Synapse Florida, an innovation company cultivating economic growth and impact, hosts an annual event held in the Tampa Bay area known as the Synapse Summit. The Synapse Summit has been going on for seven years and this was my first experience at a Synapse Summit, and it was interesting.
Starting when you first walk in, in the process of getting registered you receive a wristband with a QR code which allows you to fill out your information allowing you to connect with investors or employers within the same or similar industries. That was a great idea because it allows you to network, land new positions, and find internship opportunities within a simple scan.
Companies that were represented at the summit consisted of NASA, Forte3D, AmRoc, Suncoast Credit Union, Tampa General Hospital, and even educational institutions such as the University of South Florida and Florida Polytechnic University.
Along with the tables of many companies represented to network, there were also speakers at the summit consisting of Mayor Jane Castor and keynote speakers Shirl Penney and Ernest Hooper.
Diving into the speakers, I love how the mayor expanded on how Tampa, as one of the biggest cities throughout Florida, has revolutionized. However, on the keynote, I nearly didn’t enjoy it as much. Organization of the questions felt all over the place going from Penney’s past, growing up, and current life now as the CEO and President of Dynasty Financial Partners.
As far as the setups throughout the summit my favorites I would say were the NASA space shuttle bus and the world’s first 3D-printed carbon fiber cello. The space shuttle bus allowed you to interact with AI to ultimately get a realistic experience with space which I thought was cool although I did not get a chance to experience. On the other hand, the 3D-printed cello stood out to me because it sounded identical to a realistic cello and it’s fascinating to see how you can take one material and turn it into an instrument.
Overall, I did enjoy the summit as there were many setups and companies represented with some of the latest technology. I felt the event could have been better if bigger companies within the technology and AI field were represented as some of the technology felt outdated and basic.
