Hey everyone, it’s Sheena Fowler here, CEO of Innovate Orlando. My journey in this space has always been about more than metrics or milestones, it’s rooted in the legacy of my grandfather, who built a thriving family business in Clearwater back in the 1960s by putting people first, fostering trust and opportunity across generations. That same spirit drives me today: creating an inclusive, connected ecosystem where innovation transforms lives, not just balance sheets.
Let’s cut to the chase. Orlando’s tech economy is gaining significant momentum, adding nearly 1,800 new tech jobs last year to raise its workforce close to 78,000, ranking as the second-fastest growing metro area for tech employment nationwide.
While this growth pace is impressive, Orlando still trails leading hubs like Austin and San Francisco in absolute scale and venture capital inflows, reflecting a tech ecosystem that is building strategically but not yet at the explosive levels seen in coastal power centers. This environment fosters diverse innovations, from AI healthcare pioneers like Attuned Intelligence to leading logistics provider OneRail, that address real-world problems while scaling responsibly.
Central to Orlando’s long-term competitiveness is NeoCity’s semiconductor hub, backed by over $500 million in public and private funding including a key $17.5 million Florida state grant. This positions the region to play a meaningful role in rebuilding the domestic semiconductor supply chain amid global disruptions. Complementing this, ZenaTech’s move to establish its global Drone-as-a-Service headquarters in Orlando leverages local aerospace strengths and favorable conditions.
Together, these developments show a tech ecosystem focused on sustainable infrastructure and workforce growth, balancing ambition with pragmatic execution, offering a compelling regional story within the broader national context of intensifying global tech competition and supply chain realignment.
This week you’ll read about all these stories and more but let’s not let these be a blip. Innovate Orlando is hosting the Inaugural Orlando Tech Community Awards, November 20th at the Inter&Co Stadium to honor the leaders of our region’s tech community with a new Hall of Fame. Nominations are open now, please submit and sign up today to sponsor or attend.
Let’s get into the stories,
— Sheena
CEO, Innovate Orlando
EXECUTIVE MOVES & GROWTH
Proven Operators Betting on Orlando’s Cost-Effective Scale
These aren’t splashy announcements: they’re domain experts choosing Orlando for its operational advantages, building toward longevity over quick exits. PASSUR Aerospace named Ilhan Ince CEO, drawing on 30 years at Delta and Sabre to lead a firm serving 80% of U.S. airlines with $20M+ estimated annual revenue. In our ecosystem, where software roles fill 40% of 77,700 tech jobs, this strengthens aviation analytics: enhancing real-world efficiencies like predictive maintenance for safer, smoother flights.
Veritas Prime’s $31.5 million round expands SAP cloud payroll and finance in a $50B+ global ERP market. Serving 500+ clients with 99.9% uptime, they’re targeting 50% YoY growth in a region where operating costs run 11-15% below Austin or Dallas. That’s the appeal: Scalable enterprise software that streamlines finance workflows for users: from quicker payroll for employees to better forecasting for CFOs: without the burn rate of coastal hubs.
ZenaTech’s global Drone-as-a-Service HQ launch plans growth from 3 to 50 employees by mid-2026, capitalizing on Florida’s 36%+ annual drone market surge. With 9 international airports within 100 miles, it leverages aerospace talent for practical applications: like efficient logistics deliveries or site inspections that save time and reduce errors for end-users. Our 11.4% five-year labor force growth (vs. Austin’s 22.1%) supports this steady ramp, favoring endurance in a lower-cost environment.
These moves underscore purpose: Infrastructure that enhances everyday operations, setting up sustainable value for the families and teams driving it.
INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY IMPACT
Semiconductors and Simulation: Infrastructure and Vulnerabilities
Recent headlines highlight contrasts in Orlando’s tech ecosystem. While NeoCity’s $17.5 million expansion and over $50 million in federal grants are fueling Central Florida’s transformation into a national semiconductor hub focused on aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, the government shutdown exposed vulnerabilities in the defense simulation sector.
The shutdown’s impact: 90% of small businesses in Orlando’s defense simulation industry face delayed contracts and payments, risking a 20-30% revenue shortfall. This sector, part of a $25.5 billion global market expected to grow 5.7% annually, has North America holding about 35% of that market. Orlando’s share is estimated at 5-10%, supported by roughly 3,000 Department of Defense civilian workers specializing in simulation and over $6 billion in regional contracts. Florida employs around 30,000 simulation workers earning more than $100,000 annually. Battlefield simulation represents nearly half the global market, anchored locally by groups like the National Center for Simulation.
Innovation continues with SIMETRI, an Orlando-based company delivering advanced medical training technologies. Their smart surrogate systems, used for real-time combat medical training at Fort Benning, incorporate mixed reality and haptic feedback to enhance soldier preparedness. SIMETRI operates within a $21.4 billion market growing 5.3% annually.
NeoCity pursues a long-term development strategy with over $500 million in funding secured since 2022, including key sources like $50.8 million from the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, $17.5 million from Florida’s Job Growth Grant, and an initial $15 million NSF grant. The 500-acre campus hosts the SkyWater semiconductor fab and advanced packaging facilities using state-of-the-art tools from SUSS MicroTec. Customers include major DoD primes and over 20 startups supported by an accelerator program. NeoCity aims to reshore the U.S.’s offshored semiconductor packaging market, a multibillion-dollar opportunity essential for defense, secure communications, and medical devices.
Orlando’s ecosystem balances federally sensitive simulation contracts, vulnerable to government uncertainty, with the resilient, diversified growth of semiconductor investments. This balance builds sustained economic resilience and meaningful jobs for the community.
AI & ENTERPRISE INNOVATION
Deployments Driving User Value: From Patients to Workflows
Florida’s AI-powered mobile apps lead in personalization, delivering strong business results. AI adopters report 83% revenue growth compared to 66% for non-adopters, with lifetime value and pipeline metrics improving by around 30%. Orlando’s economy, with 15% healthcare GDP and 10% tourism, offers real-world environments for personalized patient journeys and seamless traveler check-ins.
In enterprise, Kore.ai and Amazon Q Business autonomously resolve 85% of user queries with curated knowledge bases. This enhances decision-making speed and improves revenue per lead by 83%, addressing a $10 billion-plus enterprise search market and empowering finance and operations teams with faster, more accurate workflows.
Locally, Innventure announced a $9.75 million investment from CastleKnight Capital plus $15 million in Yorkville debentures to fund defense tech development in Orlando. This supports the region’s simulation ecosystem, enabling development of secure and efficient tools for military planners and other users.
These deployments are actively improving real-world experiences and laying a foundation for sustainable AI-driven growth in Central Florida’s tech economy.
FROM MY DESK: COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
Between yesterday’s Downtown Orlando Partnership board retreat and last night’s VRARA Central Florida Chapter event, these gatherings remind me why Orlando’s ecosystem feels so vibrant, full of passionate builders actively connecting dots across industries.
Innovate Orlando is submitting applications for grants to support our ecosystem to further this work but we can use support from the region’s tech companies too. Visit our sponsorship page to see how you can get involved or give me a call.
A quick note of encouragement for our friend and community leader Marco Santana, founder of Orlando Tech News. Marco’s been a steadfast voice amplifying Orlando’s tech stories for years, and we’re all rooting for his speedy recovery. Take care, Marco: the ecosystem you help build needs your insights back soon.
And nominations are now open for the Orlando Tech Community Awards held on November 20th at Inter&Co Stadium: we’re honoring 3 Hall of Fame members (for established technologists with 10+ years of impact), a Launchpad Legacy leader (non-technical champions shaping our economy), and a Spark Award emerging leader (rising stars making waves). This is our time to celebrate those who’ve really moved the needle: submit yours by October 17, 2025.
Submit a nomination and grab your ticket at Orlando Tech Community Awards. Let’s recognize the people powering our movement.
