Jax Tech

Here we go again, and are officially 10 years running! It is time for the 10th ANNUAL SUMMER SOCIAL to get all of our Jax area groups, meetups, and networks together for fun, connection, and a party!

You are invited once again to Jacksonville's largest networking event for technologists, artists, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts at the 10th Annual Summer Social event in Jax Beach.

This year we are taking over the entire Surfer the Bar again for 4 hours of fun, networking, drinks, and food...and robots, local entertainers, and other surprises you won't want to miss! Meet local leaders, peers, and celebrate the community that makes Jax such an amazing place to live.

We also have some surprises in store for music, live entertainment, and interactive robotic experiences. See below for details on the PARTY and here are all of the participating groups and company sponsors for this year's event.

Participating groups in this year's summer social event include:

Did you know Jacksonville and North Florida are home to a thriving and rapidly growing space entrepreneurship ecosystem? Neither did a lot of people, but that's exactly what we're here to change.

For our Q3 event, Jax Tech is heading to the final frontier. We're bringing together founders, scientists, marketers, and researchers who are actively building the future of space right here in our backyard, and far beyond it. From power grid infrastructure orbiting Earth to the fastest-growing sector you've never heard of, this event will open your eyes to just how much is happening in the space industry, and how close to home it all is.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a technologist, an astropreneur, a curious skeptic, or someone who's always dreamed of what comes next for humanity beyond our atmosphere, you won't want to miss this one.

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### Featured Speakers

#### Camille Elizabeth Bergin

Chief Marketing Officer, Star Catcher | @TheGalacticGal
Camille will set the stage for the evening with a sweeping look at the space industry: what it actually is today, where it's headed, and why now is such a pivotal moment. Known across the industry as The Galactic Gal, Camille brings a rare combination of deep technical knowledge and the ability to make it all make sense.
She'll explore:

• What the modern space industry really looks like — and why it's bigger than most people realize
• How satellites are quietly driving payments, communications, and critical infrastructure here on Earth
• The rise of manufacturing in space and what it means for the broader economy
• What's happening on the moon, and what comes after that

Expect an engaging, big-picture orientation that will frame everything else you'll hear that evening.

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#### Andrew Rush

Co-Founder & CEO, Star Catcher
Andrew is a serial entrepreneur in the space sector, right here in Jacksonville. As CEO of Star Catcher, he's leading one of the most exciting space startups in the country: a company building power grid infrastructure for space itself.
He'll share:

• The Star Catcher story and their upcoming launch
• The state of the space industry from an operator's perspective — who the key players are and where the real action is happening
• What it looks like to build and scale a venture-backed space company
• Where he sees the industry going and what that means for entrepreneurs paying attention right now

If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a company that literally operates in orbit, Andrew's session will give you a front-row seat.

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#### Sierra Pollard, Ph.D.

Director, Space Innovation, University of Florida
The space economy isn't just for astronauts and aerospace giants, and Dr. Pollard has made it her mission to prove that. As Director of Space Innovation at UF, she works at the intersection of opportunities in education, NASA technology pipeline, and the next generation of entrepreneurs ready to commercialize it.
She'll cover:

• NASA tech transfer programs and how entrepreneurs can access and license space technologies
• Building a business around the space economy
• Space hospitality: the fastest-growing sector in the industry you haven't heard enough about yet
• VAST and the emerging category of hotels and habitation in space
• What the on-ramp to space entrepreneurship actually looks like today

This is a session for anyone who's ever thought "there has to be an opportunity here"...because there absolutely is, and Dr. Pollard will show you where to start.

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After the sessions, join us for the rooftop afterparty with DJ Castronaut spinning beats and great conversations with some of the most interesting people in the Jacksonville tech scene. Bartenders from The Volstead will be back to keep the energy going.
As always, a HUGE thank you to our sponsors that make these events possible: