- Groundswell Startups
- Posts
- April Recap: Building, Connecting & Giving Back
April Recap: Building, Connecting & Giving Back
Here’s your monthly dose of everything exciting happening in our community and beyond.
Groundswell Startups
April 29, 2026
April in Review
SwiftPaws Shark Tank anniversary celebration lunch at Groundswell, featuring Southern-style comfort food from Twisted Biscuit Cafe.
SCI Hackathon 2026 brought builders together to tackle real-world challenges - big ideas, rapid builds, and nonstop momentum.
Launch on Florida’s Space Coast Networking Night at Groundswell, bringing founders and community members together.
Pitch Practice at Groundswell Startups, moderated by Ryan Bailey and Marifer Sagastume. Refining ideas, sharpening pitches, and building founder confidence.
Community Events & Meetups
🍲 Member Lunch | Wednesday, May 13th at 12 PM
Enjoy this month's member lunch! Catering by BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse.
🍻 Swell Hour: Mix and Mingle | Thursday, May 21st from 4 - 6 PM
Come mix and mingle with other community members!
🧮 Ask Bloom: Accounting Hour | Friday, May 22nd from 12 - 1 PM
Ask your tax or accounting questions over lunch, join Bloom CPAs for an informal Accounting Office Hour at Groundswell Startups in the Café/ Lounge area.
🎲 Guild Game Day | Saturday, May 16th from 12 PM - 7 PM
Join the Space Coast Adventurers Guild for their monthly Guild Game Day, where you can dive into various games like Dungeons & Dragons and more!
🧙♂️ Magic The Gathering: Commander Nights | May 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th, from 6 - 10 PM
Join the Wizards of the Space Coast for Commander Nights and connect with local players. RSVP on Discord for upcoming events.
Food Truck Fridays 🍟 Just Eats- May 1st from 12 - 2 PM |  |
Swell Spotlight
 | Sometimes one image changes everything. From a fleeting radar image to mission-critical impact, Derek Tishler’s journey shows what happens when deep expertise meets relentless follow-through, and when the right community keeps the fire lit. 👉 Read the full story here.  |
Opportunities
Autonomous Ground Vehicles for Wildfire Logistics Challenge | Apply Here
Deadline: May 12th, 2026
The Central Florida Tech Grove Prize Challenge is seeking innovative autonomous and semi-autonomous ground vehicle solutions for wildland fire response in steep, hazardous terrain, with top teams competing for up to $40K in prize awards.
2026 Florida Early Stage Venture Conference | Register Here
Date: June 2nd-3rd, 2026
The Florida Early Stage Venture Conference showcases selected early-stage companies alongside keynote speakers, educational sessions, and valuable networking opportunities.
Florida Venture Forum | Apply Here
Deadline: Rolling
Seed, early, and growth-stage companies seeking venture capital are invited to apply to pitch at upcoming Florida Venture Forum events. Applications are open year-round.
HLTH's Startup Pitch Tournament | Apply Here
Deadline: Rolling
Apply to compete on stage in front of top investors and industry leaders across categories like Women’s Health, AI, Diagnostics, Consumer Wellness, and more. Open to startups under five years old with less than $8M raised.
Startup of the Year Summit | Apply Here
Deadline: Rolling
Hosted by Established, this high-energy event connects top startups with investors, mentors, and corporate leaders.
 | Introducing Pitch the Future 2026! The capstone pitch competition of the Space Coast Initiative, featuring early-stage startups from across Florida pitching high-tech solutions to investors, partners, and ecosystem leaders. 🗓️ November 13th, 2026 👉 For more information, please visit www.spacecoastinitiative.com |
Help us welcome our new members!
|
|
Not sure how to get involved? Reach out at [email protected] and let’s connect!