Six Early-Stage Companies Share $150,000 in Investment at Florida Conference
Record Applicant Pool Signals Growing Strength in Florida’s Startup Ecosystem
Six early-stage companies received a combined $150,000 in investment from Space Florida at the Florida Venture Forum’s 18th annual Early Stage Venture Conference in Orlando on June 3, 2026.
“Florida’s aerospace economy continues to attract the bold, early-stage innovators who will define the future of this industry.”
Rob Long, Space Florida
The conference drew from nearly 300 applicants — a record for the event — with 32 companies selected to present before a panel of judges representing Space Florida and the Florida Venture Forum. Judges evaluated companies on innovation, market opportunity, and alignment with Florida’s targeted high-growth sectors, including aerospace, defense, and emerging technologies. Winners will also be eligible for a share of $80,000 in legal services provided by wiggin(x), a division of Wiggin and Dana LLP.
Two companies received the top Accelerating Innovation Award of $50,000 each. Aloft Biotechnologies of Alachua is developing biomanufacturing systems for space-based cell culture and biologic production, pursuing near-term revenue through terrestrial applications including proof-of-concept work with Sartorius on iPSC and T-cell bioreactor performance. E&P Technologies of Melbourne develops high-voltage capacitor solutions — including traditional film pulsed capacitors, nano-layer dielectric enhanced capacitors, and smart capacitors with embedded sensing — for fusion energy, defense, and grid applications.
SmartCare360.Health of Fort Lauderdale received $35,000 as First Runner Up. The company operates a disease-specific digital health and virtual care delivery platform covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and most commercial insurers, integrated with more than 250 FDA-approved remote patient monitoring devices and licensed to practice medicine in 17 states.
Three collegiate teams also received funding: Radical Solutions (Florida State University, $7,500), Dirty Bastard (University of Tampa, $5,000), and Mayott Aerospace (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, $2,500).
“Florida’s aerospace economy continues to attract the bold, early-stage innovators who will define the future of this industry,” said Rob Long, president and CEO of Space Florida. “This year’s competition drew a record number of applicants — a clear signal of the growing demand and interest in what Florida has to offer.”
Kevin Burgoyne, President and CEO of the Florida Venture Forum, credited the record turnout to statewide momentum. “Congratulations to our winning companies — and to all our presenters, who were chosen from almost 300 applicants in a very competitive process,” Burgoyne said.
Len Gray, Partner at Wiggin and Dana LLP, said, “Florida’s venture community is one of the fastest growing in the world and after seeing this week’s pitches, it’s easy to see why.”