Orlando’s Innovation Engine: Where Builders Scale Systems 

Florida ranks among the top three states for net tech job gains, adding more than 22,000 new roles in 2024, according to CompTIA’s State of the Tech Workforce 2025. Orlando added approximately 1,800 new tech jobs last year, bringing total regional tech employment close to 78,000, with growth projected to surpass 80,000 in 2025. While Orlando may not lead in venture capital, its startup economy is thriving through enterprise contracts, SBIR funding, and dual-use innovation. The proof? Last night’s Starter Studio Demo Day at Tech Hub Orlando and this week’s KPMG Space Consortium at the KPMG Lakehouse in Lake Nona are real signals that this ecosystem isn’t waiting for permission. Let’s go!  

SYSTEMS OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE 

You don’t need a Pentagon badge to understand the stakes. This week, UCF ROTC cadets joined engineers from AFAMS and SAIC at Tech Grove to refine a mobility simulator now used across U.S. military training programs. Meanwhile, Florida’s congressional delegation submitted a formal proposal for NASA to relocate its headquarters to the Space Coast when its current D.C. lease expires in 2028. The case? No region offers the same operational tempo, infrastructure, or technical workforce. 

Why it matters: Orlando’s $6B modeling and simulation industry supports over 60,000 jobs. Co-locating NASA leadership with the teams actually building the systems could reshape how America approaches space innovation. 

FOUNDERS, FUNDING, AND SCALE READINESS 

In a national funding climate marked by caution, Orlando startups are doing what matters most: delivering. Global Tech Network’s 50/50 Fund is building momentum by pairing capital with customers. Finexio’s growing partnership with PairSoft shows fintech traction. CMS Laser continues to secure automation contracts, and Goliath Ventures’ new downtown HQ is a bet on local growth, not an exit plan. 

Why it matters: In Orlando, capital meets execution. These aren’t experiments, they’re businesses landing real contracts and expanding operations. 

MARKET RECOGNITION AND ECONOMIC TRACTION 

Florida ranked #3 in CNBC’s Top States for Business, and Orlando is leading the charge. CompTIA placed the region #2 nationally for projected tech job growth, ahead of Austin, Atlanta, and Denver. Wire 3’s $235 million raise is fueling regional fiber deployment. And with vertiport infrastructure in the works at Orlando International Airport, this is about immediate implementation. 

Why it matters: High-growth companies follow infrastructure, workforce, and cost advantages. Orlando is increasingly hard to overlook. 

THE EXPERIENCE ECONOMY: ENGINEERING EMOTION AT SCALE 

Orlando isn’t just a place to visit, it’s where immersive experiences are engineered. Orlando’s MDSX is producing Universal-branded interactive exhibits for a leading U.S. science museum. Vekoma’s U.S. expansion draws on local expertise in ride systems, real-time 3D, and safety control software. These teams build the systems that deliver storytelling at scale. 

Why it matters: Talent here moves seamlessly between themed entertainment, defense, and healthcare simulation, designing for emotion, precision, and performance in the same sprint. 

EMERGING PLATFORMS AND APPLIED INTELLIGENCE 

This week’s theme: real deployment. UF’s AI-powered crop damage model, developed with Orlando-based engineers, is helping speed post-hurricane assessments. At R-CON last month here in Orlando, new digital twin platforms for utilities and critical infrastructure moved from discussion to rollout. CMS Laser is deploying automation systems to meet precision manufacturing demands. 

Why it matters: Florida’s manufacturing industry contributes more than $70 billion annually to the state economy, and advanced tech like AI, IoT, and sensing platforms are now embedded in its operations. Orlando’s strength is in applying those systems at scale. 

WORKFORCE ENGINES AND TALENT INFRASTRUCTURE 

UCF is a leading producer of STEM graduates in Florida, including engineering and computer science professionals, with approximately 4,192 STEM graduates annually. Full Sail’s 22,000-strong alumni base is fueling growth in immersive tech across multiple industries. Duke Energy is investing nearly $800K in university pipeline programs. And Orlando Devs continues to close gaps between local talent and employer needs. 

Why it matters: Technical ecosystems scale when the workforce does. Orlando’s talent engine is built to grow with the demand. 

FINAL THOUGHT 

There are cities where ideas get pitched. Then there are cities where ideas become infrastructure. Orlando has been in the latter category since the days of the Apollo missions and the momentum hasn’t slowed. 

Today, spatial computing environments built for pilots are powering guest experiences. Digital twins first designed for mission readiness are managing real-time hospital operations. The founders and engineers behind it all? They were trained here, hired here, and stayed here. 

If you’re following where capital is going, where engineering talent is deploying, and where new systems are moving from prototype to platform, the map keeps pointing here. 

SUPPORT THE MISSION 

Innovate Orlando is building the connective tissue for a region that’s scaling real systems. From digital twins to immersive platforms, we tell the stories, convene the ecosystem, and create the infrastructure that helps Orlando work faster, together. 

We’re actively seeking mission-aligned sponsors for: 

• The Fall 2025 Innovator Awards 

• The Spring 2026 Innovate Orlando Conference 

• Ongoing ecosystem storytelling and digital tools 

Let’s discuss how your company can earn a visible, credible seat at the table. Reach out directly to CEO Sheena Fowler at Sheena@InnovateOrlando.io. 

Orlando is building the systems the future will run on. Help us fuel the engine. 

— Sheena

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