Stepping out of the Winter Park Events Center after Plug and Play Orlando’s Summer Expo, the energy was undeniable. It was a day filled with witnessing the cutting-edge future of medical technology, engaging in insightful discussions about the trajectory of innovation, and forging connections with a diverse ecosystem of founders, investors, and industry experts. The buzz around the 11 program startups pitching their groundbreaking solutions was a powerful reminder of the vibrant community driving technological advancements forward. Below are PS27 Ventures’ top 5 highlights from the program.
1. Eleven Startup Presentations
Taking the stage in front of over 100 investors, community members, and peers, the startup presentations showcased solutions in a variety of industries, including robotics, healthcare, transportation, and climate technology. In the image above, Justin Brochetti shares his vision for the future of healthcare while pitching his company, Intelligence Factory.
“We all went into healthcare because we care deeply about people, not because we wanted to spend our days tangled up in paperwork,” said Brochetti. “Intelligence Factory uses cutting-edge AI to solve healthcare’s toughest challenges. Their solutions include streamlining billing, enhancing patient engagement, and ensuring compliance.”
2. Waymo and Ottometric: The Future of Florida’s Automated Vehicles
Florida is rapidly becoming a hub for innovation in self-driving technology, with key events and investments signaling a strong push towards an autonomous future.
Racquel Asa, Senior Director of External Affairs, shared how Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) is partnering with Waymo and Lyft to host the Florida Automated Vehicles Summit on November 5 – 7 in Orlando. This collaborative effort between transportation authorities and leading companies highlights Florida’s commitment to advancing this technology.
PS27 Ventures recently invested in Ottometric, an AI-powered validation solution designed to make cars smarter and safer. This investment speaks to the growing importance of ensuring the reliability and safety of autonomous vehicles as they become more prevalent. With both major summits focused on deployment and investments in crucial safety technologies, Florida is positioning itself at the forefront of the self-driving revolution, driving progress from regulatory frameworks to technological innovation.
3. A Full Circle Moment with Women in Technology and Entrepreneurship
It started with a single point of connection. A few months ago, Sabrina Martinez-Vicenttin, reached out to PS27’s Christine Caven on LinkedIn looking for contacts for a project she was working on. She was quickly guided to the Women in Tech & Entrepreneurship Slack channel, a community built precisely for this kind of collaboration.
The power of that community became even more apparent when members connected with Sabrina in person at a Santa Fe College Meetup. It was there that she shared her next big goal: applying for a dream job at the prestigious Plug and Play Tech Center.
She got the job! We were able to connect with Sabrina in Orlando and look forward to working together to highlight the startups who presented at PNPTC Expo.
Sabrina’s story is a powerful testament to the idea that success is often a collective effort. It showcases what can happen when ambition meets a supportive community ready to lift its members up.
4. Networking with Startup Support Organizations
We had the chance to connect with the team from Groundswell and dive deep into the resources they’re building. We first met Ryan Bailey at UF’s IGNITE Summit, then had a conversation with industrial design guru Ruchir Gupta, which truly opened our eyes.
Ruchir leads Groundswell’s prototyping lab, a state-of-the-art facility designed for one purpose: to minimize the barrier to entry for founders. By offering advanced manufacturing capabilities and specialized expertise in-house, they are removing the friction and cost that stalls so many promising hardware startups. For a startup founder, the journey from idea to physical product is often the most expensive and challenging part of the process. Finding the right tools, expertise, and funding to create a professional prototype can feel like an impossible barrier.
That’s why what’s happening at Groundswell Startups is a game-changer for the entire state. The big takeaway for founders: You don’t have to figure it out alone. There is a dedicated resource ready to help you bring your vision to life.
And they’re taking it one step further. Groundswell is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for an upcoming hackathon, giving you the chance to build, innovate, and get on the radar of industry giants. Don’t miss this opportunity. Learn more about the hackathon and sign up to build your future.
5. Hearing from Orlando’s Top Ecosystem Builders
For founders navigating the local landscape, the panel on Orlando’s ecosystem offered a dose of reality. Sheena Fowler moderated a candid conversation with Alissa Barber Torres, David Schultz, and Destin Wells that yielded several hard-hitting insights on the urgent need for workforce adaptability, authentic civic collaboration, and the complex truths of scaling smart city technology.
The energy from the Plug and Play Expo is undeniable. From the bold visions unveiled during the pitch presentations to the collaborative spirit buzzing during every networking break, the event was a vivid showcase of our ecosystem’s momentum. Seeing so many dedicated community leaders engaged and championing the next wave of innovators only reinforces what we all felt in the room: the future is being built here and now. Let’s carry this energy forward and turn the connections made this week into the breakthroughs of tomorrow.
Thank you to Suyash Mohan, Spencer Elliott, Rosangela Parker, Jake McGee, and the rest of the Plug and Play team for hosting this engaging event.
Photo Gallery
