Synapse Summit 2021 to Kick Off with Heavy Orlando Region Presence

The 2021 Synapse Summit highlights innovation from across Florida, with a strong focus on the Orlando region’s tech assets and accomplishments.

Synapse Summit 2021 features four days of virtual, insightful and empowering discussions about the state of Innovation in Florida and beyond. The Orlando Tech Council is a proud sponsor of the event that will feature speakers including Shark Tank’s Daymond John and Cameo Co-Founder Steve Galanis as well as industry leaders and innovators from across the state.

The Tampa-based Synapse organization is a nonprofit that has a mission to connect “entrepreneurs, investors and other stakeholders to accelerate success in Florida’s thriving economies.”

The four days of programming include 25 sessions that feature the Orlando region and the breadth of technological advances that have been born from our area. Within those sessions, five members of the Orlando Tech Council will be featured:

Jeff Lutes, SVP of Technology, Orlando Magic will discuss the power of UV with local CEO of Violet Defense, Terry Berland.

Kirstie McCool, executive director of Guidewell Innovation Center will discuss the building blocks of healthy communities with experts from across the state.

Lilian Myers, executive director of StarterStudio and chair-elect of the Orlando Tech Council will discuss activating early-stage tech investments in the state.

In a fireside chat presented by the Orlando Tech Council, Jason Eichenholz, founder and CEO of Luminar, and Adam Scheinberg, vice president of information technology at Massey Services will discuss Luminar’s technology and how Orlando companies are changing the world.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the Orlando region’s impact at the event. Including the aforementioned sessions, leaders and specialists from 12 Orlando Economic Partnership investors and Orlando Regional Chamber members will be featured in another 11 sessions, with even more Orlando-based companies and community partners rounding out the region’s presence.

The Partnership’s own Nisha Brice, associate director of programs and partnerships, and Phoebe Fleming, director of research, will discuss upskilling and the future of work.

All discussions featuring Orlando region-based speakers are listed below. Be sure to register for the event that begins Monday, March 8 at 9 a.m.

Date	Time	Title	Orlando Region Company featured
Monday March 8	10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Launching  a Florida CleanTech Startup with NASA Technology	ecoSpears
Monday, March 8	11:30 a.m. – noon	Orlando 2050: Future Ready City	City of Orlando
Monday, March 8	11:30 a.m. – noon	How Innovative Tech Solutions Can Revolutionize The Pandemic Response	AdventHealth and Full Sail University
Tuesday, March 9	9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.	2021 and Beyond – the Growing Demand for Highly Skilled Cybersecurity Professionals	Full Sail University and Aspect Software
Tuesday, March 9	12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.	The Nexus of Space and Cyber: Space Florida & Cyber Florida	Space Florida, Cyber Florida and Enterprise Florida
Tuesday, March 9	3 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.	Transforming the Future of Space Infrastructure	Space Florida
Wednesday, March 10	9 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.	Upsurge Florida – Activating Early-Stage Tech Investments to Create a More Diverse Florida Economy	StarterStudio and Upsurge Florida
Wednesday, March 10	9:00 a.m. – 10 a.m.	The Value and Impact of Esports Across Central Florida	Full Sail University, High Point Gamer
Wednesday, March 10	10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Meet Florida’s Leading Investors	Arsenal Growth
Wednesday, March 10	10 a.m. – 11 a.m.	UpSkill Orlando: Prepare for the Future of Work and Attract the Right Talent	Orlando Economic Partnership
Wednesday, March 10	11:30 a.m. – noon	Is Florida Ready for Early-Stage Tech Investing?	Kirenaga
Wednesday, March 10	11:30 a.m. – noon	Everyday Play: How Game Designers Can Save the World	302 Interactive
Wednesday, March 10	1 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Getting Back to Business with the Power of UV	Orlando Magic, Violet Defense
Wednesday, March 10	1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.	Cultivating Culinary Innovation: Growing from Kitchen to Market	Publix
Thursday, March 11	9 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.	Innovation for Better Health: Connecting Drivers of Health	Florida Blue
Thursday, March 11	9 a.m. – 10 a.m.	Why Not Change The World? The Creation of Life-Changing Technologies in Orlando	Luminar, Massey Services
Thursday, March 11	9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.	Made in Florida: The Manufacturing Supply Chain and Its Resources	BRIDG, Florida Makes, Custom Metal Designs
Thursday, March 11	10 a.m. – 11 a.m.	Beyond Healthcare: Transforming Mental Health, Food Security and Health Equity across Florida	Florida Blue, Project Opioid, LIFT Orlando
Thursday, March 11	10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Leading Tech and Innovation in Education	Full Sail University
Thursday, March 11	10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Energy Independent Self-Driving Vehicles for Florida’s Retirement Communities and Recreational Parks	Florida Polytechnic University
Thursday, March 11	11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.	Building Blocks of Healthy Communities: Social Innovators that are Leading the Way	Guidewell Innovation Center
Thursday, March 11	1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Why So Few? Cracking the Code to Close the Tech Gender Gap	Tech Sassy Girlz
Thursday, March 11	3 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.	Censys in Flight: How the Demand for Data is Driving the Drone Market	Kirenaga
Thursday, March 11	3 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.	Fleet Farming: Ending Food Insecurity One Garden at a Time	Fleet Farming
Thursday, March 11	3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Supersonic Sustainable Flight – Built in Florida – is Coming	Aerion Supersonic Synapse