Lab3 cofounder Kyle Morrand hosted the first-ever meetup of a group in Orlando that will focus on augmented reality and creating a Central Florida group for those working in and enthusiastic about the Metaverse.

AWE Nite Orlando's Metaverse Mixer drew dozens of tech professionals for its first event, which was hosted by Graffiti Junktion in downtown Orlando. The event marked one of the first for Orlando's tech community since the coronavirus pandemic essentially shut down meetups. High-profile technology companies that have been growing their presence in Orlando, such as Unity and Red 6, were represented at the mixer. They attended alongside representatives from smaller tech companies in Central Florida, a goal of Morrand's in creating the group.

In the leadup to the event, Morrand highlighted Orlando's strength in Metaverse-related businesses and industries.

"Healthcare, tourism, simulation, attractions, gaming, and more - Orlando is home to amazing industries that drive their growth and innovation through the use of game engines, XR Hardware, AI and other frontier technologies."

The group has three goals as it develops and establishes a regular meetup:

• Educate on the metaverse and the core technologies that will bring it to life ✨
• Explore practical applications and innovations that our region is well-equipped to build ✨
• Shine a light on all of our wonderful gaming and XR talent that have been building in XR for years ✨

Keep your eye on this site for more.