Hi Friends,  

This week’s news showcases something remarkable: Central Florida’s innovation economy isn’t just growing; it’s maturing into a genuinely interconnected ecosystem where breakthroughs in one sector amplify progress across others rather than just isolated wins. From autonomous vehicles connecting our communities to our universities advancing space science, from defense tech companies scaling globally to entertainment innovators redefining experiences, we’re witnessing the compounding returns of years of strategic investment in talent, infrastructure, and collaboration.

What strikes me most is the depth of our regional advantage. We’re not just attracting companies; we’re producing the research, educating the workforce, and creating the testbeds that make Central Florida indispensable to emerging industries. Altamonte Springs becoming the nation’s first city with a permanent AV transit program isn’t an accident; it’s the result of deliberate public-private partnership and willingness to be first. UCF launching Florida’s only Planetary and Space Sciences Ph.D. program isn’t symbolic; it’s infrastructure that will produce the scientists and engineers our space industry desperately needs.

Yet these headlines you’ll read in this newsletter also remind us that innovation is never guaranteed. When Luminar faces headwinds, it’s a sobering reminder that even cutting-edge technology requires patient capital and persistent execution. When our startups raise significant funding, like Finexio’s $35M round led by J.P. Morgan, we must ask ourselves: are we doing everything possible to help them scale here, or will they eventually relocate to ecosystems with deeper support networks?

Orlando ranked #2 nationally for tech job growth with 1,800 new jobs added in 2024, outpacing Charlotte, Houston, and Dallas combined. That’s momentum. The question now is whether we’re building senior roles and founder-track positions that stay here, or whether we’re just becoming satellite offices for coastal hubs. That’s the challenge in front of us. 

And I saw proof of the momentum in action last week. At our bi-annual Founders Dinner sponsored by Deepwork Capital and the Florida High Tech Corridor, over 40 of you showed up, swapping stories, sparking ideas, and proving why this community is unstoppable. It’s not just networking; it’s the fuel that turns individual ambition into collective momentum. There were founders with multiple exits under their belt and a few newbies with real traction ready to soak in all the advice of those who came before them. It was community at its finest. 

The through-line I see in this week’s coverage is interconnection: autonomous vehicles need AI researchers like those at UCF’s Institute for Simulation & Training; theme park experiences depend on Full Sail graduates; our semiconductor cluster at NeoCity creates opportunities for startups and attracts global investment; our defense capabilities benefit from university research partnerships. This is what a mature innovation economy looks like, and we’re just getting started.

But interconnection only works when we can see the connections. Quick ask before we jump in: Added your company to the ecosystem map yet? It’s our visual roadmap to connections and opportunities. Takes 2 minutes. Do it here: Add your company

Your entry isn’t just a pin; it uncovers partnerships that drive real growth. This edition breaks down the week’s wins, risks, and opportunities. From launching AV pilots to scaling space tech and fueling creative innovation, we’re building an ecosystem that’s resilient and ready. Let’s lean in.

Below, check out this week’s (and some from last week) headlines with relevant context on how it’s all connected to make Central Florida leaders in technology that shapes how we train, play, and heal.  

FOUNDERS & STARTUP ECOSYSTEM: Capital, Exits, and Growing Pains

Where our founders are raising capital, scaling globally, and hitting the walls that every scaling company faces.

Central Florida’s startup ecosystem is moving fast. This week alone, we saw meaningful capital flows, new companies launching, and global expansion announcements. But we also saw the limits of where we are as an ecosystem.

More than 50 tech entrepreneurs pitched at the Plug and Play NeoCity Expo, part of the NSF Regional Innovation Engine that secured up to $160 million over ten years. That’s infrastructure creating a real pipeline from ideation to commercialization. Orlando-based Finexio closed a $35 million Series B at a $100 million valuation, led by J.P. Morgan. Biller Genie announced global expansion to Belfast with 100 new jobs while building their headquarters here in Orlando. MAGIC Private AI launched an on-premises legal AI platform that can cut costs by 90%. AllFly released a business travelplatform challenging Navan and Concur.

Real wins (Finexio, Biller Genie) and real infrastructure (NeoCity). But our founders still need to go to New York for late-stage capital. That’s not a founder failure; that’s a structural gap we need to address. The Florida Deep Tech Venture Summit may be working through some of these topics, will I see you there? 

• 50+ Tech entrepreneurs pitch at Plug and Play NeoCity Expo – Osceola County accelerator showcase

• Finexio Raises $35M Series B – B2B AP firm, J.P. Morgan-led round, $100M valuation

• MAGIC Private AI for Legal launches – On-premises AI platform for law firms

• AllFly releases business travel booking platform – Challenging Navan and Concur

• Biller Genie brings 100 jobs to Belfast – Global expansion with product development office

• Luminar cutting jobs, losing CFO, warning of cash shortage – Lidar company financial challenges