This Month's Latest Tech News in Lakeland, FL - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

April 2025 has seen Lakeland's tech ecosystem flourish, driven by major breakthroughs in clean energy, biotechnology, and industry partnerships. The City of Lakeland unveiled an innovative algae-to-biofuel project, using Hydronucleation Flotation Technology and automation to transform harmful algal blooms into renewable fuel and keep local waterways clear -

“It's not just cleanup - it's transformation.”

stated AECOM's Dan Levy in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, Lakeland's high-tech sector surged nearly 63% in GDP from 2018–2023, with Florida Polytechnic University leading research in health wearables and SunTrax enabling autonomous vehicle testing, as chronicled in this Lakeland technology innovations roundup.

The city also welcomed new high-tech facilities, including the IFF Citrus Innovation Center - bringing advanced bio-research and 40 new jobs through a vibrant collaboration with academia, detailed at the Citrus Innovation Center news coverage.

As smart growth and sustainability define Swan City's trajectory, tech education and industry continue to create lasting impact.

Bonnet Springs Park has put Lakeland in the national spotlight after being named USA Today's “Best City Park” for 2025, a recognition attributed to overwhelming public votes and robust community support.

Since opening in 2022 on a reclaimed 168-acre former railyard between downtown Lakeland and Lake Bonnet, the park has become a vibrant urban oasis, drawing approximately 1 million annual visitors with amenities like the Crenshaw Canopy Walk, Florida Children's Museum, and Harrell Family Botanical Gardens.

Park CEO Josh Henderson emphasized in his remarks,

“This recognition means so much to us. From the very beginning, we set out to create a place that brings people together and reflects the heart of our community. It's a testament to the people who dreamed it, donated to it, and continue to support it every day. We have the best guests, and they have called us the best park. We are thrilled to be recognized as the Best City Park for 2025.”

This acclaimed green space is more than a leisure destination - it anchors local economic development, energizing Lakeland's Downtown West and inspiring adjacent mixed-use projects.

As highlighted by the Central Florida Development Council, Bonnet Springs Park employs over 100 staff, coordinates with 500+ volunteers, and hosts a packed calendar of free, diverse events, making it a model for how urban parks can elevate quality of life.

For a deeper look at the park's award-winning transformation and full amenities, explore Bonnet Springs Park's official announcement.

Unveiled at the 2025 SUN 'n FUN Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Gleim Aviation's Digital Pilot Examiner (Gleim DPE™) has quickly garnered praise as a transformative AI-powered tool for pilot exam preparation.

Using the conversational AI, Otto™, the platform simulates FAA oral “checkride” scenarios, giving aspiring pilots the chance to practice real-world questioning alongside targeted feedback - directly addressing the common hurdle of communicating knowledge under pressure.

As Gleim Aviation's leadership emphasized at launch,

“The Gleim DPE is going to change the way pilots study for exams...Get this tool and you're going to do a lot better.”

The platform's instant endorsements include those from David St.

George, a 28-year FAA examiner, and aerobatics pilot Vicky Benzing, who called it “a total game-changer for anyone preparing for a checkride” according to Aero-News Network.

The AI is powered by Call Simulator, featuring scenario customization and supporting role-play in a realistic, verbal format. Key features and benefits include:

Feature	Description
Conversational AI Simulation	Oral exam format mimicking FAA checkrides
Targeted Feedback	Personalized performance insights and suggestions
Reduced Test Anxiety	Realistic practice lowers stress at exam time

For those interested in exploring this innovation, a free demo is available, and detailed coverage - including live demonstrations from the Expo - can be found on YouTube's highlight of the launch event.

AI is poised to help alleviate Lakeland's persistent traffic jams through advanced smart signal technology now being rolled out citywide. The city is expanding its Intersection Collision Avoidance Safety Program (iCASP), funded with a $500,000 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, to bring AI-powered controls to 25 busy intersections - building on a successful pilot where predictive sensors detected red-light runners and adjusted signal timing to prevent crashes.

As detailed in a comprehensive review by LkldNow, these “smart” intersections leverage real-time data to freeze red lights when risky driver behavior is detected, a strategy that yielded zero crashes during a 24-hour observation at a historically troublesome site.

