BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//CalDiscovery//caldiscovery//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH DESCRIPTION:Discovered and maintained by CalDiscovery (https://caldiscover y.com). Event details belong to their publishers. Contains information fro m CalDiscovery\, which is made available under the ODbL 1.0. SOURCE:https://caldiscovery.com/orlando-fl/community.ics X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H X-WR-CALDESC:Discovered and maintained by CalDiscovery (https://caldiscove ry.com). Event details belong to their publishers. Contains information fr om CalDiscovery\, which is made available under the ODbL 1.0. X-WR-CALNAME:CalDiscovery - orlando-fl (community) BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20260905T130000Z DTEND:20260905T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022930Z UID:7522-1788598800-1788613200@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022930Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2026 -09-05/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Vendor Rush Altamonte Springs - Cranes Roost Park - 5 Sep 26 11:00 DTSTART:20260905T150000Z DTEND:20260905T210000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31769@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,market DESCRIPTION:At Vendor Rush\, our mission is to create vibrant\, community- driven pop-up markets where local entrepreneurs\, artisans\, and small bus inesses can thrive. As we return to a different location\, we’re proud t o feature over 25 vendors and are dedicated to providing a dynamic and wel coming space that celebrates creativity\, supports economic growth\, and f osters meaningful connections between vendors and the community. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Cranes Roost Park\, 150 Cranes Roost Blvd\, Altamonte Springs\, F lorida\, 32701\, Seminole County\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/vendor-rush-altamonte-springs/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20260906T090000Z DTEND:20260906T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002016-1788685200-1788688800@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-09 -06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20260906T110000Z DTEND:20260906T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003689-1788692400-1788696900@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-09-06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Creative Connections DTSTART:20260906T160000Z DTEND:20260906T193000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10002239-1788696000-1788708600@omart.org CATEGORIES:arts,community DESCRIPTION:Select Sundays\, Adults\, Noon-1:30 pm\; Youth & Families 2:00 – 3:30 pm \nThis program connects visitors of all ages with development al and learning disabilities and those on the autism spectrum to art and t he world around them. \nFREE\, Pre-Registration is Required \nPlease call 407.896.4231 ext. 262 to register or email education@omart.org \n  \nCrea tive Connections is sponsored by the Joseph G. Markoly Foundation. \nAddit ional support is provided by the Parkinson Association of Central Florida and the Joe & Sarah Galloway Foundation. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Orlando Museum of Art\, 2416 N. Mills Ave.\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803 \, United States URL:https://omart.org/events/creative-connections-2026-09-06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Museum of Art X-SOURCE-URL:https://omart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Renaissance Sundays (Sunday Funday) at Anthem DTSTART:20260906T180000Z DTEND:20260907T060000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022921Z UID:10007876-1788703200-1788746400@anthemorlando.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Renaissance Sunday at Anthem \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor years\, Su ndays in Orlando meant connection. They meant sunshine\, laughter\, and th ose long afternoons surrounded by the people who just get you. We danced\, we laughed\, we celebrated together.And now… those vibes are back.This Sunday\, Anthem is bringing the Renaissance of those legendary Ember Sunda ys – a space where our community can unwind\, reconnect\, and remember w hy Sundays were always the best day of the week for us to come together in celebration and good times!  Sip something delicious. Catch up with ol d friends and make new ones. Let the music lift you\, just like it used t o.Because we all deserve a space that feels like home.A place where the en ergy is bright\, the love is real\, and the weekend doesn’t end until we say it does. Anthem Nightclub – 100 N Orange Ave\, Downtown Orlando w ww.anthemorlando.com facebook.com/anthemnightclub#RenaissanceSunday #Ant hemOrlando #SundayFunday #LGBT \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Mike Vacirca\n \n\n \n \n Mike Vacirca is a co-founder and owner of Anthem Orlando\, the LGBTQ+ nightclub at 100 N O range Ave in downtown Orlando. He opened Anthem in October 2025 with co-fo under Emmanuel Quiñones\, built as a gathering place for Central Florida' s LGBTQ+ community in the years after Pulse. He books the club's Global DJ Lineup\, programs Orlando Pride weekend and EDM WEEKND\, and works the ro om most nights it is open. He writes these Orlando nightlife guides from b ehind the bar\, not from a desk.\n \n See Full Bio LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022921Z LOCATION:Anthem Orlando\, 100 North Orange Ave\, Orlando\, Florida\, 32801 \, United States URL:https://anthemorlando.com/event/renaissance-sundays-sunday-funday-at-a nthem-3/2026-09-06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Anthem Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://anthemorlando.com/things-to-do-downtown-orlando-at-ni ght END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20260909T190000Z DTEND:20260909T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001692-1788980400-1788985800@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-09-09/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Baldwin Park Valor Clinic DTSTART:20260909T220000Z DTEND:20260910T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3755-1788966000-1788973200@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Baldwin Park Valor Clinic\, 5201 Raymond Street\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/baldwin-park-valor-clinic-4/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Welcoming Week DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260910 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260920 DTSTAMP:20260829T182209Z UID:10011189-1788998400-1789862399@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\nFrom September 10–1 9\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week acr oss all 15 of our Family Centers. \nWelcoming Week is an opportunity to br ing neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities unique\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whether you ’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offe r\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experience Pass . Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, d iscover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why t he YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \nThe Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrou nds\, and experiences can come together\, build relationships\, and find o pportunities to grow. \nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming W eek 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T182209Z LOCATION:YMCA of Central Florida\, 433 N. Mills Ave\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803 \, United States URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/welcoming-week/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Downtown Orlando YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:120995-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Downtown Orlando YMCA\, 433 N. Mills Ave\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/downtown-orlando-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. P. Phillips YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121042-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Dr. P. Phillips YMCA\, 7000 Dr Phillips Blvd\, Orlando\, FL\, 328 19\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/dr-p-phillips-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Golden Triangle YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121048-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Golden Triangle YMCA\, 1465 David Walker Dr\, Tavares\, FL\, 3277 8\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/golden-triangle-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:J. Douglas Williams YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121051-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:J. Douglas Williams YMCA\, 665 Longwood Lake Mary Rd\, Lake Mary\ , FL\, 32746\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/j-douglas-williams-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121060-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Lake Nona YMCA\, 9055 Northlake Pkwy\, Orlando\, FL\, 32827\, Uni ted States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/lake-nona-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121065-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family YMCA\, 2178 Packing District Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 32804\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/leonard-marjorie-williams-family-ymca-welcomi ng-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Osceola County YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121068-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Osceola County YMCA\, 2117 W Mabbette St\, Kissimmee\, FL\, 34741 \, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/osceola-county-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Oviedo YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121072-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Oviedo YMCA\, 7900 Red Bug Lake Rd.\, Oviedo\, FL\, 32765\, Unite d States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/oviedo-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Parrish Health & Fitness Center Operated by the YMCA of Central Fl orida Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121075-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Parrish Health & Fitness Center Operated by the YMCA of Central F lorida\, 2210 Cheney Hwy\, Titusville\, Florida\, 32780\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/parrish-health-fitness-center-operated-by-the -ymca-of-central-florida-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Roper YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121084-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Roper YMCA\, 100 Windermere Rd\, Winter Garden\, FL\, 34787\, Uni ted States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/roper-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:South Orlando YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121088-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:South Orlando YMCA\, 814 W. Oak Ridge Road\, Orlando\, Florida\, 32819 URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/south-orlando-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Titusville YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121091-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Titusville YMCA\, 2400 Harrison St\, Titusville\, FL\, 32780\, Un ited States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/titusville-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Wayne Densch YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121094-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Wayne Densch YMCA\, 870 N Hastings St\, Orlando\, FL\, 32808\, Un ited States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/wayne-densch-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Winter Park YMCA Welcoming Week 2026 DTSTART:20260910T040000Z DTEND:20260920T035959Z DTSTAMP:20260826T190402Z UID:121097-1788998400-1789862399@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Place Where Every Neighbor Belongs\n\n\n\nFrom September 1 0–19\, 2026\, the YMCA of Central Florida is celebrating Welcoming Week across all 15 of our Family Centers. \n\n\n\nWelcoming Week is an opportun ity to bring neighbors together\, celebrate what makes our communities uni que\, and create connections that help everyone feel like they belong. Whe ther you’re new to the Y or simply curious to explore everything we have to offer\, we invite you to experience the Y with a free One Week Experie nce Pass. Explore our Family Center\, try a Group Exercise class\, take a swim\, discover programs\, meet your neighbors\, and find new ways to stay active and connected. \n\n\n\nGet your free One Week Experience Pass and discover why the YMCA is the place where every neighbor belongs. \n\n\n\nT he Y is more than a place to work out. We’re a community where people of all ages\, backgrounds\, and experiences can come together\, build relati onships\, and find opportunities to grow. \n\n\n\nCome experience the Y\, meet your community\, and find your place here. \n\n\n\nWe can’t wait to welcome you during Welcoming Week 2026! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T190402Z LOCATION:Winter Park YMCA\, 1201 N Lakemont Ave\, Winter Park\, FL\, 32792 \, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/winter-park-ymca-welcoming-week-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Trivia Night DTSTART:20260910T230000Z DTEND:20260911T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T060205Z UID:27354-1789066800-1789074000@ivanhoeparkbrewing.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T060205Z URL:https://ivanhoeparkbrewing.com/event/trivia-night-370/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company - Orlando\, Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ivanhoeparkbrewing.com/events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20260911T000000Z DTEND:20260911T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:664-1789070400-1789077600@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-19/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Unity in the Community - Orlo Vista Park - 12 Sep 26 10:00 DTSTART:20260912T140000Z DTEND:20260912T200000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31807@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,food DESCRIPTION:Unity in the Community — A Day of Community Care\n\nJoin us on Saturday\, September 12\, 2026\, for Unity in the Community\, a special day of love\, service\, and support for families in our community. This o utreach event will bring together neighbors\, volunteers\, churches\, and community partners to provide practical resources\, encouragement\, and ho pe.\nThe event will feature grocery giveaways\, personal care items\, clot hing distribution\, health screenings\, community resource referrals\, foo d trucks\, singing\, and an uplifting faith-based message. It is designed to serve families with compassion while connecting them to helpful service s and caring support. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Orlo Vista Park\, 1 N Powers Dr\, Orlando\, Fl\, 32835\, United S tates URL:https://zradio.org/events/unity-in-the-community/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Love Like Jace: Fun in the Sun - Dr P. Phillips YMCA - 12 Sep 26 1 0:00 DTSTART:20260912T140000Z DTEND:20260912T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31801@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Love Like Jace is a nonprofit organization founded in memory o f Jace Lucas Leslie with a mission to advance children's safety through ed ucation\, advocacy\, and community outreach. Inspired by the tragic loss o f Jace\, the organization works to raise awareness about preventable child safety issues—particularly hot car deaths—while equipping families wi th resources that help protect children. In addition to prevention efforts \, Love Like Jace offers hope\, encouragement\, and support to grieving fa milies\, transforming personal loss into a mission of compassion\, healing \, and positive change within the community.\n\nThe Fun in the Sun event i s Love Like Jace's signature annual community outreach event that brings f amilies together for a day of fun while promoting children's safety and ho noring the life and legacy of Jace Lucas Leslie. This event features famil y-friendly activities\, live entertainment\, food vendors\, community orga nizations\, and educational resources focused on child safety. Through a p ositive and engaging atmosphere\, Fun in the Sun reflects Love Like Jace's mission of turning loss into hope by educating\, empowering\, and protect ing children while bringing the community together. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Dr P. Phillips YMCA\, 7000 Dr. Phillips Blvd\, Orlando\, FL\, 328 19\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/love-like-jace-fun-in-the-sun/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Blessing of the Animals Service - Upsala Presbyterian Church - 12 Sep 26 10:00 DTSTART:20260912T140000Z DTEND:20260912T143000Z DTSTAMP:20260803T181504Z UID:31854@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:This will be a short service in the church parking lot to ask God’s blessings on our animal companions. Each pet present will receive an individual blessing. These animal friends of ours are family. They are not just loved by us\; they are loved by God. LAST-MODIFIED:20260803T181504Z LOCATION:Upsala Presbyterian Church\, 101 Upsala Road\, Sandford\, Florida /Seminole\, 32771\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/blessing-of-the-animals-service/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Community Outreach Event - Oak Park Elementary - 12 Sep 26 12:00 DTSTART:20260912T160000Z DTEND:20260912T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260904T181409Z UID:31940@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,family DESCRIPTION:The Way Church is excited to welcome the Titusville community to its September 12th Community Outreach Event! This family-friendly event is open to everyone in the Titusville area and provides an opportunity fo r the community to come together\, enjoy a fun afternoon\, and support loc al families.\nThe Way Church will provide free non-perishable groceries to more than 600 families in need\, available on a first come\, first served basis. Along with free food for guests\, kids can enjoy bounce houses\, b alloon animals\, face painting\, and more. Adults can visit several “Ask an Expert” booths for helpful information and practical resources.\nFor some extra fun\, guests won’t want to miss the dunk tank featuring the Mayor of Titusville and others! Families are encouraged to bring their nei ghbors and join The Way Church as they serve and celebrate the Titusville community together. LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T181409Z LOCATION:Oak Park Elementary\, 3395 Dairy Rd.\, Titusville\, FL\, 32901\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/community-outreach-event/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Level 99 at Disney Springs DTSTART:20260912T180000Z DTEND:20260912T210000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022958Z UID:event_316240286@meetup.com CATEGORIES:community,gaming DESCRIPTION:Orlando in Action\nLevel99 at Disney Springs is a large\, real ‑world social gaming venue featuring 60+ life‑sized physical and menta l mini‑games\, challenge rooms\, player‑vs‑player duels\, and an art scavenger hunt\, designed for teens and adults. It is located on the West Side in the former NBA Experience building and includes a 2‑story bar a nd scratch kitchen.