Long lines at the registration desk at Synapse Orlando 2021 were the show's biggest problem — and proof of its success.
For the first time since the inaugural Synapse Orlando at Ace Cafe in 2019, the innovation expo on Oct. 15 returned to Orlando as a live event.
At least 1,500 people registered for Synapse Orlando's networking, technology panels and exposition areas at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.
This year's iteration of Synapse, a Florida innovation convention that started in Tampa, drew a bigger crowd than two years ago and, according to many executives and community leaders, was a major success for the region's technology and startup sectors.
It was a key opportunity to highlight successes in the region's tech-focused industries and foster connections after 18 months of hardly any in-person tech events in Orlando. Of course, the growth of Central Florida's tech sector is a crucial step to diversify the local economy and create high-wage jobs.
Meanwhile, Central Florida in the future needs to continue to support Synapse Orlando, and other events like it, through sponsorship, participation and word-of-mouth marketing, said Sheena Fowler, senior director of strategic partnerships for augmented reality startup Red 6 Inc.
Fowler helped bring Synapse in 2019 while in her former role as the Orlando Economic Partnership's vice president of innovation. "We need to continue to support events like this that unite our tech ecosystem across key sectors in our region in order to accelerate innovation."
Here's more from Synapse Orlando's organizers, speakers and attendees on its biggest successes and ways to improve future Synapse Orlando events.
What impressed you the most?
"Synapse Orlando 2021 really brought a much needed energy and sense of connectivity. It was surreal to be meeting people in person for the first time, surrounded by the beautiful Dr. Phillips Center which worked as a venue better than we ever could have imagined. Working with a round stage really brought that intimate feeling of community to everybody involved."
— Brian Kornfeld, CEO and co-founder, Synapse
"As a large sponsor and long-time supporter, it was inspiring to see how Synapse connected so many community members and businesses together, from fellow founders and speakers to VC firms and private investors... We enjoyed seeing the growing number of young teen innovators participating at Synapse, as they will eventually become our next generation of leaders. Stax definitely looks forward to being involved again and on a bigger scale in the future."
— Suneera Madhani, CEO and founder, Stax
"The turnout was impressive and greater than anticipated — so much so that we had a bottleneck at check-in. It really showed that the combined team — Synapse, Orlando Tech Council and Orlando Economic Partnership — have found the right audience to speak to, and it is a great platform to launch other initiatives off of. Combining with Startup Weekend Orlando, Lean Startup Orlando, Immerse and Synapse to build Innovation Week might have helped, too."
— Rajiv Menon, CEO, Informulate LLC; chair, Orlando Tech Council
"The event was well-organized and merged diverse sectors of tech in one event. Whether you participated in Synapse as a speaker, exhibitor or as an attendee, the event offered something for everyone. Networking in the exhibitors' area, plus the opportunity to make new connections and re-establish existing ones, was the highlight of the event for me."
— Kelda Senior, communications and public relations chair, Black Orlando Tech
"Meeting in person is a game changer, and you can feel the renewed sense of energy it brings to our network... It felt like we finally reached a turning point in the way we talk about Central Florida and the surrounding region. Instead of comparing ourselves to Miami or Silicon Valley, we were leaning into the unique strengths of this area and celebrating the innovators and the ideas that make our ecosystem great in its own right."
— Paul Sohl, CEO, Florida High Tech Corridor Council
What were the biggest areas of improvement compared to Synapse Orlando 2019?
"The quality of the speakers over all was elevated. The diversity of exhibitors was greater. The venue was better.... more open and easier to see and find locations. Of course, the Dr. Phillips Center allowed for more people to attend and it not feel like we were all squished in."
— Carol Ann Dykes Logue, director of programs and operations, University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program
"There was a higher caliber of programming this year. I saw more regional companies that came into town from the Space Coast, Tampa and even Miami. The level of success stories we’ve had to share was at a different level than anything we’ve seen to this date."
— Charlie Lewis, CEO and founder, Blue Wave Resource Partners; chair-elect, Orlando Tech Council
How can Synapse Orlando improve in the future?
"I would say that most of the areas for improvement were issues coming from the success of the event. I know there was very long lines trying to get into register, and the early speaking panels were more sparsely attended."
— Rob Panepinto, director of Innovation Districts strategy and partnerships, University of Central Florida Business Incubation Program
"As Synapse grew in speakers, it also grew in exhibitors. The time to see and interact with everyone was limited. We hope in the future Synapse can grow to a two-day event rather than just one."
— Sal Rehmetullah, co-founder and president, Stax
"To be fully inclusive of all the great pieces of our ecosystem, we need a lot more players at the table planning, giving suggestions and involved in programming. If we do it again next year, we need more voices at the table, more people wanting to get involved. We need big enterprise companies present."
— Charlie Lewis, CEO and founder, Blue Wave Resource Partners; chair-elect, Orlando Tech Council
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