Product Futures Summit 2026

Join us for the SCI Product Futures Summit 2026, hosted by Groundswell Startups in collaboration with New World Angels, on February 5, 2026, in Melbourne, Florida.

This half-day summit will bring together founders, investors, engineers, and innovators exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming product design, development, and hardware innovation.

Panel 1: From Idea to Market - Commercialization Strategies for First-Time Founders

How new founders can de-risk product development, validate early, and find fit before scaling.

Panel 2: Beyond Prototyping and Manufacturing - IP, Licensing, and Smart Market Entry

Exploring alternatives to heavy upfront tooling costs: licensing, partnerships, and lean market strategies.

Panel 3: Hardware + AI - Accelerating Design, Prototyping, and Manufacturing

How artificial intelligence is reshaping product design, reducing time-to-market, and enabling new forms of innovation.

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Panel 4: Investor Perspective - What VCs and Angels Really Look For

A candid discussion with active investors on how they evaluate risk, readiness, and return in hardware and AI ventures.

Panel 5: Meet the Angels - Open Networking & Capital Conversations

An interactive session giving founders direct access to angels, VCs, and corporate partners for meaningful conversations and connections.

Learn more: spacecoastinitiative.com/summit

Info: Turning an idea into a market-ready product is rarely a straight line. This session explores practical strategies for validating early, derisking development, and understanding what investors and customers actually want.

Info: Not every great product needs a factory or a full-time company behind it. This discussion dives into how founders can leverage intellectual property, licensing, and strategic partnerships to bring ideas to market efficiently, without massive capital outlay.

Info: AI is reshaping the entire product lifecycle, from concept generation and design optimization to predictive manufacturing. This panel highlights tools, case studies, and methods where hardware innovation meets artificial intelligence.

Info: What makes investors lean in, or walk away, from a hardware or AI startup? Hear directly from active angels and venture investors on how they evaluate technical risk, scalability, and return potential in physical or AI-driven product ventures.

Info: An open-floor networking session where founders can meet active investors and mentors in an informal setting. This session aims to create space for connection, feedback, and new relationships.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Groundswell Startups, 2412 Irwin Street, Melbourne, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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