\n\nWe're going to do the **2:30 PM slot for 1.5 hours* *\, but make sure you're inside on time because once it starts\, I won't b e able to go back out to look for anyone who arrives late.\n\n• Parking\ nFree parking. I believe the closest parking garage to Level 99 is the **O range Garage**\n\n• Cost\n$39.99. To purchase your ticket\, go here:\n[S chedule | Level99 Ticketing](https://ticketing.level99.com/schedule)\nMake sure you select the 1.5-hour slot for 2:30 PM.\n\nFor more info on exhibi ts\, go to:\n[Events | Level99](https://level99.com/events?loc=disney-spri ngs-fl)\n\nAfterwards\, we may grab some food at the venue LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022958Z URL:https://www.meetup.com/orlando-in-action/events/316240286/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando in Action END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20260913T090000Z DTEND:20260913T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002017-1789290000-1789293600@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-09 -13/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20260913T110000Z DTEND:20260913T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003690-1789297200-1789301700@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-09-13/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Church Grand Opening - 300 Tucker Lane\, Cocoa\, FL 32926 - 13 Sep 26 09:15 DTSTART:20260913T131500Z DTEND:20260913T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T181509Z UID:31924@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,family DESCRIPTION:Coastal Community Church is hosting their grand opening in Coc oa\, Florida on Sunday\, September 13th. Two service times: 9:15 AM and 10 :45 AM. A Church your entire family will enjoy. Upbeat music. Fun kids pro gram. Relevant message. Authentic people. Attend the grand opening and enj oy a free T-shirt. Everyone's welcome. Nobody's perfect. Anything's possib le. LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T181509Z LOCATION:300 Tucker Lane\, Cocoa\, FL 32926\, 300 Tucker Lane\, Cocoa\, FL \, 32926\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/church-grand-opening/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Renaissance Sundays (Sunday Funday) at Anthem DTSTART:20260913T180000Z DTEND:20260914T060000Z DTSTAMP:20260902T000701Z UID:10007877-1789308000-1789351200@anthemorlando.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Renaissance Sunday at Anthem \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFor years\, Su ndays in Orlando meant connection. They meant sunshine\, laughter\, and th ose long afternoons surrounded by the people who just get you. We danced\, we laughed\, we celebrated together.And now… those vibes are back.This Sunday\, Anthem is bringing the Renaissance of those legendary Ember Sunda ys – a space where our community can unwind\, reconnect\, and remember w hy Sundays were always the best day of the week for us to come together in celebration and good times!  Sip something delicious. Catch up with ol d friends and make new ones. Let the music lift you\, just like it used t o.Because we all deserve a space that feels like home.A place where the en ergy is bright\, the love is real\, and the weekend doesn’t end until we say it does. Anthem Nightclub – 100 N Orange Ave\, Downtown Orlando w ww.anthemorlando.com facebook.com/anthemnightclub#RenaissanceSunday #Ant hemOrlando #SundayFunday #LGBT \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Mike Vacirca\n \n\n \n \n Mike Vacirca is a co-founder and owner of Anthem Orlando\, the LGBTQ+ nightclub at 100 N O range Ave in downtown Orlando. He opened Anthem in October 2025 with co-fo under Emmanuel Quiñones\, built as a gathering place for Central Florida' s LGBTQ+ community in the years after Pulse. He books the club's Global DJ Lineup\, programs Orlando Pride weekend and EDM WEEKND\, and works the ro om most nights it is open. He writes these Orlando nightlife guides from b ehind the bar\, not from a desk.\n \n See Full Bio LAST-MODIFIED:20260902T000701Z LOCATION:Anthem Orlando\, 100 North Orange Ave\, Orlando\, Florida\, 32801 \, United States URL:https://anthemorlando.com/event/renaissance-sundays-sunday-funday-at-a nthem-3/2026-09-13/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Anthem Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://anthemorlando.com/things-to-do-downtown-orlando-at-ni ght END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Car Show & Meet DTSTART:20260913T203000Z DTEND:20260914T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260905T062211Z UID:28069-1789317000-1789329600@ivanhoeparkbrewing.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260905T062211Z URL:https://ivanhoeparkbrewing.com/event/car-show-meet-7/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company - Orlando\, Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ivanhoeparkbrewing.com/events END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Panhellenic Mandatory Recruitment Mtg DTSTART:20260913T213000Z DTEND:20260913T223000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:77990-1789320600-1789324200@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: NORRIS – Norris Hall – Lecture Hall – 101 LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/panhellenic-mandatory-recruitment-mtg/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Brain Corps DTSTART:20260914T190000Z DTEND:20260914T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:80099-1789398000-1789408800@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: Baldwin Hall – Mary Sykes Room LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/brain-corps/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Blended Hearts and Home - Northland Church - 14 Sep 26 19:00 DTSTART:20260914T230000Z DTEND:20260915T003000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31789@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Navigating the “messy middle” of blended family life is a journey that requires grace\, truth\, and community. Blended Hearts & Home provides a safe\, faith-based space for couples and co-parents to find co nnection and practical support for the unique challenges of blending lives \, kids\, and histories.\n\nA free\, peer-led community for families to su pport families. We aren’t therapists\, we’re just couples who are walk ing the same path and want to share the tools that have helped us. Free Su pervised Child Care is provided during meeting times. We meet weekly on Mo ndays.\n\nTogether\, we explore transformative teachings from Ron Deal and other trusted experts\, helping you and your partner to become one\, your family adjust\, grow\, and thrive. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or just looking for a community that truly understands your path\, you are w elcome here. Join us as we bridge hearts and homes through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Northland Church\, 530 Dog Track Road\, Longwood\, FL\, 32750\, U nited States URL:https://zradio.org/events/blended-hearts-and-home/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20260915T160000Z DTEND:20260915T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001637-1789473600-1789477200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2026-09-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Brain Corps DTSTART:20260915T190000Z DTEND:20260915T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:80100-1789484400-1789495200@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: Baldwin Hall – Mary Sykes Room LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/brain-corps-2/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting DTSTART:20260916T000000Z DTEND:20260916T013000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:c88g7r3ki9bl81358obkd32b14_R20240522T000000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Monthly business meeting. All members are invited to discuss FamiLAB business.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/mhc-fc mv-dox\nOr dial: (US) +1 754-216-8365 PIN: 700398705#\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB\, 400 North St #152\, Longwood\, FL 32750\, USA\, FamiLAB -Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20260916T190000Z DTEND:20260916T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001693-1789585200-1789590600@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-09-16/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Brain Corps DTSTART:20260916T190000Z DTEND:20260916T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:80101-1789570800-1789581600@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: Baldwin Hall – Mary Sykes Room LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/brain-corps-3/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Beyond Albion 2026 DTSTART:20260916T200000Z DTEND:20260916T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:79059-1789574400-1789581600@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Beyond Albion is the partnership of 4 on-campus institutes an d centers: the Career and Internship Center (CIC)\, Carl A. Gerstacker Ins titute for Business and Management\, Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadersh ip in Public Policy and Service\, and the Center for Sustainability and th e Environment (CSE). Held in the fall\, this event is for students seeking full-time employment\, internships\, post-graduate or professional school information\, or service project opportunities. \nLocation: Baldwin Hall – Upper Baldwin Ballroom LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/beyond-albion-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:VEI Business and Brews 9.16.26 DTSTART:20260916T213000Z DTEND:20260916T233000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000329-1789579800-1789587000@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,drink DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z LOCATION:Rock & Brews\, 7131 Red Bug Lake Road\, Oviedo\, FL\, 32765\, Uni ted States URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/vei-business-and-brews-9-16-26/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20260916T220000Z DTEND:20260917T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3781-1789570800-1789578000@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-9/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:College Fair DTSTART:20260917T100000Z DTEND:20260917T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:80906-1789624800-1789650000@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: VEHICLE – WHITE REGAL LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/college-fair-2/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Access for All DTSTART:20260917T140000Z DTEND:20260918T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260730T060327Z UID:10001134-1789639200-1789675200@omart.org CATEGORIES:arts,community DESCRIPTION:Generous support provided by the Art Bridges Foundation’s Ac cess for All program.\nAccess for All at OMA is a monthly free day dedicat ed to the community. On the third Thursday of each month\, we’ll extend our hours from 10 AM to 8 PM\, offering free admission to all visitors. Ea ch event will feature live performances\, educational experiences\, and mo re! Sketching materials will be available to visitors between 5 pm and 7 p m\, and a docent-led highlights tour will be held at 7 pm. LAST-MODIFIED:20260730T060327Z LOCATION:Orlando Museum of Art\, 2416 N. Mills Ave.\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803 \, United States URL:https://omart.org/events/access-for-all-2-2026-09-17/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Museum of Art X-SOURCE-URL:https://omart.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Grief Support Group DTSTART:20260917T190000Z DTEND:20260917T200000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001881-1789671600-1789675200@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Living with Loss\, Healing with Hopeunitorlf LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/grief-support-group-4/2026-09-17/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Brain Corps DTSTART:20260917T190000Z DTEND:20260917T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:80102-1789657200-1789668000@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: Baldwin Hall – Mary Sykes Room LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/brain-corps-4/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Constitution Cupcake Break! DTSTART:20260917T203000Z DTEND:20260917T213000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T122530Z UID:80931-1789662600-1789666200@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join the Ford Institute for Constitution Day 2026. Let's revis it the world's longest surviving written government charter and share your thoughts on the words that started it all: "We the people …"  \nYou'r e invited for an open discussion and trivia contest — free copies of the U.S. Constitution and cupcakes available while supplies last! \nLocation: Kellogg Center – Belonging Lounge – 222 LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T122530Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/constitution-cupcake-break/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Night of Laughs - Living Hope Church of Clermont - 17 Sep 26 17:30 DTSTART:20260917T213000Z DTEND:20260918T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31911@zradio.org CATEGORIES:comedy,community DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Living Hope Church of Clermont invites t he community to its 14-Year Celebration\, featuring a FREE comedy show wit h Mickey Bell on Thursday\, September 17 at 7 p.m.in The Wesley Center.\n\ nLife is heavy. Let’s laugh about it! Celebrate Recovery is marking 14 y ears of helping people find hope and healing with a night of laughter. Wit h more than 104\,000 TikTok followers\, Mickey Bell performs over 250 even ts each year\, helping audiences laugh\, connect\, and leave feeling bette r than they arrived.\n\nAfter losing everything\, Mickey rebuilt his life through faith\, counseling\, Celebrate Recovery\, medication\, and a lot o f laughter. Today\, he uses comedy to remind others they aren’t alone. E veryone has a story—and sometimes laughter can open the door to healing. \n\nPastor Dawn Carter said\, “Over 14 years ago\, we felt such a burden for people struggling with so many issues and in need of support. We lear ned about a life-changing program called Celebrate Recovery and felt moved by God to bring this much-needed ministry to South Lake County.”\n\nCel ebrate Recovery offers healing and gender-specific support for any hurt\, habit\, or hang-up\, including abuse\, addictions\, anger\, anxiety\, code pendency\, depression\, grief and loss\, and more. Children and youth have groups too.\n\nFestivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and a face pain ter\, followed by Praise & Worship and live stand-up comedy with Mickey Be ll.\n\nThe Wesley Center at Living Hope Church of Clermont\n715 W. Juniata Street\, Clermont\, FL 34711\nwww.livinghope.today LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:Living Hope Church of Clermont\, 950 7th Street\, Clermont\, FL\, 34711\, Lake County\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/night-of-laughs/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Kingdom Connections Singles Weekend - Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress - 17 Sep 26 18:00 DTSTART:20260917T220000Z DTEND:20260920T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31892@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,dance DESCRIPTION:Kingdom Connections Christian Singles Weekend is a four-day ex perience designed to bring Christian singles together for faith\, fellowsh ip\, personal growth\, and meaningful connections. Taking place September 17–20\, 2026\, in Orlando\, Florida\, the weekend will feature interacti ve workshops\, relationship discussions\, speed dating\, live entertainmen t\, salsa dancing\, fitness activities\, networking opportunities\, and an elegant red-carpet gala. Attendees will enjoy a fun\, welcoming environme nt while connecting with like-minded Christian singles from across the cou ntry. LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress\, One Grand Cypress Boulevard\, Orlan do\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/kingdom-connections-singles-weekend/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Panhellenic PNM Orientation DTSTART:20260917T230000Z DTEND:20260918T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260902T062429Z UID:78207-1789671600-1789678800@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: Baldwin Hall – Upper Baldwin Ballroom LAST-MODIFIED:20260902T062429Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/panhellenic-pnm-orientation/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20260918T000000Z DTEND:20260918T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:665-1789675200-1789682400@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20260918T160000Z DTEND:20260918T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001756-1789732800-1789736400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 26-09-18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:IFC Dean's List Desserts DTSTART:20260918T213000Z DTEND:20260918T233000Z DTSTAMP:20260905T062321Z UID:78778-1789752600-1789759800@www.albion.edu CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Location: Baldwin Hall – Upper Baldwin Ballroom LAST-MODIFIED:20260905T062321Z URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/ifc-deans-list-desserts/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Albion College X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.albion.edu/event/mens-tennis-vs-moravian-universi ty END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Cena Conferencia: Juntos y de acuerdo - Fl 34711 - 18 Sep 26 20:00 DTSTART:20260919T000000Z DTEND:20260919T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31889@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,food DESCRIPTION:Una experiencia especial para parejas que desean crecer juntos \, fortalecer su amor y caminar en el propósito de Dios.\n\nLas mejores r elaciones no suceden por casualidad\; se construyen con amor\, comunicaci ón y un propósito compartido. En un mundo donde las prisas\, las diferen cias y los desafíos ponen a prueba las relaciones\, descubrir cómo camin ar juntos hace toda la diferencia.\n\nTe invitamos a una noche especial de cena y conferencia donde exploraremos principios prácticos y bíblicos p ara fortalecer el matrimonio\, crecer en unidad y disfrutar una relación más sana\, profunda y duradera.\n\nYa sea que lleven poco tiempo casados o muchos años\, esta experiencia les brindará herramientas\, inspiració n y un tiempo de calidad para invertir en lo más valioso: su relación.\n \nhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/cena-conferencia-juntos-y-de-acuerdo-ticket s-1995466730708 LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Fl 34711\, 131 Chestnut St\, Clermont\, Florida\, 34711\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/cena-conferencia-juntos-y-de-acuerdo/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Splash Day - Friends Community Church - 19 Sep 26 10:00 DTSTART:20260919T140000Z DTEND:20260919T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T181509Z UID:31927@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,food,outdoors DESCRIPTION:Join us for our second annual splash day on the FCC lawn. Ther e will be a bounce house\, water activities\, and food. This event is free and open to the community. Invite a friend! LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T181509Z LOCATION:Friends Community Church\, 53 Dean Rd.