Expert Insights & Commentary
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The South Florida Venture Tech Chronicle Blog goes beyond the headlines.
Here, founders, investors, and industry experts share their perspectives on emerging technologies, investment strategies, and the challenges shaping our innovation ecosystem.
Expect thought leadership, data-driven opinions, and long-form features that deepen understanding of where tech is headed next.
Knollgate Is Betting the Future of Consumer Growth Doesn't Require Giving Away More Equity
Knollgate has launched in West Palm Beach with a mission to help founder-led consumer brands scale without sacrificing additional equity. Led by private markets veteran Greg Greifeld, the firm combines flexible, non-dilutive financing with strategic operational guidance, reflecting a growing shift in how founders are funding expansion.
Investing in Tomorrow: NextEra Energy Foundation Celebrates 2026 SECME Scholarship Recipients
The NextEra Energy Foundation celebrated the 2026 SECME Scholarship recipients during a special recognition event at FPL's Manatee Lagoon, honoring outstanding Florida students pursuing STEM degrees. The feature highlights the scholarship program's impact, shares the inspiring journey of former recipient and FPL intern Samuel Dorcelus-Cetoute, and recognizes the next generation of innovators, engineers, and technology leaders who are helping shape Florida's future.
Could Autonomous Transit Transform West Palm Beach? Glydways Proposes Airport-to-Downtown Connector
A proposal from Glydways could transform transportation in Palm Beach County by connecting President Donald J. Trump International Airport with downtown West Palm Beach using an autonomous, on-demand elevated transit system. While county commissioners expressed interest in the concept, they paused the proposal to seek additional financial and operational details before moving forward.
AMPERA Unveils 3D-Printed Nuclear Reactor Module, Marking a Major Manufacturing Milestone
Palm Beach Gardens-based AMPERA has unveiled what it describes as the world's first full-scale, fully 3D-printed nuclear reactor module. While the reactor is not yet operational, the milestone showcases how advanced manufacturing and modular reactor design could help accelerate the future of clean, reliable nuclear energy.
Florida Council of 100: South Florida’s Approach to Business Attraction Is Different From NYC and Austin
South Florida is rewriting the traditional playbook for economic development. While cities like New York rely on institutional infrastructure and Austin benefits from organic tech momentum, the region is developing a different model — one built around executive influence, private-sector alignment, and strategic market positioning. At the center of this evolution is the Florida Council of 100 and a growing ecosystem of business leaders shaping how companies view the Gold Coast as a destination for capital, innovation, and growth.
Wall Street South: How Palm Beach County is Attracting Financial Giants Like Edward Jones
Palm Beach County's Wall Street South initiative continues to attract major financial services firms, with Edward Jones establishing a new downtown West Palm Beach office. The move reflects the region's growing influence as a wealth management and financial services hub, strengthening economic ties between New York and South Florida while creating new opportunities for talent, innovation, and business growth.
From Grants to Greatness: FPL's STEM Classroom Makeovers Are Transforming South Florida Schools
From robotics labs to hands-on engineering projects, FPL's STEM Classroom Makeover Grants are transforming schools across South Florida. As 2024-2025 grant recipients unveil their newly redesigned classrooms, students are gaining access to the tools and experiences that will help shape the future workforce and drive regional innovation.
South Florida Universities Offering AI, STEM, and Innovation Summer Youth Programs for 2026
South Florida colleges and universities are expanding Summer 2026 opportunities for students interested in artificial intelligence, STEM, engineering, entrepreneurship, coding, robotics, and pre-college learning. From FIU and the University of Miami to Nova Southeastern University, Miami Dade College, and FAU, these programs offer hands-on experiences designed to prepare the next generation of innovators and technology leaders.
NextEra Energy - Dominion Energy Plans $67B Merger: What It Means for Florida’s Energy Future
The proposed merger between NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy could reshape the future of energy infrastructure in the United States, with Florida emerging as a central financial, operational, and innovation hub. From AI-driven electricity demand to grid modernization and storm resilience, the deal positions Florida at the center of a new era in utility scale and infrastructure growth.
