Xponential Kick Off Celebration: AUVSI Florida Peninsula Chapter

AUVSI’s XPONENTIAL is broadly thought of the most important, longest operating unmanned car methods convention and exposition within the western hemisphere.  Traditionally, it’s the main occasion the place the movers, shakers, and key influencers within the drone business have gathered to community, lower offers, unveil new options, and develop their consumer base.  However after two years of masks mandates and lockdowns that basically knee-capped the commerce present circuit, XPONENTIAL – like all different main occasions – took a success.

Beginning April 25, XPONENTIAL will return to the Orange County Conference Middle for 4 days of academic programming, keynotes, networking, and enterprise within the exposition corridor.  The Florida Peninsula Chapter of AUVSI (AUVSI Florida) is serving because the official host chapter for this 12 months’s occasion, and so they have one thing very particular deliberate to assist reunite the drone and unmanned car methods business – and jump-start XPONENTIAL 2022 as AUVSI marks it’s 50^th anniversary.

The Biggest Xponential Kick Off Celebration But: We’ll See You There!

The occasion is known as “KO” and the aim is to create a brand new occasion that marks the beginning of XPONENTIAL with an incredible celebration that brings collectively mates, outdated and new, whereas additionally serving to to lift funds for the non-profit mission of AUVSI Florida.  DroneLife Editor Miriam McNabb sat down with AUVSI Florida President Christopher Todd to be taught extra about KO and what is going to make this celebration completely different from different business occasions.

DroneLife: OK, why KO?

AUVSI Florida:  I see what you probably did there – OK-KO – that’s the reason the identify is so enjoyable!  We wished one thing that simply rolled off the tongue and match properly with XPO.  We envisioned having a kick-off celebration that was an actual knock-out occasion, and KO simply naturally got here to thoughts.  So, KO it turned.

DroneLife: (Laughing) Obtained it.  So how will KO be completely different from different business occasions that now we have attended up to now?

AUVSI Florida:  KO is designed to open and kick-off XPONENTIAL moderately than shut it down. We are going to set the tempo for remainder of the week by internet hosting a high-energy, social networking celebration in a relaxed and enjoyable ambiance.  KO will happen on Monday, April 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Topgolf Orlando.  The venue is situated instantly behind the Orange County Conference Middle and proper up the road from the foremost convention lodges.  Attendees can stroll to and from KO in the event that they select.

AUVSI Florida has negotiated a full buyout of Topgolf Orlando, and we’re going to rework the venue right into a three-tiered interpretation of air, land, and sea – the three main domains of unmanned car methods know-how. Every degree at KO will current particular meals and beverage ideas designed to pay homage to each the previous and way forward for the business in celebration of the 50^thanniversary of AUVSI.

DroneLife: However isn’t having an occasion on Monday evening considerably of a danger?  XPONENTIAL is simply getting began at that time.

AUVSI Florida:  We requested ourselves that very same query.  So, in November 2021, we labored with the AUVSI company crew to survey AUVSI members in addition to previous XPONENTIAL attendees to be taught which nights they most popular for networking events.  Monday got here again as the highest ranked alternative.  Primarily based on that info, we began planning KO.  When you concentrate on it, Monday makes excellent sense.  Exhibitors are already on the town establishing on the present ground.  Most attendees are already arriving as a result of the present begins early on Tuesday morning.  On Monday evening, these people will already be in Orlando searching for one thing to do, so we determined to throw them a celebration!

DroneLife: Is KO an official XPONENTIAL occasion?

AUVSI Florida:  Sure, KO would be the official kick-off celebration for XPONENTIAL 2022 in Orlando.  Maybe it’s best to consider it in these phrases; XPONENTIAL is the Tremendous Bowl, AUVSI is the NFL, and AUVSI Florida is the Miami Dolphins internet hosting the Tremendous Bowl in South Florida.  KO is then just like the official Tremendous Bowl Week kickoff celebration hosted by the Miami Dolphins who’re a part of the NFL. Go Dolphins!

DroneLife: Go Pats!  This celebration sounds prefer it may get costly.  How is the AUVSI Florida chapter paying for this occasion?

AUVSI Florida:  At first look, it was a frightening problem.  We’re a Florida-based non-profit group with little or no cash – actually not sufficient to exit and pay for an occasion of this magnitude.  However we additionally realized the distinctive alternative that XPONENTIAL coming to Florida represents.  The convention might not return right here for one more decade, or maybe longer.  We fashioned a planning committee that labored carefully with our board of administrators to assemble sources and form the imaginative and prescient that turned KO.  It was a leap of religion, however one that’s already proving profitable.  We’re seeing an unbelievable response from business sponsors, and now we have began to promote tickets to the occasion.

DroneLife: Do you have already got sponsors lined up for KO?

AUVSI Florida:  Sure, we do, however we wish extra!  We’re extraordinarily happy to announce that Percepto has signed on as the highest sponsor for KO.  Shifting ahead, the occasion will formally be referred to as “KO offered by Percepto.”  We’re additionally delighted to have SMG Delivering Knowledge because the host sponsor for KO’s VIP Lounge, and BRINC Drones because the host of the DRONERESPONDERS Public Security Part – an space designed completely for first responders to mingle and loosen up.

