Synapse Summit 2024 Recap
Synapse Florida
Synapse connects innovators and entrepreneurs with guidance, access, and resources for success. #InnovationLivesHere
Relive the electrifying energy and groundbreaking innovations of last week's Synapse Summit! The day was a whirlwind of creativity, collaboration, and community building, from inspiring keynotes to dynamic panel discussions. We've been flooded with kind words from the innovation ecosystem, sharing how Summit provided invaluable connections, networking opportunities, room for new deals, showcases of new usable tech, and strategic leadership insights. Our shared vision with innovators across Florida and beyond rang true, showing that open collaboration and inclusion across industries and demographics is the key to driving innovation ever forward. Synapse Summit and Tampa Bay Innovation Week inspired our community to continue shaping Florida's future.
Join us as we reflect on the highlights and celebrate some of the wins from the 7th annual Synapse Summit!
See the full recap here!
Our Inspiring Keynotes
Our Synapse Summit 2024 Keynotes, Dr. Lauren Wittenberg Weiner and Shirl Penney , shared their inspiring stories of resilience and innovation on the main stage.
Dr. Weiner's fireside chat delved into her journey of founding Command Holdings, a Pequot Company and inspiring leadership. The government contracting firm soared to success by harnessing the talents of military spouses and military-connected individuals. With a focus on communication, team building, and culture, she transformed WWC Global into a powerhouse with over 350 employees and $100 million in revenue. Thanks to Lauren for sharing her best practices, opportunities, and real-life experiences of inspired leadership!
Shirl Penney, CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners , captivated audiences with his remarkable story of overcoming adversity and driving innovation in wealth management. From a challenging childhood to steering Dynasty's meteoric growth and relocating the firm from New York City to St. Petersburg, Florida, Shirl's insights into leadership, resilience, and strategic decision-making left a lasting impact on attendees!
2024 Synapse Innovation Award Winners
Meet the 2024 Synapse Innovation Award Winners!
The awards, which recognize excellence, innovation, and tenacity, were presented by Verizon, and twelve finalists took to the main stage during the Innovation Showcase at Synapse Summit. The state-wide finalists were hand-selected by a panel of judges of CEOs, innovation leaders, and investors from across the state. Let's give another huge congrats to these innovators!
Read more here!
TGH Innovation Challenge Winner: Aayu+ Box
When we partnered with Tampa General Hospital to offer $50,000 in support for our Innovation Challenge to improve healthcare access for cancer detection, we knew we would see some unique solutions but didn't anticipate how many!
Congratulations to our winner, Aayu+ Box, started by Tampa native Suchi Patel ! The subscription box provides 40+ screening and prevention options for early cancer detection based on individuals' unique risk factors.
Learn more here!
Summit In The News
Florida Innovators Show Up and Show Out at Synapse Summit 2024
This year's Synapse Summit 2024 in Tampa drew approximately 150 exhibitors. These exhibitors were a mix of startups, established companies, universities, nonprofits, and businesses offering professional tech industry services. Exhibitor booths and tables filled AMALIE Arena , along with robots, a space bus, and a professional musician playing a full-sized cello made with a 3D printer. Also front and center at Synapse Summit 2024 was Tampa tech startup BūP , which initially launched a few years back at a prior Synapse Summit. BūP, which offers digital business cards and AI-powered lead nurturing solutions to professionals and sales teams, returned as this year's networking app sponsor. BūP founder and CEO Martika Brianne Jones, M.S. said the exposure and connections from Synapse Summit are key ingredients for the growth of BūP and other startups in Florida. "It's absolutely crucial," Jones said. "The first two years, we got visibility. I feel like a lot of the people who got to see us in our nascent stage got to see that growth. So coming back [to Synapse Summit] is just a testimony to what being in this environment can do and the people who supported us." Read More
The 4 Coolest Things We Saw at Synapse Summit
- Selene San Felice , Axios Tampa Bay
Synapse Summit brought tech entrepreneurs from around the country to Tampa Bay, and with them came some pretty interesting innovations. From flying cars to 3D-printed instruments, innovation was everywhere! Read More
Tampa Entrepreneur Exits Stealth Mode at Synapse Summit with AI-powered Marketing Tool
Outbound.com , with support from TampaBay.Ventures and Tampa Bay Wave , launched from stealth mode to beta at Synapse Summit 2024. Read More
Florida Entrepreneurs Aim High for Flying Vehicles at Synapse Summit
- Selene San Felice , Axios Tampa Bay
领英推荐
"Flying cars seem like sci-fi, even in 2024. But Florida tech entrepreneurs say it won't be long before they hit the skies in Tampa Bay." Axios dives into our Synapse Summit panel on flying vehicles with eVTOL experts – Santh Sathya of LuftCar , Doron Merdinger of Doroni Aerospace , Sean Borman of AEROAUTO GLOBAL , and author Chuck Martin . Read More
Synapse Summit Speakers Talk About Raising VC Money, Moving to Tampa Bay, and the Space Economy
"In Synapse CEO Lauren Slawsky Prager 's opening speech, she encouraged the crowd to consider the return on investment for attending the Synapse Summit on Feb. 28. For some, the returned value might have been networking or bringing attention to their business. But a central payout for attendees is the domain expertise shared between the dozens of speakers and panelists. Tampa Bay Inno collected these insights from experts at the Synapse Summit." Read More
PS27's Top Five Highlights from Synapse Summit 2024
Check out a roundup of Synapse Summit highlights from our community partners in Jacksonville, PS27 Ventures! Read More
Startups Exhibit with Cordless Kitchenware, AI and 3D-printed Cellos at Synapse Summit
"Every early-stage company must master one skill: exhibiting. For startups, the art of the table presentation is critical, and Synapse Summit proves this. It takes color and energy to stand out in a wash of tables, and startups at the sprawling event proved their mettle to capture attention." Read More
What The Community Is Saying
"Honored to receive the first-ever Synapse Florida Ecosystem Partner Award. Thank you to Lauren Prager and her team for understanding the mission that it takes all of us working together to make Florida a great state for startups."
Congrats to Danielle Mousseau of 35 Mules for winning the Ecosystem Partner Award for being a passionate champion of Florida's dynamic innovation ecosystem through her work with 35 Mules and Florida Power & Light!
"As Synapse Summit 2024 draws to a close, we couldn't be prouder of our members who seized every opportunity to network, pitch, and showcase their innovations to attendees from far and wide. Here's to the connections made and the futures forged!" - Cenfluence
"Last week at the Synapse Summit, our 2023-24 NGT360 finalists experienced a day filled with innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology, leaving them inspired and ready to tackle their upcoming pitches! Thanks to Synapse Florida, our teams had the opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking innovations, network with fellow innovators, and gather invaluable feedback to refine their projects." - Next Gen Tech 360 by Connect-IT 360
"Bravo, Lauren Slawsky Prager, and Synapse Florida! We always have a fantastic time at Tampa's Largest Innovation conference, networking with founders, investors, and ecosystem partners." - PS27 Ventures
"Another Synapse Florida Summit in the books! As a pivotal event in Florida's innovation ecosystem, Synapse Summit once again proved to be a catalyst for driving growth, fostering connections, and sparking innovation!." - Tampa Bay Wave
"Inspiring day in Tampa @SynapseFL a vibrant group of speakers" - Tamar Burton, Tradepal
"Feeling the energy at #SynapseFlorida! Exciting discussions on #FutureTech , AI, low-code, & more with industry leaders." - Jane Powell, Amzur Technologies
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
View all of our 2024 Partners, Sponsors, and Exhibitors here!
Loved the insights! ?? Innovation is like rowing against the current - as Henry Ford hinted, to keep ahead, we must innovate continuously. ?? #KeepInnovating