This week in the Orlando region, we look forward to the inaugural Orlando Innovation Week with Synapse Orlando and Immerse as well as more regional headlines and events in the Weekly Tech Round Up.

Featured Headlines | Upcoming Events | News from the Orlando Region

Message from the Orlando Tech Council Chair

Happy Friday, all.

Last night, the Orlando Tech Council partnered with Project Orlando for a Post-Quarantine Re-Launch Party. It was wonderful to see faces – both new and familiar – in person after such a long time. The tech community really turned out and a big shout-out to Charlie Lewis – Founder of Project Orlando and Chair Elect of our Programming Committee – for making this happen.

The big news this week (you can watch the full press conference here) revolves around the announcement of the first-ever Orlando Innovation Week, October 9-15, which will include the return of Synapse Orlando and the Immerse arts and culture festival. It was wonderful to be a part of the press announcement this morning along with community leaders from Truist, Stax, the Creative City Project, Synapse Florida, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

That week will be a true tech and innovation extravaganza with on-site experiences at local tech-focused organizations and opportunities to network and learn. It kicks off with Startup Weekend Orlando, October 8-10 then several community events leading up to Synapse Orlando, presented by Truist, on October 15, at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and ending with Immerse from Oct 15-17.

The theme “Experience Orlando” will highlight the innovators transforming how we live, work and play. The Orlando Tech Council has partnered with Synapse Florida to bring the event back to the region and we are excited to bring you dynamic and hands-on exhibitors, workshops and access to thought leaders from the region’s leading companies. It will truly be a curated fusion of inspiration and opportunity for the entire innovation community. There’s still opportunity to share your suggestions for key topics, dynamic speakers, engaging exhibitors and limited sponsorships. Visit www.synapseorl.com for more. Please also share this opportunity with your networks and reach out to Lindsey with any questions.

Stay tuned for more news, events and ways to connect with the Orlando region’s tech and innovation economy. Also, feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues who can get on our mailing list here.

Cheers,
Rajiv Menon
Founder/CEO, Informulate
Orlando Tech Council Chair

Profile in Tech: Ken Hall, DeepWork Capital

This edition of Profiles in Tech, Ken Hall, Vice President of DeepWork Capital discusses why he took a gamble on Orlando and why he thinks the next billion dollar company can be built here in Florida. Read more here.

Headlines

Region’s largest tech and innovation conference returns for inaugural Orlando Innovation Week

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer joined regional tech and business leaders from Synapse, Stax, Creative City Project, Truist and the Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership) to announce the first-ever Orlando Innovation Week, which will include the return of Synapse Orlando and the Immerse arts and culture festival. Read more here.

Studies: Orlando grows tech workforce at rapid pace – but not fast enough

Orlando’s tech talent pool continues to grow at record pace. The demand for tech workers in the region is growing even faster. According to CBRE, the region’s tech talent pool grew 30% between 2016 and 2020, making it the seventh-fastest-growing market in the report. Even still, local employers are finding it hard to fill positions. Read more here.

Don’t sleep on “O the Innovation”

The latest episode of the Orlando Tech Council’s podcast ‘O The Innovation’ includes fascinating interviews with Aaron Burnett, CEO of Spaced Ventures, Matt McBride, founder of Mend VIP, and Matt Garrepy, chief digital officer of Solodev where they discuss the challenges, they experienced with launching their startups, raising capital and pivoting under pressure. They also touch on how entrepreneurs can make the most of available regional resources to grow and scale their companies. You can also listen to episodes that feature Caris Frazier-Baker, senior technical artist at Unity Technologies and Kunal Patel, cofounder of BrandXR, who explain where the future of VR is going. Be sure to catch up on ‘O The Innovation’s’ latest episodes by listening and subscribing here!

Save the Date | Upcoming Events

Events for the Weeks of July 26

Tuesday, July 27
4:30 p.m. – Synapse – Libate & learn Episode 34 | Back to the Office: The Transition Back to In-Person Work

Wednesday, July 28
9 a.m. – 1 Million Cups

Events on the Horizon

August 4-25 – Foundation for Orlando’s Future – SKILLFUL® Talent Series presented by JPMorgan Chase
August 17 – GrowFL – East Central Florida Finalist Celebration
August 19 – Orlando Regional Chamber – All Women Empowered (AWE) Impact Forum
September 16 – GrowFL – East Central Florida Chapter Membership Mixer
September 29-October 1 – VR/AR Global Summit
October 9-15 – Innovation Week
October 15 – Synapse Orlando
October 15-17 – Creative City Project – Immerse
October 22 – GrowFL – Statewide Membership Meeting

ICYMI | News from the Orlando Region

Disney’s Orlando consolidation could impact up to 200 tech and administrative jobs in Seattle – Geek Wire
DeVos Family, Orlando Magic and AdventHealth Celebrate Major Milestone for new training center – NBA.com
Air Force looking to boost connectivity for simulators – National Defense
Tech, Talent and VC – Orlando Business Journal
LightPath Technologies, Inc. and RP Optical Focus on the Development of Thermal Cameras for Space Applications – Tech Stock Observer
Beep opens headquarters in Lake Nona, as company plans on more shuttles and a vertiport – WMFE
This Orlando firm is the ‘canary in the coal mine’ of the jobs sector. Here’s what it sees. – Orlando Business Journal
Participants can shred their worries as Immerse festival returns to Orlando along with Synapse Orlando conference – Orlando Sentinel
Smart city tech is being built into planned communities – Government Technology
CashRepublic(TM), a community-focused financial technologies company, opens doorway to economic freedom for central Floridians. – Street Insider

*Have a story you would like OTC to feature? Email Lindsey.Sandrin@Orlando.org

The Orlando Tech Council is composed of private industry, resource organizations and public partners that work to develop new programs with the core objectives: strengthen the Orlando region’s innovation resources, create new opportunities for companies to scale, and to amplify the region’s success stories, raising the global profile of Orlando as a leading community for entrepreneurship and innovation.

Follow the Orlando Tech Council on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Special thanks to our Orlando Tech Council Members