Startup World Cup.

The national event will have an Orlando challenge for the first time.

The companies have been selected and we will introduce them to you here across the next three days.

Here are the first three businesses, which include a company with a no-code platform for 3D visualizations, a health tech firm that uses artificial intelligence to organize unstructured data and a digital transformation consultancy.

Why enter the Startup World Cup?

We see Agora World as a platform that can have a significant global impact. Our 3D visualization tools turn complex data into easily understandable 3D models and simulations. With Startup World Cup, we can showcase that vision to the world.

How does Agora World stand out?

We make powerful 3D data visualization and simulation tools accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Other solutions require extensive coding knowledge or expensive infrastructure. Our no-code platform allows users to create 3D visualizations in minutes. This means businesses can quickly understand, gain critical actionable insights, and act on their data without needing specialized teams or complex software. 

What is Agora World’s “why?”

Agora World was born out of my own struggle with the complexity of the XR and 3D space. As a non-coder, I spent 3.5 years building no-code tools for 3D creation, empowering hundreds of businesses and creators like myself to create product showcases, host events, and even create digital twins of physical environments. The problem I faced back in 2019 was simple—it’s incredibly difficult to build in 3D without specialized skills or resources. I wanted to solve that problem by creating a platform that makes 3D visualization accessible to everyone.

Atom Advantage

Why enter the Startup World Cup?

To showcase AI-driven solutions that address massive data challenges in health and insurance head-on. Health and insurance generate 30 percent of the world’s data, yet only 3 percent is fully utilized – primarily because it’s unstructured and difficult to analyze. The competition is an excellent opportunity for us to connect with investors and industry leaders who share our vision and can help us scale our impact even further.

How does Atom Advantage stand out?

We empower the human side of healthcare and insurance, enabling professionals to focus on what they do best. We solve one of healthcare’s biggest challenges: transforming unstructured data into actionable intelligence. Our AI tools enhance human abilities, rather than replace them, by automating repetitive tasks. This improves outcomes and helps address professional burnout, giving skilled workers more time to focus on their core expertise, improving both job satisfaction and efficiency.

What is Atom Advantage’s “why?”

To empower people and organizations to work smarter, drive innovation and deliver real value in an increasingly complex health and insurance landscape. We wanted to address a critical need, helping healthcare providers and insurance professionals regain time to focus on their core responsibilities by reducing administrative burdens. With the U.S. healthcare system wasting $935 billion annually due to administrative complexity, fragmented care, and operational inefficiencies, we saw an opportunity to tackle these challenges head-on. By leveraging AI to streamline data processes.

Why enter the Startup World Cup?

It presented an incredible opportunity to showcase our vision and innovative technology to a global audience. We are excited to connect with investors, potential partners, and fellow entrepreneurs who are passionate about shaping the future of the cloud.

How does Cuemby stand out?

We combine simplicity and flexibility, making powerful cloud technologies accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Our AI-driven platform automates complex tasks, optimizes costs, and enhances security, while providing a user-friendly experience. We also differentiate ourselves through a deep commitment to building a strong community and empowering businesses through knowledge sharing and personalized support. 

What is Cuemby’s “why?”

We democratize the cloud, making it easier for businesses of all sizes to leverage technology, innovate, and achieve their goals. We believe that the cloud should empower, not overwhelm. We have conducted over 100 technical due diligence for companies going through mergers and acquisitions and saw too many businesses struggling to harness the cloud’s full potential due to its complexity and the lack of accessible solutions.

10 startups in Orlando vie for shot at $1 million in Silicon Valley

The startups have been chosen. The venue has been secured.

Now, it’s time for the contenders to be rolled out.

In six days, the first-ever Startup World Cup in Orlando will show off 10 local startups, who will make their pitch to become the Central Florida representative at the World Cup’s San Francisco-based grand finale next month.

At stake is the chance to win the $1 million grand prize that will be handed out by Pegasus Tech Ventures.

During the next six days, we will roll out short profiles to give the community a chance to get to know the businesses that will be on stage at Orlando Science Center next Thursday.

But first, let’s introduce you to the teams.

Agora World, which offers a no-code platform that allows anyone, even those without technical expertise, to easily create 3D data visualizations and simulations.

Atom Advantage organizes unstructured data, connects patient journeys, and empowers businesses with AI tools and applications.

Cuemby is a digital transformation consultancy that helps businesses incorporate technology for sustainable growth, innovation and efficiency.

EVQLV has a goal of transforming antibody discovery for biopharm through technology, which could accelerate life-saving therapies and accelerate the process.

Halo Engines focuses on developing advanced propulsion systems for rockets.

Kismet Technologies uses nanotechnology to develop disinfecting solutions for physical surfaces and has recently focused more squarely on technology as an antimicrobial additive.

PETE Learning is an AI-driven learning platform that helps organizations deliver personalized workforce learning, at scale.

PreSend has developed software that prevents users from losing digital assets during blockchain transactions.

Spot Fitness App connects people with places, activities and others who might share common interests.

