Plug in NeoCity! Silicon on the Frontline
Join us for an evening of innovation, insight, and networking at NeoCity, hosted in partnership with Osceola County and Plug and Play, as we bring together leaders from venture capital, advanced manufacturing, and the innovation ecosystem for a timely discussion on the future of defense and semiconductor technology.
As semiconductors, critical materials, and advanced manufacturing become increasingly important to national security, innovative companies are navigating a growing landscape of funding opportunities—from SBIR/STTR programs and state innovation resources to venture capital and strategic federal investment. Our featured panel, Funding the Future: Capital Strategies for Defense & Semiconductor Innovation, will explore how entrepreneurs can leverage these pathways to accelerate commercialization, scale breakthrough technologies, and strengthen America's defense industrial base.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, researcher, student, or simply curious about the technologies shaping our future, this event offers a unique opportunity to learn from industry leaders, connect with the region's innovation community, and gain valuable insight into the evolving defense technology ecosystem.
Following the panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to network with fellow innovators, founders, investors, and ecosystem partners driving the next generation of technological advancement.
Don't miss this opportunity to be part of NeoCity's thriving innovation community and explore how capital, technology, and collaboration are fueling the future of national security and economic growth.
Meet the Panelist:
Kyle Asman, Managing Partner - Backswing Ventures
Kyle Asman is a defense-focused investor and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in investment banking and venture capital. In 2020, he founded Backswing Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in national security and defense technology. Under his leadership, Backswing has launched three funds in the defense and national security space, delivering significant returns for investors. Prior to Backswing, Kyle co-founded BX3 Capital and held roles at leading financial institutions including Goldman Sachs and Duff & Phelps. He holds a degree from Arcadia University and is an avid golfer and skier.
Jack Henkel, COO - Florida High Tech Corridor
Jack Henkel is the Chief Operating Officer of the Florida High Tech Corridor where he supports day to day operations and long-term strategic growth of the Corridor. Jack directly serves entrepreneurs by serving as the Senior Cluster Manager leading the Gaming, Entertainment & Immersive Technologies cluster with 50+ companies for the Cenfluence initiative. Jack is also the Program Manager of FL FAST, Florida's first and only statewide centralized support system for companies pursuing SBIR/STTR funding. Powered by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program, FL FAST provides education, one-on-one coaching, proposal review, budget support, and research partnership connections to small businesses across Florida.
With more than 15 years of experience in Florida's innovation ecosystem, Jack has worked with hundreds of companies and helped drive more than $300 million in funding for companies across Florida. He has also served roles at the UCF Office of Research and Commercialization and the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) supporting high-tech innovation and international economic development activities.
Caroline Sorrick, Founder & CEO - E&P Technologies
Caroline Sorrick is the Founder & CEO of E&P Technologies, where she is redefining how high-voltage energy storage systems are designed, manufactured, and deployed. Her work centers on breaking long-standing industrial constraints and building technologies that expand what high-energy systems can enable. Her career bridges traditional aerospace, commercial space, and frontier energy innovation. She previously served as Director of Pulsed Power Engineering at Xcimer Energy, where she led the development of high-energy systems supporting next-generation fusion architectures. Prior to that, she spent more than five years at Blue Origin, progressing through leadership roles in Manufacturing Engineering, Mission Operations Management, and ultimately Director of Product Strategy. Across each department, she drove cross-functional transformations that challenged legacy models and reshaped how complex hardware programs scale, execute, and evolve. Known for rejecting the “we’ve always done it this way” mindset, Caroline builds organizations that question inherited limitations, rethink production paradigms, and pursue step-change improvements rather than incremental gains. Her leadership philosophy is simple: industry standards are not ceilings, they are launching points for reinvention.
Dr. Piotr Kulik, Co-Founder & CTO - Vulcan Elements
Piotr Kulik is an Assistant Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Central Florida and Director of the Advanced Integrated Magnetics & Sensors (AIMS) Lab, where he develops next-generation magnetic materials and devices for power, sensing, and communication systems. He is also a co-founder and CTO of Vulcan Elements, a rare earth magnet manufacturer based in Durham, N.C., backed by private capital and the Department of War to rebuild domestic permanent magnet production for defense and energy independence. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Northeastern University and his B.E. and M.E. degrees from Stevens Institute of Technology.
Event Agenda
5:00 PM – Check-in & Networking
5:30 PM – Welcome & Opening Remarks
5:40 PM – Panelist Introductions
5:45 PM – Panel Discussion
6:25 PM – Audience Q&A
6:30 PM – Closing Remarks
6:35 PM – Networking Mixer (until 7:00 PM)
Admission: Complimentary (RSVP required)
Parking: Free