The program provides four lump-sum grants to help develop tech-focused events that will unite the local tech workforce and community.
Orlando, Fla. – For the fourth consecutive year, the City of Orlando is partnering with the Orlando Tech Community (OTC) to offer the Orlando Technology Community Support Program. The program provides lump-sum, matching grants to help organizations and companies develop tech-focused events that unite the local tech workforce and community. The City of Orlando funded $65,000 which will be divided among four winners.
The full grant program overview and application can be found on Orlando.org/TechGrant. Applications must be submitted through the website by midnight on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
“As part of the city’s economic development strategy, we continue to focus on growing and nurturing a strong tech and entrepreneurial community in Orlando.”
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Orlando Tech Community to fund this program and support technology focused activities and initiatives that will build our tech talent pipeline and increase Orlando’s reputation as a tech hub,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We’re committed to creating an environment for entrepreneurship which is a critical component of the region’s innovation ecosystem.”
Five key goals provide a framework for the grant program:
- Increasing the connection and collaboration among startup and existing tech companies
- Building the tech talent pipeline
- Catalyzing private capital investments
- Increasing Orlando’s reputation as a tech hub
- Supporting diverse representation across the tech ecosystem
“We are thrilled to partner with the City again on this endeavor. This opportunity provides critical support during an important time for our region’s innovative organizations.”
David Adelson, Orlando Economic Partnership, Chief Innovation Officer
“While we are selecting fewer winners this year, we wanted to award more money to the winning organizations and companies to provide them with more support and value to help them succeed,” Adelson said.
The five volunteer judges include industry and community leaders that reflect the breadth of expertise in areas considered critical to assessing the viability of the event:
- Charlie Lewis – CEO, BlueWave Resource Partners & Waterfall Ventures & Chair, Orlando Tech Community
- Paul Sohl – CEO, Florida High Tech Corridor
- Kathy Chiu – Managing Partner, DeepWork Capital
- Elisha Gonzalez – Executive Director & Vice President Community Relations & Government Affairs, FAIRWINDS Credit Union
- Eric Ushkowitz- Business Development Division Manager, City of Orlando
All judges will submit written disclosures of conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from evaluating a specific application for which there is a conflict. Additionally, the Orlando Economic Partnership staff will not serve on the judging panel.
Last year’s grant winners include programs for iBuild Central Florida, Indienomicon, Seed Funders Orlando, Social Employment & Educational Impact, StarterStudio, Tech Forward, and Tech Sassy Girlz. For a full list of winners from previous years and more information on each project, click here.
Announcements of awardees will be made by posting to the Partnership website, Orlando.org by March 14, 2023.
Learn more about the grant on the program website Orlando.org/TechGrant.
For questions, contact Ashley McMullan, Executive Assistant of Technology and Innovation, ashley.mcmullan@orlando.org
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Justin Braun at 407.902.0211 or at Justin.Braun@Orlando.org.
