On August 27th, the Jacksonville Venture Competition hosted the Powering the Future event in partnership with Jacksonville TechFest and the Society of Tech Explorers. The event aimed to bring together industry leaders, tech enthusiasts, and automotive experts to showcase the groundbreaking ideas and advancements that are shaping the future of transportation and technology.
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Powering the Future opened with a keynote presentation from the Senior Vice President of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Greer Johnson Gillis. Gillis set the stage by outlining the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's (JTA) initiative to embrace electric vehicles and collaborate with industry giants and startups to create a sustainable transportation ecosystem in Jacksonville. The focus was on the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) project, introducing autonomous, electric, and connected shuttles to revolutionize transportation in the region, emphasizing the transformative impact on Jacksonville's transportation landscape and the benefits of autonomous and electric vehicles for sustainability and community well-being.
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Jason Furr, VP at Roush, shared insights into Roush's contributions to mobility and electric vehicles, showcasing their crucial role in driving innovations across various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, and defense. Through Furr's presentation, the audience saw the multifaceted contributions and innovative spirit that Roush brings to these dynamic industries.
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Next up was Matt Chang, founder of Kodiak Technologies. The central theme of his presentation revolved around advancing transportation technology in Jacksonville through a blend of innovation, collaboration, and integrating electric and autonomous vehicles. He highlighted Kodiak Tech’s commitment to advancing transportation technology through electric snowblowers for airports, underscoring that Kodiak's electric snowblower surpasses FAA regulations by an impressive 15%.
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The event then featured a panel discussion with Gillis, Furr, and Chang, moderated by the recently appointed editor-in-chief of the Jacksonville Business Journal, James Cannon. Emphasizing Jacksonville's strong talent pool in cybersecurity, smart city technology, and reliability engineering, the conversation stressed the crucial role of collaboration with academia and local innovators in driving progress and attracting skilled individuals. The dialogue intertwined urban development, transportation innovation, and advanced materials science, touching on key points such as the improved accessibility of new transportation projects in Jacksonville, the anticipated economic boost from these initiatives, and the city's growing influence in autonomous mass transit, setting a standard for other urban centers and public transportation systems nationwide.
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After a short break, the event moved into two Power Talks. Brief but impactful presentations from Ben Tyson, Founder of Heisenberg Graphene, and Tom Heeter, local CPA and business advisor.
Ben Tyson discussed Heisenberg Graphene's mission to revolutionize graphene production sustainably. Tyson discussed the promising applications of their graphene technology, particularly in energy storage, while also hinting at its potential broader uses in water filtration and construction, indicating a versatile and impactful future for their innovative material. This advancement has the potential to pave the way for more sustainable and efficient energy solutions, especially in electric vehicles.
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Tom Heeter provided valuable insights on Intellectual Property strategy, drawing from his Silicon Valley experience. Heeter stressed the significance of a comprehensive IP strategy encompassing utility patents, trademarks, copyrights, and design patents. He delved into the complexities of market timing, emphasizing the importance of identifying optimal entry points and effectively managing cash flow. Heeter also took the time to highlight the importance of community engagement and collaboration with industry experts as well as team building, recommending the recruitment of talents beyond traditional resumes and seeking diverse perspectives.
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Following our Power Talks and moving towards the close of the event, Matt Chang hosted two final panels. These panels delved into the future of transportation, emphasizing the need for enhanced charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, upskilling the workforce for EV and AV technologies, and addressing regulatory and community acceptance challenges. The event showcased promising developments in cybersecurity training, autonomous vehicle manufacturing, and innovative drone technology, underlining the industry's commitment to addressing market needs and driving innovation to shape a sustainable transportation future.
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Thank you to Craig Bowman, Director of Technology at Miller Electric, Mark Reid, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at Beep, and Andrew DiFeo, Managing Partner at Hyundai of St. Augustine, for participating in our first panel. And thank you to Mini Zeng, Director of Cyber Security at Jacksonville University, Alexander Hansen, Director of Sales (USA) for Holon, and Carl Miller, COO at Blue Vigil, for participating in our second panel.
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We will be sharing videos from each talk coming soon, so keep an eye out! In the mean time, follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with all we have going on.
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