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- Building community through new partnerships: August Recap
Building community through new partnerships: August Recap
Here’s your monthly dose of everything exciting happening in our community and beyond.
Groundswell Startups
August 31, 2026
August in Review
This month’s Swell Hour brought together founders and members for an evening of Jeopardy games, themed drinks, and delicious food. Join our next one on Thursday, September 17th!
Groundswell Startups joined the EDC of Florida's Space Coast in welcoming a Japanese Delegation led by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), comprised of representatives from established industry, startups, and government.
Groundswell has partnered with local co-working space Protowork Studio, allowing members of Groundswell Startups and Protowork Studio to access each other’s co-working space for 2 days per month.
We are proud to congratulate Jonathan Braud and Isabel Rather on completing the Florida Tech Techfutures program, which allowed them to intern at the Prototype Lab and learn principles of design and prototyping. Isabel is attending the University of Florida, and Jonathan is attending Eastern Florida State College. We wish them continued success in their careers!
Community Events & Meetups
🍲 Member Lunch | Wednesday, September 9th at 12 PM
Enjoy this month's member lunch! Catering by Thrifty Specialty Produce.
Build Your Own CRM in Softr | Thursday, September 10th from 5:30 PM- 7:00 PM Join Ocean Breeze Founder & CEO Juliana Olarte for a workshop to help business owners explore affordable ways to organize contacts, workflows, and day-to-day operations
🍻 Swell Hour: Mix and Mingle | Thursday, September 17th from 4 - 6 PM
Come mix and mingle with other community members! Sponsored by Cailum Blue.
⚙️ CodeCraft Works Kickoff Event | September 12th from 10 AM - 4 PM CodeCraft Works designs and delivers custom technical training programs for employers, defense contractors, and training providers.
🎲 Guild Game Day | September 6th, 20th 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!
💸Space Coast Credit Union Bites & Business | September 21st from 11 AM - 1 PM Join Space Coast Credit Union Business Advisor, Julie Dimmig, for some bites and informal discussion on ways to help new and established businesses increase growth.
🧙♂️ Magic The Gathering: Commander Nights | September 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th, 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 🍟 Rolling Js - September 4th from 12 - 2 PM |  |
Swell Spotlight
  | AI with Intention. BeeNex's Javier Sanchez and Thomas Nguyen turned a chance meeting into an AI Systems Studio built on grit and values: pivoting through setbacks, walking away from misaligned investors, and rebuilding until Groundswell gave them the structure to grow. 👉 Read the full story here.  |
Opportunities
Central Florida Tech Grove Tour & Meet-and-Greet at Groundswell
Friday, September 4 | 1:30 PM | Central Conference Room
Representatives from the Central Florida Tech Grove, which connects small businesses with DoD opportunities through prize challenges and pilot programs, are visiting Groundswell. Stop by if you're in defense, aerospace, or curious about breaking into it.
Q3 Pitch Showcase | Learn More
September 16, 2026 | 5:00 PM | House of Members, Tampa
A live pitch competition hosted by Tampa Bay Innovation, where founders and startups pitch their ideas and compete for prizes in front of entrepreneurs and investors.
Army Training Verse Innovation Prize Challenge | Apply Here
Deadline: September 30, 2026 | $450,000 in total prizes across 4 challenges
The Army is seeking AI-enabled modeling, simulation, and digital engineering solutions for its Training Verse platform. Open to U.S.-based companies, and winners may also unlock follow-on contracting opportunities.
weVENTURE Verizon Small Business Digital Readiness | Apply Here
Deadline: Rolling
Free on-demand courses covering business essentials like marketing, finance, and cybersecurity, with grant opportunities available for those who complete coursework.
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 | Learn More
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.
 | Join 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 |
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Not sure how to get involved? Reach out at [email protected] and let’s connect!