Orlando’s annual company match-making event, TechMatch, underscores the community’s collaborative business environment.
PHOTO CREDIT: Orange County Government.
Major employers like Orlando Magic, Siemens, and AdventHealth often look no further than their own backyards for innovative solutions. When the Orlando Magic needed to forecast its fan’s behavior, the organization employed local tech firm Datanautix’s unique AI solution to drive actionable insights for an improved fan experience.
Datanautix secured its contract with the Magic at Florida TechMatch, an annual event that gathers and connects large companies with small firms and entrepreneurs in order to spark local collaborations and strengthen the home-grown tech economy in Orlando. Since its inception in 2016, TechMatch has helped small tech innovators connect with the region’s major enterprises including companies like Verizon, NBC Universal and AdventHealth.
“Sometimes all a growing tech startup needs to succeed and grow is product validation, relationship partners and customers,” said Carlos Carbonell, CEO of Echo Interaction Group, which specializes in Mobile Applications and recently developed a solution for companies to deploy Augmented Reality. The company co-hosts TechMatch in partnership with Orange County Government each year.
“Focusing on local partnerships may be the catalyst for incredible growth for a lot of startups and growing tech businesses. Buying local, mentorship, and business relationship building is the key to our success.”
Carlos Carbonell, CEO of Echo Interaction Group
Events like TechMatch are wildly successful in Orlando because of its collaborative business community. When Orlando City Soccer Club needed to build a highly immersive mobile application, it worked with local company Concepta. Siemens partnered with UV technology innovators Violet Defense to improve sanitation in hospital facilities, and has a long history of advancing research and innovation at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Car technology firm Voxx Automotive joined forces with UniKey to build a keyless entry system solution for hotels. Massey Services is inventing cutting-edge sensor technology in partnership with the microelectronics fabrication facility BRIDG, taking advantage of the fab’s start-of-the-art equipment. And the list goes on.
“The tech resources and capabilities in the area are growing and, perhaps more importantly, there’s an attitude here that fosters collaboration,” Voxx Automotive’s Orlando-based President Ed Mas told the Orlando Business Journal.
That sentiment is echoed by Gordon Folkes, CEO of Archer First Response Systems, who also made a meaningful connection at TechMatch 2017 with an engineering firm. Archer went on to contract this firm and work with them through a second iteration of a critical hardware component of their drone deployment system.
“After applying to TechMatch, I was immediately accepted into the program and welcomed by the event organizers. A welcoming community and connections to other businesses precedes success, especially when building new and innovative solutions; TechMatch was an early representation of that community for us here in Orlando.”
Gordon Folkes, CEO of Archer First Response Systems
Orlando’s technology community has grown from its role in taking man to the moon and been cultivated over the years by its thriving tourism industry. But at the heart of the region’s experience-based economy is a tight-knit ecosystem working together on tomorrow’s technologies. Events like TechMatch exemplify the collaborative ethos of the tech community. That’s why so many established companies in the region are open to partnering with entrepreneurs and growing firms to develop creative solutions for their most pressing business challenges.
2019 Florida TechMatch Results
The 2019 Florida TechMatch gave buyers and suppliers the opportunity to meet and dialogue with contract managers and supplier diversity representatives from various corporate and state agencies. A total of 20 registered buyers and 83 registered suppliers participated in 154 meetings during the matchmaker program.