\, Orlando\, Florida\, 3282 5\, Florida\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/splash-day/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ultimate Frisbee Saturday! DTSTART:20260919T140000Z DTEND:20260919T163000Z DTSTAMP:20260905T070912Z UID:event_316338665@meetup.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Volleyball & Adventures\nCome join for a friendly game of ulti mate frisbee! This game is played much like soccer+football combined where the objective is to pass the frisbee from person to person all the way to the endzone. The only skills needed are ability to run and to throw a fri sbee. Beginners welcome! LAST-MODIFIED:20260905T070912Z URL:https://www.meetup.com/vball-adventures/events/316338665/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Volleyball & Adventures END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20260920T090000Z DTEND:20260920T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002018-1789894800-1789898400@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-09 -20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20260920T110000Z DTEND:20260920T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003691-1789902000-1789906500@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-09-20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Blended Hearts and Home - Northland Church - 21 Sep 26 19:00 DTSTART:20260921T230000Z DTEND:20260922T003000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31866@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Navigating the “messy middle” of blended family life is a journey that requires grace\, truth\, and community. Blended Hearts & Home provides a safe\, faith-based space for couples and co-parents to find co nnection and practical support for the unique challenges of blending lives \, kids\, and histories.\n\nA free\, peer-led community for families to su pport families. We aren’t therapists\, we’re just couples who are walk ing the same path and want to share the tools that have helped us. Free Su pervised Child Care is provided during meeting times. We meet weekly on Mo ndays.\n\nTogether\, we explore transformative teachings from Ron Deal and other trusted experts\, helping you and your partner to become one\, your family adjust\, grow\, and thrive. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or just looking for a community that truly understands your path\, you are w elcome here. Join us as we bridge hearts and homes through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.\n\nSign Up here: https://northlandchurch.churchcenter.co m/groups/groups/blended-hearts-home LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Northland Church\, 530 Dog Track Road\, Longwood\, FL\, 32750\, U nited States URL:https://zradio.org/events/blended-hearts-and-home-2/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - Orlando Chapter Voter Education Mixer DTSTART:20260922T213000Z DTEND:20260922T233000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000343-1790098200-1790105400@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z LOCATION:Pilars Martini & Loft\, 146 West Plant Street\, #Suite 120 & 210\ , Winter Garden\, FL\, 34787\, United States URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-orland o-chapter-voter-education-mixer/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20260923T190000Z DTEND:20260923T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001694-1790190000-1790195400@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-09-23/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Community Plant-Based Potluck DTSTART:20260924T180000Z DTEND:20260924T193000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T181315Z UID:9425-1790272800-1790278200@4rootsfarm.org CATEGORIES:community,food DESCRIPTION:Join a space where food meets creativity\, flavor\, and commun ity.  The Culinary Health Institute’s Monthly Community Potluck is root ed in sharing food and conversation\, meeting new people\, and sharing the journey of living a plant-based lifestyle.  Whether you’re fully plant -based\, plant-curious\, or just love good food and good conversation\, al l are welcome to this free event. \n🍽️ Bring a Dish: \nPlease prepar e a plant-based dish that serves at least 10 people.  Don’t forget to i nclude the recipe with ingredients listed so guests can remake your recipe at home. \nPlant-based only: \n\n\nNo animal-based products (that include s meat\, chicken\, fish. Watch out for chicken broth\, fish/bonita flakes and bacon bits)\nNo dairy (butter\, cheese\, milk\, etc.)\, egg\, or honey \n\n\n🥬 Plant-based curious or not a cook? No problem! Join in by bring ing something simple like: (make sure you bring enough for 10 people) \n\n Fruit\nVeggies with hummus or baba ghanoush\nPita chips and salsa\nA mix o f nuts and olives\n\n🗣️ Let’s Talk Food & Community: \nThroughout t he evening\, you’re invited to share the meal\, engage in thoughtful con versation about your plant-based journey\, food\, sustainability\, and the role plant-based choices can play in building a healthier future—for ou rselves and our planet. \nCome hungry for more than just great food—come ready to connect\, learn\, and grow! 💚 \nMust register to hold your sp ot. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T181315Z LOCATION:4Roots Farm Campus\, 1101 N. John Young Parkway\, Parkway Orlando \, FL\, 32804\, United States URL:https://4rootsfarm.org/event/community-plant-based-potluck-2/ X-SOURCE-NAME:4Roots Farm X-SOURCE-URL:https://4rootsfarm.org/farmers-market END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening: Total Allergy\, Asthma & Immunolog y DTSTART:20260924T210000Z DTEND:20260924T230000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001940-1790269200-1790276400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce as we celebrate the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for Total Allergy\, Asthma & Immunology ’s newest office in Dr. Phillips! \nTour the brand-new facility\, meet t he medical team\, and connect with fellow local professionals and communit y members. Guests will enjoy complimentary light bites and refreshments th roughout the evening. \nEvent Details \n\n\nDate: Thursday\, September 24\ , 2026 \n\n\nTime: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: 7350 Sand Lake Comm ons Blvd\, Suite 1100\, Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nAdmission: Complimentary (Open House & Ribbon Cutting) \n\n\nRefreshments: Light bites and beverage s provided \n\n\nRSVP Information Please confirm your attendance by contac ting Vanessa Perez at vperez@entorlando.com LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z LOCATION:Total Allergy\, Asthma & Immunology\, 7350 Sand Lake Commons Blvd \, Suite 1100\, Orlando\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ribbon-cutting-grand-opening-total -allergy-asthma-immunology/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - Jacksonville Voter Education Mi xer DTSTART:20260924T213000Z DTEND:20260924T233000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000347-1790271000-1790278200@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,education DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z LOCATION:Culhane’s Irish Pub & Restaurant\, 9720 Deer Lake Court\, Jacks onville\, FL\, 32246\, United States URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-jackso nville-voter-education-mixer/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20260925T000000Z DTEND:20260925T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:666-1790280000-1790287200@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-21/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:AFSP Lake County Out of the Darkness Walk - Victory Pointe - 26 Se p 26 08:00 DTSTART:20260926T120000Z DTEND:20260926T173000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31920@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Lake County Out of the Darkness Community Walk is a journe y of remembrance\, hope\, and support. It unites our communities and provi des an opportunity to acknowledge the ways in which suicide and mental hea lth conditions have affected our lives and the lives of those we love and care about. The walk will be held at Victory Pointe 938 Victory Way\, Cler mont\, FL. Check-in is at 8:00 a.m. and the program starts: 9:00 a.m. If y ou're looking for support and/or resources\, please visit www.afsp.org/ge t-help and www.afsp.org/resources.\nVisit the Central Florida Chapter pa ge at: https://afsp.org/chapter/central-florida LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:Victory Pointe\, 938 Victory Way\, Clermont\, FL\, 34711\, Lake C ounty\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/afsp-lake-county-out-of-the-darkness-walk/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Fall FUNdraiser at Calvary Full Gospel - Calvary Full Gospel Churc h - 26 Sep 26 08:00 DTSTART:20260926T120000Z DTEND:20260926T190000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T181509Z UID:31931@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🎉 BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY & COME HAVE SOME FUN! 🎉\n\nEnjo y games\, great food\, and fresh-squeezed lemonade\, get your car washed\, hunt for some treasures at our yard sale\, and let the kids enjoy face pa inting! 🚗🍋🎨\n\nCome hang out\, have a great time\, and support Ca lvary Full Gospel’s Camp Meeting fundraiser! ❤️🙌\n\n📅 Saturday \, September 26 • Starting at 8 AM\n📍 5455 N Hwy 17\, DeLeon Springs\ , FL 32130 LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T181509Z LOCATION:Calvary Full Gospel Church\, 5455 N. HWY 17\, DeLeon Springs \, F lorida Volusia\, 32130\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/fall-fundraiser-at-calvary-full-gospel/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:OWOC Community Health Fair - Orlando World Outreach Church - 26 Se p 26 09:00 DTSTART:20260926T130000Z DTEND:20260926T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31919@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Did you know that one of the best ways to improve your health is simply by learning more about it? The OWOC Community Health Fair is a f ree event designed to help individuals and families take practical steps t oward healthier living. Throughout the day\, attendees will have access to health screenings\, wellness resources\, fitness and nutrition informatio n\, mental health support\, community organizations\, and trusted healthca re professionals—all in one place.\nThe goal of the event is to equip at tendees with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisi ons about their physical\, mental\, emotional\, and spiritual well-being.\ nAt OWOC\, the belief is that “Knowing Drives Doing.” The more people know\, the better they can care for themselves\, their families\, and the lives God has entrusted to them. This event is free and open to the commun ity\, so everyone is encouraged to invite family\, friends\, and neighbors to join. LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:Orlando World Outreach Church\, 4365 Kennedy Ave\, Orlando\, FL\, 32812\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/owoc-community-health-fair/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:OWOC Community Health Fair DTSTART:20260926T130000Z DTEND:20260926T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260829T182209Z UID:10011183-1790413200-1790431200@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Did you know that one of the best ways to improve your health is simply by learning more about it? Join us for the OWOC Community Health Fair\, a free event designed to help individuals and families take practi cal steps toward healthier living. Throughout the day\, you’ll have acce ss to health screenings\, wellness resources\, fitness and nutrition infor mation\, mental health support\, community organizations\, and trusted hea lthcare professionals all in one place. \nOur goal is to equip you with th e knowledge and resources you need to make informed decisions about your p hysical\, mental\, emotional\, and spiritual well-being. At OWOC\, we beli eve “Knowing Drives Doing.” The more we know\, the better we can care for ourselves\, our families\, and the lives God has entrusted to us. This event is free and open to the community\, so invite your family\, friends \, and neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there! LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T182209Z LOCATION:Orlando World Outreach Church\, 4365 Kennedy Ave\, Orlando\, 3281 2 URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/owoc-community-health-fair/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Walk to End Lupus Now® DTSTART:20260926T140000Z DTEND:20260926T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153452Z UID:10010478-1790416800-1790424000@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Walk to End Lupus Now® in Orlando is our biggest event that provides people affected by lupus and their families with the opportunity to come together for one purpose: ending lupus. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153452Z URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/walk-to-end-lupus-now/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:YMCA Swim Meet & Free Assessments DTSTART:20260926T173000Z DTEND:20260926T193000Z DTSTAMP:20260813T010618Z UID:108439-1790429400-1790436600@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,sports DESCRIPTION:Come check out our YMCA Developmental Swim Teams compete again st each other at various YMCA of Central Florida locations! Each month\, a different YMCA family center hosts a fun\, welcoming Swim Meet where fami lies cheer from the pool deck\, swimmers build experience\, and future tea m members can explore what swim team is all about. \n\n\n\nWhether you’r e brand new or already in swim lessons\, this is a great opportunity to wa tch a meet\, meet our coaches\, and take the next step in your swimmer’s journey. \n\n\n\nTypical Event Schedule \n\n\n\n\nSwim Team Assessments: 1:30–2:00 PM (arrive by 1:15 PM)\n\n\n\nWarm-Up: 2:00 PM\n\n\n\nSwim Mee t Begins: 2:30 PM\n\n\n\n\nPlease bring your own chairs for pool deck seat ing. \n\n\n\nFree Swim Team Assessments \n\n\n\n\nAges: 6–17\n\n\n\nOpen to: The Central Florida Community\n\n\n\n\nEach assessment includes: \n\n \n\n\nA brief in-water evaluation with a YMCA swim coach\n\n\n\nSkill revi ew and readiness feedback\n\n\n\nPersonalized recommendations for developm ental swim team\, competitive swim team\, or swim lessons\n\n\n\n\n2026 Me et Schedule & Locations \n\n\n\n\nJanuary 24: Downtown Orlando YMCA\n\n\n\ nFebruary 7: Winter Park YMCA\n\n\n\nMarch 14: Dr. P. Phillips YMCA – Th eme: Going for Gold\n\n\n\nApril 25: Lake Nona YMCA\n\n\n\nMay 9: Leonard & Marjorie Williams YMCA (Orlando Packing District)\n\n\n\nJune 20: Titusv ille YMCA– Theme: Summer Beach Bash\n\n\n\nJuly 18: Roper YMCA (Winter G arden)\n\n\n\nAugust 15: Leonard & Marjorie Williams YMCA– Theme: Back-t o-School Bash\n\n\n\nSeptember 26: J. Douglas Williams YMCA (Lake Mary)\n\ n\n\nOctober 10: Osceola County YMCA – Theme: Trick-or-Swim\n\n\n\nNovem ber 7: Dr. P. Phillips YMCA\n\n\n\nDecember 5: Lake Nona YMCA\n\n\n\n\nSwi m team programs are offered at multiple YMCA locations across Central Flor ida. If your home branch doesn’t currently offer a team\, our coaches wi ll help guide you to the best fit. \n\n\n\nCome for the meet\, stay for th e momentum. Your swimmer’s next big breakthrough might start right here. LAST-MODIFIED:20260813T010618Z LOCATION:J. Douglas Williams YMCA\, 665 Longwood Lake Mary Rd\, Lake Mary\ , FL\, 32746\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/ymca-swim-meet-free-assessments-september2026 / X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:2nd Annual Chalk the Walk Suicide Awareness Event - Fl. Department of Health 400 W Airport Blvd Sanford Fl 32773 - 26 Sep 26 14:00 DTSTART:20260926T180000Z DTEND:20260926T210000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T181509Z UID:31928@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empowering You Everywhere Inc. invites the community to join u s for our 2nd Annual Chalk the Walk Suicide Awareness Event—a meaningful afternoon dedicated to raising awareness\, promoting suicide prevention\, supporting mental health\, and reminding individuals that they are never alone.\n\nThe event will feature a one-mile awareness walk\, Memorial Trib ute honoring lives lost to suicide\, mental health resources\, community v endors\, a Kids’ Corner\, fundraising teams\, and exclusive event appare l. Participants will have an opportunity to connect with local organizatio ns\, learn about mental health resources\, honor loved ones\, and stand to gether in support of suicide prevention.\n\nRegistration is free and requi red for all walking participants. Individuals\, families\, organizations\, churches\, businesses\, and community groups are encouraged to participat e. Gather your team and help us spread the message that every life matters and hope is always worth fighting for. LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T181509Z LOCATION:Fl. Department of Health 400 W Airport Blvd Sanford Fl 32773\, 40 0 W Airport Blvd\, Sanford\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/2nd-annual-chalk-the-walk-suicide-awareness- event/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20260927T090000Z DTEND:20260927T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002019-1790499600-1790503200@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-09 -27/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20260927T110000Z DTEND:20260927T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003692-1790506800-1790511300@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-09-27/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Blended Hearts and Home - - 28 Sep 26 19:00 DTSTART:20260928T230000Z DTEND:20260929T003000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31867@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Navigating the “messy middle” of blended family life is a journey that requires grace\, truth\, and community. Blended Hearts & Home provides a safe\, faith-based space for couples and co-parents to find co nnection and practical support for the unique challenges of blending lives \, kids\, and histories.\n\nA free\, peer-led community for families to su pport families. We aren’t therapists\, we’re just couples who are walk ing the same path and want to share the tools that have helped us. Free Su pervised Child Care is provided during meeting times. We meet weekly on Mo ndays.\n\nTogether\, we explore transformative teachings from Ron Deal and other trusted experts\, helping you and your partner to become one\, your family adjust\, grow\, and thrive. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or just looking for a community that truly understands your path\, you are w elcome\nhere. Join us as we bridge hearts and homes through the guidance o f the Holy Spirit.