Fort Myers Edison Awards spotlight innovation driving Southwest Florida's future

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)—The 39th annual Edison Awards turned into a showcase of emerging technology and innovation in downtown Fort Myers.

The event highlighted how Southwest Florida is positioning itself as a hub for technological advancement. Local business leaders say the goal extends beyond recognition—they want to turn big ideas into real-world change.

"Everyone who was nominated here is solving a problem," said Kyrin Hall, a local business owner. "So that's the starting point."

Hall owns Digital Shortcuts Marketing Agency in Southwest Florida. She said the nomination is humbling, but the bigger opportunity is what can happen when innovators come together.

"One of the greatest things is that you can't innovate in a vacuum," Hall said. "You need to be around other people."

Mark Stevens, president of Stevens Construction, said the technology on display is designed to turn heads. But local business leaders hope it also turns into something more—investment, opportunity, and attention for Southwest Florida.

"It's coming, whether we want it or not, and we need to learn how to adapt and use it to our ability," Stevens said.

He said having forward-facing technology showcased in the community gives Southwest Florida a step ahead of other areas that may not be getting this type of exposure.

"It's building an ecosystem right here in Southwest Florida," Hall said.

Jeb Bush, who helped launch modern Everglades restoration efforts in Florida, said emerging technology could do more than clean up water. He said if it can actually be scaled, it could also make that work cheaper and more effective.

"There are emerging technologies that can be brought to bear to actually clean the phosphorus and clean the other invasive chemicals that go into our water supply," Bush said. "The key, the key, though, is to commercialize it. The chemistry is there, the science is there."

For local business owners, the biggest takeaway may be that Southwest Florida isn't just watching innovation—it's starting to help drive it. Hall said she left the event feeling validated.