What happens when nobody’s looking
THE THING NOBODY TALKS ABOUT
So Shyam Sankar just hit billionaire status with Palantir at $411B, and everyone’s like “wow, Orlando kid made good.” Cool story. But here’s what’s actually interesting:
He’s not building consumer apps or chasing TikTok trends. He’s building the AI infrastructure that governments use to make life-or-death decisions. Meanwhile, that old clip of an ex-Disney Imagineer explaining why companies poach Orlando engineers as their “secret weapon” keeps making the rounds again. And Tiger Woods opens a golf thing with computer vision because… why not?
Plot twist: These aren’t three random tech stories. They’re the same story.
We’ve built a community where making impossible things feel obvious is just what people do here. Turns out that’s the only skill that actually matters when AI gets real.
THE DUAL-USE INNOVATION LOOP
Quick game: Guess which of these happened this week in Orlando.
A) Advanced simulation tech gets deployed for professional training
B) Startup develops biosecurity solutions for critical infrastructure
C) Restaurant uses AI to predict what you want for dinner
D) All of the above, and somehow they’re connected
If you guessed D, you’re starting to get it.
Here’s what’s actually happening: The same people building high-stakes simulation systems are building entertainment experiences. Advanced training technologies become consumer applications. Critical infrastructure solutions become public health tools. Enterprise AI becomes personalized experiences.
Most places, government R&D happens in isolation. Here? It cross-pollinates with everything else.
The math is simple: We process serious federal R&D investment while hosting 75 million visitors annually. Every innovation has to work across multiple contexts. So it does, and everyone benefits.
THE CHIP GAME NOBODY SAW COMING
While everyone argues about bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America, we just… did it. Quietly. Without the drama.
NeoCity isn’t just another chip plant. It’s one of the few U.S.-based foundries actually operating, with rocket testing 45 minutes away, Disney engineers down the street, and a university cranking out talent specifically trained for this exact moment. Valencia College isn’t just offering semiconductor courses,they’re creating the workforce for America’s actual chip independence.
Brookings called us an AI “Star Hub” not because we’re trendy, but because we have the only complete stack: Make the chips, test them in space, deploy them in defense systems, then commercialize them for everyone else.
Oh, and we do it 30-40% cheaper than Silicon Valley. Because math.
THE TALENT THING
When Iradimed doubles their workforce at UCF Research Park, they’re not just hiring engineers. They’re hiring engineers who grew up understanding that complex systems need to work flawlessly for millions of people, every single day.
Disney doesn’t just make movies, they run the most complex real-time logistics operation on the planet. Those people don’t leave Orlando. They just start working on different impossible problems.
UCF produces more engineers than entire states. But these aren’t regular engineers. These are engineers who’ve been conditioned to think that making magic feel effortless is just… Tuesday.
You get world-class technical talent at a fraction of coastal costs, but with the operational mindset that comes from working in a city where “impossible” is the daily baseline.
THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMY LABORATORY
Our restaurants are installing AI and AR not because we’re fancy, but because we’re test subjects.
Every theme park interaction is a human-computer interface experiment running at massive scale. Every queue, every ride, every transaction generates behavioral data that applies to literally everything else. Healthcare, retail, transportation, enterprise software, all of it.
When PopStroke deploys computer vision for mini golf scoring, they’re not just making Tiger Woods richer. They’re prototyping the same technology that’ll run autonomous vehicle navigation and warehouse robotics.
Orlando processes more real-time human behavioral data than anywhere that isn’t actively surveilling its population. Difference is, ours comes with consent and churros.
THE STARTUP MATURATION MOMENT
Here’s how you know an ecosystem is real: The second generation starts hiring each other.
BillerGenie founders working with Tory Burch Foundation. POMM landing Siemens partnerships. PureWager poaching executives from Tavistock and Darden. Multiple AI startups launching simultaneously without stepping on each other.
This isn’t “emerging tech hub” behavior. This is “established ecosystem recycling talent and capital efficiently” behavior.
Plus, our startups get something nobody else does: immediate access to massive customer bases for real-world validation. Defense contractors, theme parks, space operations, hospitality at scale. Most startups spend years finding their first real customer. Ours trip over them.
THE STRATEGIC BLINDSPOT
Everyone’s asking if we’ll become the next Austin or Seattle.
Wrong question.
Austin optimizes for lifestyle and venture capital. Seattle optimizes for consumer platforms and enterprise software. Both are competing for the same talent pool and the same investor dollars.
We’re optimizing for something else entirely: the integration of physical and digital systems that create reliable, scalable experiences.
Think about what we’ve actually been building here for decades. Geospatial systems that manage complex logistics at unprecedented scale. Photonics research that powers everything from LiDAR to fiber optics. Simulation technologies that train pilots, astronauts, and professionals across industries. Digital twin systems that model complex operations before they go live.
AI that makes critical decisions when precision matters. Manufacturing that prioritizes reliability over speed. Experience design that handles millions of interactions simultaneously. Advanced technologies that benefit both specialized applications and everyday consumers.
