The expansion into the Orlando region spearheads smart city innovation in partnership with local leaders and institutions for a sustainable and advanced future
ORLANDO – Plug and Play, the global innovation platform, is excited to announce the opening of its new office in Orlando, Florida, dedicated to advancing smart cities. This strategic move reflects Plug and Play’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting startups in the rapidly growing field of smart city technologies. The Orlando office will serve as a hub for one of Plug and Play’s three-month startup accelerator programs, scheduled to commence in early 2024.
“We are excited to launch our new Orlando office and join hands with renowned partners such as the University of Central Florida, Orange County Government, Duke Energy, and Tavistock,” said Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play.
Together, we aim to foster an environment that supports startups in developing cutting-edge technologies. Orlando has shown incredible potential, and with our startup accelerator programs, we are excited to drive innovation and shape the future of smart cities in the region.
Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug and Play
“Orange County is thrilled to partner with Plug and Play to advance smart cities and emerging technologies through public-private collaborations,” commented Jerry Demings, Orange County, Florida Mayor.
We have allocated $1.5 million to Plug and Play to help boost local business growth and continue our vision of a connected and sustainable future.
Jerry Demings Orange County, Florida Mayor
The Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) worked to attract Plug and Play to the Orlando region and provided economic development services including connecting partners to identify the right mix of funding, location and space.
OEP continues to play a pivotal role in enhancing the region’s tech and innovation ecosystem. The opening of Plug and Play’s Orlando office is a testament to OEP’s dedication to attracting and nurturing tech companies.
This initiative underscores our commitment to building on the tech and innovation foundation in the Orlando region.
Tim Giuliani,
President and CEO,
Orlando Economic Partnership
“In an era where digital transformation is redefining industries and communities worldwide, Plug and Play in Orange County positions us to be at the forefront of innovation.”
As part of Plug and Play’s expansion plans, the new Orlando office will collaborate with key partners, including the Orange County Government, Duke Energy, the University of Central Florida (UCF), and Tavistock. This collaboration aims to leverage the strong ecosystem of expertise and resources in the region, driving the development of innovative solutions for smart cities.
“Plug and Play’s intentional focus on fostering partnerships and creating new opportunities aligns seamlessly with Orlando and Central Florida, a region where collaboration and innovation flourish,” said UCF President Alexander N. Cartwright.
“Through partnership, we will together shape the landscape of smart cities for the future and amplify impact for our region and our state.”
Alexander N. Cartwright,
President, University of Central Florida
By establishing a presence in Orlando, Plug and Play aims to attract and nurture the brightest startups in the smart city space. The startup accelerator programs will provide selected companies with access to mentorship, business development opportunities, and potential investment. Furthermore, startups will benefit from Plug and Play’s extensive network of corporate partners, facilitating collaboration and commercialization of their groundbreaking solutions.
To learn more about Plug and Play’s new Orlando office, please visit pnptc.com/orlando
To join the launch event on April 2, 2024, please contact j.mcgee@pnptc.com Jake McGee is a Florida native and Plug and Play’s first hire on the ground.
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About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 50+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/
About the Orlando Economic Partnership
Winner of the National Chamber of the Year award, the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) is an economic and community development organization that is seizing the moment to advance Broad-based Prosperity® and create a more prosperous economy for all. Through the power of partnerships, we grow the economy, attract growing companies, boost job creation, drive investment, improve competitiveness and fuel regional leadership. Learn why opportunity in Orlando is Unbelievably Real™ at InvestOrlando.org.
For media inquiries, please contact Jennifer A. Marcial Ocasio | jennfier.marcial@orlando.com | 407-902-0221