Start Left Security is an AI-powered platform that integrates supply chain security and manages vulnerabilities in a gamified setting.

In pics: A night of celebration at Full Sail University

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What a night for Full Sail University and EA in Orlando.

CLICK HERE FOR THE STORY

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO RECAPPING THE NIGHT

Check out some shots from the night below.

EA collab is latest feather in Full Sail University’s esports cap

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WINTER PARK – Jonathan “Jonbeast” Marquez bumped fists with his Madden opponent in Full Sail University’s Fortress esports arena.

He had just polished off a nearly flawless victory in the first round of an eight-man, star-studded Madden NFL 25 tournament at Full Sail University.

The ultimate prize? The lion’s share of a $100,000 prize pool to launch into the new season.

Marquez said he had not ever played in an arena like Full Sail’s, which allows for high-level production value and energetic crowds.

“The venue, it’s fire,” he said. “Probably the best venue I’ve seen since I’ve been competing.”

Marquez ultimately fell short of the championship.

He was in the arena as part of the Madden NFL 25 Championship Series, a stretch of tournaments that will dole out $1.7 million in prize money across six events.

The series will be held live at The Fortress in the coming months.

“These are two brands that are aligning to bring (Madden NFL 25) to market in a really collaborative, special and productive kind of way,” said John Saboor, Full Sail’s head of partnerships.

Representatives from both Electronic Arts and Full Sail University said the partnership made sense for many reasons, including how close the school is to EA’s East Coast headquarters in downtown Orlando.

Hands on experience for students

The series will give Full Sail students hands-on training and access to professionals in event production.

In addition, Madden NFL 25 Championship Series will contribute to a scholarship fund for Full Sail University students.

WANT TO SEE THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR THE MCS AND PRIZE MONEY? CLICK!

“We have a long relationship with Full Sail,” said Monica Dinsmore, EA’s senior director of esports brand and strategy. “This is one of the most meaningful collaborations to me personally because we are able to bring our esports to a home, welcome in a live audience and show off to the world.”

In an industry that has faced adversity, with esports tournaments shutting down and inconsistencies threatening to push others out, the Madden Championship Series continues to thrive, now entering its 10th year.

The series has increased prize totals while also making smaller tournaments more accessible.

“It says quite a bit about the longevity and persistence of the program,” Dinsmore said, noting that year-over-year growth led to what was the competition’s best year for viewership last year. “This just catapults us further forward.”

The partnership with Full Sail should make a difference, too, she said.

“It’s going to be an incredible year for us,” Dinsmore said.

As the clock wound down on his first-round victory, “Jonbeast” raised his hands to the sky.

The 22-year-old showed some relief, even though he pulled away early and was able to coast to the win.

While he usually plays at his home in the Northeast, he said being live and in person didn’t faze him.

“I’m not really nervous playing in front of people or next to my opponent,” he said. “That’s how I really started playing.”

VIDEO: EA, Full Sail deepen relationship with new MCS 25 announcement

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Electronic Arts and Full Sail University on Wednesday announced a collaboration that will give students a chance to learn from production professionals while giving the video game giant a home for its long-running competition.

We were there to hear more from EA about why it collaborated with the Winter Park school.

VIDEO: Orlando XR dev talks about experience at health jam

Indienomicon’s Mega Health Jam once again took over Lake Nona and we were there to document it.

Orlando XR developer Danny Tapia gave us a peek into what brought him out to the event.

Family loss changes impact of Mega Health Jam on organizer

Kunal Patel has been leading hackathons in Central Florida for years.

As an organizer of the independent video game collective known as Indienomicon, he thrives on putting together events that connect developers to industry.

But one event that focuses specifically on the health industry has taken on new meaning.

The Mega Health Jam this past weekend was the first event in the series since Patel’s mother passed away.

“When you’re younger, you just think that well, of course, we just want to do cool things,” said Patel, 41. “But when something personal happens in your life, you realize the full impact of it.”

PHOTO GALLERY: CHECK OUT THE IMAGES OF OPENING NIGHT FOR MEGA HEALTH JAM!

The effects of Mega Health Jam

Mega Health Jam is a part of a series of industry-specific game jams that the group hosts periodically.

While each event has a different area of focus, the structure is essentially identical.

Tech professionals and enthusiasts gather to take a business idea to full-blown product in one weekend.

Along the way, they connect with industry experts, fellow tech pros and others.

The events help them build products, network and show off their talents to potential collaborators, employers or partners.

In the end, teams built 10 games during the weekend, including a handful that incorporated virtual reality.

Dr. Dexter Hadley, the founding chief of the AI division at UCF’s College of Medicine, said he had not ever seen group projects as a coding strategy.

“The concept of social programming is very new to me,” he said. “I’m here to learn about that but it makes sense. I’m here to learn how these hackathons work. We have a vested interest.”

The event starts with those in attendance joining a parade of people who get up in front of their peers and pitch ideas for a game or program to build during the weekend.

Hadley had pitched a closed Snapchat-like social network that, to an extent, gamifies a process for reading and interpreting X-rays or mammograms.