This local push reflects a regional trend, as surrounding counties such as St. Petersburg and Pasco deploy similar AI systems to improve traffic flow and safety for all road users.

According to a Fox 13 News report, Lakeland officials have seen promising outcomes, with 45 red-light violations but no accidents recorded at one monitored crossing.

Cheryl Stacks, St. Petersburg's Transportation Manager, explains the broader impact:

“If there are a lot of vehicles in a certain direction, then it will give more green time to that one particular direction. So, it can be more responsive.”

The investment in AI-enhanced signals not only aims to reduce accidents but also maintains smoother commutes without costly road widening, as confirmed in a recent regional traffic study.

With further expansion planned and new features like driver alerts in development, Lakeland is on track to lead Florida in the adoption of smart traffic management.

Lakeland's small businesses are rapidly embracing artificial intelligence to make their marketing smarter and more efficient, mirroring a larger trend in digital transformation that's projected to reach $3.9 trillion globally by 2027, according to data from the International Data Corporation.

One standout example comes from nearby Manatee County, where agency founder Matt Ackerson leverages AI to help companies "work faster and smarter," fundamentally improving how campaigns are executed and measured - underscoring that even regional entrepreneurs can benefit from AI-driven efficiency gains as detailed by Bay News 9.

Experts stress that successful adoption starts small: develop a practical business strategy, seek cloud-based tools, and focus on upskilling teams locally rather than chasing industry buzzwords or rushing to invest in new tech as explored in RBJ's guide for small businesses.

The impact of these incremental changes is already tangible worldwide, with businesses reporting up to $3.70 in return for every $1 invested in AI, and significant improvements in employee productivity, customer engagement, and operational efficiency.

In fact, Microsoft highlights hundreds of use cases where AI automates content creation, streamlines processes, and personalizes customer experiences for organizations of all sizes.

For Lakeland business owners seeking inspiration or guidance, these real-world stories of AI transformation from Microsoft are a valuable resource.

As one local IT leader notes,

Being small and agile is an advantage… Focus tactically on one area and look for quick wins that positively impact your business.

Miami-based startup Exowatt is making national headlines after securing a $70 million Series A funding round, bringing its total investment to $90 million to fuel the rollout of its flagship Exowatt P3 - a modular, dispatchable solar solution designed to meet the surging energy demands of AI-driven data centers and heavy industry.

The funding, led by Felicis and backed by major venture capital players including Andreessen Horowitz, Atomic, and a number of renowned angel investors like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, will accelerate domestic manufacturing and deployment in 2025.

The P3 system, launched at the RE+ conference, captures solar energy as heat in a long-duration battery, enabling delivery of up to 24 hours of electricity on demand, making it ideal for hyperscale and commercial applications.

Exowatt already faces a backlog of over 90 GWh in demand from data centers and developers nationwide. As CEO Hannan Happi put it,

“The additional funding will help us accelerate commercialization and deployment of our solution for the data center energy needs and help us scale our manufacturing capacity as fast as possible to address the almost insatiable demand for power from our customers.”

The push comes at a crucial time when AI data center power requirements are projected to grow by 150% by 2030, and Exowatt is positioning itself at the forefront of sustainable, U.S.-manufactured energy solutions.

For a full breakdown of the company's growth and product features, read more in the official Exowatt Series A funding announcement, Renewables sector analysis at Renewable Energy World's 2025 renewable energy business roundup, and recent coverage by HostingJournalist's report on Exowatt's $70M funding to power US data centers.

The explosive growth in artificial intelligence is energizing the semiconductor sector, setting the stage for renewed optimism in Florida's burgeoning tech landscape.

Top chipmakers - including Nvidia, TSMC, AMD, Broadcom, and Micron - are not just seeing soaring demand for AI chips, but are posting record earnings and expanding production at an unprecedented pace.

For example, TSMC reported a 39% year-over-year revenue surge in the first two months of 2025, driven by robust AI chip demand from major clients like Nvidia and Apple, even as macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges persist.

Industry analysts predict the AI chip segment alone will grow 35% this year, reaching a $120 billion market value and helping the global semiconductor market hit $640 billion in 2025 (Top Semiconductor Stocks To Buy For 2025).

Companies manufacturing in or near Florida, like AMD, are seeing their earnings set to rise 33% in 2025, and major chip foundries are investing billions in new capacity to keep up.

The market's fundamentals are summed up in the following table:

Company	2025 Projected Revenue Growth	AI Segment Growth	Key Metrics
TSMC	34% YoY (Q1)	95% YoY AI revenue	Operating Margin 48.5%
Nvidia	65% (current quarter)	85% AI chip market share	Gross Margin 74.2%
AMD	33% earnings growth	$3.5B in 2025 MI300 AI orders	Gross Margin 52%

As chip giants ramp up their R&D and expand U.S. production - fueled by $39 billion from the CHIPS Act - the region's tech employers and entrepreneurs stand to benefit from supply chain investments and new workforce opportunities.

“Our business in the first quarter was impacted by smartphone seasonality, partially offset by continued growth in AI-related demand,” said TSMC CFO Wendell Huang, reflecting both the sector's resilience and its forward momentum.

Read more in TSMC beats Q1 expectations on AI demand, but flags tariff risks.

UF Health and UnitedHealthcare have announced a new multiyear agreement effective May 5, 2025, restoring critical network access for nearly 100,000 Floridians who had lost in-network coverage due to contract disputes since last September.

The deal brings UF Health's hospitals, facilities, and physicians in Gainesville, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Leesburg, Ocala, and The Villages back under the UnitedHealthcare network, affecting employer-sponsored commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare Advantage plan members.

Dr. Stephen J. Motew, president and CEO of UF Health Clinical Enterprise, highlighted the importance of the deal:

“This new agreement provides thousands of United patients continuous access to premier, compassionate, academic-quality health care throughout Northeast, North Central and Central Florida. We appreciate the patience of our communities and are thankful for all the hard work our health care team has devoted to our tradition of excellence in caring for our communities.”

The restored partnership is set to ease administrative hurdles and improve care efficiency for both providers and patients.

The contract's reach includes the flagship UF Health Gainesville campus, UF Health Jacksonville, UF Health Leesburg, and Flagler Hospital in St. Johns County, among others.

For a complete breakdown of coverage restored under the new contract, see the table below:

Plan Type	UF Health Network Access Restored
Employer-sponsored commercial	Yes
Community Plan (Medicaid)	Yes
Medicare Advantage/DSNP	Yes (incl. Flagler Hospital and all UF Health hospitals)

Learn more about the agreement's impact from the official statements at UF Health's announcement page, detailed coverage stats in WUFT's analysis of UF Health and UnitedHealthcare contract reconciliation, and further context on accessibility in Jacksonville Today's UF Health and UnitedHealthcare agreement report.

FIS, a Jacksonville-based fintech giant, is making headlines with a major strategic maneuver that sees it shedding its remaining stake in Worldpay and acquiring Global Payments' Issuer Solutions business for $13.5 billion.

This swap positions FIS for more stable, recurring revenue streams, with industry analysts viewing the deal as a significant win for the company and a move that strengthens its leadership in credit card processing.

“The transactions deliver important benefits and add predictable recurring revenue,” stated FIS CEO Stephanie Ferris, highlighting how the acquisition complements the company's core banking technology operations.

The deal, expected to close in the first half of 2026, not only solidifies FIS's fintech portfolio but also allows the company to focus on growth areas while exiting a previously troubled acquisition.

This transformation is already reflected in share performance, with FIS's stock climbing nearly $6 on announcement day, and in positive first-quarter results for 2025.

For a deeper look, including a breakdown of transaction synergies and financial projections, see FIS's official press release on the Worldpay sale and Issuer Solutions acquisition.

For analyst reactions and market insights, read this in-depth feature from the Jax Daily Record, and to explore the wider industry implications and deal structure, see FXC Intelligence's payments industry analysis.

The local and regional economic impact of this strategic shift underscores Florida's growing status as a national fintech hub.

Tamiami Angel Funds is making waves in climate-tech investment, backing Miami-based Kind Designs with a cumulative $1.55 million to accelerate the deployment of innovative 3D-printed Living Seawalls along Florida's vulnerable coastlines.

These seawalls, created with recycled ocean plastic fibers, are designed to mimic coral reefs and mangroves, boosting coastal biodiversity while improving water quality through embedded sensors that feed a global data network.

The company, currently operating from a 50,000-square-foot facility on the Miami River, has already achieved key milestones, from installing the world's first 3D-printed seawall to securing a $175,000 grant from the U.S. Navy for deployment at a Florida Navy research facility.

As government mandates increase demand for sustainable shoreline protection, Kind Designs stands out for both environmental and commercial impact, with a $10 million sales pipeline and upcoming projects like a 750-acre eco-resort in Bimini, Bahamas.

As Timothy Cartwright, Chairman of Tamiami Angel Funds, remarked,

“Kind Designs' solid business thesis combined with the environmental benefit gives us confidence that the company is on a strong growth trajectory.”

For a deeper dive on the company's sustainable approach and its recent funding momentum, see the full report on Tamiami Angel Funds' latest investment in Kind Designs, details from the Business Observer's coverage of the Naples investor's support for Kind Designs, and more on this eco-innovation at Kind Designs' newsroom.

Investment	Purpose	Key Features
$1.55M from Tamiami Angel Funds	Expand production and projects - including Navy bases & eco-resorts	3D-printed, bio-enhancing seawalls with embedded sensors

Georgia's approach to artificial intelligence in education offers valuable insights for Lakeland schools considering AI integration. In recent months, Georgia colleges have both restricted student use of AI for classwork and, paradoxically, adopted AI-powered systems - like Tassel, which uses a database of 100,000 name pronunciations - to read graduate names at commencement ceremonies, sparking debate and a student petition with over 1,800 signatures protesting the use of synthetic voices on such a personal occasion.

Institutions like the University of Georgia now require instructors to clearly state when AI tools can be used, emphasizing academic honesty and responsible, transparent, and well-documented usage, while Turnitin's AI detectors flag suspicious writing but aren't used in isolation to determine misconduct (Georgia Recorder report on AI graduation voices).

The University System of Georgia mandates that all colleges develop ethical AI policies addressing privacy, academic integrity, and faculty training, with flexibility for individual courses and ongoing instructor-student dialogue (USG Board of Regents Policy Manual: AI in Academics).

Georgia's K-12 guidelines, released in 2025, prioritize AI literacy, data privacy, and support for school districts aiming to craft their own guidelines (AI for Education's state policy round-up).

As summarized by Georgia State's Professor Arun Rai, universities must balance efficiency and technological access with the tradition and personal connection students value:

“Ultimately, commencement should recognize the human stories of resilience, achievement, and growth - an AI tool is only helpful if it respects and enhances that experience.”

The Georgia example illustrates that clear communication, ethical guardrails, and student input are key to responsible campus AI adoption.

Lakeland's transformation into a thriving tech-forward community is unmistakable, as rapid population growth and strategic investments propel the city toward long-term prosperity.

Driven by infrastructure improvements, such as the $25 million Western Wastewater Trunkline and new transportation options via direct Avelo Airlines flights, Lakeland is enhancing both connectivity and quality of life.

The city's commitment to sustainability is evident in clean energy milestones like a state-of-the-art solar partnership near Florida Polytechnic University and innovative microgrid pilot projects approved by the City Commission to further boost reliable, green power.

Economic dynamism continues with Publix's $100 million investment in a technology campus, promising over 1,200 high-wage tech jobs, and revitalized downtown development.

Healthcare leads the way with $2 billion in forthcoming investments and over 5,500 new jobs, underscoring Lakeland's holistic approach to smart growth. Notably, the city is pioneering environmental solutions, such as the introduction of algae-to-biofuel technology at Bonnet Springs Park, which not only combats harmful algal blooms but also produces renewable energy.

As Dan Levy, Vice President at AECOM, states:

“This project demonstrates how we can work with nature to both heal our environment and create sustainable resources. It's not just cleanup - it's transformation.”

For those inspired to join Lakeland's innovative tech ecosystem, Nucamp Bootcamp offers accelerated, flexible pathways into high-demand fields, with details and scholarships available for programs in cybersecurity, full stack development, and more.

To further explore Lakeland's ambitious projects and clean energy leadership, see the city's algae reduction and biofuel initiative and the pioneering microgrid rollout covered in this industry update.

As Lakeland invests across infrastructure, clean tech, and human capital, it cements its place as a model for inclusive community transformation.