\n\nSign Up here: https://northlandchurch.churchcenter.c om/groups/groups/blended-hearts-home\n\nFree Child Care during Meeting LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z URL:https://zradio.org/events/blended-hearts-and-home-3/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20260930T190000Z DTEND:20260930T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001695-1790794800-1790800200@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-09-30/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:NCS Hall of Fame 2026 DTSTART:20260930T220000Z DTEND:20261001T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000224-1790791200-1790802000@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z LOCATION:Orange County Convention Center\, 9800 International Drive\, Orla ndo\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/ncs-hall-of-fame-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Marketing & Community Outreach Meeting DTSTART:20261001T230000Z DTEND:20261002T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:6ja9pc66r6spr2ulo9ghso5c6u_R20260604T230000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Members only - This is a meeting to discuss and implement outr each opportunities\nJoin in person or virtual.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: h ttps://meet.google.com/fmc-fkdh-ian\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://s upport.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB-Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261002T000000Z DTEND:20261002T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:667-1790884800-1790892000@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-22/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20261002T130000Z DTEND:20261002T140000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001409-1790931600-1790935200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2026- 10-02/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Holly Wagner Weekend at Calvary Orlando - Calvary Orlando - 3 Oct 26 00:00 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261003 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261005 DTSTAMP:20260904T181409Z UID:31942@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Calvary Orlando welcomes nationally recognized author and tele vision host Holly Wagner to its Winter Park campus for a special weekend\, October 3–4\, 2026. Wagner is the founder of the global women's ministr y She Rises\, a co-host of TBN's Better Together\, and the author of Find Your Brave.\n\nOn Saturday\, October 3\, from 7 to 9 p.m.\, Wagner joins S isterhood Night\, a free evening of worship\, connection and encouragement for women. On Sunday\, October 4\, she speaks during Calvary's 10 a.m. se rvice.\n\nRegistration is free at calvaryorlando.churchcenter.com/registra tions/events/3788997. LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T181409Z LOCATION:Calvary Orlando\, 1199 Clay Street\, Winter Park\, FL\, 32789\, U nited States URL:https://zradio.org/events/holly-wagner-weekend-at-calvary-orlando/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20261003T130000Z DTEND:20261003T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T002036Z UID:7557-1791018000-1791032400@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T002036Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2026 -10-03/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Family Empowerment Conference - Clermont City Center - 3 Oct 26 10 :00 DTSTART:20261003T140000Z DTEND:20261003T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31912@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,education DESCRIPTION:In collaboration with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)\, the Family Care Council (FCC) Area 13 partners with local organiz ations to provide community forums\, events\, and conferences that benefit individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.\nThe miss ion of the Family Care Council Area 13 is to advocate\, educate\, and empo wer individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. In par tnership with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities\, FCC Area 13 works to promote quality services that support dignity\, choice\, and greater i ndependence.\n\nFCC Area 13 serves individuals with developmental disabili ties and their families throughout Citrus\, Hernando\, Lake\, Marion\, and Sumter counties.\nFCC Area 13 is hosting a free Family Empowerment Confer ence for individuals with developmental disabilities\, their families\, an d members of the community on Saturday\, October 3\, 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon\, at the Clermont City Center located at 620 W. Montrose Stree t\, Clermont\, FL.\n\nThe conference will feature five panelists\, with on e representative from each of the five counties served by FCC Area 13. The conference is designed to educate individuals and families about person-c entered planning\, natural supports\, state programs\, and local resources . State Agencies\, Vendors and service providers will also be onsite to sh are information about the programs and services they offer.\n\nFor more in formation about the conference\, please contact Council Chair Paula Whetro at pwhetrofcc@gmail.com. For vendor information\, please contact Kristin Shuttz at kshuttzadvocate76@outlook.com. LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:Clermont City Center\, 620 West Montrose Stree\, CLERMONT\, FL - Florida\, 34711\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/family-empowerment-conference/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Page & Pen: Oviedo Mall DTSTART:20261003T140000Z DTEND:20261003T210000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022932Z UID:25842-1791021600-1791046800@dianekann.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022932Z LOCATION:Oviedo Mall URL:https://dianekann.com/event/page-pen-oviedo-mall/ X-SOURCE-NAME:dianekann X-SOURCE-URL:https://dianekann.com/events/category/upcoming-events/list END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20261004T090000Z DTEND:20261004T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002020-1791104400-1791108000@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-10 -04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20261004T110000Z DTEND:20261004T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003693-1791111600-1791116100@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-10-04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Blended Hearts and Home - Northland Church - 5 Oct 26 19:00 DTSTART:20261005T230000Z DTEND:20261006T003000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31868@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Navigating the “messy middle” of blended family life is a journey that requires grace\, truth\, and community. Blended Hearts & Home provides a safe\, faith-based space for couples and co-parents to find co nnection and practical support for the unique challenges of blending lives \, kids\, and histories.\nA free\, peer-led community for families to supp ort families. We aren’t therapists\, we’re just couples who are walkin g the same path and want to share the tools that have helped us. Free Supe rvised Child Care is provided during meeting times. We meet weekly on Mond ays.\nTogether\, we explore transformative teachings from Ron Deal and oth er trusted experts\, helping you and your partner to become one\, your fam ily adjust\, grow\, and thrive. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or jus t looking for a community that truly understands your path\, you are welco me\nhere. Join us as we bridge hearts and homes through the guidance of th e Holy Spirit.\n\nSign Up here: https://northlandchurch.churchcenter.com/g roups/groups/blended-hearts-home\n\nFree Child Care during Meeting LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Northland Church\, 530 Dog Track Road\, Longwood\, FL\, 32750\, U nited States URL:https://zradio.org/events/blended-hearts-and-home-4/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Business Networking DTSTART:20261006T130000Z DTEND:20261006T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153452Z UID:10011026-1791277200-1791284400@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153452Z LOCATION:Marketplace at Avalon Park\, 3801 Avalon Park E Blvd Ste. 100\,\, Orlando\, FL\, 32828\, United States URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/women-in-business-networking/2026-10-0 6/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20261006T160000Z DTEND:20261006T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000103-1791288000-1791291600@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-12/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Downtown Orlando YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121203-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:Downtown Orlando YMCA\, 433 N. Mills Ave\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/downtown-orlando-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-202 6/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. P. Phillips YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121208-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:Dr. P. Phillips YMCA\, 7000 Dr Phillips Blvd\, Orlando\, FL\, 328 19\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/dr-p-phillips-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Golden Triangle YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121214-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:Golden Triangle YMCA\, 1465 David Walker Dr\, Tavares\, FL\, 3277 8\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/golden-triangle-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-2026 / X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:J. Douglas Williams YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121217-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:J. Douglas Williams YMCA\, 665 Longwood Lake Mary Rd\, Lake Mary\ , FL\, 32746\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/j-douglas-williams-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-2 026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121220-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:Lake Nona YMCA\, 9055 Northlake Pkwy\, Orlando\, FL\, 32827\, Uni ted States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/lake-nona-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Leonard & Marjorie Williams Family YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121223-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family YMCA\, 2178 Packing District Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 32804\, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/leonard-marjorie-williams-family-ymca-healthy -seniors-day-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Osceola County YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T010127Z UID:121226-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T010127Z LOCATION:Osceola County YMCA\, 2117 W Mabbette St\, Kissimmee\, FL\, 34741 \, United States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/osceola-county-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Healthy Seniors Day DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260829T182209Z UID:10011188-1791367200-1791378000@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:Join us on Wednesday\, October 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free community event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y helps you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \nEnjoy Group Exercise classes\, wellness workshop s\, hands-on demonstrations\, community partner experiences\, and more\, a ll designed to help you feel your best and stay connected to the people an d community around you. \nWhether you’re a longtime YMCA member or disco vering the Y for the first time\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\ , connect\, learn\, and see all that’s possible when you have a communit y behind you. \nCome spend the day with us and discover how the Y can be p art of your healthy\, active lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T182209Z LOCATION:YMCA of Central Florida\, 433 N. Mills Ave\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803 \, United States URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/healthy-seniors-day/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Oviedo YMCA Healthy Seniors Day 2026 DTSTART:20261007T140000Z DTEND:20261007T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260829T190242Z UID:121230-1791367200-1791378000@ymcacf.org CATEGORIES:community,wellness DESCRIPTION:CELEBRATE HEALTHY AGING! \n\n\n\nJoin us on Wednesday\, Octobe r 7\, 2026\, from 10:00 AM–1:00 PM for Healthy Seniors Day\, a free comm unity event celebrating healthy\, active aging and all the ways the Y help s you belong\, grow\, and thrive at every stage of life. \n\n\n\nEnjoy Gro up Exercise classes\, wellness workshops\, hands-on demonstrations\, commu nity partner experiences\, and more\, all designed to help you feel your b est and stay connected to the people and community around you. \n\n\n\nWhe ther you’re a longtime YMCA member or discovering the Y for the first ti me\, Healthy Seniors Day is a chance to move\, connect\, learn\, and see a ll that’s possible when you have a community behind you. \n\n\n\nCome sp end the day with us and discover how the Y can be part of your healthy\, a ctive lifestyle at every age. LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T190242Z LOCATION:Oviedo YMCA\, 7900 Red Bug Lake Rd.\, Oviedo\, FL\, 32765\, Unite d States URL:https://ymcacf.org/event/oviedo-ymca-healthy-seniors-day-2026/ X-SOURCE-NAME:YMCA of Central Florida X-SOURCE-URL:https://ymcacf.org/programs/groupexercise END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20261007T190000Z DTEND:20261007T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001696-1791399600-1791405000@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-10-07/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261007T220000Z DTEND:20261008T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3783-1791385200-1791392400@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Lake Nona Valor Clinic\, 13800 Veterans Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 3282 7\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-10/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261009T000000Z DTEND:20261009T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:668-1791489600-1791496800@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-23/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Call to Service - The Rink at Northland Church - 9 Oct 26 08:30 DTSTART:20261009T123000Z DTEND:20261009T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31917@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Call to Service is a free event open to the public connecting worthwhile non-profit organizations\, fostering community involvement\, an d creating a pathway to local volunteer opportunities. Leadership Seminole will gather 40 local non-profits in one room for an expo style event to s howcase their volunteer opportunities. This is a FREE event that offers a unique opportunity to connect with nonprofit leaders making a difference i n our community. Coffee and light breakfast will be provided for all in at tendance. LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:The Rink at Northland Church\, 522 Dog Track Rd\, Longwood\, FL\, 32750\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/call-to-service/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Together for Mental Health Walk - Tavares Florida - 10 Oct 26 08:0 0 DTSTART:20261010T120000Z DTEND:20261010T143000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31896@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,outdoors DESCRIPTION:NAMI Lake County\, Florida invites the Central Florida communi ty to come together for its inaugural Together for Mental Health Walk on S aturday\, October 10\, 2026 — World Mental Health Day — at Wooten Park in Tavares\, Florida.\n\nThe Together for Mental Health Walk is a communi ty event centered around hope\, connection\, mental health awareness\, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. Individuals\, f amilies\, churches\, businesses\, first responders\, mental health profess ionals\, and community organizations are invited to walk together and show their support for those impacted by mental health challenges.\n\nAs a new ly launched local affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NA MI)\, NAMI Lake County is working to expand access to free mental health e ducation\, support\, advocacy\, resources\, and community outreach through out Lake County.\n\nParticipation in the walk is FREE and open to the comm unity. Participants who would like an official 2026 Together for Mental He alth Walk T-shirt may receive one with a minimum $20 donation to support N AMI Lake County’s mission and future programming.\n\nThe event will also feature a Community Resource Fair\, bringing together local nonprofits\, mental health and behavioral health organizations\, community service prov iders\, and other resources so individuals and families can learn more abo ut support available in Lake County.\n\nWhether someone has personally exp erienced a mental health challenge\, loves someone who has\, works in the mental health field\, or simply wants to support a more compassionate and connected community\, they are invited to walk with NAMI Lake County.\n\nE vent Details:\nSaturday\, October 10\, 2026\nWooten Park – Tavares\, Flo rida\nRegistration begins at 8:00 a.m.\nParticipation is FREE\n\nCome walk for awareness. Walk for hope. Walk for a loved one. Walk together for men tal health.\n\nFind Help. Find Hope. LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Tavares Florida\, 100 E Ruby St\, Tavares\, Florida\, United Stat es URL:https://zradio.org/events/together-for-mental-health-walk/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Community Nutrition Health Fair by Advent Health Kissimmee - Green eway Church - 10 Oct 26 11:00 DTSTART:20261010T150000Z DTEND:20261010T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31793@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us for a fun and educational event focused on nutrition\, healthy eating\, and overall whole-person care. At this FREE community ev ent you’ll learn more about your body composition\, enjoy simple cooking demonstrations\, receive education on diabetes\, healthy snacking on a bu dget\, community resources and more. Bring your family\, friends\, and que stions. Expert clinicians\, dietitians and other wellness specialists will be ready to answer your inquiries. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Greeneway Church\, 2953 John Young Pkwy\, Kissimmee\, Florida\, 3 4741\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/community-nutrition-health-fair-by-advent-he alth-kissimmee/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:End of Summer Hunt: Winter Park DTSTART:20261010T153000Z DTEND:20261010T173000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022958Z UID:event_315558874@meetup.com CATEGORIES:community,outdoors DESCRIPTION:Orlando in Action\n🔗 [Scavenger Hunt App - ClueRally](https ://cluerally.com/)\n\nHello everyone\, it's Paul 👋\n\nFlorida summer ho lds on longer than the calendar says it should\, but October is finally he re\, and it's time to get back outside. We're heading back to Winter Park\ , the exact spot where ClueRally ran its very first hunt ever.\n\n🤝 **M eet New People\, Build a Team\, Have Fun**\nMeet new people\, make new fri ends\, and have fun working with your team to solve clues and complete cha llenges around beautiful\, historic Winter Park. Top teams get announced a t the finish 🏆\, but the real win is getting outside and having a great time together.\n\nCome with your own team\, or come solo and we'll pair y ou up at the event. Teams are 6 to 12 people.