Let’s skip the performative optimism. 

This week, Orlando didn’t just make headlines—we made real progress. Across venture capital, infrastructure, immersive tech, and workforce development, the pattern was clear: coordination, not coincidence. 

Start with capital. 

The Florida Venture Forum Early Stage Conference, one of the state’s most important venture events, was hosted in Orlando. More than 40 companies pitched. Six were from Orlando. They weren’t filler—they were standouts. That matters. Because when the state’s VC network connects in one place, founders don’t just get seen—they get funded. 

That coordination is showing up elsewhere too. 

Phase Shift Ventures, led by Florida VC veteran Dennis Pape, just added Dr. Christina Drake—deep tech founder, Lockheed alum, and UCF Ph.D.—to its team. She brings experience in advanced materials, aerospace, and defense. This is what it looks like when the talent we grow here stays here and reinvests in the next generation. 

Meanwhile, Orlando’s creative infrastructure is doing what it’s designed to do—scale. 

Unreal Fest 2025 brought thousands to the Orange County Convention Center to explore spatial computing, digital twins, and simulation. But for Orlando, it wasn’t just another conference. This is home turf. We have one of the largest Unreal Engine user groups in the country. Last weekend, that group awarded over $22,500 in passes to developers who participated in an XR Jam, where teams built immersive tools for smart cities, public infrastructure, and real-time simulation. 

That work flowed directly into the Plug and Play Smart Cities Expo, where Orlando-based companies like SynMatter, Intelligence Factory, and Lit Thinking pitched civic-ready products. I had the chance to moderate a panel on Innovation as Infrastructure, where we explored how regions like ours can move R&D out of the lab and into deployment. 

This isn’t storytelling. This is execution. 

Hard tech showed up too: 

• A new Orlando facility will produce 50,000 drone motors a month 

• UCF engineers built an AI tool to assess bridge safety in real time 

• Carey International and SYMX Energy launched a regional utility-scale solar portfolio 

• Zero Networks raised $55M to expand its cybersecurity platform 

And the talent pipeline? It’s already producing: 

• UCF engineering students placed in a national NASA tech challenge 

• Osceola County schools expanded workforce training for neurodivergent adults 

• Florida Tech opened Vertex, its new applied innovation hub 

• Orlando Health hosted a summit on AI’s role in future mental healthcare 

So what holds it all together? Feedback loops—and people willing to contribute. 

That’s why Innovate Orlando is backing the Orlando Economic Partnership’s Q2 Talent Supply Survey. It’s 10 minutes. Mostly multiple choice. And it directly informs the region’s 2045 Talent Blueprint. 
Take the survey → [insert link] 

What’s Coming Up 
If you’re looking to plug in, here’s where the ecosystem is gathering next: 

Friday, June 7 
– Orange County State of the County – Mayor Jerry Demings outlines the region’s vision and investments 
– Latinas in Tech – Orlando Meetup (June) – A growing community of Latine tech professionals gathering for connection, culture, and career-building. 

Saturday, June 8 
– Indienomicon Mega Meetup – A spotlight on Orlando’s indie game scene and the creators building what’s next 

Tuesday, June 10 
– Dual-Use, Real-World: What It Takes to Scale Across Defense and Commercial Sectors – Featuring DIU, Red 6, Design Interactive, Talon Simulations, and more—this session unpacks how Orlando companies scale across defense and commercial markets. 

On Deck 
– R-CON (June 13) – A first-of-its-kind Digital Twin Conference hosted at Full Sail, focused on spatial computing, simulation, and real-world deployment 

Looking for a deeper role in shaping what comes next? 
Reach out: Sheena@InnovateOrlando.io 

The takeaway: 
This week proved that when capital, talent, and real infrastructure align, Orlando doesn’t just grow—we lead. 

One more thing… 
You may have noticed some unusual activity from our email address earlier this week. Our team took immediate action and we’re implementing additional precautions to protect our community. Thank you for your patience and continued trust as we work to ensure a secure experience across all communications.