South Florida Robotics Talent Shines at FIRST Regional Competition
South Florida’s future engineers took center stage at the regional FIRST Robotics Competition, where student teams from across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and the Treasure Coast showcased cutting-edge robotics, teamwork, and technical skill. With championship teams emerging from Stuart, Miami, and Jupiter, the event highlighted the strength of the region’s growing STEM pipeline and its role in shaping the next generation of innovators.
South Florida Is Powering Florida’s Growth; The Next Decade Will Test Our Readiness
South Florida sits at the center of Florida’s record-breaking growth—but sustaining that momentum will require bold planning, workforce investment, and regional collaboration. The next decade will define whether we lead—or fall behind.
Why the Miami–Palm Beach Corridor Could Be an Early eVTOL Launch Market
South Florida’s Miami–Palm Beach corridor is emerging as a prime candidate for early eVTOL air taxi networks. With short city-to-city distances, dense aviation infrastructure, and real estate developers driving vertiport integration, the region could become the first large-scale testbed for electric urban air mobility in the U.S.
BioFlorida’s Launchpad Initiative Signals a New Era for Florida’s Life Sciences Economy
Florida’s life sciences ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth with the launch of the BioFlorida BioPitch Launchpad Initiative, a statewide effort designed to connect university innovation and regional pitch competitions directly to investors. By creating a structured pathway to the BioFlorida Annual Innovation Conference 2026 in Orlando, the initiative is helping transform promising research into investable companies and strengthening Florida’s position as a rising national leader in biotechnology and life sciences innovation.
the Frynge: Bringing Gen Z Back Into Real Life
The most valuable conversations in business aren’t happening on stage—they’re happening around it. the Frynge, a South Florida startup, is redefining networking by curating off-calendar, invite-only experiences where founders, investors, and operators build real relationships. Discover how this platform is changing the game for Gen Z professionals and beyond.
SoFloGO: The App Powering South Florida’s Connected Transit Future
South Florida transit just got a major upgrade.
The SoFloGO app is bringing Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach transit systems into one seamless platform—making it easier than ever to plan, track, and pay for your entire journey.
More than convenience, it’s a step toward a more connected, accessible, and economically competitive region.
Top 4 eVTOL Companies in South Florida to Watch
Electric air taxis are closer than you think.
South Florida is quickly becoming a launchpad for advanced air mobility, with companies developing aircraft, vertiports, and regional networks connecting Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
From local startup Doroni Aerospace to global players like Archer Aviation, here are four eVTOL companies helping shape the future of transportation in the region.
Boutiques vs. Unicorns: The Two Paths Driving South Florida’s AI Boom
South Florida’s AI boom isn’t just one story — it’s two very different models growing side by side.
In Broward and Palm Beach, boutique AI consultancies are helping local businesses automate workflows and adopt practical AI tools. Meanwhile, in Miami, venture-backed startups are raising major funding rounds and chasing global platform scale.
Understanding how these two ecosystems interact may shape the future of the region’s tech economy.
Crypto in the Country Club: How Digital Assets Are (and Aren’t) Accepted in Palm Beach
Palm Beach may look traditional—six-figure initiation fees, strict dress codes, and invoices paid by check or wire—but behind the gates, it’s one of the fastest-growing millionaire hubs in the U.S., with much of that wealth tied to bitcoin and other digital assets. Crypto funds real estate, philanthropy, and private investments across South Florida, yet at country clubs like The Breakers, Trump International Golf Club, and PGA National Members Club, dues still run through traditional banking rails. This piece explores why—covering tax rules, compliance pressures, volatility, and cultural factors—that keep digital assets one step removed from the pro shop.
NEXA Acquires Sonim Technologies: A Defining Moment for Enterprise Mobility and South Florida
NEXA has acquired Sonim Technologies (NASDAQ: SONM), expanding its mission-critical mobility portfolio and reinforcing South Florida’s growing role as a hub for secure enterprise technology innovation.
Palm Beach State College Secures $2 Million Federal Funding for Quantum Innovation Center
Palm Beach State College has secured more than $2 million in federal funding to launch a Quantum Innovation Center, advancing workforce training, research, and emerging technology commercialization in Palm Beach County.

