If it feels like Orlando’s innovation story is gaining speed and scale—that’s because it is. And from where we sit at Innovate Orlando, the signals are loud and clear: momentum is building, across every layer of our ecosystem. 

This week, we saw the region’s dual strengths on full display: world-class capability in simulation and immersive design, and a growing pipeline of fundable, scalable startups ready to define what’s next. 

Let’s start in the command center. Local defense and industry leaders are mobilizing to preserve PEO STRI, the U.S. Army’s simulation and training headquarters located right here in Orlando. The potential threat of losing this $6.5 billion anchor isn’t just a defense story—it’s an economic one. This is the engine behind our crossover economy—where defense engineers by day become the minds behind game studios, medical simulators, and ride systems by night. 

This public show of support comes the same week PEO STRI demonstrated multi-domain capabilities at Lexington Green, integrating AI, XR, and real-time situational awareness. From kinetic combat to cognitive training, this is Orlando’s specialty: designing systems that shape human performance at every level. 

And that convergence—between immersive simulation, productization, and capital—is why next week matters so much. On June 4, six Orlando-based startups will take the stage at the Florida Venture Forum Early Stage Conference, one of the Southeast’s most important investor gatherings. These aren’t just hopefuls—they’re builders solving hard problems with commercial traction, technical talent, and storylines that resonate well beyond Florida. 

At Innovate Orlando, we’re not just tracking these milestones—we’re helping fuel them, by championing founders, connecting capital, and telling the story behind the stats. 

It’s not the only spotlight we’re stepping into. Also next week, Unreal Fest Orlando brings together creators, developers, and immersive media leaders for a deep dive into real-time engines, virtual production, and game-tech use cases far beyond entertainment. It’s no coincidence this event lands here—Orlando is ground zero for the collision of game engines and enterprise-scale problem solving. That energy is already kicking off this weekend with two high-profile Unreal Engine game jams happening across the city. At Full Sail University, a premiere three-day Unreal Fest Game Jam—co-hosted with Epic Games—is activating their 210+ acre campus ahead of next week’s main event. Simultaneously, the Orlando Unreal Engine User Group is hosting its inaugural Unreal XR Jam at the new ORRA tech facility, challenging teams to prototype immersive experiences using XR, AI, and digital twin tools—with a focus on smart cities and real estate innovation. Two game jams. Two different lenses. One immersive ecosystem firing on all cylinders. 

That same fusion is fueling the entertainment economy, too. EA Sports just released the trailer for College Football 26, a major launch slated for July. It’s more than nostalgia—it’s proof that Orlando remains a force in global game development, with real economic impact and creative influence. 

Meanwhile, we’re seeing new momentum in storytelling and indie development. The pirate-themed adventure Starboard, built with support from UCF’s Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy and Spunky Studios, just launched on Steam. It’s fun, free-to-play—and a reminder that the next global IP could be prototyped right here in Orlando. 

This week’s headlines also highlighted the human capital powering this ecosystem. UCF’s programming team—already nationally recognized—just qualified for the World Finals again. Local veterans stepped into the spotlight at the VEI Summit, turning mission-first mindsets into startup success. And two Central Florida scientists were honored by 3M and Discovery Education for their breakthroughs in STEM. 

All of that talent needs places to plug in—and increasingly, Orlando is the testbed. This week we saw a glimpse of what’s next: Unicorp is in talks to bring a massive immersive attraction to International Drive, blending entertainment with real estate in ways that only make sense in a city like ours. And Universal’s engineering partners, including Birket Engineering, are drawing well-earned national attention for the technology that brings Epic Universe to life. These systems don’t just entertain—they calibrate motion, sync narrative beats to real-time physics, and ensure guest safety at scale. 

Zoom out, and you’ll see a region quietly gaining national influence. Florida Funders announced it’s expanding beyond the state, investing at a national level with deeper pools of capital. SpaceX is prepping another launch from the Cape. And Orlando continues to attract conferences, deals, and media coverage that position us not just as a growth market—but as a source of the next big thing. 

It’s not all smooth sailing. Companies will contract and expand. Strategies will evolve. But one thing remains constant: Orlando is full of people who know how to build. Not just for fun. Not just for defense. But for the future. 

This is where simulation meets storytelling. Where education meets real-world immersion. Where the next wave of American innovation quietly sharpens its tools. 

So as you scroll this weekend, take a moment to see the bigger picture. You’re not just watching a tech city grow. You’re watching a region define what the next economy will feel like. 

And that next economy? 
It’s immersive. It’s interconnected. And it’s branded, built, and broadcast right here in Orlando.