The idea was to be certain that correct information was being spread.

While it wasn’t chosen as one of the efforts this weekend, Hadley said before the event that the idea would help those who worry about their health in a real way.

“It would reduce anxiety,” he said.

Although ultimately, the idea did not have a team, it illustrates the serious nature of the ideas, even if most hide behind video game elements.

The big winners are …

Among the winners this year were games that taught people how to cook for people with health-related dietary restrictions and a game that demonstrated nursing procedures.

In the end, a game called “Wheels of Fate” won the event. The game uses custom hardware to turn a wheelchair into a controller and help patients in physical therapy.

The variety of projects is what keeps Patel coming back.

“I don’t think you can get bored,” the Winter Park resident said. “With healthcare, it’s the concern of all 8 billion people on Earth in some way. A lot of things are happening in my life and healthcare is at the center of them all.”

In the leadup to his mother’s death, Kunal spent much of his time in hospitals.

The experience gave him a new appreciation for the work doctors put in and emotions they go through repeatedly.

“You can’t help but see people shedding tears of joy and grief,” he said.

Patel’s time at the hospital showed him how much of an impact Indienomicon could have with Mega Health Jam.

Add in that Central Florida unofficially specializes in medical innovation, considering the presence of Lake Nona’s Medical City, along with the depth of the military and space industries, it made for a perfect place to host a health jam, Patel said.

“All of those, in a way, need healthcare,” he said.

“Entrepreneurs, they just feel like they can problem-solve a lot of things,” he said. “I think there’s an opportunity to really put a mark in healthcare. If we solve something here, it’s just as useful in Seattle, New York, Detroit or LA.”

In pics: Mega Health Jam hackathon kicks off in Lake Nona

One of the longest-running groups in the community gathered Friday to launch its latest hackathon.

Indienomicon’s Mega Health Jam will follow along the same lines as the others: teams form on Friday, work through the weekend and then build products that help overcome a challenge for businesses and end users.

This week, of course, will focus on health-related solutions. It’s the third time in four years that Indienomicon has hosted the game jam.

Check out a sneak peek into the weekend with a photo gallery put together last night.

COVER PHOTO BY STEVEN SEIDMAN (MANONTHESIDE.COM).

New incubator client puts culture at the forefront for tech firms

As businesses have slowly returned or approached pre-pandemic levels, it has re-awakened the awareness of how important of a company’s culture can be.

More and more, company and community leaders have stressed how crucial it is that a company has an inviting environment, with teams looking for ways to both measure and customize its cultural identity.

A new arrival at the UCF Business Incubation Program might have just the thing to streamline that work.

PeopleProductive has created a program that helps companies define and implement culture shifts that help them become more productive and appealing.

If you don’t think that’s necessarily technology, well, cofounder Frank Wander has something to tell you.

“Cultural transformation is a foundation for a successful digital transformation,” he said. “Culture started to become part of the discourse in 2014. It emerged as something people wanted to know more about.”

The general public has had a complicated relationship with the word “culture” for some time.

Only in recent years has there been a wave of “chief culture officer” positions and resume entries popping up on the popular professional networking site LinkedIn.

Dan Novais

But the importance of the word peaked in 2014, when Merriam-Webster knighted the term by making it its word of the year.

The acknowledgment drove a boost in search queries.

“It was something people wanted to know more about,” Wander said. “We were at the beginning of that learning curve, learning more about it and its importance.”

PeopleProductive has already had some notable successes.

They helped Honda Manufacturing in Alabama, for instance, double their production.

That’s because, as Wander and cofounder Dan Novais say, cultural enhancement leads to productivity growth.

“We help companies bring transparency into their culture,” said Novais, a senior executive and chief revenue officer for PeopleProductive.

It was Novais who initially connected PeopleProductive with UCF’s Business Incubation Program.

After selling a company to AT&T, he was looking for another phase in life when he stumbled upon PeopleProductive.

Frank Wander

“It’s about culture and reframing it in a different manner,” he said. “I come from the tech world so I assure you we can walk the walk.”

PeopleProductive’s platform went live for the first time in June 2015 after a brief beta period.

At the time, the company was already working with 30 clients.

The connection to the incubator comes from Novais, an Orlando native who has been involved in the small business community here for years.

He has been a mentor for UCF and an adviser for the Orlando Economic Partnership.

“Other than statistics, being involved gives local brands here the signal that we are here for local companies,” he said.

Wander is not local but says he has found Central Florida’s business environment to his liking.

His career has been shaped by advocacy for business cultures.

“People have become the most important tool in every company and productivity is a key driver of success and innovation,” said Wander, who has experience with Prudential and Merril-Lynch. “There are many definitions for culture. Many have their own but they don’t know how to shape it.”

However, while it’s easy to dismiss the culture conversation as one led by a buzzword, Wander says there is more to it than that.

“If Orlando could make every company super productive, they would do much better and grow quicker as a region,” Wander said. “Culture is a leadership issue and we give leaders the solutions. It’s all woven into the job and we build developmental relationships that put the power in their hands.”