The Florida Chamber Foundation recently held its Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit, featuring speakers such as Cathie Wood of ARK Invest and Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. The event brought together business leaders, investors, and policymakers to discuss strategies for advancing the state’s technology sector.
Other notable speakers included State Representative John Snyder, Linda Olson of Tampa Bay Wave, Paul Sohl from Florida High Tech Corridor, Adrienne Johnston of CareerSource Florida, TJ Villamil from eMerge Americas, Robert Harvey of the Florida Opportunity Fund, Nat Ford from Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Rhea Law of the University of South Florida, James Henningsen from the College of Central Florida, and Jennifer Crabtree from Tampa General Hospital.
“Florida’s future economy is being built by visionaries who are solving real-world challenges with scalable, market-ready solutions,” said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation. “The Florida Technology & Innovation Solutions Summit brought together the best mix of future-focused leaders, innovators, and investors to ensure Florida remains on the right path toward becoming the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030 and the most competitive state in the nation.”
During his remarks at the summit, Secretary J. Alex Kelly discussed state efforts to attract high-growth industries to Florida. Cathie Wood spoke about using emerging technologies to help position Florida as a leader in investment and innovation. Representative John Snyder addressed how investments in technology infrastructure and workforce development could create more opportunities for small businesses across the state.
Dr. Scott Angle highlighted advancements in agricultural technology that are improving food security and sustainability for farmers in Florida. Nat Ford discussed transit technology improvements tied to economic development priorities under initiatives like Autonomous Florida. Aundra Wallace talked about regional partnerships strengthening talent pipelines. Jennifer Crabtree described healthcare innovations at Tampa General Hospital that are leading to better patient outcomes statewide.
Panel discussions covered topics such as public-private investment with organizations like eMerge Americas and Embarc Collective; innovation districts including University of South Florida Research Park; Lake Nona Medical City; Tampa’s Water Street District; and strategic partnerships that support early-stage business growth. Attendees had opportunities for networking with industry leaders and exploring collaborative approaches to economic diversification.
A highlight was the Innovation Pitch Competition featuring five early-stage companies. Matt Donovan, CEO and Co-Founder of Agriculture Intelligence (AgIntel), won top honors for his company’s AI-powered platform that provides crop insights to help farmers increase yields while reducing waste.
As part of their prize package, AgIntel will present at next year’s Florida Venture Capital Conference—one of the country’s largest gatherings for venture capitalists—and participate in eMerge Americas’ Global Startup Accelerator program.
Dr. Keith Richard, Vice President of Research at the Foundation said: “From agriculture to biotech to cybersecurity, the companies we saw on stage are proof that Florida is cultivating an ecosystem where innovation can thrive.”
A follow-up virtual webinar open to all will be held September 15th at 11 am as a continuation on advancing tech leadership in Florida.
The Foundation describes itself as a non-partisan research organization focused on long-term strategies for prosperity through projects like its Six Pillars framework which includes improving talent pipelines and fostering a business-friendly climate across the state. Its work is supported by partners through its Community Development Partnership Council.
