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InnovationsoftheWorld.com
VOLUME 1
MIAMI Published by
“Minds are like parachutes; they only function when open.” ~ THOMAS DEWAR
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IF YOU WANT TO VISUALIZE THE FUTURE OF A CITY, YOU NEED TO MEET THE ENTREPRENEURS AND INNOVATORS WORKING IN IT TODAY.” RODRIGO RODRÍGUEZ-NOVÁS - PUBLISHING PARTNER
I’ve always been a strong believer that everything in life happens for a reason, and Innovate® Miami reassured me of that philosophy.
GRATITUDE MAKES SENSE OF OUR PAST, BRINGS PEACE FOR TODAY, AND CREATES A VISION FOR TOMORROW.”
Earlier this year, as I was transitioning from a lifetime in the corporate world to the launch of my own company, I was given the opportunity to partner in the publication of Innovate® Miami. The idea of diving into Miami’s innovation ecosystem with the mission to promote it and support the companies within it quickly captivated me; it was without hesitation, that I embarked on one of the most exhilarating chapters of my life.
– MELODY BEATTIE 1
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Thank you to the amazing companies featured in this volume, you made this a book that I’m very proud of! And congratulations to you and your teams, you are building the foundation of the city of the future, one where innovation, sustainability and inclusion will prevail! To my family, especially my wife Marcelle, thank you for the unconditional love, support and patience along this journey. I Love You! Last but not least, thank you to the Global Village World team for all their hard work, dedication, comradery and support; without you this stunning book would not have been possible!
Welcome to Miami ! Miami’s strategic location has made it the capital city of Latin America, which consequently has created one of the most amazing cultures in the world, whether you are looking to live, work or play. In addition to its culture, Miami provides a support system hard to replicate. Strong government support, robust infrastructure, and readily available resources offered by organizations and individuals that support innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainability, are just some of the elements that make Miami a desirable location. It is not surprising that more founders and already established companies are calling Miami “home”. Since talent follows talent, the number of success stories continues to increase, which in tandem attracts more investment and talent from all over the world. This wave, coupled with increased genuine collaboration will elevate Miami’s ecosystem as one of the most relevant in the world! Having witnessed Miami’s transformation over the last two decades, which has been astonishing, I can assure you that the best is yet to come. If you want to visualize the future of a city, you need to meet the entrepreneurs and innovators working in it today, Innovate® Miami will enable you to do that. Happy reading!
P.S - Feel free to share your thoughts and use #InnovateMiami on your social media posts so we can join the conversation.
Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás is the founder and CEO of NORDES Consulting, serves on the Alumni Board of The University of Tampa, and offers mentoring and coaching to students and entrepreneurs. I want to thank Sven Boermeester for leading me to rediscover Miami. Despite living in the city for over 13 years, it became evident that I had been living under a rock! By connecting with the people who are making a difference in my community, shaping the future of my city—and beyond— and by becoming a part of it, Innovate® Miami has allowed me to feel the real essence of the Magic City, and fall in love with it!
Rodrigo holds a double major in Economics and Finance and a double minor in Business Management and European Studies. He has also completed coursework in International Political Economy, Politics of International Trade and programs in Leadership, Project Management (PMP) and Mergers & Acquisitions.
“Make a book that you will feel proud of!” Those were the genuine words of advice from one of our Thought Leaders, whom without knowing shaped this publication and my journey! Thank you, Dr. Amat!
nordesconsulting Rodrigo Rodriguez-Novas 2
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The “Innovate Miami” Team would like to give a special thanks to all the participants and the following companies for their support and assistance in making this project a reality. ®
POWERED
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SFTA
Meet the people that are building a better Miami for tomorrow LOGOTYPE LO G O A N D I CO N V E RSI O N
CONSULTING
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INNOVATE MIAMI: A MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE AND MORE.” ®
Innovate® Miami showcases the best of Miami’s innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Embedded in its pages, you will find augmented reality videos that accompany nearly every feature, and when you use the free GLOBAL VILLAGE AR app, the world of the future will open up before your very eyes.
SVEN BOERMEESTER - FOUNDER / CEO, INTERNATIONAL GROUP PUBLISHER
But “Innovate® Miami” is far more than a tech-enabled publication; it is a multimedia experience centered around the deluxe hardcover coffeetable book you are now holding, which includes AR videos and also an online web platform and multilevel social media networking. Online, the full e-book will be viewed in the millions through the InnovationsoftheWorld.com online library. This publication aims to celebrate those involved in the Miami ecosystem, but it is also meant for all business leaders and decision-makers who can effect change in their industries throughout Europe and throughout the world. We publish Innovate® Miami for the open-minded folk who want to know more about the exciting changes that have recently transpired in the Miami ecosystem, and who play or want to play an active role in its growth and development. This inaugural edition of Innovate® Miami is just part of a global series. We are currently launching volumes in cities throughout the GlobalVillage.world publishing partnership network. By experiencing Innovate® Miami, you are part of our Global Village network, and we are happy to have you. I trust you will join us as we continue the journey of the Innovate® series. Sven Boermeester Founder/CEO International Group Publisher
Callie Van Graan Global Village COO
Brian Kornfeld Synapse Florida State Publishing Partner
Belinda van Graan Project Manager
CONSULTING
Sarah Nieman Production Manager
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Meghan Tear Percy Managing Editor
Ravi Handve Art Direction and Design
JR Griggs Web Development Partner
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CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
THOUGHT LEADERS
FUTURE CITIES
ASSOCIATIONS & COUNCILS
SOCIAL INNOVATION
ARTS & CULTURE
EDUCATION
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CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
FOOD & BEVERAGE
EVENTS
NETWORKING & MEDIA
MARKETING, ADVERTISING & PUBLIC RELATIONS
CO-WORKSPACES
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INNOVATIONS OF THE WORLD
CONTENTS
International Group Publisher: Sven Boermeester Global Village Chief Operating Officer: Callie Van Graan
Publishing Partner: Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás Nordes Consulting
Editing & Production: Meghan Tear Percy Sarah Nieman
Project Managers: Sarah Nieman Belinda Van Graan
Research & Selection: Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás Sven Boermeester Callie Van Graan Meghan Tear Percy
Art Direction & Design: Ravi Handve
Email: info@globalvillage.world www.GlobalVillage.world Copyright© Global Village Ventures LLC INNOVATE® is a registered trademark of Global Village Ventures LLC ISBN: 978-1-949677-09-6 Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in ‘INNOVATE® Miami’ vol 1. Neither ‘INNOVATE® Miami’, Global Village Ventures, nor Nordes Consulting assume any responsibility for errors or omissions. All rights reserved: No part of this publication shall be reproduced, copied, transmitted, adapted or modified in any other form or by any means. This publication shall not be stored in whole or in part in any form in any retrieval system without written consent from the publisher.
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CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
GREEN-TECH & SUSTAINABILITY
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & GAMING
FINTECH
HEALTHCARE
PRODUCT & SERVICES INNOVATION
SPORT & WELLNESS
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CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING
TECHNOLOGY CONSULTING
HR & STAFFING
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INCUBATORS, ACCELERATORS & MENTORS
FUNDERS & INVESTORS LEGAL & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC...
DOWNLOAD THE GLOBAL VILLAGE AR APP TO VIEW 100 AUGMENTED REALITY VIDEOS IN THIS BOOK! To experience the future of print, download the Global Village AR App from the IOS or Android App stores. Open the App and hold it about 30cm above any page that contains an image with the “play” Icon.
Make sure your back camera is pointing at the page. Click the Play button that appears onscreen and immerse yourself in the latest updated content with reference to that page.
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THOUGHT LEADERS
“You can expect no influence if you are not susceptible to influence.” ~ CARL JUNG
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“IF WE WANT TO CREATE A MIAMI THAT’S HERE FOREVER, AND THAT’S HERE FOR EVERYONE, THEN WE’VE GOT TO INVEST IN THE KINDS OF INDUSTRIES THAT WILL BE AROUND FOR TOMORROW.” —MAYOR FRANCIS X. SUAREZ
Under my administration and alongside Miami’s commissioners, we have supported organizations committed to promoting entrepreneurial growth including eMerge Americas, 500 Startups, and Miami WIN Lab. We’re doing everything we can in the City to support scale-ups and tech businesses as well that are propelling us into the future. One of our latest initiatives, revealed at the Endeavor Miami 2019 Gala, reflects this commitment. If we want to create a Miami that’s here forever, and that’s here for everyone, then we’ve got to invest in the kinds of industries that will be around for tomorrow. Today, because of technology and the fluidity of capital, people can live where they want to live instead of following an industry to its origin. They don’t have to be in New York to get into stocks, and they don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to get into tech. When people can choose, why wouldn’t they choose Miami? There’s a reason that Amazon listed us in the Top 20 cities under consideration for its HQ2. We’re famous for our weather, but what many don’t know is that we punch above our weight; there are only about 600,000 people in the city proper, about 2.8 million in the county, and about 6 million in the tri-county region. We’re much less populated than people think—but that has not stopped Miami from being named one of the top upcoming tech startup markets by Sound Ventures. Others are starting to see what we in Miami already know: the city is a perfect place for entrepreneurs. From a governmental commitment to supporting a culture of innovation to our excellent coworking spaces, any company looking to grow will be at home here. And if you need help or advice on starting a business, please reach out to me through email or on social media. Really. (Someone asked me once if by saying that, I meant for them to reach out to me every time there was a new building development in the city, and I said, “YES.”) I’m here for local business owners to pick my brain. I work for them.
Innovation and a knowledge-based economy have to be at the forefront of industry in every city in the world. In Miami, we’re doing as much as possible to foster innovation, starting with the government itself. In the U.S., we’re number one for job creation, for startups, and for small-business growth. We’re number five in the nation in population growth. To sustain these accomplishments, I’m working to ensure the government provides a wealth of resources and does not become an obstacle to our entrepreneurs and growing businesses.
Miami offers access to so many different parts of the world, not just to Latin America. We can be a global entry and launching point—and we are on our way. To bolster this aspect of Miami, I’ve created the Mayor’s Council on Global Competitiveness. If setting up Miami to be a stronger global competitor is as important to you as it is to me, then please reach out. I look forward to working with you.
One way we’re doing so is with the City’s Electronic Plan Review (ePlan). It allows residents, contractors, and developers to do everything they need to submit a permit or a plan entirely online—even from their cell phones. Residents can start their businesses online instantly and affordably. In addition, we’ve created a favorable tax environment by lowering taxes to the second-lowest level in 55 years.
FrancisSuarez FrancisXSuarez francissuarez fsuarez@miamigov.com
Of equal importance is the way we’re supporting our innovation community.
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INNOVATION IN EDUCATION TAKES THE FORM OF RICH, POWERFUL, EXPLOSIVE CHOICE.” —ALBERTO CARVALHO, SUPERINTENDENT, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS In education, innovation is about ensuring that today’s students emerge from the educational process with a critical skill set that empowers them to work in diverse teams, enables them to reason through complex issues, and imparts upon them the emotional resiliency to enter a reality that is changing faster than ever before—one that will continue to accelerate. For us here in Miami, innovation in education takes the form of rich, powerful, explosive choice. Education becomes personalized to each student and it is adapted to each student. Miami-Dade County Public Schools offer 1,000 choice options for students—anything from fine and performing arts to robotics to STEM programs and cybersecurity, AI, and more. These choices exist alongside liberal arts and dual-language programs, too. I am an American by choice, not by chance. And so in the immigrant community like mine, it is my rule to be an empowerer of those who will arrive after me, whether they were born here, brought here, or immigrated here. And the way to do that in a community with vastly diverse demographics and a significant level of poverty is to really decode the means by which you reach every learner. We are the fourth largest school district in the country, and through the power of choice, we have still managed to become a one-size-fits-none; each child has the opportunity to seek the program that most excites them. Twothirds of our students are exercising that choice, and it has required a huge investment in adaptive technology. We seek a one-to-one digital device to student ratio and to place advanced digital content in the hands of every single student. Coupled with wifi in every single environment, and over 13,000 classrooms with interactive, next-generation Blackboards—we’re giving our students porous connectivity between school and home.
by the State of Florida at the highest level as an A district. For three years, there have been no failing schools in Miami-Dade; 99% are rated A, B, or C. We are the number one district in the country for 4th-grade reading and for college-level preparation. We are second in the country for mathematics.
Relationships and partnerships with communities are vital to building a school environment like this. We’ve done great collaborative work with boards and with every stakeholder in the area. When we didn’t have enough money to deliver on our promises to our students, we went to our community and put something on the ballot—and they’ve rewarded us by agreeing to higher taxation because they believe in the value of the education we’re providing. M-DCPS has proven that when you line up your resources, develop your plans, execute them with high fidelity, and put your job on the line—if that is required in terms of achieving those goals— then the community will reward you for living up to the task that you had laid out.
Pushing for reform and innovation in education is not easy. There are many communities to consider—parents, taxpayers, businesses, the political community—and whether through apathy or resistance, they can make change more difficult. What is comfortable for adults is not always best for children. But I have found that the best way to remove the obstacles to your goals is to prove your worthiness to the community. Deliver results and those will translate into support for the next step of the reform you’re working for.
M-DCPS proves the power of determination. When I became superintendent 11 years ago, there were dozens of low-performing schools in our district. Graduation rates were at 56% and only about 30% of students were enrolled in our choice programs. Today it’s close to 70% and the graduation rate approaches 90%. We are, two years in a row, rated
M-DCPS, 1450 NE 2nd Ave. Miami, FL, 33132 305-995-1000 dadeschools.net
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INNOVATION IS KEY TO RESILIENCE.” —JIM MURLEY, CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY From my experience as a public servant, innovation is key to building resilience in a community. Innovation forms the basis of the solutions we need for the issues of today and tomorrow. For Miami-Dade County, those issues are very real, from sea level rise and stronger hurricanes to income inequality and lack of affordable housing. The County, like many other coastal communities around the world, is confronted with irrefutable information and scientific data that indicates a need to plan for a future with long-term climate change. This generation and the next will face a different set of environmental conditions than we see now, and the landscape will continue to change over time. Of course, there are things we know how to manage and to prepare for. We know how to prepare for hurricanes. We know the timing and magnitude of high tides. We have built elaborate systems over decades to manage flooding events. The problem is that each of those systems assumes a set of conditions that, over the coming years, are going to change radically. We need innovative ideas now—from our resident scientists at our world class universities, from global experts from other coastal cities—so that we aren’t surprised by those new conditions and so that we can provide some level of predictability to our community. There are new and exciting innovations every day, and it is our job as leaders to connect cutting edge technologies with real world challenges. As public servants, we are tasked with being good stewards of tax dollars. We have to make decisions based on the best information we have and work to protect the best interest of our residents. Innovation is at the heart of creating smarter and more resilient communities that can bounce not only back from a shock or a stress but, bounce forward. We can’t do this alone, it will take support from every part of our community working together to face our challenges as one Resilient305. Living in South Florida has always meant accepting a certain level of vulnerability. In fact, the land here was so inhospitable that at the time of the California Gold Rush, not a single developer was looking at Miami. It was a swamp, but innovative engineering and resilient people started adjusting the level of water to the land, making the region habitable. We did such a good job that now a few million people live here and about 12 million people per year visit. We don’t need to do a better job of maintaining the land; we need to do a different job. I always tell people that Miami-Dade County will not look the same 100 years from now—just as 100 years ago, it was completely different too. Federal support will help us to build out these plans and programs, but I feel it takes local insight to design them in the first place. The existence of my position as a Chief Resilience Officer demonstrates the County’s commitment to cultivating that insight, and to facing our region’s resilience challenges head-on.
The challenges we’ll face will be daunting, but we know that they are coming. To broaden our perspective, we participated in 100 Resilient Cities, a Rockefeller Foundation initiative that gave us the opportunity to connect with our peers in 99 other cities across the globe. Based on our collaboration with them and hundreds of local stakeholders, we’ve built a resilience strategy that we’re already implementing in partnership with the cities of Miami Beach and Miami that positions us as a leader in innovative applications of resilience principles.
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SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ADOPT A CULTURE OF TRANSPARENCY.” —DR. SUSAN AMAT, CEO & FOUNDER, VENTUREHIVE
and they don’t engage the people through the validation or development process. One way to fix this is to have HR—which really should be Talent Resources —partner with the company’s CFO in order to invest in talent development, to establish short-, medium-, and long-term goals, and to document the resulting ROI not just in new revenue but in recruitment, retention, and dozens of engagement to productivity metrics across the board. You should see what happens when companies make it about the people in this way—when their own internal innovation programs reflect a commitment to empowering their employees and not just gathering ideas. It enables their employees to develop opportunity recognition and to learn the skills to communicate new ideas with a full business case. The company’s goals shift from building good ideas to asking, “How can we develop our people to be able to build ideas and disrupt our own assumptions from within?” When you make your people confident that they’re not going to be replaced when a new product or team is acquired, let alone with robots or automation, then everyone is more willing and able to promote new ideas and adopt new ways of doing things. Employees need to know that when they offer more value at a certain multiple than what they are paid, and help create a culture for growth, they will not be replaced. Employers need to reinforce that if an employee offers value aligned to strategy, then they’ll keep offering value in a new role. The employee—to everyone’s benefit—becomes an asset for the future.
To a lot of people, innovation is a very fuzzy word. Sometimes it’s used to describe any kind of change, and I think it’s dangerous when we don’t take the time to define and put metrics to it to have clarity. You have to know when you’ve achieved the intended results.
Companies with clarity about their own strengths and weaknesses, with cultures that allow for greater transparency, are moving from simply buying up the best ideas to creating conditions to generate and execute valuable ideas internally. Many times, companies don’t prioritize knowledge-sharing and so their full, unique synergies across departments go untapped. They think they need to acquire another company that has an idea they like— but often the acquisition dissolves the atmosphere in which that idea was created and what made the new product successful (and a valuable acquisition target) in the first place.
Beyond a measurable goal, innovation is anything that adds value to a company. It may be a new product or service, but innovation flows most freely through companies where everyone can contribute meaningfully. Processes must be in place so that new offerings can be reviewed easily and their goals assessed for clear metrics—not simply to increase the bottom line but so that all employees actually understand what the company’s goals are. Miami’s own future innovation depends on the same, very simple concept of having a culture of accountability and transparency. Companies that have adopted a culture of clarity have clear goals, numbers attached to those goals, and a commitment to providing feedback on their employees’ ideas—feedback that comes from a place of empowering their people to be creative and take chances.
As our community moves into 2020 and the next decade, I’m hoping that we can build these people-first systems for ourselves so that the world can see the true—and truly international—opportunities that Miami offers as the epicenter for solutions with unparalleled data and customer focus. With the diversity and global perspective the incredible talent in South Florida has we will be an unstoppable force!
One of the biggest tragedies of corporate America and innovation is that there is, in many places, an emphasis on an isolated but super-cool innovation team that is the lone decider of whether an idea is good or bad. Other employees can submit ideas—often as experts in their area or department—but they are left without feedback on their ideas. Or if the super-cool innovation team decides to use the idea, it’s only about the idea,
Biltmore Hotel - Corporate 1200 Anastasia Ave #216 Coral Gables, FL, 33134 info@VentureHive.com 12
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AS WE CONTINUE FORTIFYING OUR TECH-CENTRIC STRATEGY AND DIVERSIFYING BUSINESS INDUSTRIES LOCALLY, THERE IS STILL ROOM TO DO MORE, AND I BELIEVE TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS THE KEY TO MIAMI’S CONTINUED PATH TO SUCCESS.” — NITIN MOTWANI, MANAGING PARTNER OF MIAMI WORLDCENTER ASSOCIATES TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT Downtown Miami is experiencing one of the most dynamic urban reinventions in the world. Less than 10 years ago, Downtown was a 9-to-5 business district, but today businesses are launching and thriving, city streets are populated around-the-clock, parks and cultural venues now occupy land that sat vacant for decades, and investments are pouring in. More than the gateway to Latin America, Miami today is fertile ground for technology firms and startups thanks to strategic efforts and investments by organizations like the Miami Downtown Development Authority, the Beacon Council, the Knight Foundation, Visa and others to lure them here. It hasn’t been a hard sell. With warm weather year-round, advantageous tax rates, favorable demographics, an improved transit system, cultural diversity, a wellness-centric lifestyle, the highest concentration of cultural institutions in the Southeast, a booming foodie scene with locally grown culinary talent, and nationally recognized yearly events, Miami’s urban core has seen an uptick in the number of technology businesses opening in the region.
Adjacent to Virgin Trains’ terminal, Miami Worldcenter is the largest transit-oriented development in the Southeast U.S. When our 27-acre development is completed, it will not only serve as a ‘city within a city’ with multiple residential towers, retail, a signature office building, hotels and convention facilities, but will also function as Miami’s version of Grand Central station – Virgin Trains, Metrorail and Metro Mover all converging in one location. Virgin Trains’ terminal, Virgin Miami Central, will also bring TriRail to Downtown, which connects more than two dozen cities along the I-95 corridor. Underscoring the shift we are seeing from dependency on cars towards mass transit, three of the buildings planned for Miami Worldcenter – two residential towers and a hotel – will be built without any dedicated parking. Our team has created an urban plan that puts pedestrians first with promenades that will be destinations in their own right, connecting our residents and visitors to various transit options, retail, entertainment, arts and culture venues like Museum Park and even colleges. While we’ve allotted for parking throughout Miami Worldcenter, everything is integrated within our site with the goal of getting people out of their cars and on their feet. Nitin Motwani has served as the Managing Partner of Miami Worldcenter Associates since 2006. In this role, he has already delivered on more than $ 1 billion of the $4 billion mixed-use real estate project, located in the heart of downtown Miami, Florida. Encompassing 27 acres of retail, residential, office and hotel uses, Miami Worldcenter is the largest urban development project underway in Florida. Mr. Motwani is responsible for every facet of the project, including land acquisition, zoning and entitlements, financing (public and private), joint ventures and development. An active member of the greater South Florida business community, Mr. Motwani is a member of the board of the Miami Downtown Development Authority where he serves as co-chair of the agency’s Enterprise committee; co-chair of The Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s One Community One Goal Initiative; serves as the advisory board chair of the Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism program (MRED+U) at the University of Miami; and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
For example, 500 Startups, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist firm with approximately half a billion dollars in investments globally, just celebrated its one-year anniversary in Miami. They came here to discover and back talented entrepreneurs in the region, connect them with resources and expertise and help build a diverse tech ecosystem. As we continue fortifying our tech-centric strategy and diversifying business industries locally, there is still room to do more, and I believe transit-oriented development is the key to Miami’s continued path to success. In a recent survey of tech talent, Miami ranked 48th out of the top 50 U.S. cities, but when combined with Fort Lauderdale’s pool of tech talent, South Florida ranks 15th nationally. And while Floridians have been raised as inherently car-dependent, South Florida’s companies and workers cross geographic boundaries all the time. With the opening of Virgin Trains (formerly Brightline), the region’s first higher-speed passenger rail service connecting the tri-county area, we’ve now exponentially expanded our workforce access while giving them more options of where they can live, work and play.
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WHY NOT TRY?”
—MITCHELL KAPLAN, FOUNDER, BOOKS & BOOKS
What I do isn’t just about selling books—it’s about creating spaces and events that bring authors and audiences together. I was in college when I first imagined opening a bookstore. I had discovered that at the center of most literary movements of the twentieth century, a bookstore was involved. In the 1910s, Sylvia Beach owned and operated Paris’ Shakespeare and Company, and it was a gathering place for English-language expats post–World War I. Shakespeare and Company gave them—the Lost Generation—a voice. It even published James Joyce’s Ulysses. In New York City later in the century came the marvelous Gotham Book Mart, owned and operated by Frances Steloff, who fought the great censorship battles of the day. She also brought in the likes of DH Lawrence and European literary magazines to showcase some of the great writing that was happening all over the world. In the ’50s with the rise of the beat generation came City Lights in San Francisco, founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
to enliven downtown Miami, we were able to organize a much larger book fair.
These places were more than bookstores; they were centers of gravity. They were their own communities. They gave me the notion that literary culture was really, really important.
The first book fair lasted for two days, brought in seventy authors, and it was a smashing success. We started with the same format we have now—a street fair for publishers and talks by authors. Today, the Miami Book Fair is eight days long and brings over 250 authors and thousands of visitors. It’s one of the few community-wide events in Miami that everyone comes to, all the disparate groups in this town. And it’s all done through literature and wanting to meet writers and to see their books.
When I opened Books & Books in 1982, it was in a golden age of independent bookselling. Over 50% of all books sold were sold through independent bookstores. There was no Amazon—there wasn’t even the Internet. What there were thousands of English majors like me who didn’t know what to do, so they opened bookstores. (I’m only being partially facetious when I say that.)
I love being able to say that the Miami Book Fair hasn’t been the only spinoff of my desire to honor literary culture. Because of the Internet, there are other ways to do it: through podcasts, through film and television adaptations. When opportunities like these are presented, I always ask myself, “Why not? Why not try?” When I think of what all of this is for—the bookstore, the podcast, the movie production, the fair—it’s for cultivating the next generation of readers. It makes the question “Why not?” impossible to answer.
But eventually, mega bookstores and the Internet and Amazon did come along. They changed the landscape of bookselling, but they could not compete with what bookstores can provide: a rallying point for a community, especially through events. That led me to co-found the Miami Book Fair along with Dr. Eduardo Padrón. It actually began as The Coral Gables Festival of Books & Writers—a mini book fair. I had been to book fairs in New York and Boston, and I always wanted to have a festival in Miami. Thanks to Dr. Padrón and his vision
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MIAMI’S WORLD-CLASS TECH ECOSYSTEM IS READY FOR SCALE.” – JARET L. DAVIS, CO-MANAGING SHAREHOLDER, MIAMI OFFICE OF GREENBERG TRAURIG P.A.
What has made Miami such a great environment for growing a startup culture is its strong entrepreneurial ethos and the lack of restrictions. It’s the kind of place where if you have an idea, no one is going to tell you it can’t be done. Over the last 20 years, I have enjoyed working alongside many who have laid the groundwork for putting Miami’s tech ecosystem on the global technology stage. Now, we are ready to take it to the next level, as several of our top tech entrepreneurs have embarked on multiple rounds of creating transformative technologies and thriving businesses. Consider the following South Florida success stories: Manny Medina founds IT infrastructure and cloud provider, Terremark Worldwide, Inc. in Miami and sells it to Verizon in 2011 at a $2 billion enterprise valuation. He then forms the private equity consortium that in 2017 utilizes a $3 billion acquisition to create Cyxtera Technologies of Coral Gables, one of the world’s largest providers of secured IT infrastructure. Rony Abovitz co-creates Mako Surgical, a leader in robotic-assisted surgery, which is sold to Stryker for $1.65 billion in 2013. He then creates Magic Leap, an augmented reality provider in Plantation that becomes one of the most talked-about technology companies in Silicon Valley. Marcelo Claure creates Brightstar Corporation in Miami, the world’s leader in wireless distribution and services, and sells it to Sprint in 2013 for a multi-billion-dollar valuation. He becomes executive chair of Sprint and CEO of Softbank International in 2013. This year, he announced the creation of Softbank’s $5 billion Innovation Fund with a focus on Latin America, based out of Miami and São Paulo. Online pet retailer Chewy.com in Dania Beach sells to PetSmart in 2017 for $3.35 billion, which at the time was the largest-ever acquisition of an e-commerce business; HR software creator Ultimate Software of Weston sells to a private equity firm in 2019 for $11 billion; and Miami’s newest unicorn, IT management software provider Kaseya VSA, raises $500 million, giving the company a $2 billion valuation.
Bringing together Miami’s successful entrepreneurs, capital resources, and the strong academic community, we have the three tiers of the stool we need to accelerate the ecosystem’s continued growth. As an integral part of the plan to keep growing Miami’s global prominence, we at Greenberg Traurig are ready to help write the next chapter of our city’s tech ecosystem success story. Jaret focuses his corporate and securities legal practice on domestic and crossborder mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and large financings. For over a decade, he has led Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office and helped spearhead the firm’s efforts to be a dominant player in the global technology industry. With the strong belief that startups and Miami’s established companies need to interact to succeed and grow, Jaret established the Connect & Grow initiative several years ago when serving as chair of the Beacon Council. The program is designed to accelerate the growth of existing companies and incubate disruptive ideas by connecting startups with strategic players who can provide capital and contacts.
One or two of these stories could be dismissed as anomalies. Having this many represents a trend of success for Miami and South Florida’s tech startups. There is something special happening here.
Jaret also brokered the partnership between Startupbootcamp, the leading accelerator in Europe, and Miami Children’s Health Systems, whose board he chairs. This led to the launch in 2016 of a program specifically designed to bring top digital health startups to Miami, which has resulted in the city’s becoming a hub for healthcare technology businesses.
To accelerate this scaling and momentum, we need to source new talent and effectively deploy the significant capital Miami and South Florida have at their disposal. We also need additional external sources of capital, which includes more integration of global Super Angels. These are the investors in early stage technology ventures who are more than simply writing a check. In addition to cash, they bring sophistication, insight, and connections. Miami’s history of impressive startups boasting massive exits makes this community an attractive proposition for them.
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MIAMI IS BECOMING A HEALTHTECH INNOVATION HUB.” KATE BLACK, SHAREHOLDER, GREENBERG TRAURIG, P. A.
Miami has a singularly scrappy, entrepreneurial spirit, making it well situated to become a regional technology hub that plays a vital role in connecting the global economy – especially in healthcare, life sciences, and consumer wellness. The work being done in our backyard today will likely one day make a tremendous impact on the quality of our everyday lives.
write computer programs that generate art, while highlighting the need for more gender and racial diversity in computer science. Babson’s Women Innovating Now (WIN) Venture Lab, where I serve as an advisor, provides an equally important and complementary expertise to the Miami tech ecosystem by fostering female founders. This program offers women entrepreneurs a five-month residency and the road map, expertise, inspiration, and community support to succeed in growing their business.
I am passionate about applying my experience to Miami’s nascent health technology ecosystem in the belief that I can be a part of its continued success. By helping to connect our healthcare and life sciences tech companies to experienced innovators in Silicon Valley and regulators in Washington, D.C., I can provide the crucially important links that help them grow. My ability to create these links derives from my time with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where I worked on health technology adoption, interoperability, and governance. Later, at 23andMe, I helped build the company’s consumer privacy function to enable its growth into a multi-billion-dollar company.
Every day, Miami continues to grow into a hub for healthcare, life sciences, and consumer wellness companies. As we continue to leverage our resources, I’m excited to be a part of Miami taking its place as a top global leader in health technology. About Kate Black: Kate joined Greenberg Traurig’s Data Privacy, Healthcare, and Technology practices in 2019. She regularly advises consumer technology, health, and life sciences companies on data protection and use strategy to advance innovative models of healthcare research and delivery, and consumer health and wellness applications.
Building these connections in Miami is something I particularly enjoy, as I know that ultimately, they will benefit our city, its people, and the region. Another important step in Miami’s tech growth includes training a diverse, tech savvy workforce. I believe early education is key, which is why I volunteer with Code/Art, a Miami-based nonprofit, that uses art as an onramp to teach coding to girls in grades 4-12. Code/Art and its CodeHER clubs hold community workshops and events to teach students how to
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WHATEVER YOUR BACKGROUND, IT CAN BE A PATHWAY TO A TECHNOLOGY CAREER.” —JOHANNA MIKKOLA, FOUNDER & CEO, WYNCODE No product, service, or experience can be built, marketed, or executed without the use of technology. Today, every industry is a technology industry. Even Domino’s Pizza calls itself “a tech company that sells pizza.” Our opportunities for employment reflect this fact. At this moment, there are around 500,000 computing jobs available. By next year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.4 million technology jobs will be open—but only 400,000 Americans will graduate with computer science degrees to fill those jobs. That will leave a projected 1 million technology jobs to be filled. There is no quick way to bridge this gap because the only sustainable way to bridge the gap is by taking the time to educate, train, and hire locally. We must invest in and prioritize building a sustainable tech ecosystem within our city. It starts with developing talent among those who already live here because they understand the problems their city faces and so are uniquely equipped to help solve them. If we don’t focus on cultivating local talent, then we’ll be stuck continually poaching from other companies and markets because demand far exceeds the supply. Businesses need a modern lens through which to identify talent. It’s essential, and it boils down to this: every background can be a pathway to a technology career. A computer science degree is no longer a meaningful indicator of who will make a good software developer. Companies like Google and Apple no longer require a computer science degree for technical roles. When you replace a focus on past experience with a focus on an individual’s characteristics and actual work you’ll see the good hires standing right in front of you. Someone will have to pay for such employees’ training—but it’s good business for your company to pay for this. Building a pipeline of solid talent, specifically trained to your needs and culture, is a great business decision— even if there is a risk of an employee leaving for another job. As an employer, you create a culture of professional development and onboarding process to identify and develop exactly the people you need. But perhaps most important of all is hiring for a gender-diverse team. Make your creators, builders, and developers of our products and services reflect the people that use those products and services. According to Deloitte, 85% of all consumer purchases are made by women. The workforce in the US is 47% female—yet only 12% of engineers are women, and they remain underrepresented in tech jobs. Currently, only 14–18% of computer science graduates are women.
a stronger business, because such products and services generate stronger revenue, and they foster a healthier, more inclusive workplace. By educating, training and hiring locally your company will do better because your products, your culture, and your team will be better.
McKinsey & Co., for example, points out that companies in the top quartile for diversity are more likely to have financial returns above national industry medians.
2650 NW 5th Ave Miami, FL, 33127 Wyncode Academy wyncode wyncode.co
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“DON’T THINK LOCAL. THINK GLOBAL & THINK BIG.” — JORGE RUIZ, FOUNDER & CEO, FINCONECTA
Innovation itself has evolved. It used to be that you could create something, patent that something, and it would serve its purpose until a new and superior product came along and replaced it. Now, innovation is not just about solving a problem that hasn’t been solved before; it is an evolving question of, “How can I become better at what I am doing?” Innovation is about pivoting in a way that’s fast enough to both respond to changes in your environment and to ensure that your competition cannot keep up. It’s about maintaining a first-mover advantage, and leveraging what’s out there—not reinventing the wheel. I think of Elon Musk’s Hyperloop One. It wasn’t about capitalizing on the concept; it was about innovating innovation itself (in this case with an open-source design and software).
side. Having someone who leaves you time to think, to create, to talk to clients, to innovate, to pivot, will help you keep scaling as your top priority. In addition to that kind of support, surround yourself with good mentors. Always seek to create and maintain connections with people who know more than you, who really listen to your ideas. The opportunity to talk with someone like that is always phenomenal.
That sort of thinking, the kind that changes a landscape, is what I have in mind when I say think big. Don’t think of Latin America, don’t think of Africa—think about how you can build something that is truly global.
It is our networks that help us to succeed in Miami and far beyond. In that vein, as we move forward, we should focus on what we can do to build up Miami’s ecosystem in a deeper way. In Fintech, for example, we have plenty of companies in the industry but we do not have a Fintech association yet.
With my advice to think big—to think globally—I still have Miami in mind. This is a great city to build a company. The quality of life here is high, and Miami is a safe city. Also, if you’re coming from Latin America, you feel right at home! No matter their origin, there are many ways for companies to succeed in Miami’s ecosystem, especially as startups. Becoming an Endeavor entrepreneur is one way. You do have to be invited to apply, but it is a robust resource for those looking to build flexible, global companies that tackle big issues around the world.
As people of Miami, we have cultivated a regional-global mentality in the sense that businesses based here are actually conducting business all over the world. We are in a position to fully participate in markets that are becoming increasingly global and porous. Our regional-global mentality makes us unique; let’s use it well.
My advice is to be flexible, be ready to change, and to stay focused on largescale issues with a significant impact. The bigger the market that you’re part of, the more crucial this becomes. Having a strong COO can help you maintain that focus. They should be someone you can trust and who can carry your burden in terms of taking care of the numbers, the legal work, and anything else that may be of extreme importance on the operational
FinConecta finconecta.com
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IT TAKES A VILLAGE: RAISING A SUCCESSFUL STARTUP COMMUNITY IN MIAMI.” —RAUL MOAS, KNIGHT FOUNDATION MIAMI DIRECTOR As someone with a 2-year-old, I can’t help but notice that building an entrepreneurial ecosystem and raising a child have a lot in common. There’s no instruction manual; each has its own unique needs, strengths and weaknesses; you love watching it grow, but its unpredictability can drive you crazy. I’d argue the Miami startup community is a teenager: coming into its own, full of promise, and trying to figure out what it wants to be. At Knight, our goal has been and continues to be working collaboratively to nurture this burgeoning community into a self-sustaining, world-class innovation economy—a productive, independent adult, if you will. Since 2012, Knight Foundation has invested more than $30 million in advancing Miami’s startup community by connecting innovators, attracting investment and growing the city’s talent base. This support has helped drive Miami’s transformation: evolving from a city where you just want to plan a vacation (though that still holds true) to a city where many are growing world-class companies. Our early bets have helped connect a once fragmented ecosystem. Coworking and innovation hubs including the LAB Miami and the Idea Center, and events such as Black Tech Week and eMerge Americas, have given our community the physical space to come together. We were also able to bring new mentorship and funding opportunities to the city with the local launches of Endeavor Miami, 500 Startups, Miami Angels, and Babson College’s Women Innovating Now. Examples of Miami’s growth and success are easy to spot: Earlier this year, South Florida tech company Ultimate Software was acquired for $11 billion; younger companies such as Neocis, Addigy and Papa are thriving; and the city continues to attract the attention of new investors and innovators alike. The potential is palpable. At the same time, we recognize the need to target some of our earlier efforts, translating the momentum and activity we are now seeing into intentional impact that will sustain Miami’s growth as an innovation hub into the future. With our startup community reaching adolescence, it’s time to take stock of Miami’s progress — the successes, the struggles and, most importantly, where we go from here.
of Farelogix and eBuilder). And, we saw that some of the largest, most established companies (think Visa, Lennar, Carnival and Watsco) are building impressive innovation and venture teams right here in our city. But one finding stood out among the rest, a challenge — or, in our view, an opportunity — that will play a pivotal role in the development of our city’s startup community: We learned that the most fruitful startup communities are those where founders, investors and high-potential talent are strongly connected to each other and are also uplifted by the community-at-large. In Miami, we have room to grow on both fronts, and the success of the ecosystem depends on our response.
As part of this process, we spent the last several months actively listening. We picked the brains of more than 200 entrepreneurs, investors and community stakeholders on the ground in Miami’s startup scene. We also consulted research, learning from the insights and experiences of those who have gone before us in building successful startup communities. We learned a lot, including that a virtuous venture cycle appears to be taking hold (e.g. the former Mako Surgical team founding Magic Leap, Neocis and DermaSensor). We found amazing local teams building worldclass companies and attracting high-level investors (see the recent exits
Almost universally, the founders we met with in South Florida were eager to build peer-learning and mentorship relationships with other founders but didn’t know how to connect with them in a meaningful way. Similarly, 19
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Photo Credit, Julian Gigante
people want more direct avenues to connect with talent and investors, and vice-versa, that cut through unnecessary noise.
to the demands of the moment, informed by those in the community who know it best. It truly takes a village to raise a successful startup community. I’m confident Miami can secure its spot as a world-class entrepreneurial hub if we continue to work and adapt together.
This requires attention: Research* shows there is a high degree of correlation between a startup community’s success and how the people in those communities connect to and support one another. The inverse is also true.
*In his book, Startup Communities, entrepreneur, author, and venture capitalist Brad Feld emphasizes what he believes it takes to create a thriving community of entrepreneurs: “Leaders of startup communities have to be entrepreneurs. Everyone else is a feeder into the startup community. Both leaders and feeders are important, but their roles are different.”
Since the start, Knight has always taken its cues from community. It’s from the community, after all, that our startup ecosystem was born. And we plan to do the same now. Keeping Knight’s core values of inclusion and participation in mind, we are exploring efforts to foster the growth of Miami’s startup community around four key areas:
Similarly, in a comparison of several venture ecosystems around the world, Startup Genome found that “local relationships among founders, and the help that is offered between founders, are key determinants of success for both individual companies and the overall ecosystem.”
Strengthening connections between the local network of founders, investors and talent Creating avenues for new talent to discover and participate in the city’s growing startup community
A recent report by Endeavor Insight sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation arrived at a similar conclusion: “Founders of the fastest-growing companies are much more likely to have received experience, support and investment from leaders of companies that reached scale.”
Growing Miami’s venture funding capacity Leveraging Miami’s assets in sectors where it can be a world-class competitor As goes with raising a child, priorities, needs and tactics will surely evolve as our ecosystem matures. We have been and will continue to be responsive
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IF IT’S A SMOOTH ROAD, IT’S NOT WORTH TRAVELING.” —MAX TUCHMAN, CO-FOUNDER & CEO, CARIBU
If it’s a smooth road, it’s not worth traveling. I believe you only truly learn by making mistakes, stumbling, and having your experiments turn out differently than you expected (I don’t see those as failures). When we met, my co-founder just happened to be living in Miami, too. Since the ecosystem here was still nascent, we could be a big dolphin in a small pond. But being a female-founded startup based in Miami and trying to raise a seed round in a young ecosystem was extremely tough. We had as much against us as we did going for us, but we’ve overcome that challenge, thankfully. For every person who found some aspect of Caribu to be a drawback, someone else found it to be a benefit. We never stopped hitting the pavement and beating our drum, and I’ve only gotten stronger from all of the people that underestimated me. Every other challenge, I can truthfully say, was overcome because there is an incredibly supportive and collaborative group of women in our ecosystem who will do everything in their power to lift each other up, celebrate each other, and help each other succeed. I think the future IS Miami. Soon, more cities will look like us when it comes to diverse communities, the rate of small business creation, and the effects of climate change. What we accomplish here will be an example of what the future of cities will look like. I was born and raised in Miami, and even though I’ve lived all over the US at one point or another, Miami was always calling me home. In the past 3 years, we at Caribu have invested as much in the Miami ecosystem as they’ve invested in us, and I’m honored to be building and growing our company in my hometown.
111 NE 1st Street, 8th Flr, #112 Miami, FL, 33132 415-952-3974 Caribu caribu.com 21
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IT’S TIME TO SHIFT OUR NARRATIVE OF WHAT INNOVATION, FROM A CULTURAL STANDPOINT, MEANS TO US.”
—FELECIA HATCHER-PEARSON, CO-FOUNDER, TRIBE CO-WORK & URBAN INNOVATION LAB +BLACKTECH WEEK; FOUNDER, CODE FEVER
The huge influences of the Caribbean, of South America, and Central America that we have here in Miami makes the entrepreneurial ecosystem unique across the States and arguably across the globe. So many people start a business out of necessity, which forces them to be really creative with limited resources—again, purely out of necessity. That kind of hustle is very much a part of Miami’s fabric. For me, innovation is a new way of doing something, a way of creating something that leads to transformation. And the fight that I fight every day is expanding the idea of who innovation is for. Who gets to be an innovator? Who gets the luxury to be able to innovate? It’s time to shift our narrative of what innovation, from a cultural standpoint, means to us. I give this example a lot: everyone knows what Uber is. We know the utility of it, how strangers can pile into a vehicle and pay less money for a ride from A to B. We know that it solves a transportation problem. We look at that as innovation—no one questions that what Uber has done is innovative— but what we don’t look at are the Jitney taxis in Miami or the Juda taxi in Jamaica or the tap tap in Haiti. That kind of ride-sharing has existed for generations in these communities.
For young people, my advice to them is to stay curious. I always find it really weird that we expect recent high-school graduates to know what they want to do with the rest of their lives. That question is so daunting: What are you going to be? I work with so many young people who just don’t know, and they’re afraid to say that they don’t know because it makes them seem like they’re not ready to try something.
We can’t just be dismissive of innovation in one area and praise it in another area based on skin tone or our perceptions of what innovations “should” look like. If we peel back the layers, we’ll see that a lot of highly sophisticated, technological advances actually started in black and brown communities. When we shift our understanding of what innovation can look like, we start seeing those communities as innovators, too.
But I want them to make as many mistakes as possible—not in anything illegal, of course—but to make as many mistakes as possible because that’s the only way that they’ll start discovering what’s possible, and the only way they’ll start asking the right questions of the people who are around them.
So how do you build an intentional, inclusive innovation hub in Miami? Create as many opportunities and pipelines as possible for people, especially young people, to be very curious. Create spaces that have a high tolerance for failure and risk. Invest dollars in areas that allow our young people to tinker, to break things, to put things back together. When you are around young people, be an open book to them. Answer their questions. Pick up their phone calls. Don’t give them your phone number unless you plan to pick up their phone calls. It takes so much courage for them to make those.
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BRINGING INNOVATION PARTNERS TOGETHER.” — MARC BLUMENTHAL, CO-FOUNDER, SYNAPSE; PARTNER, FLORIDA FUNDERS
events, challenges and digital tools to find and connect with the ones who can help you grow your business. We’ve already demonstrated that by working together the rising tide really is lifting all boats. Synapse events change the way innovators come together to educate, inspire and celebrate our successes. Synapse Summit has become Florida’s premier innovation event, hosting more than 5,500 people from across the state and the globe in 2019. Synapse Orlando launched with tremendous success in October 2019, as 1,200 people filled the more than 30 sessions and spent the day making meaningful and intentional connections. Synapse has also traveled across the state supporting local events like eMerge Americas in Miami. Synapse Challenges are igniting the innovation ecosystem and fueling the talent pipeline, as hackers and makers from coast to coast participate in solving real-world problems. Like designing a chatbot so that Metropolitan Ministries can help the homeless and hungry in urgent need who reach out on social media. Or the juniors at Florida Polytechnic University, whose solution to a blockchain challenge resulted in an unexpected prize: a job. Or the enthusiasm from SunTrust Bank Foundation, Guidewell Florida Blue, and others that launched Synapse Challenges in 2019 because they see the value they have for their own companies and for inspiring the innovation community.
Together we are shaping our own destiny. Together we are demonstrating that “Innovation Lives Here.” It is hard to believe that it’s been three years since the launch of Synapse. Every day since then has been a validation of our mission: to connect Florida’s innovation communities in a meaningful, purposeful way. As I’ve traveled the state I’ve seen first hand the passion and creativity that have created an incredible tapestry of innovation and opportunity in Florida. The proof lies on every page of this book.
Synapse Connect continues to become the primary online space for innovators to quickly curate meaningful connections, reducing the degrees of separation between what you have and what you need. This platform will continue to expand enabling the incredible number of people, organizations, and resources to find and be found, think Match.com meets Netflix purpose-built for Florida’s innovation communities.
Florida has a lot to celebrate: a population growing by nearly 2,000 people per day; business-friendly laws that support innovation; research institutions producing innovation ready for commercialization; some of our country’s best universities and colleges with hundreds of thousands of students ready to build their careers; innovation in industries from biotech to cybersecurity, from manufacturing to virtual reality, from space exploration to egaming; and a growing cadre of serial entrepreneurs who continue to reinvest both by building new businesses and by paying it forward as mentors to the next generation of entrepreneurs. Major companies and organizations have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build manufacturing centers, innovation spaces, Fab Labs, wet labs and simulation centers available to innovators and entrepreneurs, hackers and makers.
We are so thankful to the enthusiastic and generous community that has come together to make the Synapse movement possible. The companies and community partners that have stepped up to be on the Synapse Board represent our most passionate advocates and important leaders that will shape our movement’s future. But, this is only the beginning. We still have work to do. Synapse is building bridges - in person and online - connecting innovation communities, shrinking the state and making resources visible and accessible, turning the vastness of our geography into our greatest asset.
Individually, these are great resources. Together they are a powerful engine of growth. In so many ways, Florida has more to offer innovators and entrepreneurs than most anywhere else in the country. The challenge is enabling the talent and resources anywhere in the state to easily find each other.
Florida is one of the best places to build a life, career, and company. Together we are shaping our own destiny. Together we are demonstrating that “Innovation Lives Here.”
Synapse is meeting that challenge by bringing innovation partners together within a thoughtful framework. We are building a community that enables these resources to collaborate and accelerate success across our state by making these people, companies, and resources more visible and using our
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BUILDING THE COMMUNITY, ONE CONNECTION AT A TIME.” —BRIAN KORNFELD, CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, SYNAPSE
Why does connectivity matter? Simply, connectivity creates opportunities, which breeds success. The more you can find help and support, the less you have to rely on serendipity and hope. This puts you in the driver’s seat for opportunity. This matters to the entire community as we continue to hear the narrative in Florida that connectivity is challenging and holding us back from becoming a powerhouse innovation ecosystem. There are actions that we all can take to help connect each other which in turn will provide the necessary connectivity for Florida to continue its upward innovation trajectory. This information is not top secret and you don’t need a security clearance, I can share my successful path and hope it helps you along yours. I have built my network under the single hypothesis of offering value and asking for nothing in return. While this approach may seem backwards, I find it to be the best path to success. By helping others without expectations, people are more apt to trust my intentions. There are no subliminal desires in my “why” – but to keep a strong focus on helping our community. There are many other schools of thought here, none of which are wrong. Often, people will value numbers in networking over depth and personal relationships. Others will try to find a mutual exchange of value. I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine. Some people just take from others, tossing aside connections when the value is no longer present. Finally, there are the self-contained bunch, who prefer to work solo. As more leaders step up in the Florida innovation community, let’s think about the bigger picture. Reassess your connections and ask yourself what you expect to get and what you expect to give. The more you give, the more valuable your connections become and the more you can grow as a leader. When you take that lead, you encourage others to do the same, thereby creating a more connected community and a stronger Florida. At Synapse, we encourage a strong community approach to our state. We firmly believe that the rising tide lifts all boats. If we can all work together selflessly, we all can make a difference for our generation and those to come. Think about the degrees of separation that can be closed if you say yes without any questions. Think about your colleagues and how they may benefit. Think about the next time you need that favor who may be there to help. One strong, connected state of Florida will help to organize us and make us the best place to start and grow a business.
"I have built my network and connections under the single hypothesis of offering value and asking for nothing in return." Over the last year, I have been asked time and time again about my story: where I came from and why nobody knew my name. While the long answer involves transitioning from life as a rocket scientist to the President of Synapse (a 501c3 working to connect and organize the innovation community of Florida), the heart of the story comes back to the connections I’ve made.
I truly believe that if everyone in this community takes the unselfish approach: be the provider of value, we will see stronger leaders, greater connections, and a more unified ecosystem. With this approach, we will all drive more support and build wider networks. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that strong connections lead to success, but linking to one on Synapse Connect won’t hurt either. brian-kornfeld-mba-53613030 | @therocketmanbk synapseFL | synapsefl | synapsefl | synapseflorida synapsefl.com 24
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HERDING CATS & CODERS This is not a book for programmers. This book is for those who have to work with programmers and programming teams to get software built for their businesses.
Most people responsible for software projects are CEOs, marketing directors, project managers, and entrepreneurs. Not being on the same page as your development team leads to poor products, cost overruns, and project failures. “Herding Cats and Coders” will put you on the same page as the techies. This is the perfect book for a non-technical manager, whether working with an outside developer, a development team, or an agency. And to avoid boring you to death by turning this book into a dry, technical treatise, I’ve kept things lighthearted – and irreverent at times. If you are a non-technical user or manager who either works with developers or plans on engaging with software engineers to build something, “Herding Cats and Coders” will help you succeed. gregrossmunro gregdrm
Get it on Amazon today!
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DISRUPTING THE GLOBAL BOOK BUSINESS.” — SVEN BOERMEESTER, FOUNDER/CEO, INTERNATIONAL GROUP PUBLISHER - GLOBALVILLAGE.WORLD How is the commercial book publishing world being disrupted? Some clients joke with us that we are bringing back a dying art form as books are cool again. The business model however has changed completely, gone are the days of pay to play by selling advertorials or advertising. A great book on an ecosystem or industry needs to be authentic and all encompassing of all the major players sharing their story, not just whoever paid to be in there. To finance that we moved to a crowd funded book buying model where the market and the participants buy the books in bulk to use as gifts to clients, visitors, investors and employees. You also need to add technology to the printed book by embedding augmented reality videos into its pages, we do that by hiding QR codes behind the images that a mobile phone can read to activate a video. The books also need to be available online as ebooks, a blog and ultimately a forum where all the participants can communicate with each other.
How do you set up your business in new cities and countries? We look for skilled marketing professionals in each city that know their community well and form 50/50 partnerships with them where they collect the stories and we design and print the book. We are a fast growing tribe of fun and energetic publishing entrepreneurs, partners and friends. We all share a passion for innovation, beautiful places and cultures that we want to embrace, share and showcase with the rest of the world. We are always looking for marketing entrepreneurs to join our team, please reach out to me on LinkedIn or info@globalvillage.world.
How do you set up a global business quickly? My advice is to set up a small branch in Dubai and spend some time there if you have the means to do that. Dubai even more so than Singapore is the crossroads of the world for many reasons. The top three reasons being, Dubai has more than a million business savvy expats living there from 120 different countries. When you network in Dubai you network with the world. Going Global means you have to fly constantly. When it comes to flying, the world is flat and Dubai is in the middle, you can reach more than 80% of the globe with a direct flight. That is a big deal when you add up cost, time and jet lag. Last but not least, Dubai is a tax-free country with no business or personal taxes. That being said you cannot beat the lifestyle of Tampa Bay so the head office will always remain right here.
Sven Boermeester is a global publishing entrepreneur with a career that spans over 20 years with stops in more than 100 countries. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium, and grew up in South Africa. After completing his business studies in Cape Town, he opened his first media company and started publishing the trade and industry directories for South Africa followed by the launch of the “Best of” the World publishing series in Dubai. Fast forward 20 years and 183 “Best of” editions across 60 countries, Sven now lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife and young son. He is working on disrupting the publishing business by mapping out the Innovation ecosystems of every major city in the U.S. and around the world, through his latest Innovation books and augmented reality video series.
info@globalvillage.world sven-boermeester-8605823 www.GlobalVillage.world InnovationsOfTheWorld.com 26
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“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.” ~ JOHANN WOLFGANG VON GOETHE
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OUR STORY Resilient305 is an unprecedented collaborative effort that delivers on a partnership among government, not-for-profit business and academic organizations to address shocks and stresses in the (GM&B) that will ensure a resilient and thriving future for all. As our community matures, there is an increasing need to work together to better prepare for shocks such as hurricanes, flooding, infrastructure failures and pandemics like Zika. Our collaboration will also mitigate stresses such as traffic, sea-level rise, affordable housing, and expansion of economic opportunities.
In May of 2019 Greater Miami and the Beaches (GM&B) collectively made a pivot towards establishing a more resilient community and a better, more equitable future for all, with the official release of the Resilient305 Strategy.
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Over a three-year period, with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, strategy partner AECOM and local champion The Miami Foundation, the Resilient305 Strategy was developed based on input from a series of public meetings, surveys and focus groups with the participation of thousands of stakeholders. GM&B residents and subject matter experts have shared success stories and opportunities throughout the 34 cities in Miami-Dade. A key goal of the Strategy is the foundation of a successful network that will elevate our most vulnerable residents and close our equity gaps. Together, we have an opportunity to work differently – more leadership, collaboration and leveraging of resources. The three Chief Resilience Officers from Miami-Dade County, and the cities of Miami and Miami Beach are tasked with leading the charge on these efforts in a coordinated and impactful way. Resilient305 is a 20-year vision with 59 actions, some of which are already being implemented. The Strategy is organized in three simple yet important goal areas— PLACES, PEOPLE & PATHWAYS.
Chief Resilience Officers Jane Gilbert (City of Miami), Susanne M. Torriente (City of Miami Beach), and James Murley (Miami-Dade County)
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Many people came to Southeast Florida because they were drawn by the beautiful natural environment and the surrounding waters of this sub-tropical paradise. Those same features today pose threats as well as opportunities. In the PLACES section, you will find actions centered around preserving our bay, bolstering our beaches, and creating mobility and neighborhood hubs.
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PATHWAYS is how we connect PEOPLE to PLACES. It is our “how to.� PATHWAYS actions lead us to resilience by sharing resources and providing training and capacity building opportunities as we create our own Resilient 35 Network in the 305. To turn the actions into reality, Greater Miami & the Beaches launched the aptly named PIVOT team (Progress, Innovation, and Vision for Our Tomorrow), which is led by the GM&B team and The Miami Foundation and will grow as participants are recruited for different action implementation. With commitments to join the Resilient305 movement from 27 of the 34 municipal mayors in Miami-Dade County, we are already well on our way to successfully implementing the Strategy. Commissions from the City of Miami, City of Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County voted to officially
Individual PEOPLE are the heart and soul of a resilient neighborhood, society, and city and should be able to retain their basic needs. In the PEOPLE section, you will find action items focused on creating financial stability for our residents and diverse communities, advancing public health opportunities from our youngest residents to our respected elders, and better preparing our community for disasters.
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adopt the Strategy as the policy that will guide their resilience efforts throughout all departments. Moving forward, Greater Miami & the Beaches is excited to continue this important work as the first community partner of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center. Resilient305 and ongoing implementation mark a pivot point for our community: a new, unified approach that looks at many of the challenges we already face through an innovative and holistic framework. This Strategy is a much-needed roadmap towards protecting our tremendous natural environment and supporting the social and economic health of the region so our residents can both survive and thrive. We invite you to join us for a more Resilient305! Follow the movement at @Resilient305 and let us know your thoughts #Resilient305.
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ELEVATOR PITCH The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is an independent agency of the City of Miami funded by a special tax levy on properties within its district boundaries. The agency is governed by a 15-member board of directors, which includes three public appointees and 12 Downtown property owners, business owners, and/or residents. The board sets policy direction, which is implemented by a multidisciplinary team under the oversight of the executive director. The Miami DDA’s mission is to grow, strengthen and promote the economic health and vitality of Downtown Miami. As an autonomous agency of the City, the DDA advocates, facilitates, plans, and executes business development, planning and capital improvements, and marketing and communication strategies. 33
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OUR STORY The Miami DDA is committed to fulfilling its mission collaboratively, ethically and professionally, consistent with the Authority’s public purpose. Today, Miami is the #1 city for foreign-born residents - 51% of the population born outside of the United States - and the #2 city in the U.S. for highly educated, foreign-born residents (Bachelor’s Degrees & Advanced Degrees). Just like New York in 1900, the city’s vast diversity lends itself to novel ideas and innovative business concepts, furthering the region’s economic development and success. Nearly 50% of all Fortune 500 companies and 25% of all startup businesses were founded by immigrants. In Miami, the diverse community is seen as an engine for economic growth.
The key ingredient to a successful business is talent. Miami is home to a young, multilingual workforce including coders, programmers, and designers with advanced technological skills. Top ranked institutions such as Florida International University, University of Miami, Miami Dade College, and Babson College generate a steady flow of technical talent while coding schools, boot camps, and fellowship programs allow students to further sharpen their skills. The pipeline of highly skilled graduates in Miami continues to grow at a rapid pace. The City is home to a unique mix of immigrants from Latin America, Europe, and around the world, along with both local and national residents. 34
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Miami continues to experience a massive influx of young, dynamic, highly educated professionals, including an inflow of international professionals from around the world. The Miami-Dade school district has an ‘A’ rating district wide and Florida ranks #1 in the nation for its higher education system. With 340,000 college students in Miami, Miami is #7 in students per capita. Miami is also rated the most connected city in South Florida. Ranked #1 for public transportation in the State and #5 in walkability nationwide, residents, locals, and visitors find it easy to get around. As South Florida’s employment center and the nation’s second largest finance hub, Downtown Miami makes it easier to develop a business, reach investors, and build the network needed for a business to grow and thrive. Downtown Miami is also one of the world’s top five interconnected cities with its Tier IV datacenter connecting the Americas at the NAP (network access point), a pathway for data traffic from the Caribbean and South and Central America to more than 148 countries.
Aside from business and education, Miami is known as a city that embraces artistic expression and creativity. In fact, Downtown Miami is home to the highest concentration of cultural institutions in the Southeast. It’s also a region that continues to attract residents, locals, and visitors through its booming bar, restaurant, retail, and entertainment scene.
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Miami Downtown Development Authority 200 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 2929 Miami, FL, 33131 305-579-6675
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CORAL GABLES, RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE AS A PIONEERING SMART CITY
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OUR STORY Technology plays an important role in many of our City’s services and operations by fostering communication and collaboration among employees, residents and business; expediting tasks; increasing productivity; reducing our carbon footprint; assessing and managing risks; improving safety; making government activities and finances more transparent; and making City services better.
Coral Gables was founded on innovation, being one of the very first planned communities in the United States. Today, we’re known nationwide as a Smart City, leveraging information and communication technologies to benefit our residents, employees, businesses and visitors, as well as make our city more resilient and sustainable.
Smart devices, systems and sensors already in place around Coral Gables form an interconnected network that gathers and analyzes data we can act on in real time. Much of this data is freely open to the public via dashboards, an application store, citizen engagement tools and our community intelligence center on Coral Gables’ Smart City Hub on www.coralgables.com. 37
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overall greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2025. Environmental sensors around Coral Gables measure air quality and noise pollution, while sensors in our waterways monitor salinity, PH-levels, presence of chemicals, depth of water and overall water quality. This data allows the City and outside experts to more easily detect and respond to critical issues such as red tide, extraordinary fluctuations and storms.
Bolstering resilience Coral Gables has implemented powerful data centers to expand our capacity to support vital activities, such as provisioning services before, during and after a hurricane. To keep services functioning when natural disasters cripple the conventional power grid, our City is pursing matching grants to install solar micro-grids.
Increasing transparency Through our Smart Hub, anyone can view Coral Gables’ legislative, financial and public records. Citizens can easily assess City revenues, such as property taxes; expenditures, such as capital improvement programs; budgets and demographics; review public records and the legislative calendar; watch a legislative session live; and even see which lobbyists are registered with the City.
Improving services Smart technologies enable all types of business with Coral Gables, including payment, passport applications, business licenses, and permits, to be transacted online. Downloadable apps let Coral Gables residents check on traffic, order free rides on sustainable Freebee vehicles, and find and pay for parking by smart phone.
Streamlining operations Coral Gables has been implementing several Enterprise Systems that enable our City to better manage citizen services, city assets, facilities, permitting, finance operations, procurement, human resources and payroll by streamlining our procedures and reducing data entry. Employees will get the data they need, whenever they need it, to better decisions and improve our City’s day-to-day operations.
Electronic Vehicle Charging Station at City Parking Lot
Coral Gables’ award-winning IT department works closely with our volunteer Innovation Council of leading local tech experts and with multiple partners in professional organizations and academia to ensure our City remains on the cutting edge of technology. Thanks to the Coral Gables Smart City Solution Competition launched this year in collaboration with the University of Miami, the public has the opportunity to bring innovative apps and other technology solutions to our attention.
Improving sustainability Over the last 5 years the City of Coral Gables has become a leader in sustainability and resiliency in Florida and across the nation. The City’s journey in sustainability started with the development of the City’s Sustainability Management Plan in 2013. In this plan, the City identified 23 district projects with the goal of reducing energy and water consumption, fuel usage, and
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I.T. Department senior team. L-R: Assistant IT Director Nelson Gonzalez, Customer Support & GIS Manager Mark Hebert, Network Manager Gisela Rodriguez, Director of Information Technology / Chief Innovation Officer Raimundo Rodulfo, Applications Manager Lemay Ramos, Systems Manager Ayanes Apolinar
Reducing crime
groundbreaking Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) applications to benefit cities and communities.
To make faster and better-informed decisions, the Coral Gables Police Department now leverages such technologies such as closed-circuit TV cameras, mobile camera banks in critical areas, license plate readers, crime data analytics and true new Saferwatch App, which enables citizens to text police and upload photos and videos of incidents as they witness them. With the owner’s consent, our police will soon be able to upload and monitor video from the more than 3,000 doorbell cameras now installed in homes across the City.
Coral Gables’ IT department placed third in the American Society for Quality (ASQ)’s International Team Excellence Awards (ITEA). Our team was invited by ASQ to present our I.T. six sigma black belt project at the 2019 World Conference on Quality and Improvement (WCQI) as part of the ITEA case studies exhibition. Coral Gables was selected as one of 35 Champion Cities nationwide in the 2018 Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayor Challenge, a competition designed to help city leaders think big, be bold and uncover inventive ideas that tackle today’s toughest problems.
Driving economic growth Our City tracks real-time pedestrian and vehicular traffic data in downtown areas. Retail businesses can use this to determine when they should be open and can improve marketing and sales strategies. With our sensors, we can even tell them how long visitors stop in front of their windows. Free Public wi-fi has helped drum up business as well.
The City has been recognized by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Energy SolSmart Program as a municipal leader in sustainability and resiliency.
Awards and recognitions
Electric Vehicles and Alternative Transportation
Coral Gables is proud to have won several awards and recognitions for the Smart City technologies we’re developing and implementing.
The City currently has the largest municipal electric vehicle fleet (53 electric vehicles) in the State of Florida. Currently 10% of the City’s total fleet is electric which puts the City near the top of the list of electric fleets in the nation. The City has also installed 16 public/private charging stations throughout the City and is just getting started. The City has a goal of 78 electric vehicles and 28 charging stations by 2021.
For our ability to leverage data and technology to improve our city services, Coral Gables recently won first place in the 2018 Digital Cities Survey among cities with less than 75,000 residents. This is a recognition of a city’s performance and innovation in using technology to align with city goals; promote citizen inclusion in important government processes; share government data with the public; proactively address citizen expectations; boost cybersecurity and increase efficiency.
Alternative transportation is also a top priority in the City. Currently, the City has over 10 miles of bike lanes with plans to increase to over 35 miles. The City also provides free bike racks to businesses. The City offers a free trolley service in downtown that has over 1.2 million riders per year. The City has also implemented pilot program for electric scooters and implemented a Freebie service that had over 60,000 riders in its first year. The City is working hard at connecting the first and last mile of transit.
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Green Space The City has over 295 acres of parks and is continuing to purchase additional green space to be converted into community parks in different areas of the City. Coral Gables has an extensive Tree Canopy of over 38,000 trees in the public right-of-way and has been Tree City USA for the past 34 years.
Waste Reduction/Recycling Coral Gables was the first city in the Florida to ban single use plastic bags in 2017. In addition, the city has also banned expanded polystyrene “Styrofoam” (2016) and prohibits single use plastic straws (2019). The City of Coral Gables is also encouraging local businesses to “Skip the Straw.” In addition, the City has held 9 household hazardous waste collection events since 2016 (twice a year in April and November) that have collected over 160,000 pounds of household hazardous waste and electronic waste has been recycled and diverted from the landfill. In addition, the City was the first in Miami-Dade to partner with Covanta Dade Renewable Energy to establish a prescription drug disposal program. Since the program began, the City has collected/disposed of over 500 pounds of prescription drugs at Public Safety Building that historically would have gone either to landfills or flushed down the toilet.
Green Business In partnership with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, the City launched a Green Business Certification Program on Earth Day in April 2019. The goal of the program is to recognize and reward local businesses for all of their significant sustainability efforts and accomplishments. In addition, the program aims to educate business on additional sustainability initiatives they can implement. The application includes over 75 actions businesses can take to be more sustainable.
Resiliency Coral Gables is focused on resiliency and dealing with the future potential sea level and climate impacts. To help plan, the City has developed LIDAR elevation maps, authored a White Paper titled Adaptation Strategies: Legal Considerations, and conducted a vulnerability assessment looking at its critical infrastructure in relation to future sea-level projections. The City has also partnered with FIU to do a tidal/sediment gauge study. Since 2017 the City Commission allocated $4.3 million to a sea-level mitigation fund (infrastructure reserve) which will be used to help fund future adaptation and mitigation efforts. The goal is to set aside a sum of $100 million by 2040.
Coral Gables Smart City Engineering Poster
In celebration of World Standards Day, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Standards Association held a contest in 2017 exploring how standards are helping to create the smart city of today and tomorrow. Coral Gables’ winning submission centered around our city’s robust network and system infrastructure based on engineering standards and best practices that enables residents and first responders to stay connected even when Mother Nature strikes hardest. Coral Gables is working hard to harness technology in the service of our City, and we welcome your input. Please contact us at www.coralgables. com/contact-us to share your ideas.
EV Fleet at Public Works Department
Green Building The City is also in the process of building a new state-of-the-art public safety building that is being built to LEED Silver Green Construction practices. The City requires all future City public buildings/private buildings over 20,000 square feet be built to LEED Silver or equivalent.
405 Biltmore Way Coral Gables, FL, 33134 305-446-6800
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Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the neighborhood’s residential population has grown by nearly 40% since 2010 to 92,000 full-time residents—with that number expected to eclipse 100,000 by 2021—and the number of people spending each weekday in Downtown now eclipses 250,000. According to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, more than 5.4 million tourists visit Downtown Miami annually. This growth underscores Downtown’s transformation from a 9-to-5 business district into a vibrant 24-7 community and international destination over the past decade.
ELEVATOR PITCH Encompassing 27 acres of retail, residential, office and hotel uses, Miami Worldcenter is the largest urban development project underway in Miami and among the largest in the U.S. The ten-block project features a diverse mix of urban land use and is expected to account for more than $4 billion in new investment in Downtown Miami.
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To support this development, Miami Worldcenter’s first phase is delivering 300,000 square feet of retail space; office space of up to 500,000 square feet; The Paramount Miami condominium; Caoba, a 444-unit apartment tower; a 348-room CitizenM hotel; Luma, a 434-unit rental tower; and a 1,700-room Marriott Marquis hotel with adjacent 600,000 square-foot expo center. Award-winning design firm Elkus Manfredi Architects designed three of the development’s city blocks, including retail, restaurant, and publicamenity spaces, as well as The Paramount Miami condominium. The firm’s other largescale mixed-use design projects include The Grove in Los Angeles and the retail components of New York City’s Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, among others.
Miami Worldcenter is as stunning a project as it is ambitious. A $4 billion development, Miami Worldcenter encompasses high-street retail, hospitality, office and residential space with convenient access to transportation and surrounded by world-class amenities. Worldcenter’s master developers are Miami Worldcenter Associates—a best-in-class team of developers including Falcone Group and CIM Group. The retail is being developed in partnership with The Forbes Company and Taubman. Through these collaborations, Miami Worldcenter represents a monumental dedication to the improvement and revitalization of presently underutilized urban landscapes.
Miami Worldcenter is situated immediately to the north of downtown Miami’s Central Business District (CBD), extending between 2nd Avenue and Miami Avenue to 11th Street. Within walking distance from Museum Park’s Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and Frost Museum of Science, the AmericanAirlines Arena, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami Worldcenter’s residential building, Caoba, is quickly filling with residents eager to take advantage of the proximity.
“It has been a process,” Nitin Motwani says of the project, which was fifteen years in the conceptualizing and planning. “But we believed in Miami, so we stayed with it.” Miami Worldcenter’s rise coincides with a surge of development, tourism and population growth within Downtown Miami. According to the Miami 41
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“At Caoba, we expected young urban millennials, and we’re getting them,” Nitin says. “We also get a lot of people who work or study at the UM medical campus. But we were surprised to see the number of empty nesters and semi-retired renters. When we asked them why—because we’re always trying to learn—they said they wanted to be near arts and culture.” Miami Worldcenter is as accessible and attractive to visitors as it is to residents. Being so near to Virgin Miami Central and Brightline’s high-speed rail make it so, as does the fact that it is also just minutes away from Miami International Airport, Port Miami, Miami Beach, and the Brickell Financial District.
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Miami Worlcenter’s retail spaces were developed in collaboration with The Forbes Company and Taubman. The open-air shopping promenade runs North and South from Northeast 10th Street to Northeast 7th Street and between Northeast 1st and 2nd Avenues. Nearby, a large public plaza is surrounded by shops and restaurants, creating a central gathering place and outdoor event space. Miami Worldcenter is well underway, and it is the beginning of a state-of-the-art, revitalized community that is fit for Miami.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Magic City Innovation District – Little Haiti is revitalizing nearly 18 acres of underutilized industrial and vacant property located in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood to create a walkable urban campus that will become a premier destination for innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, art, and culture, while preserving the community’s authentic cultural identity.
OUR STORY Magic City Innovation District - Little Haiti (MCID) is a master planned urban community dedicated to technology, sustainability, health and wellness, and art and culture. The assemblage spans approximately 18 acres in Little Haiti, just north of Wynwood and the Design District, adjacent to the MiMo district in Miami, Florida. The Magic City Innovation District is a walkable, campus-like neighborhood where individuals from diverse backgrounds can enjoy a quality life and help write the next chapter of history on how we live, work, play, and learn together. and pop-up shops. Additionally, the team behind the project created the Magic City Innovation District Foundation, a charitable fund at the Miami Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, to support the economic, social, and cultural prosperity of Little Haiti and the diverse people who live and work there.
MCID is committed to bringing to life a unique development that will be a self-sustaining economic engine in one of the most vibrant areas of Miami. It will include responsible businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, and educators. The development of MCID is three phased. First, assemblage, entitlement, and renovating the existing buildings. Second, the neighborhood activation through lease up of the newly renovated buildings and activation of the MCID Park (current phase). Third, development of new buildings in accordance with the new approved master plan.
Working hand-in-hand with the community for years, allowed the MCID team to understand the needs and values of those who will participate in and benefit from this inclusive project. MCID will provide significant community benefits, including a historic contribution package of up to $31 million in payments into the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust — a trust to
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be created by the City of Miami to coordinate and support community revitalization efforts in Little Haiti. The trust’s priorities include affordable housing and homeownership, community educational programs, local small business development, local workforce participation and hiring programs, community beautification projects, and the creation and improvement of public parks. Furthermore, the Little Haiti Revitalization Trust Fund will be overseen and administered solely by and for the community. Considering the importance of mobility in a growing city like Miami, MCID is focused on enhancing neighborhood connectivity by improving local roads and investing in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, as well as open public and civic spaces. This includes approximately 3.8 acres of public civic space and development of an approximately 2.18 acre landscaped pedestrian promenade named the Promenade du Grand Bois. MCID will preserve and enhance the historic culture of the Little Haiti neighborhood, including one of Miami’s oldest structures, the DuPuis Medical Building. MCID will also contribute to the economic vitality of the area. To quantify some of the benefits, a leading independent advisor completed an analysis of its projected economic impact, which includes adding $188 million per year to the Little Haiti economy as a result of foot traffic into the neighborhood from new residents and visitors, creating more than 11,680 direct and indirect jobs in Little Haiti, and adding $27 million in property tax revenue for local schools to prepare children for the future. As MCID continues to become a reality, it will serve as a new model for future innovation districts and real estate development worldwide.
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SUNVESSEL WILL TRANSFORM THE WAY WE TRAVEL AROUND OUR COUNTY.� - MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR, THE HON. CARLOS A. GIMENEZ
ELEVATOR PITCH SunVessel is a network of smart charging stations for electric and robotic personal mobility devices installed in partnering hotels, offices, and apartment buildings. We are the next-generation transportation amenity. Our stations lock, charge, and teach users how to ride in a seamless manner. Users can come up to our stations to unlock our mobility devices and take short trips in a city without the need for a car.
Cruise Lines, Ford Motor Company, GE Digital, JWT, Watsco, Motorola, Microsoft, Sony, Hilton, Samsung, Wyndham, P&G, Yamaha, Perkins + Will, Innovative Group, MONAD Studios, & DiGiorgio Associates and Florida’s National Guard. Our founder formerly co-founded Cafe X, a robotic coffee-bar backed by Peter Thiel, Khosla Ventures, Social Capital, Craft Ventures, and Valor Equity Partners.
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Now we are all channeling our passion, experience, and brainpower to create the ultimate next-gen transportation amenity.
We are a diverse group of entrepreneurs, designers, and engineers from MIT, FIU, Northwestern University, the University of Michigan and Babson College with decades of experience building world-class software and hardware experiences at leading companies such as BBDO, CAE, Carnival
We wanted to build a futuristic last-mile mobility experience so we studied the market for years, interviewed countless users, and worked hand-
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in-hand with local officials to ultimately put a twist on what personal mobility should be by focusing on deploying our charging stations where you live and work. Pitch competitions quickly became our proving grounds where we won every single event we participated in. Government officials appreciated how we created an organized and beautiful shared transportation solution awarding SunVessel with the keys to Miami-Dade county in 2018. We even made it to the floor of the New York Stock Exchange! The media also noticed we were doing something different and wanted to tell our story, even calling us the next “Henry Ford...� 120 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33130 Info@sunvessel.com
ridesunvessel Sunvessel.com
Sebastian Gomez-Puerto, CEO and Founder
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“Collaboration is important not just because it’s a better way to learn. The spirit of collaboration is penetrating every institution and all of our lives. So learning to collaborate is part of equipping yourself for effectiveness, problem solving, innovation and life-long learning in an ever-changing networked economy.” ~ DON TAPSCOTT
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John S. and James L. Knight, Founders of Knight Foundation
ELEVATOR PITCH Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy.
growing the city’s talent base. Our goal throughout has been to accelerate the development of a startup culture, open to the entire community, that helps make Miami a place where ideas are built and ventures are scaled. Some of our key investments have seen much success, helping connect a once fragmented startup ecosystem. Co-working and innovation hubs including Venturé Cafe Miami, the LAB Miami and the Idea Center, and events such as Black Tech Week and eMerge Americas, have given our community the physical space to come together. We were also able to bring new mentorship and funding opportunities to the city with the local launches of Endeavor Miami, 500 Startups, Miami Angels, and Babson College’s Women Innovating Now.
OUR STORY Knight Foundation has been headquartered in Miami since 1990. The unique, bustling city is one of 26 where the foundation invests in journalism, arts, and communities. Few U.S. cities have transformed the way that Miami has in recent years, and we’re proud of Knight’s role in that evolution. Since 2012, Knight Foundation has invested more than $30 million in advancing Miami’s startup community by connecting innovators, attracting investment and
Knight’s next chapter in Miami is focused on translating the momentum and activity we are now seeing into intentional impact that will sustain the city’s growth as an innovation hub into the future. 49
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Photo by David Sutta
Photo by Julian Gigante
Photo by Julian Gigante
Keeping Knight’s core values of inclusion and participation in mind, we are exploring efforts to foster the growth of Miami’s startup community around four key areas:
Raul Moas, Miami Director, Knight Foundation
Miami’s innovation economy is growing, and each week we welcome an increasing number of amazing people to our city. Yet much remains to be achieved. Knight has been and will continue to be responsive to the demands of the moment, informed by those in the community who know it best. We strive to be catalytic funders, collaborating with private, public and philanthropic partners to help Miami secure its spot as a world-class entrepreneurial hub.
