Each Orlando-based organization will receive a portion of a $75,000 grant to develop local tech-focused programs and events.
Orlando, Fla. – In collaboration with the Orlando Economic Partnership (the Partnership), the City of Orlando’s Technology Community Support Program is announcing seven recipients will receive a portion of a $75,000 grant to develop local tech-focused programs and events.
A panel of non-biased judges from across the technology industry reviewed each submission, selecting recipients based on how their proposal met the five key goals that guide the grant program: increasing the connection and collaboration among startup and existing tech companies; building the tech talent pipeline; catalyzing private capital investments; demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and increasing Orlando’s reputation as a tech hub.
“Orlando’s tech-focused grassroots and volunteer-driven organizations are critical to growing and nurturing a strong tech and entrepreneurial community and working to strengthen Orlando’s reputation as a hub for innovation.”
City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
“This grant program is about supporting those organizations so they can focus more on ensuring equitable opportunities for residents to be a part of our innovation-based economy. We are pleased to continue to partner with the Orlando Economic Partnership on programs that grow our city’s tech and entrepreneurial community and fuel our culture of collaboration,” said City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
“This year’s applications reflect the importance of diversity and representation in our region’s tech community,” said David Adelson, Partnership executive director of tech and innovation.
“Each organization impacts the various audiences and stakeholders of Orlando’s innovation ecosystem, and their events will work to bridge the divide between entrepreneurs and the larger business community.”
David Adelson, Orlando Economic Partnership Executive Director of Tech and Innovation
In 2021, the Orlando Technology Community Support Grant Program selected 6 applications to receive grant awards. This year’s recipients represent the breadth of diversity in the Orlando tech ecosystem.
Indienomicon
MeGa Health Jam is a healthcare-meets-gaming technology “hack-a-thon” where attendees from many technical and business disciplines pitch ideas for rapid prototypes that help address or solve real world healthcare problems.
Seed Funders Orlando
VentureScaleUp is a workshop-focused peer-to-peer program where founders work on accelerating their startups with discussions on planning to scale, keeping focused, understanding markets and competition, optimizing team organization and growth, learning financial planning, succeeding at raising capital, and effectively pitching to investors.
Starter Studio
Co-Founder Finder features two events focused on identifying prospective co-founders and key startup roles (CTO, Sales, Biz Dev, Dev Lead, etc) within the local community. June and October events where founders pitch their company, themselves, and the skills/roles they need. The company voted “most interesting” wins six months in the UCF Downtown Incubator ($900 value) and a scholarship to a Starter Studio ($450 – $1500 value depending on stage).
Tech Forward
Forward Into Tech is a program that works to clear the path to certification for minorities and individuals in underserved communities pursuing Salesforce, AWS, or other SaaS (software as a service) careers by providing cost-effective and flexible training programs.
iBuild Central Florida
iBuild Central Florida is a summer camp for middle school students served by Frontline Outreach will offer building information modeling training used in the construction industry combined with hands-on real-world projects. Community organizations will also provide mentoring services during the camp.
Tech Sassy Girlz
Tech Sassy Girlz Day Conference is a free one-day STEM conference for girls that includes an introduction to STEM through hands-on demonstrations, engineering design challenges, STEM challenges, and an opportunity to hear from women in STEM about their career trajectory.
Social Employment & Educational Impact
TechStars Startup Weekend is a global phenomenon in over 150 countries with close to 200,000 alumni. Over a single weekend, participants will pitch brand-new business ideas, form teams, validate customers, present to a judging panel and compete for prizes.
Congratulations to all the recipients. The Partnership, along with the rest of the Orlando region’s business community, looks forward to seeing the incredible work from these organizations that will accelerate the Orlando’s innovation-based economy.