- Groundswell Startups
- Posts
- Big Ideas, Bold Builds at Groundswell: Midweek Sparks, Weekend Hacks
Big Ideas, Bold Builds at Groundswell: Midweek Sparks, Weekend Hacks
Here’s your monthly dose of everything exciting happening in our community and beyond.
Groundswell Startups
August 28, 2025
August in Review
Idea Hour is back! We kicked off our first Midweek Meetup of the month, swapping big ideas and fresh perspectives.
Swell Hour with SwiftPaws! Meghan and the team brought the fun and a few surprise zoomies to this month’s meetup.
From Startup to Sponsor! We’re proud to welcome Kalogon and Boxmica to our Skateboard Wall. Both scaled right here at Groundswell, and now they’re giving back as sponsors to help fuel the next wave of innovators.
What a weekend! The Space Coast Initiative Hackathon brought brilliant minds together to build, innovate, and spark new ideas.
Community Events & Meetups
💡 Midweek Meetup | Every Wednesday, from 4 - 5:30 PM
From brainstorming sessions to board games, this is your midweek break with fellow members. Every week, we mix it up!
🌐 SCYP & SBC - AI Live | Tuesday, September 9th from 5 - 7 PM
Join us at Groundswell for an exclusive, live demo experience hosted by the Melbourne Regional Chamber’s Small Business Council and the Space Coast Young Professionals! This isn’t another lecture. It’s a front-row seat to the tools that are reshaping business and careers and a chance to actually see them in action. Register here.
🍲 Member Lunch | Wednesday, September 10th at 12 PM
Enjoy this month's member lunch! Catering by Skewers Mediterranean Grille.
🎲 Guild Game Day | Saturday, September 13th from 11 AM - 9 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! RSVP and find game details on Meetup.
💬 Launch on Florida’s Space Coast | Tuesday, September 16th from 5 - 8 PM
Launch on Florida's Space Coast community-driven event connecting job seekers with recruiters, business leaders, and advocates.
🍻 Swell Hour - Mix and Mingle | Thursday, September 18th from 4 - 6 PM
Come mix and mingle with other community members! This month, we will be serving a Fall Special Cocktail! Sponsored by Publify Press.
📆 Tech Tuesday is BACK | Tuesday, September 23rd from 5:30 - 7:30 PM
This long-standing Groundswell tradition makes its return - meet us at Iron Oak for an off-site meetup. Connect with the greater tech and startup community. RSVP on LinkedIn or Meetup.
🧙♂️ Magic The Gathering: Commander Nights | September 3, 11, 17, & 25, from 6 - 10 PM
Join the Wizards of the Space Coast for our upcoming Commander Nights! Join a community of Magic: The Gathering players and get updates on upcoming events in Commander and other favorite formats. Join the group and RSVP on Discord!
👚 Space Swap Sewing Club | Monday, September 29th from 6 - 9 PM
Join us for this free monthly meetup by Space Swap for textile artists of all kinds. Bring your own project, supplies, or reserve a sewing machine in advance!
Food Truck Fridays
🥪 40 South - September 5th from 12 - 2 PM
🥙 Pita Pyramid - September 12th from 12 - 2 PM
🌮 A Pinch of Rodriguez - September 19th from 12 - 2 PM
🍔 Rolling J’s - September 26th from 12 - 2 PM
Swell Spotlight
 | 🐔 Meet Peggy, the chicken who got a second chance thanks to a 3D-printed brace and a lot of creativity from Chris, Groundswell’s behind-the-scenes IT wizard. What started as a backyard mishap turned into a story of resilience and innovation that perfectly captures the Swell spirit. |
 | Free marketing workshop on Sept 4, 4:30 PM - In a world of endless feeds and short attention spans, the ability to hook your audience fast is everything. Learn how to grab attention without gimmicks, using authentic storytelling that resonates with the heart and drives engagement. Matt Mayer (UX & design veteran, NASA experience) will share why great design + great narrative = trust and action. RSVP |
Opportunities
2025 SXSW Pitch Showcase | Apply Here
Deadline: November 7th, 2025
SXSW Pitch is a showcase of ambitious entrepreneurs and disruptive technologies from around the globe. Startups can now apply for a chance to be featured as finalists.
FL Deep Tech Venture Summit | Apply Here
Deadline: December 11th, 2025
This inaugural event unites founders, investors, researchers, and federal partners to advance the next wave of dual-use and frontier technologies.
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.
FL Venture Capital Conference 2025-26 | Apply Here
Save-the-Date: February 25th, 2026
Showcase your company to leading venture investors and top industry professionals. Taking place February 23-25, 2026, at the Loews Coral Gables in Miami.
 | Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp at Groundswell! This November, Groundswell will host free workshops empowering local high school students to wield AI in their future careers. This event is made possible through a partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation and Who We Play For. |
Help us welcome our new members!
|
|
Not sure how to get involved? Reach out at [email protected] and let’s connect!