The Tech Pulse Report tells us how our technology economy is growing. The next chapter is understanding how technology is transforming the businesses behind that growth.
Southwest Florida has made important progress in understanding its technology economy. We can measure employment growth, identify emerging industries, and better understand the talent and capabilities our region needs.
But there is another question we haven’t fully answered:
Where is technology already making a measurable difference in Southwest Florida businesses, and what can we learn from those experiences?
It’s a question worth exploring because the answers could help shape our region’s next stage of growth.
What the Numbers Tell Us, and What They Don’t
The SWFL Tech Pulse Report, developed with FGCU’s Regional Economic Research Institute, CareerSource Southwest Florida, and the Lee County Economic Development Office, established an important regional baseline.
Among its findings, employment in core technology industries grew 37.8% between 2019 and 2024. The report also identifies emerging strengths in med-tech, digital services, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and data-enabled industries.
These findings help us understand the size, direction, and potential of our technology economy.
But employment and industry statistics tell only part of the story.
They don’t necessarily reveal how a healthcare organization is using advanced analytics to improve operations, how a manufacturer is benefiting from automation, or how a professional services firm is redesigning work through AI.
Those are the experiences that help us understand how technology creates value across the broader economy.
Why Business Adoption Matters
A 2025 Brookings Institution study identified three interconnected pillars of regional AI readiness: talent, innovation, and business adoption.
The distinction is important. A region’s economic opportunity depends not only on its ability to develop technology and technical talent, but also on how effectively organizations put that technology to work.
For Southwest Florida, this presents an opportunity to learn from innovation occurring across our established industries.
Understanding what businesses are implementing, what challenges they’re overcoming, and what results they’re achieving could help other organizations make better-informed technology decisions.
It could also reveal regional strengths and opportunities that traditional economic indicators don’t fully capture.
From Regional Conversation to Real-World Examples
This need became clear at the March 2026 SWFL Tech Pulse Forum, where participants emphasized the importance of doing a better job identifying and sharing local examples of AI adoption and innovation.
It’s a theme that connects naturally to our Tech Pulse Podcast. Our most recent episode features Jim Dobinski from StellarBlue.ai and explores the region’s ambition around AI adoption, what it can look like in practice, and the value of connecting businesses, educators, and technology organizations to continue to build regional capacity.
For businesses just beginning to explore AI, progress doesn’t have to start with a major investment. Identify one recurring business challenge, test a potential solution, measure the results, and share what you learn. Even small experiments can contribute to a better understanding of technology adoption within a business and/or across the region.
Let’s Bring Southwest Florida’s Innovation Stories to Life
SWFL Tech wants to continue to help make these experiences more visible through our Tech Pulse Podcast, blog, and regional communications.
We’re interested in the business challenges organizations are addressing, the technologies they’re applying, and the results and lessons they’re willing to share.
Are you using AI, automation, data analytics, or other emerging technologies to improve your organization or industry? Do you know a Southwest Florida business doing something worth sharing?
Tell us your story through the SWFL Tech contact form. Your experience could help inform a future podcast conversation or regional spotlight.
The Tech Pulse Report helped us understand where Southwest Florida stands. Now let’s discover what innovation looks like in action, and what we can learn from it.