On March 4, we welcomed leaders from across Southwest Florida to the Collaboratory for the SWFL Tech Pulse Forum, an invite-only evening designed to bring companies, educators, investors, and regional partners into one room for a focused conversation about where our region goes next.
As we shared in the opening remarks, the purpose of the forum was not to present a finished plan. It was to bring together leaders who see different parts of the system and ask what typically happens next in regions at this stage. That framing gave the evening a sense of honesty, urgency, and shared ownership. It also reflected the role the 2025 SWFL Tech Pulse Report was meant to play. The report gave us a clearer picture of where the region stands today, and the forum gave us the opportunity to discuss what that means in practice.
On March 4, we welcomed leaders from across Southwest Florida to the Collaboratory for the SWFL Tech Pulse Forum, an invite-only evening designed to bring companies, educators, investors, and regional partners into one room for a focused conversation about where our region goes next.
As we shared in the opening remarks, the purpose of the forum was not to present a finished plan. It was to bring together leaders who see different parts of the system and ask what typically happens next in regions at this stage. That framing gave the evening a sense of honesty, urgency, and shared ownership. It also reflected the role the 2025 SWFL Tech Pulse Report was meant to play. The report gave us a clearer picture of where the region stands today, and the forum gave us the opportunity to discuss what that means in practice.
As we noted that evening, “Technology economies are rarely confined to a single city… they grow across labor markets where employers, talent, education, and capital circulate together.” That idea helped frame one of the forum’s central themes: Southwest Florida’s future will be shaped not only by what happens within individual communities, but by how well the region works together across them.
The evening moved through four conversations central to building long-term momentum here: regional collaboration and shared identity, AI readiness, startup growth, and the operational leadership needed to help small businesses scale. What stood out most was how connected those themes felt. The conversation about the Gulf Coast Tech Corridor was really about alignment and the importance of building a stronger shared regional identity. The AI panel focused on what practical adoption looks like for employers, education, and the workforce. The startup discussion explored what early-stage companies need to move from traction to growth. The final panel reinforced that technology growth in this region will also be shaped by how businesses improve operations, leadership, and execution.
One of the clearest takeaways from the evening was that Southwest Florida does not need to copy another market to build a stronger tech economy. The discussion pointed instead toward defining what a Southwest Florida model could look like — one shaped by the assets already here, the industries already using technology in meaningful ways, and the opportunity to build a more connected regional ecosystem over time. Speakers also emphasized that if the region wants to move from emerging momentum to sustained growth, it will need to become more intentional about identifying its strengths, sharpening its specialization, and setting clearer targets for the years ahead.
Another major theme was collaboration. Again and again, the conversation returned to the idea that progress will depend on stronger coordination across counties, better alignment between employers and educators, and more deliberate connections across workforce, economic development, and industry. If Southwest Florida is going to continue building momentum, it will take more than good data and good intentions. It will take shared language, stronger regional relationships, and a willingness to work across traditional boundaries.
The AI discussion brought a similarly practical perspective. Rather than treating AI as a trend to chase, panelists focused on what responsible adoption actually requires: a business case, a plan, leadership involvement, and the right foundation around security and operations.
That grounded tone mattered. It made clear that AI readiness is not just about tools. It is about organizational maturity and thoughtful implementation, especially for the many small and mid-sized businesses that make up such a large share of the Southwest Florida economy.
The startup and small-business conversations reinforced that point in a broader way. Building a stronger regional tech economy is not only about launching new ventures. It is also about helping companies grow, connect, and scale. That includes strengthening the support systems around them, increasing the density of relationships across the ecosystem, and making sure businesses have access to the partners, frameworks, and operational guidance they need to move forward with confidence.
What made the evening so encouraging was the level of engagement around those ideas. We heard clearly that Southwest Florida has real opportunities ahead, but also real work to do. The data points to a region on the rise, with growing tech employment, stronger wages, and more visible momentum, while the conversation in the room made equally clear that deeper connectivity across education, workforce, and industry will be essential if we want to keep building.
As one speaker put it, “We don’t want to bounce back to where we were. We want to meet change by jumping forward.” That spirit captured the evening well. Many of the ingredients for a strong technology economy are already here across our companies, our education partners, and the leaders working to strengthen this region. The report helped put data and language around that momentum. The forum helped turn it into a conversation, a connection, and a clearer sense of shared direction.
"We want to meet change by
jumping forward"
We are grateful to our panelists, moderators, partners, board members, investors, the Horizon Council and the Dunbar AV team for making the evening possible. The SWFL Tech Pulse Forum was an important step for our organization and for the broader regional conversation happening across Southwest Florida. We appreciate everyone who joined us, and we are excited to keep building on the momentum that was so clearly present in the room that evening.
