Florida Deep Tech Venture Summit

​The Florida Deep Tech Venture Summit is a one-day, curated gathering of 150+ leaders exploring a new wave of engineering and scientific innovation building in Florida.

​Hosted by Phase Shift Ventures and Backswing Ventures in Orlando’s Lake Nona innovation district, join us in conversation as experts discuss:

​The Rise of Florida as a Deep Tech Hub
Frontier Technologies Shaping the Next Decade
Dual-Use Innovation
Capital Formation and Scaling in Deep Tech
Federal Innovation Capital
University Tech Transfer in Florida
Building the Florida Deep Tech Community

​Agenda

​8 am Registration Opens Networking Continental Breakfast

​9 am Opening Remarks
Dennis R. Pape, Phase Shift Ventures
Kyle Asman, Backswing Ventures

​9:10 am Keynote Address
Space Race 2.0 and Florida's Role in the New Space Economy
Greg Autry, UCF and Nominee NASA CFO

​9:40 am Space Florida
Creating a Hub for Groundbreaking Industries and Opportunity
Rob Long and Ron Lau, Space Florida

​10:00 am VC-backed Space Tech Startup Panel
Ron Lau, Space Florida, Moderator
Chris Stott, Lonestar Data Holdings
Sean Fortener, Seagate Space
Clint Graumann, NUVIEW
Kevin Lowdermilk, Vaya Space
Andrew Rush, Star Catcher

​10:45 am Networking Coffee Break

11:15 am VC Panel
Timothy Cartwright, Tamiami Angel Funds, Moderator
Kadi Findling, Stony Lonesome Group
Kyle Asman, Backswing Ventures
Dennis R. Pape, Phase Shift Ventures
Ben Patz, DeepWork Capital
Robert Harvey, Florida Opportunity Fund
John Vecchio, Mosely Ventures and Phase Shift Ventures

​Noon Lunch Networking Break

​1 pm Keynote Address
Blue Frontier: Revolutionizing Air Conditioning and Energy Storage
Daniel Betts, Blue Frontier

​1:30 pm Federal Innovation Capital and Programs Panel
Leslie Babich, SOFWERX
Nick Hackard, SpaceWERX

​2 pm VC-backed Deep Tech/Dual Use/Defense Tech Startups Panel
Christina Drake, Tadhana, Moderator
Curt Lary, Founder and CEO, Hextronics
Gabriel Lavella, Founder and CEO, Canaery
Diana LaTour, X-lumin
Rob Sladen, Zulu Pods
Trisha Fish, Rapta

​2:45 pm Networking Coffee Break

​3:15 pm Aerospace and Defense Panel
Sheena Fowler, Innovate Orlando, Moderator
Teresa Pace, L3Harris Technologies
Rhet Turnbull, Leidos
Peter Case, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Kristin Colacchio, L3Harris Technologies

​3:45 pm Commercializing Florida University Technology Panel
Paul Sohl, CEO, Florida High Tech Corridor
Jackson Streeter, University of Florida

​4 pm Keynote Fireside Address
The Capital Markets Role in Ensuring Our National Security: JPMorganChase’s  $1.5 trillion Security and Resiliency Initiative aimed at strengthening the U.S. industrial base, critical infrastructure, and technological competitiveness
Rhett Jeppson, JPMorganChase

​4:45 pm Wrap-up and Closing Remarks
Dennis R. Pape, Phase Shift Ventures
Kyle Asman, Backswing Ventures

​5 pm. Closing Reception

​6:30 pm Summit Closes

​This is Florida’s inaugural flagship deep tech convening — where the deep tech innovation community comes together to connect founders, investors, researchers, and federal partners advancing the next generation of dual-use and frontier technologies.

​​General Admission Ticket $249