\n\n📍 **Meeting Location** \nWe'll meet at the Central Park Fountain near the Amtrak/SunRail station. This is the main center fountain\, NOT the peacock fountain in the rose g arden. We'll be easy to spot.\n\n⏰ **Schedule**\nArrival: 11:30 AM\nHunt Start: 12:00 PM\nHunt Ends: 1:15 PM\nFinish: back at the same fountain\n\ n📱 **How the Hunt Works**\nClueRally is a scavenger hunt web app I buil t for this group\, because of this group. No app download\, no account\, i t runs right in your phone's browser. One hunter per team submits answers for the team\, and others can use Navigator Mode to help find locations\, solve clues\, and explore.\n\n🍽️ **After the Hunt**\nWinning teams an nounced at the finish point. Plenty of great food and drink options nearby if you want to stick around.\nIf you've hunted with us before\, you know exactly why people keep coming back.\n\nIf this is your first one\, there' s no better weekend to start. Summer's finally loosening its grip. Let's g et back outside.\n\nSee you there\,\nPaul LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022958Z URL:https://www.meetup.com/orlando-in-action/events/315558874/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando in Action END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20261011T090000Z DTEND:20261011T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002021-1791709200-1791712800@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-10 -11/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20261011T110000Z DTEND:20261011T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003694-1791716400-1791720900@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-10-11/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Blended Hearts and Home - Northland Church - 12 Oct 26 19:00 DTSTART:20261012T230000Z DTEND:20261013T003000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31869@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Navigating the “messy middle” of blended family life is a journey that requires grace\, truth\, and community. Blended Hearts & Home provides a safe\, faith-based space for couples and co-parents to find co nnection and practical support for the unique challenges of blending lives \, kids\, and histories.\nA free\, peer-led community for families to supp ort families. We aren’t therapists\, we’re just couples who are walkin g the same path and want to share the tools that have helped us. Free Supe rvised Child Care is provided during meeting times. We meet weekly on Mond ays.\nTogether\, we explore transformative teachings from Ron Deal and oth er trusted experts\, helping you and your partner to become one\, your fam ily adjust\, grow\, and thrive. Whether you are feeling overwhelmed or jus t looking for a community that truly understands your path\, you are welco me\nhere. Join us as we bridge hearts and homes through the guidance of th e Holy Spirit.\n\nSign Up here: https://northlandchurch.churchcenter.com/g roups/groups/blended-hearts-home\n\nFree Child Care during Meeting LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Northland Church\, 530 Dog Track Road\, Longwood\, FL\, 32750\, U nited States URL:https://zradio.org/events/blended-hearts-and-home-5/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20261014T190000Z DTEND:20261014T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001697-1792004400-1792009800@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-10-14/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Baldwin Park Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261014T220000Z DTEND:20261015T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3757-1791990000-1791997200@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Baldwin Park Valor Clinic\, 5201 Raymond Street\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/baldwin-park-valor-clinic-5/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The Blind Experience 2026 DTSTART:20261015T133000Z DTEND:20261015T153000Z DTSTAMP:20260819T182134Z UID:25266-1792056600-1792063800@metroplanorlando.gov CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join MetroPlan Orlando\, government partners\, and other commu nity organizations at our annual Blind Experience\, where you’ll experie nce firsthand what it’s like to navigate the world as a member of the bl ind and visually impaired community\, in honor of White Cane Safety Day. \ nPlease RSVP below to advise of your attendance! LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T182134Z LOCATION:Winter Park Farmers Market\, 150 N New York Ave\, Winter Park\, F L\, 32789\, United States URL:https://metroplanorlando.gov/meetings/the-blind-experience-2026-10-15- 26/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Transit X-SOURCE-URL:https://metroplanorlando.gov/programs-resources/transit END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Grief Support Group DTSTART:20261015T190000Z DTEND:20261015T200000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001882-1792090800-1792094400@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Living with Loss\, Healing with Hopeunitorlf LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/grief-support-group-4/2026-10-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261016T000000Z DTEND:20261016T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:669-1792094400-1792101600@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-24/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20261016T160000Z DTEND:20261016T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001757-1792152000-1792155600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 26-10-16/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:MstarStrong Foundation1st Annual Breast Cancer 3K Walk - Kissimmee Lakefront - 17 Oct 26 08:00 DTSTART:20261017T120000Z DTEND:20261017T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31832@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The MstarStrong Foundation’s 1st Annual Breast Cancer Awaren ess 3K Walk is a community event dedicated to raising awareness\, honoring survivors\, supporting those currently fighting breast cancer\, and remem bering loved ones. Participants will donate to register for the walk and w ill receive a commemorative finisher medal. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Kissimmee Lakefront\, 201 Lakeview Drive\, Kissimmee\, Florida\, 34741\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/mstarstrong-foundation1st-annual-breast-canc er-3k-walk/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Community Event: Friends of the Poor Walk – Helping Local Famili es in Crisis (Oct 17\, Winter Springs) - St. Stephen Catholic Church - 17 Oct 26 09:00 DTSTART:20261017T130000Z DTEND:20261017T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31915@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:The Society of St. Vincent de Paul invites the Central Florida community to participate in the annual Friends of the Poor Walk on Saturd ay\, October 17\, in Winter Springs. This two-mile walk serves as the orga nization’s primary fundraiser and helps provide emergency assistance to local families facing unexpected financial hardships. As a 100% volunteer- run organization\, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul provides support for essential needs such as rent\, utilities\, food\, transportation\, and ot her crisis assistance\, with funds raised staying right here in the local community. Families\, individuals\, businesses\, and community members are encouraged to participate and help make a difference for neighbors in nee d. Registration and event details are available at: https://runsignup.com/ Race/FL/WinterSprings/SVdPStStephenConferenceWinterSprings\n\nThe Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a 100% volunteer-run organization that provides emergency assistance to local families regardless of faith. Its support— including rent\, utilities\, food\, transportation\, and crisis aid—is f unded entirely through fundraising efforts.\n\nBusinesses interested in sp onsoring can contact: Peter Schwoerer at peter.schwoerer@hotmail.com or ca ll 407‑973‑4054 LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:St. Stephen Catholic Church\, 575 Tuscawilla Rd.\, Winter Springs \, Seminole\, 32708\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/community-event-friends-of-the-poor-walk-hel ping-local-families-in-crisis-oct-17-winter-springs/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:4th Annual Ocala Pet Palooza! DTSTART:20261017T140000Z DTEND:20261017T210000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022932Z UID:25926-1792231200-1792256400@dianekann.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022932Z LOCATION:World Equestrian Center – Ocala\, FL URL:https://dianekann.com/event/4th-annual-ocala-pet-palooza/ X-SOURCE-NAME:dianekann X-SOURCE-URL:https://dianekann.com/events/category/upcoming-events/list END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Faith Over Fear - A Free Breast Cancer Awareness Event - Bethel Ch ristian Church - 17 Oct 26 12:00 DTSTART:20261017T160000Z DTEND:20261018T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31850@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,education DESCRIPTION:Faith Over Fear\nA Free Breast Cancer Awareness Event\nHear fr om keynote speakers\, including a Board-Certified Breast Surgical Oncologi st\,\nHealth Nutritionist\, Psychologist\, and other healthcare and commun ity professionals.\nFaith Over Fear: A Community Breast Cancer Awareness E vent\nJoin us for Faith Over Fear\, a day dedicated to education\, encoura gement\, hope\, and community\nas we come together to raise breast cancer awareness and support those whose lives have been impacted by breast cance r.\n\nHosted by Con Pasión\, A Ministry of Care and Community\, in partne rship with\nMammolink\, this free event is designed for survivors\, those currently in treatment\, caregivers\,\nfamily members\, and anyone interes ted in learning more about breast health and early detection.\nWhat to Exp ect\nEducational Resources: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM\n\n Meet with healthcare professionals\n Learn about breast health and early detection\n Connect with local community resources\n Visit informational exhibits and vendor tables\n\nMammolink Mobile Mammography Bus: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM\nThe Mamm olink Mobile Mammography Bus will be on-site\, providing convenient access to mammography services.\nEligible attendees are encouraged to schedule t heir screening in advance or inquire about availability during the event.\ n\nSchedule your mammogram:\n\nClick here to schedule your screening\n\nEx pert Guest Speakers\nHear from experienced professionals\, including:\n\n Board-Certified Breast Surgical Oncologist\n Health Nutritionist\n Psyc hologist\n\nOur speakers will share valuable information about breast canc er prevention\, treatment\, nutrition\, emotional wellness\,\nearly detect ion\, and survivorship.\nCelebration & Bell Ceremony: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM\ nJoin us for an inspiring evening celebrating the courage and resilience o f breast cancer survivors. This special\nceremony will include stories of hope\, encouragement\, prayer\, worship\, and a symbolic bell ringing to h onor important\nmilestones in each survivor’s journey.\n\nWhether you ar e currently fighting breast cancer\, supporting someone you love\, celebra ting survivorship\, or simply want to learn how you can make a difference\ , this event is for you.\nTogether\, we believe that faith is stronger tha n fear.\n\n\nAdmission is FREE\, but registration is encouraged.\nRegister for Faith Over Fear\n\n\nEvent Details\nDate: Saturday\, October 17\, 202 6\n\nLocation:\nBethel Christian Church\n1425 Renee Ave\nOrlando\, FL 3282 5\n\nEducational Resources: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM\nMammolink Mobile Mammogr aphy Bus: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM\nCelebration & Bell Ceremony: 6:00 PM – 8: 00 PM LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Bethel Christian Church\, 1425 Renee Ave\, Orlando\, FL\, 32825\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/faith-over-fear-a-free-breast-cancer-awarene ss-event/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20261018T090000Z DTEND:20261018T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10002022-1792314000-1792317600@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-10 -18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20261018T110000Z DTEND:20261018T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10003695-1792321200-1792325700@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-10-18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:4th Annual Ocala Pet Palooza! DTSTART:20261018T140000Z DTEND:20261018T200000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022932Z UID:25929-1792317600-1792339200@dianekann.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022932Z LOCATION:World Equestrian Center – Ocala\, FL URL:https://dianekann.com/event/4th-annual-ocala-pet-palooza-2/ X-SOURCE-NAME:dianekann X-SOURCE-URL:https://dianekann.com/events/category/upcoming-events/list END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Member Program: Insider Luncheon DTSTART:20261020T154500Z DTEND:20261020T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022917Z UID:10000338-1792496700-1792501200@morsemuseum.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Catered lunch program at 11:45 a.m. on selected Tuesdays about Morse events. $40. Winter Park Farmers’ Market Venue\, 200 W. New Engla nd Avenue. \nClick here to become a member. For inquiries\, please call 40 7-645-5311\, ext. 115 or email membership@morsemuseum.org. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022917Z LOCATION:Winter Park Farmers’ Market Venue\, 200 W New England Ave\, Win ter Park\, FL\, 32789\, United States URL:https://morsemuseum.org/event/member-program-insider-luncheon/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art X-SOURCE-URL:https://morsemuseum.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20261020T160000Z DTEND:20261020T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001638-1792497600-1792501200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2026-10-20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting DTSTART:20261021T000000Z DTEND:20261021T013000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:c88g7r3ki9bl81358obkd32b14_R20240522T000000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Monthly business meeting. All members are invited to discuss FamiLAB business.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/mhc-fc mv-dox\nOr dial: (US) +1 754-216-8365 PIN: 700398705#\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB\, 400 North St #152\, Longwood\, FL 32750\, USA\, FamiLAB -Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20261021T190000Z DTEND:20261021T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022926Z UID:10001698-1792609200-1792614600@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022926Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-10-21/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261021T220000Z DTEND:20261022T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3785-1792594800-1792602000@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Lake Nona Valor Clinic\, 13800 Veterans Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 3282 7\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-11/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:The Power of His Love Healing Mission - Church of the Ascension - 22 Oct 26 08:00 DTSTART:20261022T120000Z DTEND:20261025T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31788@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Experience the transforming power of God’s love at the 2026 OSL North American Conference\, “The Power of His Love\,” October 22 –24 at Church of the Ascension in Orlando\, Florida.\n\nJoin the Order o f St. Luke for a Spirit-filled weekend of worship\, teaching\, prayer\, an d renewal as we gather to discover how God’s healing love restores lives and equips us to share His love with others.\n\nThis year’s conference will feature inspiring teachers\, including Rev. Dr. Sharon Lewis\, Rev. D r. John Adetunji\, Lay Pastor Gerry Gardner\, Rev. Janet Shell\, and Rev. Sarah Bronos. Through powerful messages\, prayer ministry\, and uplifting worship led by Rev. Dr. Bob Johnson and Rev. Janet Shell\, participants wi ll be encouraged to experience the depth of God’s love and respond to Hi s call to become channels of healing in the world.\n\nWhether you are new to healing ministry or have been walking this journey for years\, everyone is welcome. Come be refreshed\, strengthened\, and renewed in the presenc e of Jesus.\n\nRegister today for the 2026 OSL North American Conference\, “The Power of His Love\,” October 22–24 in Orlando\, Florida. Visit OSLtoday.org for details and registration information. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Church of the Ascension\, 4950 S. Apopka-Vineland Road\, Orlando\ , United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/the-power-of-his-love-healing-mission/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Community Plant-Based Potluck DTSTART:20261022T180000Z DTEND:20261022T193000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T062415Z UID:9428-1792692000-1792697400@4rootsfarm.org CATEGORIES:community,food DESCRIPTION:Join a space where food meets creativity\, flavor\, and commun ity.  The Culinary Health Institute’s Monthly Community Potluck is root ed in sharing food and conversation\, meeting new people\, and sharing the journey of living a plant-based lifestyle.  Whether you’re fully plant -based\, plant-curious\, or just love good food and good conversation\, al l are welcome to this free event. \n🍽️ Bring a Dish: \nPlease prepar e a plant-based dish that serves at least 10 people.  Don’t forget to i nclude the recipe with ingredients listed so guests can remake your recipe at home. \nPlant-based only: \n\n\nNo animal-based products (that include s meat\, chicken\, fish. Watch out for chicken broth\, fish/bonita flakes and bacon bits)\nNo dairy (butter\, cheese\, milk\, etc.)\, egg\, or honey \n\n\n🥬 Plant-based curious or not a cook? No problem! Join in by bring ing something simple like: (make sure you bring enough for 10 people) \n\n Fruit\nVeggies with hummus or baba ghanoush\nPita chips and salsa\nA mix o f nuts and olives\n\n🗣️ Let’s Talk Food & Community: \nThroughout t he evening\, you’re invited to share the meal\, engage in thoughtful con versation about your plant-based journey\, food\, sustainability\, and the role plant-based choices can play in building a healthier future—for ou rselves and our planet. \nCome hungry for more than just great food—come ready to connect\, learn\, and grow! 