Extra sponsors who’ve signed on to assist the KO embrace Skydio, Virginia Innovation Partnership Company (VPIC), Pointerra, Censys Applied sciences, Florida Energy & Gentle Firm (FPL), the AUVSI Lone Star Chapter, Navmar Utilized Sciences Company (NASC), and others.  And once more, we’re solely simply getting began.

DroneLife: Nicely, it actually appears like you might be off to an amazing begin!  How are potential sponsors reacting to the KO idea?

AUVSI Florida:  Virtually everybody who has spoken to us has signed on.  They love the idea.  They see the worth in taking part in a social networking occasion to kickoff off XPONENTIAL and understand that KO presents a possibility to assist them enhance model consciousness and assist construct relationships on the entrance finish of the occasion to e book appointments and drive extra site visitors to their exhibit sales space on the commerce present ground.

Topgolf is the right venue for KO sponsors and attendees to work together with each other.  Gold-level and better sponsors of KO may have their very own {golfing} bays – like exhibit cubicles – at Topgolf the place they will cling signage, place advertising collateral, work together with attendees, and even host their very own golf contests in the event that they select.  Add in meals, drinks, and reside DJ music, and all of a sudden KO turns into the best networking occasion to kick off XPONENTIAL.

DroneLife: Then KO shall be greater than only a golf celebration?

AUVSI Florida:  Completely.  Don’t get too hung-up on the “golf” a part of Topgolf.  Positive, everybody may have the chance to hit from the tees, play golf, and compete in opposition to the professionals in the event that they need to, however KO is absolutely in regards to the venue, not the golf.  Topgolf is completely situated proper behind the conference middle and really near the lodges.  It’s a coated construction providing ample outside area, recent air, and a rooftop patio the place the DJ shall be enjoying from.  As I discussed, we’re going to rework the three tiers of Topgolf into representations of the air, land, and sea domains of the unmanned car methods business.  We actually couldn’t ask for a greater venue or location to host this occasion.

DroneLife: How a lot are KO tickets and the place can folks buy them?

AUVSI Florida:  Tickets for KO are actually on sale for $75 every at ko.auvsiflorida.org.  That’s the absolute lowest worth you will note for this occasion.  Final week, we allotted a sure variety of tickets in a stealth presale for AUVSI members in Florida, and we nonetheless have a restricted variety of these tickets remaining at that worth.  Costs shall be growing constantly as we get nearer to the occasion.  If any tickets are remaining on the day of the occasion, they are going to be priced at $175 every — however we anticipate to promote out lengthy earlier than that.

DroneLife: What would you say to individuals who suppose Xponential Kick Off celebration tickets are priced on the excessive aspect?

AUVSI Florida:  Nicely, we expect the tickets are priced excellent.  KO is positioned as a VIP-style occasion, designed to reunite all the business after two years of masks and lockdowns.  Every one who attends the KO celebration will obtain complimentary entry to the VIP meals and beverage service together with limitless premium cocktails, beer, wine, and mushy drinks, a particular meals expertise based mostly on the air, land, and sea theme, reside DJ music, limitless Topgolf golf play, and different particular surprises.

Extra importantly, the proceeds generated from the KO celebration shall be used to instantly assist the non-profit missions of AUVSI Florida and the DRONERESPONDERS Florida Public Security Coordination Group (FLOGRU).  AUVSI Florida will use the cash to assist STEM training program and outreach surrounding robotic and unmanned automobiles methods, whereas FLOGRU will use funds generated from the general public security part to instantly assist training and coaching for Florida first responders utilizing Drones for Good.  We consider these are nice missions and we hope that KO attendees and sponsors will take satisfaction in figuring out that they’re serving to to assist these vital endeavors.

DroneLife: What else would you like folks to find out about this occasion?

AUVSI Florida:  Three closing ideas.  First, we expect that is going to be an incredible occasion.  We’re very grateful for the unbelievable assist that now we have acquired to date, and hope that momentum continues by the KO occasion.  We consider it will be important for giant conferences like XPONENTIAL to go away a optimistic affect on the communities the place they’re held.  That’s one thing we actually need to see occur right here in Florida, and hopefully in every XPONENTIAL host area transferring ahead.  We consider the proceeds generated from the KO occasion will assist AUVSI Florida conduct outreach and consciousness packages that can profit our complete business for years to come back.

Second, as talked about earlier, we’d like further sponsors to come back aboard and assist assist the KO occasion on Monday, April 25.  In case you are coming to Orlando to exhibit and/or attend XPONENTIAL, please contemplate supporting KO at whichever degree your group is snug with.  We now have sponsorship packages beginning at $500 as much as $5,000.  Please go to sponsor.auvsiflorida.org for extra details about how your organization or group can get entangled as a sponsor of KO.

And eventually, we would love to say how a lot we admire the wonderful assist that DroneLife has supplied to us, together with the chance to get phrase about KO out to the unmanned car methods neighborhood.  Having robust media companions such as you is crucial to making sure occasions like KO are profitable, so thanks!

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