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Orlando Tech Week: A Look Back

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When it comes to tech and innovation, the city of Orlando has witnessed a tremendous amount of growth. In fact, ZipRecruiter recently ranked Orlando No. 6 out of 20 of the fastest growing tech towns. In support of this momentum, the community celebrated Orlando Tech Week (OTW) between October 6-14th. An event organized by the Orlando Tech Association, OTW was an immersive, week-long showcase that brought together some of the brightest stars in the Central Florida tech community to talk about tech trends and future innovation.

As tech enthusiasts and advocates for brands looking to leave a mark in its respective  industries, PAN Communications was honored to join OTW this year and participate in the dynamic panel discussion “Innovate Orlando.” The panel took a deep dive into the ways disruptive technologies, such as IoT, A.I., mixed reality, big data and machine-learning, are changing the business landscape. Our very own Dina Magdovitz, a Senior Account Executive, sat in on the discussion of how disruptive and emerging technologies have created waves of change in the way we do business. The conversation ranged from utilizing A.I. and machine-learning technology to help predict behaviors to how big data and analytics are helping to shape the role of the modern marketer. Thanks to new and emerging technologies, the way in which we do business has changed completely.

Healthcare was another dominate topic at this year’s event. According to a 2016 report by the Kauffman Foundation, the Orlando metro area ranks No. 4 in the nation among the 40 largest metros for its density of high-growth companies in the health industry. That statement was supported through an OTW sponsored tour through Guidewell Innovation Center. Located in Lake Nona Medical City, Guidewell Innovation Center serves as a prime location for companies that are looking to create game-changing healthcare diagnostic, treatment and monitoring solutions. Within this 92,000-square foot facility, passion is at the forefront as companies strive to positively impact healthcare.

The discussion around Orlando’s evolving reputation did not stop there. Orlando’s march towards smart city status was a consistent theme during the week of events. Recently named a recipient of a Smart City Council Grant, Orlando was honored for its commitment to using smart technologies across its infrastructure. Panel discussions during OTW centered around the city’s connectedness and how 5G, Cloud, IoT and Big Data will shape the city of the future. Building off its Green Works Orlando initiative, Orlando continues to take its commitment to green building and clean energy seriously.

All in all, this year’s OTW highlighted the prowess of the Orlando tech community. It emphasized the entrepreneurial spirit that rings loud throughout the streets, highlighted advancements that this city has already made and showed us that from healthcare to fintech to cleantech, Orlando is at the cutting-edge of emerging technology and innovation. It’s safe to say that this year’s OTW was a huge success and we can’t wait to see what’s to come next year!

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