💚 \nMust register to hold your sp ot. LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T062415Z LOCATION:4Roots Farm Campus\, 1101 N. John Young Parkway\, Parkway Orlando \, FL\, 32804\, United States URL:https://4rootsfarm.org/event/community-plant-based-potluck-3/ X-SOURCE-NAME:4Roots Farm X-SOURCE-URL:https://4rootsfarm.org/farmers-market END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Live Love Annual Fundraiser - Lake Eva Event Center - 22 Oct 26 18 :30 DTSTART:20261022T223000Z DTEND:20261023T003000Z DTSTAMP:20260812T181205Z UID:31884@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us for an inspiring evening of faith\, fellowship\, and t ransformed lives as we celebrate God's work through The WAY Center. Togeth er\, we'll embrace Live Love Change Lives through powerful testimonies\, u plifting comedy\, and heartfelt worship while enjoying a delicious dinner shared with friends and family. Sponsorships are available. Table of 8 cos t $400. LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T181205Z LOCATION:Lake Eva Event Center\, 799 Johns Avenue\, Haines City\, FL\, 338 44\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/live-love-annual-fundraiser/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261023T000000Z DTEND:20261023T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153454Z UID:670-1792699200-1792706400@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153454Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-25/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:2026 HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Walk-a-Thon and Canine Costume Contest - Cran es Roost Park - 24 Oct 26 09:00 DTSTART:20261024T130000Z DTEND:20261024T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260825T181303Z UID:31914@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community,family,festival,outdoors DESCRIPTION:Join Franklin’s Friends for the 13th Annual HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Walk-a-Thon & Canine Costume Contest on Saturday\, October 24\, 2026\, fro m 9:00 a.m. to noon at Cranes Roost Park\, Uptown Altamonte.\n\nThis famil y and dog-friendly event features a short dog walk\, canine costume contes t\, adoptable dogs\, pet-friendly vendors\, raffles\, food trucks\, music\ , and more!\n\nRegistration is $20 per person in advance and $25 at the ev ent. Children ages 5 and under are free.\nPrizes will be awarded for top f undraisers and best canine costumes.\n\nAll proceeds benefit Franklin’s Friends\, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving anim al welfare in Central Florida by awarding grants to nonprofit and governme nt agencies supporting Shelter & Rescue\, Spay/Neuter\, Community Educatio n\, and Pet Retention programs.\nFor more information or to register\, vis it TinyUrl.com/HOWLOWEEN2026\, email FranklinsFriends@gmail.com\, or call (260) 693-7387. LAST-MODIFIED:20260825T181303Z LOCATION:Cranes Roost Park\, 274 Cranes Roost Blvd.\, Altamonte Springs\, Florida\, 32701\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/2026-howl-o-ween-dog-walk-a-thon-and-canine- costume-contest/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Alcanzando vidas/Reaching lives - Downey Park - 24 Oct 26 10:30 DTSTART:20261024T143000Z DTEND:20261024T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31759@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Free haircuts for people living in the streets. Free pizza\, t he Word of God\, winter clothing and more. LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Downey Park\, 10107 Flowers Dr.\, ORLANDO\, Florida\, 32817\, Uni ted States\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/alcanzando-vidas-reaching-lives/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person Only DTSTART:20261025T090000Z DTEND:20261025T100000Z DTSTAMP:20260831T120214Z UID:10002023-1792918800-1792922400@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T120214Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-only-2/2026-10 -25/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Worship Service-Live/In Person AND Live Streaming Via FaceBook and YouTube Live DTSTART:20261025T110000Z DTEND:20261025T121500Z DTSTAMP:20260831T120214Z UID:10003696-1792926000-1792930500@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://www.facebook.com/JoyMetropolitanCommunityChurch \nhttp s://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQV4LHlarKHk1VPFA_iGVA LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T120214Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/worship-service-live-in-person-and-live-strea ming-via-facebook-and-youtube-live-2/2026-10-25/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Spiritual Transformation-In Person AND Via Zoom Meeting DTSTART:20261028T190000Z DTEND:20261028T203000Z DTSTAMP:20260903T120146Z UID:10001699-1793214000-1793219400@joymcc.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:https://zoom.us/j/812716810 \nPASSCODE: 332797 LAST-MODIFIED:20260903T120146Z URL:https://joymcc.com/event/spiritual-transformation-in-person-and-via-zo om-meeting-3/2026-10-28/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Joy Metropolitan Community Church X-SOURCE-URL:https://joymcc.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261030T000000Z DTEND:20261030T020000Z DTSTAMP:20260814T071519Z UID:671-1793304000-1793311200@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260814T071519Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-26/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Business Networking DTSTART:20261103T140000Z DTEND:20261103T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153452Z UID:10011027-1793696400-1793703600@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153452Z LOCATION:Marketplace at Avalon Park\, 3801 Avalon Park E Blvd Ste. 100\,\, Orlando\, FL\, 32828\, United States URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/women-in-business-networking/2026-11-0 3/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20261103T170000Z DTEND:20261103T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000104-1793707200-1793710800@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-13/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261104T230000Z DTEND:20261105T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3787-1793804400-1793811600@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Lake Nona Valor Clinic\, 13800 Veterans Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 3282 7\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-12/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Alive Conference - Calvary Assembly - 5 Nov 26 00:00 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261105 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261108 DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:31756@zradio.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Alive Conference 2026 is a 3-day encounter that will activate your calling\, stir your faith\, and connect you to something bigger than yourself. It’s a place where heaven meets earth and the Church is awaken ed. Hosted by Alive Church in Orlando\, Florida\, November 5–7\, get rea dy for an atmosphere of encounter with powerful worship\, anointed message s\, and masterclasses tailored to strengthen you spiritually\, personally\ , and in your leadership. This conference creates space for: – Lead past ors and church planters seeking fresh vision and insight – Faith-based e ntrepreneurs and business leaders building with purpose – Second-chair l eaders and ministry teams needing clarity and connection – Youth\, young adults\, longing to be used by God – Creatives looking for inspiration – Believers who desire to grow spiritually\, encounter God\, and operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit This is your moment! There is no childcar e available. No refunds or trades are issued at any moment.*** LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Calvary Assembly\, 1199 Clay Street\, Winter Park \, Florida\, 32 746\, United States URL:https://zradio.org/events/alive-conference/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Community Events X-SOURCE-URL:https://zradio.org/calendar END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:WCLC (Western Canadian Lodging Conference) DTSTART:20261105T000000Z DTEND:20261106T090000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022931Z UID:5468-1793865600-1793984400@www.nationalpropertytax.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Venue : Hyatt Regency LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022931Z URL:https://www.nationalpropertytax.com/calendar/wclc-western-canadian-lod ging-conference/ X-SOURCE-NAME:National Property Tax X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.nationalpropertytax.com/event/aahoacon24 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Marketing & Community Outreach Meeting DTSTART:20261105T230000Z DTEND:20261106T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:6ja9pc66r6spr2ulo9ghso5c6u_R20260604T230000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Members only - This is a meeting to discuss and implement outr each opportunities\nJoin in person or virtual.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: h ttps://meet.google.com/fmc-fkdh-ian\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://s upport.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB-Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261106T010000Z DTEND:20261106T030000Z DTSTAMP:20260817T010908Z UID:672-1793908800-1793916000@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260817T010908Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-27/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20261106T140000Z DTEND:20261106T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001414-1793955600-1793959200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2026- 11-06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261113T010000Z DTEND:20261113T030000Z DTSTAMP:20260820T010650Z UID:673-1794513600-1794520800@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260820T010650Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-28/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20261117T170000Z DTEND:20261117T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001639-1794916800-1794920400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2026-11-17/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting DTSTART:20261118T000000Z DTEND:20261118T013000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:c88g7r3ki9bl81358obkd32b14_R20240522T000000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Monthly business meeting. All members are invited to discuss FamiLAB business.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/mhc-fc mv-dox\nOr dial: (US) +1 754-216-8365 PIN: 700398705#\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB\, 400 North St #152\, Longwood\, FL 32750\, USA\, FamiLAB -Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261118T230000Z DTEND:20261119T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3789-1795014000-1795021200@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Lake Nona Valor Clinic\, 13800 Veterans Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 3282 7\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-13/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261120T010000Z DTEND:20261120T030000Z DTSTAMP:20260823T010823Z UID:674-1795118400-1795125600@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260823T010823Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-29/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20261120T170000Z DTEND:20261120T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001758-1795176000-1795179600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 26-11-20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ten10 Trivia Night DTSTART:20261127T010000Z DTEND:20261127T030000Z DTSTAMP:20260827T010621Z UID:675-1795723200-1795730400@ten10brewingcompany.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:8:00 pm every Thursday LAST-MODIFIED:20260827T010621Z URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com/event/ten10-trivia-night-30/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Ten10 Brewing Company X-SOURCE-URL:https://ten10brewingcompany.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Business Networking DTSTART:20261201T140000Z DTEND:20261201T160000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T180324Z UID:10011028-1796115600-1796122800@orlandomom.com CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T180324Z LOCATION:Marketplace at Avalon Park\, 3801 Avalon Park E Blvd Ste. 100\,\, Orlando\, FL\, 32828\, United States URL:https://orlandomom.com/calendar/women-in-business-networking/2026-12-0 1/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Orlando Mom Collective X-SOURCE-URL:https://orlandomom.com/central-florida-farmers-markets-2 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20261201T170000Z DTEND:20261201T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000006-1796126400-1796130000@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-4/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261202T230000Z DTEND:20261203T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3791-1796223600-1796230800@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Lake Nona Valor Clinic\, 13800 Veterans Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 3282 7\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-14/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Holiday Member Reception DTSTART:20261203T220000Z DTEND:20261203T233000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022917Z UID:10000336-1796317200-1796322600@morsemuseum.org CATEGORIES:community,holiday DESCRIPTION:Morse Museum members are invited to the Christmas in the Park Holiday Reception. \nClick here to become a member. For inquiries\, please call 407-645-5311\, ext. 115 or email membership@morsemuseum.org. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022917Z LOCATION:The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art\, 445 N. Park Ave .\, Winter Park\, Florida\, 32789 URL:https://morsemuseum.org/event/holiday-member-reception/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art X-SOURCE-URL:https://morsemuseum.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Marketing & Community Outreach Meeting DTSTART:20261203T230000Z DTEND:20261204T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:6ja9pc66r6spr2ulo9ghso5c6u_R20260604T230000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Members only - This is a meeting to discuss and implement outr each opportunities\nJoin in person or virtual.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: h ttps://meet.google.com/fmc-fkdh-ian\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://s upport.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB-Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20261204T140000Z DTEND:20261204T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001418-1796374800-1796378400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2026- 12-04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Baldwin Park Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261209T230000Z DTEND:20261210T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3759-1796828400-1796835600@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Baldwin Park Valor Clinic\, 5201 Raymond Street\, Orlando\, FL\, 32803\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/baldwin-park-valor-clinic-6/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20261215T170000Z DTEND:20261215T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001640-1797336000-1797339600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2026-12-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting DTSTART:20261216T000000Z DTEND:20261216T013000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:c88g7r3ki9bl81358obkd32b14_R20240522T000000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Monthly business meeting. All members are invited to discuss FamiLAB business.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/mhc-fc mv-dox\nOr dial: (US) +1 754-216-8365 PIN: 700398705#\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB\, 400 North St #152\, Longwood\, FL 32750\, USA\, FamiLAB -Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Lake Nona Valor Clinic DTSTART:20261216T230000Z DTEND:20261217T010000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022925Z UID:3793-1797433200-1797440400@www.legalaidocba.org CATEGORIES:community LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022925Z LOCATION:Lake Nona Valor Clinic\, 13800 Veterans Way\, Orlando\, FL\, 3282 7\, United States URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org/event/lake-nona-valor-clinic-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:The Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association\, Inc. X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.legalaidocba.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20261218T170000Z DTEND:20261218T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001759-1797595200-1797598800@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 26-12-18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20270101T140000Z DTEND:20270101T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001422-1798794000-1798797600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2027- 01-01/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270105T170000Z DTEND:20270105T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000309-1799150400-1799154000@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-14/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Marketing & Community Outreach Meeting DTSTART:20270107T230000Z DTEND:20270108T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:6ja9pc66r6spr2ulo9ghso5c6u_R20260604T230000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Members only - This is a meeting to discuss and implement outr each opportunities\nJoin in person or virtual.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: h ttps://meet.google.com/fmc-fkdh-ian\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://s upport.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB-Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20270115T170000Z DTEND:20270115T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001760-1800014400-1800018000@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 27-01-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20270119T170000Z DTEND:20270119T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001641-1800360000-1800363600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2027-01-19/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting DTSTART:20270120T000000Z DTEND:20270120T013000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153455Z UID:c88g7r3ki9bl81358obkd32b14_R20240522T000000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Monthly business meeting. All members are invited to discuss FamiLAB business.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/mhc-fc mv-dox\nOr dial: (US) +1 754-216-8365 PIN: 700398705#\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153455Z LOCATION:FamiLAB\, 400 North St #152\, Longwood\, FL 32750\, USA\, FamiLAB -Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270202T170000Z DTEND:20270202T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000310-1801569600-1801573200@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Marketing & Community Outreach Meeting DTSTART:20270204T230000Z DTEND:20270205T000000Z DTSTAMP:20260809T001203Z UID:6ja9pc66r6spr2ulo9ghso5c6u_R20260604T230000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Members only - This is a meeting to discuss and implement outr each opportunities\nJoin in person or virtual.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: h ttps://meet.google.com/fmc-fkdh-ian\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://s upport.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T001203Z LOCATION:FamiLAB-Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20270205T140000Z DTEND:20270205T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001427-1801818000-1801821600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2027- 02-05/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20270216T170000Z DTEND:20270216T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001642-1802779200-1802782800@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2027-02-16/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Meeting DTSTART:20270217T000000Z DTEND:20270217T013000Z DTSTAMP:20260821T003151Z UID:c88g7r3ki9bl81358obkd32b14_R20240522T000000@google.