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- From Summer Sparks to Fall Momentum: Mentorship, Growth, and Community
From Summer Sparks to Fall Momentum: Mentorship, Growth, and Community
Here’s your monthly dose of everything exciting happening in our community and beyond.
Groundswell Startups
September 30, 2025
September in Review
The Melbourne Regional Chamber’s Small Business Council and Space Coast Young Professionals hosted a live AI demo at Groundswell - showcasing real tools, strategies, and hacks to power businesses and careers.
We’ve partnered with The Venture Mentoring Team to expand our mentor network, giving founders access to hundreds of vetted experts and a proven process to tackle challenges from fundraising to scaling.
This past quarter, Groundswell hosted more than 50 events. With just as many events on the horizon for Q4, our momentum is only growing!
Reel Good News hosted a 4-part Marketing & Sales Acceleration series at Groundswell, giving founders practical tools to build trust, convert leads, and accelerate growth into 2026.
Community Events & Meetups
🍲 Member Lunch | Wednesday, October 8th at 12 PM
Enjoy this month's member lunch! Catering by Thrifty Specialty Produce.
👠 Space Swap Professional Clothing Swap | Thursday, October 9th at 6 PM
Swapping professional clothing, wisdom, and connections. Brought to you by Space Swap, WeVenture, and Groundswell Startups. Buy Tickets here.
🍻 Swell Hour - Mix and Mingle | Thursday, October 16th from 4 - 6 PM
Come mix and mingle with other community members! Come on out to Puncheons & Flagons, Sponsored by Space Coast Adventurers Guild. Drink some potions and get a chance to play in some Dungeons & Dragons games run by the Guild.
🎲 Guild Game Day | October 18th & 19th 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.
💬 Philanthropy on Tap (Private Event) | Wednesday, October 22nd from 5 - 6:30 PM
An intimate, invitation-only happy hour for professional advisors by Community Foundation Brevard.
👚 Space Swap Sewing Club | Monday, October 27th 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!
🧙♂️ Magic The Gathering: Commander Nights | October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 23, 25 & 30, 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!
Food Truck Fridays
🥪 40 South - October 3rd from 12 - 2 PM
🥙 Pita Pyramid - October 10th from 12 - 2 PM
🌮 A Pinch of Rodriguez - October 17th from 12 - 2 PM
🍔 Pop's Chicago Style Eats - October 24th from 12 - 2 PM
🍟 Mouth Full of South - October 31st from 12 - 2 PM
Swell Spotlight
 | CodeCraft is reshaping the tech talent pipeline on the Space Coast, growing from after-school coding clubs to fueling aerospace careers. With a 90% hire rate for recent graduates and groundbreaking programs opening doors for people with disabilities, this team is proving what’s possible when education and industry come together. 👉 Read CodeCraft’s full story here.  |
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.
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.
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.
 | Clean out your closet with purpose. Build your wardrobe with community. Join us for the Professional Clothing Swap: a one-of-a-kind evening of sustainable fashion and meaningful connection. Bring professional clothing to swap or just browse, mingle, and be inspired. All leftover clothing will be donated to those entering the workforce. Hosted in collaboration with Space Swap and weVENTURE Women's Business Center. 👉 Link to Tickets. |
Help us welcome our new members!
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Not sure how to get involved? Reach out at [email protected] and let’s connect!