ELEVATING OUR CITY
CATALYZING INNOVATION
Orlando’s technology and innovation ecosystem is at a turning point since declaring Orlando the MetaCenter. This five-year strategic plan focuses on capitalizing on this momentum by leveraging Orlando’s strengths to best position the region as the nucleus of the next wave of digital innovation. The plan includes several key strategies, such as driving innovation and technology, encouraging economic development, galvanizing the existing technology and innovation ecosystem, and building a robust talent pipeline.
INCREASE ACCESS TO CAPITAL
Currently $1.5B of venture capital has been invested in Orlando regional companies. Other top tier tech cities have upwards of $5B invested annually. Our goal is to have more than $5B invested by the end of 2028.
GALVANIZE OUR TECH ECO SYSTEM
Orlando’s current tech ecosystem is divided into chapters and associations and are siloed. Our goal is to create an entrepreneurial community of 2,000 members by the end of 2028.
INCENTIVES AND GRANTS
Orlando must empower and enable young tech businesses to start and scale. Currently Orlando only has access to a small fraction of these grants. Our goal is to triple this amount by 2028.
CREATE A NATIONAL CONFERENCE UNIQUE TO ORLANDO
Make Orlando the annual destination for the Meta Conference. Our goal is to create a unique, bespoke, industry-focused convention that draws national attendance focused on tech and innovation with more than 10,000 attendees.
DIGITAL INNOVATION
Orlando is the MetaCenter of the Metaverse. To reinforce this identity, the focus of the Breakthrough Orlando Task Force is to showcase the region’s innovation as well as drive people/talent and companies to the region.
MARKETING INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Currently the economic development marketing budget is 10 times less than tourism for our region and approximately two times less than most top tier cities. Our goal is to triple the current investment by 2028 to $2 million.
THEME PARKS AND ATTRACTIONS
Orlando’s theme parks are some of the largest employers of technology and innovation. There are thousands of tech theme park employees. Our goal is to increase this community, have them participate within the tech ecosystem to help train and develop talent, and work with theme parks to market what is being created in Central Florida.
DOWNTOWN FOOD & NIGHTLIFE
Orlando must empower and enable young tech businesses to start and scale. Currently Orlando only has access to a small fraction of these grants. Our goal is to triple this amount by 2028.
TALENT THROUGH UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES
In 2020 Orlando experienced a brain drain of approximately 2,500 students who graduated and left Central Florida to seek employment in another city. Our goal is to create a positive 5,000 brain gain by 2028 by making more tech jobs available to graduating students, as well as increasing the number of graduates in high tech fields by 15%.
ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
With more than 40 million visitors annually, the Orlando International Airport is a great asset to spread the strategic vision to showcase the Orlando region as innovative and forward thinking. Our goal is to have large, prominent displays of innovation and technology present at the airport by 2028.