Who inspires you? Nominations close Sunday, October 25.
Think about the person who answered your late-night question about a bug. The mentor who reviewed your resume before your first tech interview. The founder who hired locally, the teacher who started a coding club, the volunteer who keeps showing up.
That person deserves to be recognized, and right now you can make it happen. Nominations for BOT’s People’s Choice Award close Sunday, October 25. It takes just a few minutes to tell us who they are and why they matter.
Nominate someone now (opens in a new tab).
The People’s Choice Award at a glance
The BOT People’s Choice Award honors one person making a meaningful difference in Central Florida’s tech and entrepreneurship community. Anyone can nominate a founder, mentor, educator, professional, volunteer, or community leader. Nominations close Sunday, October 25, finalists are announced Monday, October 26, and the winner is chosen by live vote at the Brilliance in Orbit gala on November 14.
Who can you nominate for the People’s Choice Award?
You can nominate anyone in the tech community whose work echoes BOT’s mission to help others in Central Florida learn, build, and grow. They don’t need a big title or a famous company. They need real impact.
Strong nominees often include:
- Founders building startups that create jobs and opportunity across Orlando and Central Florida.
- Mentors who guide careers, students, and new developers into tech.
- Educators teaching coding, data, design, or digital skills in classrooms, bootcamps, or libraries.
- Tech professionals who share knowledge, open doors, and lift others as they climb.
- Volunteers who give their time to meetups, hackathons, and community programs.
- Community leaders driving economic development and well-being in their neighborhoods.
If they’ve made Central Florida’s tech community stronger, they belong in the running.
How the People’s Choice Award works: key dates
The process has three steps, and the final say belongs to the people in the room.
- Nominate by Sunday, October 25. Submit your nomination through the online form (opens in a new tab) before the deadline.
- Finalists announced Monday, October 26. We’ll share the finalists with the BOT community.
- Live vote on Saturday, November 14. Gala attendees choose the winner in real time at Brilliance in Orbit.
No panel of judges picks the winner. The community does. That’s what makes this award different.
Why your nomination matters
The people who build Central Florida’s tech ecosystem rarely ask for credit. They’re too busy helping someone land a first job, launch a product, or find their footing in a new career.
A nomination tells them their work was noticed. It also puts a spotlight on the kind of leadership our region needs more of.
When you nominate someone, you’re doing more than filling out a form. You’re helping BOT show what it looks like to empower people to learn, build, and scale in tech.
How to write a strong nomination in 5 minutes
You don’t need to write an essay. A clear, specific story is what makes a nominee stand out.
- Start with who they are. Their name, role, and how they’re connected to the Central Florida tech community.
- Share one specific moment. A person they mentored, a program they launched, a problem they solved.
- Show the ripple effect. How many people did they reach? What changed because of them?
- Say why it matters to you. Personal stories are often the most persuasive.
Frequently asked questions
When do People’s Choice Award nominations close? Nominations close Sunday, October 25. Submit yours before the deadline to make sure your nominee is considered.
Who is eligible for the People’s Choice Award? Any member of the tech community making a meaningful difference in Central Florida is eligible. That includes founders, mentors, educators, professionals, volunteers, and community leaders.
Can I nominate more than one person? Yes, as long as each person meets the award criteria.
When will finalists be announced? Finalists will be announced Monday, October 26.
How is the winner chosen? The winner is chosen by gala attendees through a live vote at Brilliance in Orbit on November 14.
What is Brilliance in Orbit? Brilliance in Orbit is BOT’s gala celebrating 10 years of BOT programming and the people and ideas powering Central Florida’s tech community. If you’d like to be in the room to celebrate, find out more and grab your tickets.
Do I need to be a tech expert to nominate someone? No. Anyone who has seen someone’s impact firsthand can submit a nomination.
Don’t let them go unrecognized
You already know who came to mind while reading this. Take five minutes and tell us about them before nominations close Sunday, October 25.
Then join us at Brilliance in Orbit on November 14, where the people in the room will decide who takes home the People’s Choice Award.
Submit your nomination (opens in a new tab).
Know someone else who should nominate their tech hero? Share this post with your network.