While everyone else builds apps, we build infrastructure. While they chase valuations, we chase sustainability. While they optimize for IPOs, we optimize for mission success.
THE THING THAT HAPPENS NEXT
The coastal tech hubs are optimizing for financial engineering. We’re optimizing for actual engineering.
When the next challenge hits: supply chain, infrastructure, energy, whatever, the solutions won’t come from companies that burned cash on user acquisition. They’ll come from companies that spent years making complex systems work reliably at scale.
Guess where those companies live.
Share this with someone who still thinks Orlando means theme parks.
— Sheena
CEO, Innovate Orlando
Want more stories like this? Follow Innovate Orlando on LinkedIn or visit innovateorlando.io to subscribe to our newsletter.
Check out upcoming events here
Check out the stories here:
Featured Story
Brookings Names Orlando a National “Star Hub” for AI Readiness
Orlando has been named one of the nation’s top AI-ready metros by Brookings, ranking high in talent, adoption, and innovation. UCF, a booming STEM workforce, and expanding tech infrastructure are powering the region’s momentum.
🔗 Read More
📄 Full Brookings Report
Orlando Tech News (OTN)
Maker Faire Orlando Returns for 13th Year
Celebrate innovation and creativity as Maker Faire returns with inventions, workshops, and hands-on activities across all ages.
🔗 Read More
O Tech Roundup #4: NESTRE, Informulate & eXeX
Catch up on Orlando’s latest tech highlights, including wellness tech, no-code solutions, and surgical software platforms.
🔗 Read More
New AI-Powered SEO Platform by Local Entrepreneur
An Orlando entrepreneur launches an AI-enabled SEO expert to help businesses optimize their online presence.
🔗 Read More
Bethune-Cookman Wins NSF Grant for Campus Overhaul
NSF funding will power a major infrastructure update, advancing the university’s STEM and innovation capabilities.
🔗 Read More
Innovation, Investment & Industry Highlights
IMMERSE 2026 Sponsorships Now Open
Creative City Project is seeking sponsors for IMMERSE 2026. Orlando’s premier immersive arts event drawing 60K+ attendees.
🔗 Sponsor Opportunities
Back-to-back Cup champion will grace front of upcoming EA Sports video game
Matthew Tkachuk, key to the Florida Panthers’ back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, has been revealed as the cover athlete for EA Sports’ NHL 26
🔗 Read More
Palantir CTO from Orlando Becomes Overnight Billionaire
Shyam Sankar, raised in Orlando, joins the billionaire ranks as Palantir stock soars.
🔗 Read More
KPMG’s $450M Lakehouse: Can Corporate Retreats Be Cool?
A deep dive into KPMG’s sprawling training campus in Florida and how it redefines professional development.
🔗 Read More
ClearSky & Vibes Sign RCS Agreement
A new partnership opens up RCS for business messaging, bringing more revenue to regional carriers.
🔗 Read More
SpaceX to Launch More Amazon Satellites from Florida
More launches from the Sunshine State highlight the growing role of Florida’s space coast in satellite deployment.
🔗 Read More
Assured Space Access Opens Phased Array Center in Melbourne
New center strengthens Florida’s space-tech manufacturing ecosystem.
🔗 Read More
🔗 Alternate Source
Indienomicon 🎮 Podcast: Sheena Fowler, Orlando Tech’s Top Cheerleader
Hear from Sheena Fowler on why Orlando’s tech scene is more vibrant than ever.
🔗 Watch on YouTube
Iradimed Corp to Nearly Double Workforce with $20M HQ
Orlando-based medtech company expands with a new HQ and more tech jobs near UCF.
🔗 Read More
Mayor Buddy Dyer Celebrates 150 Years of Orlando
The mayor spotlights economic diversification and homegrown innovation during the city’s milestone celebration.
🔗 Read More
Semiconductors, Advanced Manufacturing & Hardware
Forbes: Central Florida Tackles U.S. Chip Crisis
Florida Semiconductor Engine and Valencia College are building the workforce and R&D to bring chipmaking back to the U.S.
🔗 Read More
NeoCity’s $160M Expansion Puts Central Florida on Semiconductor Map
With global partners like imec and Plug and Play, NeoCity is becoming a critical hub for tech manufacturing.
🔗 Read More
Jaycon Earns ISO Certification, Expands Hardware Manufacturing Reach
Orlando-based Jaycon strengthens its global credibility, advancing local capabilities in drones, AR, and IoT.
🔗 Read More
Defense, Dual-Use Tech & Space Innovation
AeroClave Deploys Breakthrough Biosecurity Tech for U.S. Air Force
Orlando’s AeroClave successfully decontaminates AWACS aircraft with its JBADS Lite system, a major milestone for defense and public health.
🔗 Read More
Boeing’s X-37B to Launch from Florida with Advanced Quantum Sensor
The eighth mission will test quantum inertial sensors and high-bandwidth laser comms, further cementing Florida’s place in space innovation.
🔗 Read More
U.S. Army Expands Game-Based Training with Orlando’s Bohemia Interactive
Bohemia’s VBS4 simulation software is being deployed across 80+ sites, reinforcing Orlando’s role in military training tech.
🔗 Read More
Florida Defense Commission Emphasizes F-35 Program’s $21B Economic Impact
The F-35 plays a critical role in supporting jobs and economic growth throughout the state’s tech and military corridors.
🔗 Read More
Local Startups, AI & Digital Innovation
POMM Safety Device Lands Siemens Partnership
This Orlando-based startup’s one-touch safety tech goes from protecting kids to saving workers with help from Siemens.
🔗 Read More
LightPath Begins Production of Germanium-Free IR Cameras
Using its proprietary BlackDiamond™ glass, LightPath offers defense contractors a secure, innovative optics solution made in Orlando.
🔗 Read More
Luminar Proposes 160,000-SF Lidar Test Campus Near UCF
The autonomous vehicle company eyes expansion, but faces environmental and leadership hurdles amid record-low stock.
🔗 Read More
Business, Workforce & Leadership Moves
PureWager Taps Former Tavistock & Darden Exec as CFO
Orlando gaming startup adds seasoned leadership to close key U.S. and Caribbean deals.
🔗 Read More
Unusual Machines Expands Drone Motor Manufacturing Team
As Orlando’s advanced manufacturing scene grows, Unusual Machines adds key leadership to scale operations.
🔗 Read More
BillerGenie Co-Founder Joins Tory Burch Foundation Masterclass
An opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn business growth strategies directly from Orlando’s founder network.
🔗 Free Masterclass
Education, STEM & Workforce Development
UCF’s CREOL Summer Camp Exposes Students to Photonics Careers
High school students explore lasers, lidar, and light-based tech at CREOL, sparking interest in one of Central Florida’s hidden but high-paying industries.
🔗 Read More
Teens Get Hands-On with STEM Energy Careers
Florida utilities, energy tech companies, and nonprofits team up to offer career exploration programs for high schoolers.
🔗 Read More
Experiential Dining & Immersive Tech
AI, AR, and Smart Tables Are Reengineering Orlando’s Fine Dining Scene
Orlando restaurants are blending immersive design with next-gen tech to meet the expectations of a growing innovation-driven population.
🔗 Read More
Aerial Illuminations Relocates HQ to Orlando
The drone light show company joins the region’s immersive entertainment cluster, bringing high-tech spectacle to theme parks and live events.
🔗 Read More
Tiger Woods-Backed PopStroke Opens High-Tech Golf Venue in Horizon West
Tech-enhanced mini-golf with app-based dining and computer vision scoring expands in Orlando.
🔗 Read More
Real Estate, Infrastructure & Facilities
Cogent Puts Southeast Orlando Data Center on the Market for $50M
One of the region’s largest data centers is up for sale, a rare move amid a slowing market.
🔗 Read More
Thought Leadership, Community Voices & Spotlights
Orlando’s Engineering Talent Is the City’s Secret Weapon
A former Disney Imagineer explains why global companies tap into Orlando’s diverse engineering brainpower.
🔗 Watch on Instagram
IST Hosts Seminar on Digital Twin Tech
Learn how virtual models are revolutionizing manufacturing, engineering, and simulation straight from Orlando’s own Institute for Simulation & Training.
🔗 Watch Seminar
Bonus Picks & Regional Mentions
Orlando’s “AI Star Hub” Recognition Highlighted in Inno’s Weekly Beat
Extra coverage of Orlando’s AI ecosystem growth, including UCF’s new institute.
🔗 Read More
Join the movement by becoming an investor in Innovate Orlando to propel Central Florida’s tech and innovation ecosystem
| Join Now |
Member Highlight
Group LM3 is a forward-thinking consultancy that blends technology, innovation, and community impact to help organizations unlock their full potential. With expertise spanning strategic planning, digital transformation, and creative problem-solving, Group LM3 partners with businesses and civic leaders to design solutions that drive sustainable growth and strengthen the Orlando innovation ecosystem. Led by Donna Mackenzie, a dedicated Innovate Orlando board member, they are deeply committed to fostering collaboration and advancing our region’s tech leadership.
🔗 Learn more → GroupLM3
Innovate Orlando News
In 2024, we launched Phase 1 of a powerful public-facing resource platform to map and connect Orlando’s thriving tech ecosystem. Explore it here: Orlando Tech Community Map. Now, we’re beginning Phase 2.
Interested in helping shape the Tech Connect 2.0 Ecosystem Map and Matching Platform? we’d love your input.
You can review the RFI (Request for Information) and submit feedback here:
| Submit Your Input / Learn More |
Orlando’s tech scene, all in one place.
From meetups to moonshots, if it’s happening in innovation, it’s on our calendar.
| Events |
Got Tech News or Events? Share Them With Us!
We want to make sure we’re highlighting all the incredible things happening in Orlando’s tech community! If you have an upcoming event, major milestone, or exciting news that we may have missed, send us the details.
| Submit Here |
Need a Venue for Your Next Event or Workshop? Host at Tech Hub Orlando!
| Inquire Here |