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Monthly business meeting. All members are invited to discuss FamiLAB business.\n\nJoin with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/mhc-fc mv-dox\nOr dial: (US) +1 754-216-8365 PIN: 700398705#\n\nLearn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720 LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T003151Z LOCATION:FamiLAB\, 400 North St #152\, Longwood\, FL 32750\, USA\, FamiLAB -Main-Classroom (20) X-SOURCE-NAME:FamiLAB X-SOURCE-URL:https://www.familab.org END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20270219T170000Z DTEND:20270219T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001761-1803038400-1803042000@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 27-02-19/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:TurtleFest 2027- Loggerhead Marinelife Center DTSTART:20270220T150000Z DTEND:20270220T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022932Z UID:26478-1803117600-1803142800@dianekann.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:**Pending LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022932Z LOCATION:Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach\, FL URL:https://dianekann.com/event/turtlefest-loggerhead-marinelife-center/ X-SOURCE-NAME:dianekann X-SOURCE-URL:https://dianekann.com/events/category/upcoming-events/list END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:TurtleFest 2027 DTSTART:20270221T150000Z DTEND:20270221T220000Z DTSTAMP:20260829T002204Z UID:26481-1803204000-1803229200@dianekann.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:**Pending LAST-MODIFIED:20260829T002204Z LOCATION:Loggerhead Park in Juno Beach\, FL URL:https://dianekann.com/event/turtlefest-2027/ X-SOURCE-NAME:dianekann X-SOURCE-URL:https://dianekann.com/events/category/upcoming-events/list END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270302T170000Z DTEND:20270302T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000311-1803988800-1803992400@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-16/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20270305T140000Z DTEND:20270305T150000Z DTSTAMP:20260728T153453Z UID:10001431-1804237200-1804240800@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260728T153453Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2027- 03-05/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20270316T160000Z DTEND:20270316T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260731T000329Z UID:10001643-1805198400-1805202000@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260731T000329Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2027-03-16/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Alys Beach Membership Social DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20270319 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270322 DTSTAMP:20260901T000007Z UID:10000177-1805414400-1805673599@flclassicist.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA) was formed in 2001 in Miami by Erik Vogt and Marieanne Khoury as a practice in architecture\, urban desig n\, and town planning. Erik received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Miami and Master of Architecture from Yale University. Mari eanne received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Wisconsin (after studying for 3 years at L’Ecole Spéciale d’Architecture in Pa ris\, France) and has a Master of Architecture and Master of Urban Plannin g from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Both are licensed archite cts working throughout the country. The practice\, currently based in Alys Beach\, Florida\, engages projects in a variety of scales\, programs\, an d locales. Each is strongly rooted in enduring types and forms that have d eveloped over time to serve both the individual inhabitant at the scale of the building and shape the individual building at the scale of the city. \n\nThis grounding in typological tradition allows for an exploration of a rchitectural character and language that\, while deploying the principles of classical composition\, offers a synthesis of modern and vernacular sty les\, often inflected by the influence of the tropics and Mediterranean. I n all cases\, the work strives to partake in equal parts both tradition an d invention and to instill in the inhabitant a sense of comfort and deligh t. Their work has received numerous awards and accolades\, and their work has been extensively published. In 2023\, they were awarded the prestigiou s annual Arthur Ross Award for their body of work by the ICAA (The Institu te of Classical Architecture and Art) that recognizes excellence in the cl assical tradition\, and in 2024\, Marieanne was awarded the annual 2024 Ba rranco Award by the Urban Guild for her work as Town Architect in Alys Bea ch. \nFernando Wong has been called “one of the best landscape designers in the world” by the Chelsea Design Centre in London\, “one of the mo st influential landscape designers in America” by Elle Décor\, “a gen ius with the soul of a poet” by Garden Design Magazine\, a “landscape legend” by Forbes\, and “the creative mind behind Miami’s lushest la ndscapes” by Architectural Digest. His television series\, Clipped with Martha Stewart\, can be streamed on HGTV and Discovery+\, and his work has been featured on The Today Show as well as in leading design publications worldwide. His book The Young Man and the Tree from Vendome was published in 2025. \nTim Johnson is the CEO of Fernando Wong Outdoor Living Design\ , an award-winning boutique landscape architecture firm he founded with Fe rnando in Miami Beach twenty years ago. The firm has grown every year sinc e its inception and opened a second Palm Beach office in 2012. In addition to residential projects around the world\, commercial designs include the Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club in Miami\, the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach\, the Four Seasons Private Residences in Fort Lauderdale\, the Gasparilla Inn & Beach Club in Boca Grande\, the Seminole Golf Club\, the Starwood Luxury Collection Bardo and Mansion Hotels in Savannah\, the Lyf ord Cay Club\, and a national park for the Bahamian government. \n  \nSch edule\n\nFriday Night – Welcome Cocktails\nSaturday Morning – Classroo m Lecture with Tim Johnson\, Fernando Wong\, and Khoury Vogt\nSaturday Aft ernoon – Alys Beach Tour LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T000007Z LOCATION:ICAA Florida Chapter URL:https://flclassicist.org/calendar-events/alys-beach-membership-social/ X-SOURCE-NAME:ICAA Florida Chapter X-SOURCE-URL:https://flclassicist.org/calendar-events/alys-beach-membershi p-social END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20270319T160000Z DTEND:20270319T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260818T122037Z UID:10001762-1805457600-1805461200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260818T122037Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 27-03-19/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20270402T130000Z DTEND:20270402T140000Z DTSTAMP:20260821T182016Z UID:10001435-1806656400-1806660000@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260821T182016Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2027- 04-02/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270406T160000Z DTEND:20270406T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000312-1807012800-1807016400@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-17/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20270416T160000Z DTEND:20270416T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001763-1807876800-1807880400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 27-04-16/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20270420T160000Z DTEND:20270420T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001644-1808222400-1808226000@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2027-04-20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270504T160000Z DTEND:20270504T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000313-1809432000-1809435600@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20270507T130000Z DTEND:20270507T140000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001440-1809680400-1809684000@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2027- 05-07/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20270518T160000Z DTEND:20270518T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001645-1810641600-1810645200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2027-05-18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20270521T160000Z DTEND:20270521T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001764-1810900800-1810904400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 27-05-21/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270601T160000Z DTEND:20270601T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000314-1811851200-1811854800@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-19/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Friday Business Networking Alliance DTSTART:20270604T130000Z DTEND:20270604T140000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001444-1812099600-1812103200@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🤝 Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance\nThe Dr. Phillips Friday Business Networking Alliance is a dedicated event hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber\, designed to help you grow your business and connect with the local community. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 1st Friday of the month \n\n\nTime: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM \n\n\nWhere: Har borChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\n✨ Key Benefits & Focus\nThis networking group is Committed to Growing Your Bus iness through the following activities: \n\n\nNetworking: Consistent oppor tunities to meet and build relationships with other professionals. \n\n\nB usiness Spotlight Opportunities: Chances to showcase your business to the group. \n\n\nLead Sharing & Referrals: A focus on generating and exchangin g valuable business leads. \n\n\nProfessional Growth: Resources and connec tions to enhance your professional development. \n\n\nCommunity Connection : Strengthening your ties within the Dr. Phillips and Orlando business com munity. \n\n\n📞 Contact Information\nFor more information\, you can con tact the Dr. Phillips Chamber: \n\n\nPhone: 407-749-0333 \n\n\nEmail: info @drphillipschamber.org \n\n\nWebsite: DRPHILLIPSCHAMBER.ORG \n\n\n  \nSIG N UP HERE FOR THE EVENT LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z LOCATION:HarborChase of Dr. Phillips\, 7233 Della Dr.\, Orlando\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-alliance/2027- 06-04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon DTSTART:20270615T160000Z DTEND:20270615T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260826T180921Z UID:10001646-1813060800-1813064400@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:🍽️ Dr. Phillips Chamber: Monthly Luncheon\nThis is a prof essional monthly luncheon hosted by the Dr. Phillips Chamber of Commerce\, offering a valuable networking opportunity centered around a round table discussion. \n🗓️ Event Details\n\n\nWhat: Monthly Luncheon and Round Table Discussion \n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month \n\n\nTime: 12 :00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nWhere: Burntwood Tavern\, 5078 Dr Phillips Blvd. Orlando\, FL 32819 \n\n\nCost: Pay for Your Meal \n\n\n🎤 Key Feature\nT he luncheon is designed to facilitate introductions and deeper connections : \n\n\nAttendees enjoy lunch with a round table discussion. \n\n\nEach at tendee is given a 1-minute introduction of their business/profession. \n\n \n📝 Registration\nTo register for this monthly event\, please CLICK HER E LAST-MODIFIED:20260826T180921Z LOCATION:Burntwood Tavern – Grand Oaks\, 5078 Dr. Phillips Blvd.\, Orlan do\, FL\, 32819\, United States URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/dr-phillips-chamber-monthly-lunche on/2027-06-15/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Ladies Entrepreneurs of Dr. Phillips Luncheon | Monthly Networking Event DTSTART:20270618T160000Z DTEND:20270618T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260904T120920Z UID:10001765-1813320000-1813323600@drphillipschamber.org CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Empower Your Business Through Connection\nFast. Fun. Effective . Make new connections\, share your business insights\, and grow your prof essional network—one conversation at a time. This monthly luncheon is de signed specifically for women entrepreneurs looking to expand their reach in the Dr. Phillips community. \n\nEvent Details\n\n\nWhen: Every 3rd Frid ay Monthly \n\n\nTime: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM \n\n\nLocation: A Different Lo cation Monthly (Check registration link for this month’s venue) \n\n\nCo st: Pay For Your Food \n\n\n\nHow to Join Us\nCLICK HERE\nReady to grow yo ur network? We can’t wait to meet you! LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T120920Z URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/ladies-entrepreneurs-lunch-2026/20 27-06-18/ X-SOURCE-NAME:drphillipschamber.org X-SOURCE-URL:https://drphillipschamber.org/event/business-networking-allia nce/2026-05-01 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20270703T130000Z DTEND:20270703T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8002-1814605200-1814619600@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2027 -07-03/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270706T160000Z DTEND:20270706T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000315-1814875200-1814878800@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-20/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270803T160000Z DTEND:20270803T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000316-1817294400-1817298000@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-21/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20270807T130000Z DTEND:20270807T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8047-1817629200-1817643600@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2027 -08-07/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20270904T130000Z DTEND:20270904T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8081-1820048400-1820062800@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2027 -09-04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20270907T160000Z DTEND:20270907T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000317-1820318400-1820322000@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-22/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20271002T130000Z DTEND:20271002T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8095-1822467600-1822482000@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2027 -10-02/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20271005T160000Z DTEND:20271005T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022933Z UID:10000318-1822737600-1822741200@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022933Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-23/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship - New Member Orientation DTSTART:20271102T160000Z DTEND:20271102T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260901T190014Z UID:10000319-1825156800-1825160400@innovateorlando.io CATEGORIES:community,tech DESCRIPTION:*Photo: West Orlando News\n \n \nOrlando is home to moonshot s and magic. I came up through creative industries\, then spent twelve yea rs at what was the Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission\, now the Orlando Economic Partnership\, learning what it actually takes to move a region. The slow\, structural work of building relationships that compound \, aligning incentives across sectors\, and creating the conditions where the private market does things it would not do alone. I have worked alongs ide many regional leaders over the years. What I know about myself is that I am not done. I have more to give\, more to build\, and a clearer pictur e than ever of what it is actually going to take. \n\n\n\n\nAnd what it i s going to take is not another event. Not another building with innovation in the name. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capi tal\, research to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regional strategy across cities and counties that compounds o ver time instead of resetting every grant cycle. The connective tissue tha t does not just celebrate the ecosystem but structurally advances it.  \n Innovate Orlando\, as it was\, was not that system. I say that with full ownership. I ran it. And what I learned running it is that this work can not live outside the larger regional economic development infrastructure. It has to be woven into it\, or it spends all of its energy trying to be heard by the rooms it needs to be inside.  \nThat is why this decision is not hard. It is overdue.  \nI wanted you to hear this directly from m e: Innovate Orlando is transitioning its mission and programs back to the Orlando Economic Partnership\, and I am returning with them as Vice Presid ent of Innovation\, effective March 9.  \nThis is about finding the right partnerships\, alignments\, and connected momentum to do this work at t he scale it deserves. Moving this work inside the Orlando Economic Partne rship means the mission is now backed by the full infrastructure of region al government\, industry\, academia\, and community partners working towar d the same goal. The platform is bigger. The reach is longer. The mission  can have the infrastructure to match its ambition.  \nTech Connect\, t he Orlando Tech Summit and Community Awards\, and the Orlando Tech Grant a ll make the move. What comes next is not another program or another event. It is a repeatable system\, one that connects talent to capital\, researc h to commercialization\, founders to procurement\, and all of it to a regi onal strategy that compounds over time instead of resetting every grant cy cle.  \nThis is not a step away from the work. It is the work\, finally in the right kitchen. Orlando does not need more cheerleaders. It needs i nfrastructure that works.  \nNow scroll down. Because this week’s news is exactly the argument I have been making the entire time. A Central Flor ida AV company is heading to the FIFA World Cup. UCF just launched a $3.5 billion campaign\, its largest in history. An Orlando cybersecurity co mpany hosted a national conference in our own backyard. Space Florida open ed a $531M call for projects. And that is just the headline layer. The ful l picture is below\, and it will remind you why this region is not waiting to be discovered. It never was.  \n  \nSpace Coast and Aerospace  \nRe ad these four stories as phases of a single capital formation sequence. Pu blic infrastructure investment comes first and de-risks everything that fo llows. Private real estate comes second\, signaling long-term operational commitment. International capital comes third\, validating that the regi on can compete globally. NASA is the backdrop that makes all three moves l egible.  \nBlue Origin’s $11.5M land acquisition in Cocoa is the kind o f move a company makes when it has already decided the Space Coast is a lo ng-term operating address\, not a launch convenience. That decision compou nds against Space Florida’s 2026 Spaceport Improvement Program\, which j ust opened a call for projects backed by $531M in state investment\, esse ntially a public infrastructure commitment that de-risks the private capi tal following behind it. EOS-X Space’s acquisition of Space Perspective and its $650M+ combined valuation shows what happens when international ae rospace capital looks for a U.S. home and finds that this region has both the infrastructure and the talent density to justify the bet. NASA’s Art emis 2 timeline\, still targeting April\, is the backdrop to all of it. Wh en public investment\, private real estate\, and international capital are all moving in the same direction at the same time\, that is not momentum. That is a thesis becoming infrastructure.  \n\nBlue Origin snags 20-acr e Cocoa site for $11.5M as latest Brevard expansion \n\n\nEOS-X Space Exp ands U.S. Footprint after Space Perspective Deal \n\n\nNASA repairs Artem is 2 moon rocket in hopes of an April lunar launch \n\n\nSpace Florida’ s 2026 Call for Spaceport Projects\, $531M in state investment\, April 22 deadline \n\n  \nDefense\, Drones and Cybersecurity  \nRead these five stories as a demand signal map. The government signals what it needs. The private sector builds the product. The universities build the workforce. T hen the cycle repeats at a higher level. Every story in this section is a different point on that loop.  \nOrange County’s $7M drone-as-first-r esponder program is a local government buying what the private market has already proven works\, a direct downstream effect of companies and researc hers in this region building real-world drone operations for years. Centra l Florida’s role in the missile defense planning conversation runs direc tly through the modeling and simulation corridor\, home to more than 15\,0 00 simulation professionals working across systems that range from missile guidance and radar tracking to autonomous vehicle training and pilot read iness. That is the digital infrastructure missile defense architecture req uires before a physical system is ever built. The golden dome starts with a digital twin\, and this region is where those twins get made.   Threa tLocker’s Zero Trust World conference just made that demand signal visib le to thousands of security professionals gathered in Orlando this week\, and Embry-Riddle answered with both a new aviation cybersecurity certifica tion program and a drone-based research deployment on Lake Okeechobee. Tho se same hyperspectral imaging and autonomous sampling systems being used t o study algae blooms can be adapted for border surveillance\, maritime pat rol\, and environmental threat detection. Embry-Riddle is not just doing e nvironmental research. It is building the operational proof of concept for a capability the defense community is actively looking for. These stories are not parallel. They are sequential. The research produces the workforc e. The workforce builds the products. The products win the contracts. The contracts fund the next round of research.  \n\n$7M approved to fund firs t responder drones in Orange County \n\n\nCentral Florida’s role in Tru mp’s missile defense system \n\n\nThreatLocker Zero Trust World 2026\, Orlando\, March 4-6 \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Launches Aviation Cybersecurity Tr aining and Certification \n\n\nEmbry-Riddle Researchers Develop Drone Tec h to Study Harmful Blue-Green Algae on Lake Okeechobee \n\n  \nHealth Te ch and Life Sciences  \nRead these three stories as a pipeline\, not a cl uster. The forum sets the agenda. The research fills it. The talent expor ts validate it globally and come back. That is how a health tech ecosyst em matures.  \nLake Nona’s Impact Forum argument\, that longevity is in separable from technology\, is easy to endorse on a panel stage. What make s it credible is the research pipeline sitting behind it. A UCF researcher developing a new therapy for diabetic neuropathy is working on a conditio n that affects more than 50% of people with diabetes and has no FDA-approv ed cure\, the kind of gap that attracts serious capital once clinical proo f of concept exists. A UCF doctoral graduate heading to Harvard Medical Sc hool to advance AI-driven clinical tools is exactly the talent export stor y that benchmarks a region’s research quality on a national stage\, even as it feels like a loss locally. Orlando’s health tech ecosystem is not built on one medical city with good architecture. It is built on a univer sity research pipeline that feeds institutions like Harvard\, and on appli ed science that is moving toward the clinic. Lake Nona is the platform. UC F is the engine underneath it.  \n\nLake Nona Impact Forum: There can’t be longevity without tech \n\n\nUCF Researcher Developing New Therapy to Treat Diabetic Neuropathy \n\n\nUCF Doctoral Grad Heads to Harvard Medic al School to Advance AI-Driven Clinical Tools \n\n  \nResearch\, Talent and University Innovation  \nIf you wanted to design a regional innovatio n ecosystem from scratch\, you would do something that looks very much lik e what Central Florida’s universities are doing right now. UCF’s $3.5 billion Go For Launch campaign is the largest fundraising effort in th e university’s history and it is essentially a capital formation eve nt for the ecosystem. The proceeds flow into research infrastructure\, sch olarships\, and facilities that the private sector will benefit from dir ectly. The $4M electron microscope is a small illustration of the larger l ogic: UCF is not just training students\, it is building shared research infrastructure that companies in the region can access without owning. Ro llins College’s addition of the Rick Goings Institute to its $200M Innov ation Triangle takes a different approach\, connecting liberal arts educat ion to entrepreneurship and economic development\, a bet that the skills g ap in the innovation economy is not purely technical.   \nAnd at Full Sa il University in Winter Park\, my alma mater\, student filmmakers just lan ded finalist spots in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films competition\, a preci se illustration of what happens when production-focused education puts stu dents on national stages before they graduate. These institutions are not competing. They are covering different parts of the same talent and rese arch formation problem\, and the aggregate investment this week runs well past $3.7 billion. That is not coincidence. That is a coordinated instit utional bet on this region’s trajectory.  \n\nUCF Launches $3.5 Billion Go For Launch Campaign \n\n\nUCF’s New $4M Electron Microscope Expands Research Access Across Campus\, Industry \n\n\nUCF Computer Science Prof essor Recognized for Contributions to Human-Computer Interaction \n\n\nNe w institute to join Rollins College’s $200M Innovation Triangle \n\n\nF ull Sail Filmmakers Named Finalists in Prestigious Nationwide Film Competi tion\, Coca-Cola Refreshing Films \n\n  \nStartups\, Capital and Busin ess Growth  \nRead these four stories as a capital stack\, not as isolate d company announcements. FirmPilot’s $22M Series A-1 in AI legal marke ting is venture capital flowing into vertical SaaS\, a signal that investo rs see Orlando-area companies as credible bets at growth-stage check sizes \, not just seed experiments. Kore.ai’s strategic growth investment fr om AllianceBernstein is institutional private credit entering the enterpri se AI story through an Orlando-headquartered company\, a different flavor of capital\, from a different part of the market\, validating a differen t stage of growth. RSG Security’s California expansion and Laser Photoni cs’ consolidation to Lake Mary are operational scaling stories\, not fun draising announcements. They represent companies that have already raise d and are now executing. Together\, the four companies span early growth\, scale-up\, and operational maturity. That is what a functioning startup e cosystem looks like when it is working: multiple companies at multiple sta ges\, attracting multiple types of capital\, and still calling Central Fl orida home.  \nOne gap this newsletter never fully closed is the capital formation story itself. Who is writing the checks in Orlando? What does the fund landscape actually look like? Where does a founder go when they need a Series A and do not want to fly to San Francisco to get it? That is the story I am most eager to tell from inside OEP\, where the relationshi ps between capital\, institutions\, and founders can be mapped and connect ed at regional scale.  \n\nFirmPilot Secures $22 Million Series A-1 \n\n \nKore.ai Secures Strategic Growth Investment from AllianceBernstein \n\n \nMatthew Sierra\, Founder of RSG Security\, Scales Orlando’s Fastest-Gr owing Private Security Firm as Company Expands Into California \n\n\nLase r Photonics Announces Strategic Consolidation of Manufacturing Footprint t o Lake Mary\, Florida \n\n  \nTech Infrastructure and Economic Developme nt  \nRead these three stories as a market validation sequence. First ten ant\, first mobility operator\, first AV deployment at global scale. Eac h one lowers the risk for everything that follows.  \nTerracon signing as the first tenant at the Lake Mary Technology Center is significant not fo r the lease itself but for what a first tenant signals to every tenant tha t follows. The anchor has arrived\, the risk has been absorbed\, the addr ess is legitimate. Freebee’s EV rideshare launch in Lake Nona works the same way: it is a Miami company choosing a Central Florida innovation di strict as its expansion market\, which tells you something about how that district is perceived by operators making real capital allocation decision s outside of Florida. Beep is the furthest along of the three. An Altamo nte Springs company that built the first permanent AV deployment by any U. S. city is now carrying 150\,000 kilometers of verified real-world opera tions into the FIFA World Cup in Atlanta. That is a Central Florida compan y writing the operational playbook for autonomous mobility on a global sta ge. The infrastructure layer of this ecosystem is not background. It is th e proof of concept that makes everything else fundable.  \n\nLake Mary Te chnology Center lands engineering firm as first leaseholder \n\n\nMiami r ideshare company brings electric vehicles to Lake Nona \n\n\nBeep AV depl oyments launching in Altamonte Springs and Atlanta World Cup \n\n  \nIn Case You Missed It  \nSpaceX’s March 3 Starlink launch from Cape Canave ral produced a jellyfish atmospheric effect visible across Central Florida \, striking enough that it trended locally\, routine enough that it barely made the business press. That tension is itself a story: Florida’s spac eport is now launching so frequently that rocket plumes have become regi onal weather. NASA’s separate announcement of a major change to its long -term lunar architecture adds policy context to the Artemis 2 repair timel ine. Watch this space as the downstream implications for Kennedy and the S pace Coast supply chain come into focus. Team Orlando’s SERDP and ESTCP wildland fire safety tabletop exchange is the quietest story of the week\, but it is exactly the kind of cross-sector defense research collaboration that keeps the connective tissue of this community intact between the lar ger headlines. And an Orlando-area studio launches Everwind\, a sandbox s urvival RPG\, on Steam Early Access March 17\, a Central Florida game goin g live on one of the world’s largest gaming platforms.  \n\nSpaceX ‘j ellyfish’ launch recap: Live updates from Florida Starlink mission \n\n \nNASA Announces Major Change to Plans For Putting Humans on The Moon \n\ n\nSERDP and ESTCP host wildland safety\, fire PPE tabletop exchange \n\n \nSandbox Survival RPG Everwind launches on March 17 via Steam Early Acces s \n\n  \nThank You  \nThis newsletter was never the point. It was evid ence.  \nEvidence that this ecosystem had stories worth telling. Evidence that the founders\, researchers\, operators\, and investors building in O rlando deserved the same attention as the regions that simply had better P R. Evidence that connective tissue\, the unglamorous\, unsponsored\, unsex y work of linking people and ideas and capital across a geography\, is the difference between a collection of companies and an actual ecosystem.  \ nThat evidence is now substantial.  \nDavid Adelson built the foundation . Ashley McMullan built it with me week after week. Our sponsors and board made the long bet. This community showed up and proved it was worth makin g.  \nThe next chapter of this work continues at the Orlando Economic Par tnership. Stay connected. Keep submitting. Keep showing up to the summits \, applying for the grants\, and making the introductions that move this e cosystem forward. The connective tissue holds because you hold it.  \nA nd if you have a story worth telling\, you already know where to find me.   \n  \n— Sheena Fowler  \n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \nCheck out upcoming events here\n\n\n  \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the movement by becoming an invest or in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem \n\n\n\nJoin Now\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n \n \n \n Investor Highlight \n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nFlorida High Tech Corridor  is a vital force in Central Florida’s innovation ecosystem\, bringing together world-class research institutions like the University of Central Florida and a collaborative network of industry\, academia\, and economic partners to grow high-tech industries and opportunities across a 23-county region. Anchored by Orlando’s thriving technology community\, \nThe Cor ridor fuels innovation through strategic research partnerships\, workforce development programs\, and initiatives that help startups and established firms alike advance cutting-edge technologies and talent pipelines. Its d edication to boundary-breaking collaboration and community-driven innovati on accelerates economic growth\, strengthens Orlando’s role as a regiona l tech hub\, and fosters long-term prosperity across sectors from aerospac e to life sciences.  \n\n\nLearn more at: Florida High Tech Corridor \n \n \n \n Innovate Orlando News\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \nAMPLIFY CENTRAL FLORIDA CONSORTIUM: VISIBILITY FOR T HE REGION’S INNOVATORS\n\n  \nCentral Florida is emerging as a nation al hub for technology\, simulation\, space\, health innovation\, and clea ntech but small and mid-sized enterprises often lack the resources to com pete with global brands shaping online narratives. The new Amplify Centra l Florida Consortium provides shared-investment marketing infrastructure for forward-thinking companies\, delivering enterprise-grade branding\, mu ltimedia production\, and strategic communications.  \nMembership tiers  (preferred rates through March 2026):  \n\nVisibility Package: $450 (Blin kCo. Mag feature reaching 1M+ viewers) \n\n\nVideo Essential Kit: $2\,975 /mo (monthly production session\, 3-mo commitment) \n\n\nLifestyle Story Kit: $4\,025/mo (30-day content plan + cinematic video) \n\n\nPrestige Fe ature Kit: $5\,075/mo (8-12 short-form videos + BlinkCo. distribution) \n \nLed by Amóre Marketing & Productions\, the Consortium elevates indivi dual companies while strengthening Central Florida’s competitive profile . Perfect timing ahead of the Orlando Tech Summit\, contact Soyini Chang ( soyini@blinkcomedia.com | 646-932-0907) to explore membership. \n  \n\n\n \n\n More Info\n\n\n\n  \n\n  \n \n \n \n Orla ndo’s tech scene\, all in one place.\nFrom meetups to moonshots\, if it ’s happening in innovation\, it’s on our calendar. \n \n\n\n\n\nEvents \n\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\nNeed a venu e for your next event or workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!\n \n\n \nConv eniently located in Downtown Orlando\, we offer rental spaces including   conference rooms\, breakout rooms\, auditorium\, reception space\, and mor e!  Tech Hub Orlando is more than just a space\, it’s a home for Cent ral Florida’s tech and innovation community. Designed to foster collabo ration\, growth\, and connection\, our hub is here to support startups\, e ntrepreneurs\, and businesses looking to make an impact. \nContact us for more info!\n \n \n\n\n\nCheck us out! LAST-MODIFIED:20260901T190014Z URL:https://innovateorlando.io/event/women-in-tech-entrepreneurship-new-me mber-orientation-24/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Innovate Orlando X-SOURCE-URL:https://innovateorlando.io END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20271106T130000Z DTEND:20271106T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8148-1825491600-1825506000@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2027 -11-06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20271204T140000Z DTEND:20271204T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8224-1827910800-1827925200@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2027 -12-04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280101T140000Z DTEND:20280101T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8250-1830330000-1830344400@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -01-01/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280205T140000Z DTEND:20280205T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8293-1833354000-1833368400@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -02-05/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280304T140000Z DTEND:20280304T180000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8339-1835773200-1835787600@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -03-04/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280401T130000Z DTEND:20280401T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8377-1838192400-1838206800@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -04-01/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280506T130000Z DTEND:20280506T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8402-1841216400-1841230800@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -05-06/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280603T130000Z DTEND:20280603T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8437-1843635600-1843650000@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -06-03/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280701T130000Z DTEND:20280701T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8482-1846054800-1846069200@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -07-01/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280805T130000Z DTEND:20280805T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260828T022929Z UID:8508-1849078800-1849093200@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260828T022929Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -08-05/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Monthly Classic Car Cruise-In DTSTART:20280902T130000Z DTEND:20280902T170000Z DTSTAMP:20260904T000511Z UID:8539-1851498000-1851512400@daytonafleamarket.com CATEGORIES:community DESCRIPTION:Join us on the first Saturday of every month for the Classic C ar Cruise-In\, sponsored by Steve’s Pickle Place. LAST-MODIFIED:20260904T000511Z URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com/event/monthly-classic-car-cruise-in/2028 -09-02/ X-SOURCE-NAME:Daytona Flea & Farmers Market | Daytona Beach\, FL X-SOURCE-URL:https://daytonafleamarket.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR