By Riley Kaminer
About 500 South Floridians strapped in for an out-of-this-world experience at the Levan Center yesterday, as entrepreneurs, investors, and researchers outlined the business opportunities in the space sector.
The Levan Center, a public-private partnership between Nova Southeastern University and Broward County, is an innovation hub based at NSU’s campus in Davie. In an effort to be South Florida’s economic development engine, the Levan Center hosts a wide range of entrepreneur-focused programming. Its 54,000-square-foot facility includes unique tech, such as a cybersecurity range and specialized 3D printers, on top of ample co-working space.
“This vision started six years ago in Miami,” said Levan Center Executive Director and NSU CIO John Wensveen. “I used to get thrown out of many offices when I tried to talk about space and South Florida. But when I moved up here to Broward County, I got nothing but support. The entire community has got behind this to recognize that space is a true opportunity – one that is escalating like no other industry on Earth.”
Broward County Mayor Michael Udine kicked off yesterday’s events by proclaiming October 12th as South Florida Space Day.
“We’re here at the birth of something great,” Udine said of the Levan Center, which opened its doors earlier this year. “I can’t wait to be back here in 10 years to see the companies that started, scaled, and became unicorns here.”
Udine noted that Broward already has skin in the space game, with a variety of aerospace companies being based in the county.
“Broward County is helping the entire space ecosystem,” said Udine. “This is just one more step forward as we move into the future of space innovation, right here at the Levan Center.”
The opportunities for entrepreneurs in space
A common refrain throughout the event was that there are vast business opportunities in the space sector. Crucially, this is not just in the hardtech space. Rather, entrepreneurs across healthtech, agritech, insurtech, and more have the potential to sell their services to an extraterrestrial minded audience, given the wide-reaching nature of the space industry.
For instance: if (when?) space tourism becomes more popular, providers will need to purchase insurance plans. Equally, increased space travel will prompt a need for tech-enabled solutions to provision healthcare while in orbit.
New York Angels founder and Singularity University co-founder David S. Rose is particularly bullish on the space sector. The serial entrepreneur turned investor told the Levan Center’s audience that space is “the frontier beyond frontiers.”
“This is an enormous industry, touching everything from data analysis to communications,” he explained.
While Rose acknowledged that nowadays it’s the major players like Elon Musk who get much of the space innovation-related airtime, that will change going forward. “Everybody will be able to get involved as the technology develops exponentially.”
A spotlight on startups
Already there are a handful of scrappy South Florida startups that have received Rose’s message loud and clear. And a few of them were on display at the Levan Center.
One of these companies was Bifarm, an agritech startup that is now based in the Levan Center.
Founder and CEO/CTO Wanjun Gao presented the company’s solution to fight food scarcity using aeroponics. Bifarm’s proprietary hardware and software enables crops to grow in energy-efficient, modular, soil-free pods.
“The result is a 2x yield using 70% less water and 70% human labor than traditional growing methods,” asserted Gao. Bringing Bifarm’s solution to space would enable travelers to enjoy high quality produce while far away from mother earth. The startup is beginning to commercialize their product, which already has upwards of 100 customers.
Local startup Freezcake has also devised a solution to keep astronauts’ appetites satiated. Founder Jenifer Shwartz presented her frozen cheesecake bites, which she created during the pandemic. “They are portable, lightweight, low-calorie, low-sugar, and come packed with protein,” she said, asserting that they are a perfect companion for your trip to the moon – or even right down the street.
Other local startups in attendance at the event included Fitness at Your Door, which is thinking about how to leverage its personal trainer marketplace to keep astronauts fit, and Sparkseeker, which is pioneering a new generation of social media tools.
South Florida’s role in the space economy
Globally, the space sector is valued at over $460 billion – a figure that investor Rose expects to soon launch into the trillions. A question on participants’ minds: How exactly can South Florida get in on it?
A panel with local economic development executives offered a few answers. Representatives from Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties – plus an FPL executive – shared a two-pronged narrative. First, that we are already a major player. And second, that this is just the beginning.
“South Florida is one of the places in the world where you can do a full tip to tail MRO [Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul process],” acknowledged Matt Chesnut, Vice President of Business & Economic Development at Space Florida. In his opinion, that puts our region in a unique position to excel in the upcoming space race.
James Kohnstamm, the MIami-Dade Beacon Council’s Executive Vice President for Economic Development, said that community leaders will play an important role in bringing South Florida’s space ambitions to fruition.
“Entrepreneurs need connections and financing,” he said. “As economic development leaders, it’s our job to help companies, investors, and founders get connected to each other.”
All photos by Riley Kaminer. At top of post: the Levan Center’s John Wensveen and Broward County Mayor Michael Udine plant the South Florida space flag.
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