The Florida Chamber Foundation recently hosted the Florida Technology & Innovation Solution Summit, bringing together leaders from business, government, and academia to discuss strategies for advancing the state’s technology sector. The event featured keynote addresses by Cathie Wood of ARK Invest and Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly.
Other speakers included John Snyder, Chair of the House Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee; Linda Olson, CEO of Tampa Bay Wave; Paul Sohl, CEO of Florida High Tech Corridor; Adrienne Johnston, President & CEO of CareerSource Florida; TJ Villamil, President of Business Development for eMerge Americas; Robert Harvey, President & Executive Director of Florida Opportunity Fund; Nat Ford, CEO of Jacksonville Transportation Authority; Rhea Law, President of the University of South Florida; James Henningsen, President of the College of Central Florida; and Jennifer Crabtree, VP at 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.”
Key topics discussed included state efforts to attract high-growth industries (Secretary J. Alex Kelly), leveraging emerging technologies for global competitiveness (Cathie Wood), targeted investments in infrastructure and workforce development (Representative John Synder), advancements in agricultural technology (Dr. Scott Angle), improvements in transit technology (Nat Ford), regional partnerships strengthening talent pipelines (Aundra Wallace), and healthcare innovation at Tampa General Hospital improving patient outcomes statewide (Jennifer Crabtree).
Panel discussions covered public-private investment models involving organizations such as eMerge Americas and Embarc Collective. Participants also examined how innovation districts like University of South Florida Research Park contribute to early-stage business success through strategic partnerships.
A highlight was the fast-paced pitch competition featuring five early-stage companies. Matt Donovan, CEO and Co-Founder of Agriculture Intelligence (AgIntel), won for his company’s AI-powered platform that provides crop insights to farmers to help optimize yields and reduce waste. As a result, AgIntel will present at next year’s Florida Venture Capital Conference—one of America’s largest venture capital gatherings—and participate in eMerge Americas’ Global Startup Accelerator.
Dr. Keith Richard, Vice President of Research at the Foundation stated: “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 on September 15th at 11 am for those interested in continuing conversations about advancing tech leadership in Florida.
The Foundation describes itself as a non-partisan research organization focused on long-term strategies aimed at securing prosperity across sectors including talent development and economic diversification through technology. Its initiatives rely on support from its Community Development Partnership Council—a group contributing expertise and resources toward statewide impact projects.
More information about joining this council or supporting ongoing research can be found at flchamber.com/cdp or by contacting Dr. Keith Richard directly.
