Jax Tech

Healthcare is undergoing one of the most transformative periods in modern history, and Jacksonville is becoming a hub for pioneering innovation across telehealth, data-driven care, AI-powered clinical support, and the patient experience.

For our next Jax Tech event, we’re bringing together some of the region’s leading voices in health technology to explore how digital tools, intelligent systems, and new care models are reshaping outcomes for patients and providers alike. Whether you’re in healthcare, tech, data science, policy, or simply curious about where the future of medicine is headed, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

## Featured Speakers

### Dr. Matthew Thompson

CEO & Co-Founder, Telescope Health
As a physician, innovator, and co-founder of Telescope Health, Dr. Thompson has been at the forefront of reshaping how communities access care. From large-scale telehealth programs to data-driven triage tools and public–private partnerships, he’s helping redefine what modern, connected healthcare looks like.
He’ll share insights on:

• How telehealth is evolving beyond virtual urgent care
• Using data to improve outcomes, reduce friction, and enhance care navigation
• The role technology plays in community health partnerships
• What the next generation of patient-centric digital health will require

Expect real-world examples, lessons from the front lines, and a look at how Jacksonville is influencing the broader healthcare transformation.

### Eric Nottmeier, M.D.

Neurosurgeon, Mayo Clinic
Robotics is no longer a future concept in surgery, it’s already reshaping how some of the most complex procedures are performed today. Dr. Eric Nottmeier is at the forefront of this transformation, applying computer-assisted and robot-assisted technologies to spinal surgery with a focus on precision, safety, and improved patient outcomes.
He’ll explore:

• How computer-assisted and robotic systems are currently guiding spinal procedures
• The role of imaging, navigation, and real-time feedback in surgical accuracy
• Where robotics meaningfully improves outcomes, and where it doesn’t (yet)
• What the next generation of robotics in healthcare will look like in clinical practice

Expect a practical, surgeon-level view into how advanced robotics are changing the operating room today, and how they may redefine surgical care in the decade ahead.

## Giselle Caselato, M.D., PhD

Pediatric Neurosurgeon & STR-X Mayo Clinic Fellow, Mayo Clinic
What if neurosurgeons could train on lifelike digital replicas of surgical tools before ever entering the operating room, or learn advanced techniques from across the world with almost zero delay? Dr. Giselle Caselato is working at the intersection of AI, VR, simulation, and global collaboration to fundamentally change how neurosurgeons are trained.
She’ll share insights into:

• AI-assisted “digital twins” and avatar-based surgical training
• Accelerating neurosurgery education through immersive VR simulations
• Neuroendoscopy physical simulators and high-fidelity surgical rehearsal
• Global training initiatives connecting surgeons across continents
• Holoportation and ultra-low-latency remote collaboration
• Offline, standalone AI medical assistance using embedded language models (even in space!)

You’ll hear how partnerships with institutions like Harvard and MIT are helping scale world-class neurosurgical training globally...from Brazil to beyond Earth...and what this means for the future of medicine, education, and access to care.

After the sessions, join us for a rooftop afterparty with DJ Castronaut spinning beats, great conversations, and the lively energy that makes Jax Tech such a special community. Bartenders from The Volstead will be with us again to keep the night going.

As always, a HUGE thank you to our sponsors that make these events possible:

The path from idea to funded company (and eventually to a successful exit) is rarely a straight line. It's full of pivots, pressure, hard-won lessons, and moments that define a company's trajectory. Jacksonville has quietly become home to some remarkable tech journeys, and for our next Jax Tech event, we're pulling back the curtain on what those journeys actually look like.

Whether you're a founder in the early stages, an operator navigating growth, an investor looking at the landscape, or simply someone curious about how great companies get built and what comes next, this is a conversation you'll want to be in the room for.

We're bringing together founders and leaders who've lived these experiences firsthand to share the real story behind the rounds, the deals, and the decisions that shaped their companies.

## Featured Speakers

### Justin Dennis

Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, UrbanSDK
From seed funding to TechStars to a high-profile investor round, Justin will walk through the full arc of UrbanSDK's funding story — the milestones, the unexpected curveballs, and what it takes to raise capital for a high-growth tech company operating at the intersection of data and cities. If you want a candid look at what building and funding a venture-backed company really looks like, Justin's session will deliver.

### Craig Mandeville

Founder & Board Member, Forcura
Craig's journey with Forcura is a masterclass in scaling a tech company through multiple phases of growth — from a small seed round to explosive expansion, a large PE round, and ultimately a merger that created the market-leading home health company. He'll share hard-earned lessons from navigating multiple rounds of investment and the high-stakes decisions that come with each one.

### Additional Speakers — TBD

We're also lining up speakers to cover the current state of seed funding and what the pathway to an exit looks like in today's market. Stay tuned for announcements.

After the sessions, join us for a rooftop afterparty with DJ Castronaut spinning beats, great conversations, and the lively energy that makes Jax Tech such a special community. Bartenders from The Volstead will be with us again to keep the night going.

As always, a HUGE thank you to our sponsors that make these events possible: