The conversation goes beyond business, touching on Orlando’s growing startup ecosystem, its collaborative culture, and what makes the region such fertile ground for innovators.
In this episode of The City Playbook, Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) President & CEO Tim Giuliani sits down with Sal Rehmetullah, co-founder of Stax and now co-founder and president of Worth AI, to talk about entrepreneurship, reinvention, and why he continues to build — and invest — in Orlando.
Sal shares the story behind creating the Orlando region’s first unicorn, Staxx, a fintech company that started with a small local team and grew to more than 500 employees before its billion-dollar acquisition. After the exit, Sal could have built his next company anywhere — but chose to stay in Orlando, launching Worth AI with his sister and business partner, Suneera Madhani, to revolutionize how small businesses access credit.
“We wanted to do it here again,” Sal says. “Orlando gave us the foundation, the talent, and the community that believed in us. We feel loyal to this city and want to help put it on the map.”
The conversation goes beyond business, touching on Orlando’s growing startup ecosystem, its collaborative culture, and what makes the region such fertile ground for innovators. Sal also shares his vision for the city’s future — one where downtown continues to evolve into a more walkable, connected destination filled with local restaurants, public spaces, and experiences that attract both talent and investment.
His story captures the spirit of Orlando 2045 — a region working together to build a globally competitive economy rooted in innovation, inclusion, and community.
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