Groundswell Startups

Space Coast Hiring Snapshot In March, Harris Corporation announced 300 openings for its new technical design center in Palm Bay; In April, One Web announced 250 Blue Origin jobs; In May, Northrop Grumman announces employment opportunities for 1900 are coming soon; In June, Embraer says 600 openings are soon to arrive; In July, Lockheed Martin announces 300 new openings and that same month Thales Group announces 327 software-specific opportunities on LinkedIN. Now, more than ever, recruiters are slinging pens to white boards in an effort to come up with the best plan to attract and retaining talent.

Social entrepreneurs tackle major social issues with practical, innovative and sustainable approaches. Like all entrepreneurs, they deliver solutions to a specific target market. This Nov. 9, Groundswell will feature startups that aggressively solve for complex, systemic issues affecting whole populations. This event serves to showcase the evolving landscape of mission-driven enterprises that are both profitable and beneficial to the people and planet. The event will feature three sessions with leaders in solar and green technology, residential and marine sustainability efforts, as well as education and health enterprises.

Ft. interview with CEO of Energy Florida, Michael Aller NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM OCT 5 to NOV 9 DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW View blog post: http://swellstartups.com/discover-social-good-in-central-florida/ Social entrepreneurs tackle major social issues with practical, innovative and sustainable approaches. Like all entrepreneurs, they deliver solutions to a specific target market. This Nov 9, Groundswell will feature startups that aggressively solve for complex, systemic issues affecting whole populations. This event serves to showcase the evolving landscape of mission-driven enterprises that are both profitable and beneficial to the people and planet. The event will feature three sessions with leaders in solar and green technology, residential and marine sustainability efforts, as well as education and health enterprises.

Ft. Director of Sustainability for the City of Orlando, Chris Castro. NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM OCT 5 TO NOV 9 DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW. Social entrepreneurs tackle major social issues with practical, innovative and sustainable approaches. Like all entrepreneurs, they deliver solutions to a specific target market. This Nov. 9, Groundswell will feature startups that aggressively solve for complex, systemic issues affecting whole populations. This event serves to showcase the evolving landscape of mission-driven enterprises that are both profitable and beneficial to the people and planet.

Florida Tech Startup Report: Stoopidnotes by Jenna Buehler

NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM OCT 5 TO NOV 9TH DUE TO HURRICANE MATTHEW THIS NOV 9TH: Impressive leaders running profitable, mission-driven companies from South Florida to Orlando will meet right here in the Space Coast to discuss a global shift in the way successful companies do business. Hear from two of those speakers, Luis Pedemonte & Monica Ochaney, in the podcast below. Note: Ochaney will not be present at this event due to scheduling conflicts that followed Hurricane Matthew. This is the 28th free, public event hosted by the Space Coast nonprofit incubator, Groundswell Startups. See you there! social goodentrepreneurstartupventurefundingfloridaflorida startupsgroundswellpodcast

Social entrepreneurs tackle major social issues with practical, innovative and sustainable approaches. Like all entrepreneurs, they deliver solutions to a specific target market. This Oct 5, Groundswell will feature startups that aggressively solve for complex, systemic issues affecting whole populations. This event serves to showcase the evolving landscape of mission-driven enterprises that are both profitable and beneficial to the people and planet. The event will feature three sessions with leaders in solar and green technology, residential and marine sustainability efforts, as well as education and health enterprises. HIGHLIGHTS Session I Social Good in Central Florida Michael Aller co-founded Energy Florida, a nonprofit that serves as a concierge between the public and private sector in the energy industry here in Florida, the Southeastern US, Latin America and Caribbean. He will discuss opportunities and challenges shared by the public and private sector. Session II Social Good National & Globa

The need for STEM education is old news. But the problem solvers addressing the issue are not. Groundswell met up with two women who spearhead STEM education solutions in Brevard County last week. In just over one year, the founders of Codecraft Lab have delivered their coding software and workshops to more than 700 children ages 8 to 15. Founder of Codecraft Lab, Shannon Landin, says Codecraft Lab serves to remedy the fact that 1 million computer science jobs will be available nation-wide in 2020 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). She added that, today, three out of every four of the positions are expected to remain vacant as a result of a largely systemic STEM education issue.

Somewhere between academics and extracurriculars, students at Florida Tech are turning a mere research project into a viable company. Today, implant a 3D-printed organ in the body and the body will reject it. However, a company called VIRSuM founded by 23-year-old FIT grad student, Ryan Bailey, is experimenting with new models of vascularization to ensure that 3D-printed organs are not rejected.

Celebrate the launch of a reverse engineering tool called Binary Ninja this Friday, August 26 at Iron Oak Post.  Product developers at Vector 35 say Binary Ninja is just one way their startup is helping companies across the nation to test system vulnerabilities. Co-founder Jordan Wiens says his team offers trainings at leading organizations like Google. In recent months, both DARPA and United Airlines have recognized Vector 35 for winning national challenges that serve to prevent systems from falling victim to "exploits" or attacks. Wiens compares government contracting to early startup life in this week's Groundswell Startup's podcast. 

Crawford, CEO of Society+, launched the consumer goods company in Central Florida one year ago. Since then, she’s recruited Jessica Kane, one of the most premier fashion editors from Portland, Oregon. Their brand has also become internationally renowned as an identity brand for next generation women who are demanding that definitions of beauty inspire confidence in every woman.

Earlier this month, Title III of JOBS Act Crowdfunding created a pipeline for non-accredited investors to begin to invest in companies. In this Groundswell Startups podcast, Stephen C. Thomas of Lowndes, Drosdick, Doster, Kantor & Reed, P.A. describes what impact this vote may have on Florida-based startup founders.

LOIS is a personal safety system designed to protect people meeting with unfamiliar people or meeting others in unfamiliar places. Avery says the market for this system includes all men and women in the dating scene, social workers, real estate brokers, journalists, children and adults. How it works: Users customize their own personal safety network. Should the user fail to respond to a predefined check-in on their calendar, the system will alert the check-in network immediately -- even customize the app to alert 9/11. Users have the option of automating geographic checkins between coworkers, family members, and friends. Visit www.safelois.com for more info on the system and a link to purchase your own pre-launch subscription at 40% off now through the end of this special launch event!

Making waves this year and next. John Vecchio has spent the past 15 years launching startups in Atlanta, GA. Now that he has sold company 3 of 3, he is moving back to the Space Coast. Vecchio co-founded Groundswell in June 2015. He says the endeavor helps him to stay busy and out of trouble. "The move is about being home and fishing, sailing, biking, and surfing," Vecchio said. "But it's also about launching high tech companies out here that have real potential."

Swarmify is a low-cost video streaming 2.0. In an effort to differentiate their product from the rest of this 2.5B market annually -- that’s 2.5B annually, or 90 percent of internet bandwidth -- CEO of Swarmify, Nathan Barnett, offers a more reliable video stream at substantially lower cost. https://swarmify.com/