Strengthening connections between the local network of founders, investors, and talent to support learning, growth, and community. Creating avenues for new talent—from longtime Miami residents to newcomers—to discover and participate in the city’s growing startup community, connecting interest with opportunity. Growing Miami’s venture funding capacity by informing investors, introducing outside capital to the region and building funding networks that are known and accessible to local entrepreneurs. Leveraging Miami’s assets by supporting knowledge and venturecreation in sectors where it can be a world-class competitor, such as health and logistics.
Additionally, Knight supports research to inform the development of our city’s startup community. We’ve learned that the most fruitful ecosystems are those where founders, investors, and high-potential talent are strongly connected to each other and are also uplifted by the community-at-large. In Miami, we center many of our investments around this framework.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Dade College. In 2012, MBF began forming partnerships with and awarding grants to organizations that provide educational programs and resources for minority students in Miami, enabling them to excel in early learning, school readiness, primary and secondary school, as well as transition to and succeed in college and/or the world of work. MBF has awarded more than $2.1 million to these programs as well as more than 1,500 scholarships totaling more than $1.5 million.
Miami Bayside Foundation (MBF) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to further economic development in Miami. MBF accomplishes this through loans and technical assistance to minority- and women-owned small businesses and through educational scholarships and grants.
OUR STORY
MBF became a Community Development Financial Institution in 2014, allowing it to apply for funds from the U.S. Treasury and to receive matching loan funds from Enterprise Florida, Inc., through their State Small Business Initiative Loan Participation Program.
In 1986, MBF was founded to revitalize the City of Miami’s downtown economic core as a result of a minority participation agreement between the City of Miami and Bayside Marketplace, an open-air shopping center on the waterfront in the heart of Miami.
In 2015, recognizing a need in the small business community for support beyond funding, MBF started its Small Business Training. The ten-session, 25-hour workshop provides business owners with essential tools and skills to grow their companies. Recently, MBF created a certificate series in finance and marketing to provide focused training on those key topics. To date, more
After a long period of relative inactivity, MBF brought on-board a new team in 2010, creating its first loan program for small businesses and its scholarship endowments at Florida International University and Florida Memorial University, also restructuring the existing endowment at Miami 51
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than 350 businesses have benefited from MBF’s training programs.
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and now has received a multi-million dollar contract from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools; THE COOL Miami, who sells graphic t-shirts and hats, and who received funds to open up a retail location, is about to open a second; not to mention the many students who have persevered and achieved their educational goals.
In 2018, MBF partnered with the State of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity to become the administrator of the Black Business Loan Program in Miami-Dade County. Also in 2018, the U.S. Small Business Administration designated MBF Community Partner of the Year for the State of Florida and the South Florida District. Since 2011, and with amounts ranging from $2,500 to $150,000, MBF has awarded over 100 loans totaling more than $5.1 million, helping create more than 400 jobs in Miami.
We continue to look for opportunities to advance economic development in Miami through the support of business and education while expanding and strengthening our ongoing programs.
There are many success stories among the recipients of MBF’s loans and scholarships, Bunnie Cakes, a vegan bakery who received start-up funds as well as funds to grow, opening two new locations and graduating to traditional bank funding; Panther Coffee, a coffee roaster, retailer, and wholesaler specializing in the small-batch roasting of coffee beans who similarly received start-up funds followed by funds to grow, graduated to traditional bank funding and currently has six retail locations; Haynes Security Services who received funds to grow and then scale even further
Miami Bayside Foundation, Inc. 25 SE 2nd Avenue, Suite 240, Miami, FL, 33131 786-703-5770 info@miamibaysidefoundation.org MiamiBaysideFo MiamiBaysideFoundation Miami Bayside Foundation miamibaysidefoundation.org 52
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ELEVATOR PITCH The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is a catalyst to help members grow, improve and protect their businesses. It’s dedicated to building the best environment for business in the Americas and committed to improving the economic vitality of South Florida by educating and advocating for solutions to members’ business needs.
OUR STORY For more than a century the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce has been a social and economic engine guiding Miami through history, from a small seaside hamlet to an international business and finance leader of the new global economy. The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is the proud voice of the South Florida business community and a civic engine that fuels the advancement of our great city. Founded in 1907 as the Miami Board of Trade, today’s Chamber boasts representing more than 400,000-member company employees and is heralded for its legacy of leadership in economic development, and its unwavering commitment to improving the MiamiDade community. We understand that Miami’s private sector is the most imaginative and powerful resource the city has to getting things done that positively impact our businesses and our lifestyles. By coming together, we involve some of this community’s best and brightest in addressing current challenges and in implementing programs that position the region for future success through new Miami business and young professional mentorship. To carry out our mission, we focus on seven primary areas: Disruption, Governmental Affairs, Industry Growth, International Business, Leadership Programs, Marketing, Membership & Strategic Revenue Growth, and Urban/Community Growth. 53
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Supporting the Greater Miami Chamber’s efforts is the South Florida Progress Foundation, a not-for-profit arm that invests in programs and activities designed to improve the quality of life in Miami-Dade. Additionally, members are invited and encouraged to participate in special committees, educational seminars and conferences, member-to-member programs, new business development trips, advertising and sponsorship opportunities, networking receptions, young professional mentorship and special events – totaling more than 150 events each year.
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1601 Biscayne Boulevard Ballroom Level Miami, FL, 33132 miamichamber Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Miami Chamber GreaterMiamiChamber miami_chamber miamichamber.com
The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce succeeds because Miami’s finest business leaders get involved. Join us and let’s work together to grow our companies and improve the community we call home. It’s good for business and it’s good for everyone. 54
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Milestones Featured in Inc. Magazine (July/Aug 2019 issue) - “Poolside Co-Working Spaces and a Bustling Art Community: Your Ultimate Guide to Miami’s Hot Startup Scene” Featured in TNW (July 19, 2019) - “An entrepreneur’s guide to Miami’s startup ecosystem” Authored 2015 and 2019 Miami Tech Ecosystem Report for the Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce, Technology Association of the Year (2014)
In 2006, Brian Breslin saw untapped potential in South Florida’s fledgling startup ecosystem and quickly realized there lacked a support system for the tech and startup community. From this idea, Refresh Miami was founded. Its mission—to educate, inspire, connect and grow South Florida’s tech and startup ecosystem. Over a decade later, Refresh Miami now unites over 10,000 entrepreneurs, developers, designers, investors, and tech lovers right here in our own backyard.
OUR STORY
Testimonials When deciding whether or not to move back to Miami in 2011, Refresh Miami’s existence was a signpost of this city’s potential. Refresh offered an open community, friendly collaborators, and a learning platform. Miami’s startup community wouldn’t be where it is today without this pillar of an organization. —Wifredo Fernandez, Co-founder of The LAB Miami
As the oldest and largest tech & entrepreneurial community in the state, Refresh Miami serves as the hub of Miami Tech. Refresh Miami members get a front-row seat to learn from top-notch founders, innovators and technology professionals from across the country. They expand their skills through Refresh’s in-depth workshops, hear what other local entrepreneurs are working on through Refresh’s News articles, and explore the helpful resources available to them through Refresh’s Resource Directory. Pulling it all together is Refresh’s weekly email newsletter which keeps the ecosystem “in-the-know” on all things tech and startups in South Florida.
Refresh is Miami Tech’s connector. From the events they host to the individuals who run Refresh they are continually working to make connections and build the network. Wyncode made its official launch announcement at a Refresh event back in 2014. It was an important starting point for us to have a platform and audience to get the word out. —Johanna Mikkola, Co-founder of Wyncode
The team at Refresh believes what’s happening in Miami is truly special— from the diversity of its ecosystem (the majority of the entrepreneurial support organizations and gatekeepers are women), to its thriving immigrant population (42% of Refresh members were born outside of the United States and 56% are ethnically diverse). South Florida is now home to some of the world’s newest unicorns, including Magic Leap, REEF Technology (formerly ParkJockey), and JetSmarter—all within the last 5 years! Refresh Miami is proud to serve this community, amplify its stories, and help it continue to grow.
Refresh was how I was introduced to Miami’s tech scene. I was working as a developer in advertising and started attending Refresh events where I was exposed to people building products and companies. Fast forward 6 years and I have now built two businesses and exited one, both of which I pitched at Refresh’s Demo Days. —Juan Bermudez, Founder of NightPro & CoachHQ 55
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We turned to Refresh when we needed to fill a crucial role on our Product team. We found the ideal candidate (who was living in NYC) through the Refresh newsletter promoting our job post. There’s no doubt that Refresh has built the strongest tech community in South Florida! —Linda Koritkoski, Classic Motors
Meet our Team Brian Breslin, Founder and Chairman: In 2006, Brian Breslin saw untapped potential in South Florida’s fledgling startup ecosystem and quickly realized there lacked a support system for the tech and startup community. From this idea, Refresh Miami was founded. Its mission—to educate, inspire, connect and grow South Florida’s tech and startup ecosystem. Over a decade later, Refresh Miami now unites over 10,000 entrepreneurs, developers, designers, investors, and tech lovers right here in our own backyard.
of the South Florida technology and startup community through his efforts co-organizing Refresh Miami. Peter’s day job is at the University of Miami working for Academic Technologies developing and implementing tools/ services that improve teaching and learning through the use of technology.
Brian founded Refresh Miami in 2006 after identifying a lack of technology and entrepreneurial resources available in South Florida. Brian has been involved in a number of local startups, as well as local charities. He is the founder of Infinimedia, Inc., a software consulting firm focused on logistics solutions. Brian is co-founder of SimCase, an educational gaming company focused on higher-ed.
In his nights and weekends, he builds the infrastructure for InvestReady, the most advanced crowdfunding compliance solution on the market with close to $1B in verified collective capital amongst its members. Peter has his Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University, with a focus on biosignal processing and VLSI, Undergraduate in Computer Engineering and a Minor in Mathematics.
Brian has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Virginia in 2004, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is also a Miami native.
Josh Martinez, Events Assistant: Josh joined the Refresh Miami team in 2008 while pursuing a degree in Computer Science at Florida International University. He is CTO for On The Map Marketing, an internet marketing and web/mobile development company, as well as for Local Staffing, a job search aggregation platform and SaaS company.
Maria Derchi Russo, Executive Director: A long-time member of the organization, Maria formally joined Refresh Miami as its Executive Director in November 2015. Prior to joining Refresh, Maria had a long career in Marketing—running her own consulting practice, leading Marketing for recent Miami unicorn ParkJockey (now REEF Technology), and spearheading various Marketing programs for online travel site Travelzoo. In addition to her work at Refresh Miami, Maria serves as Campus Director for TheVentureCity and is the founder of Women in Miami Tech (WIMT), a group dedicated to supporting and advancing women in technology in South Florida. Maria has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She’s also a proud Miami native.
Mollie Cole, Project Manager: The newest member of the team and only non-Miami native, Mollie joined Refresh Miami in June 2019. While originally from Atlanta, Georgia, she found her passion for working with startups through internships in the Israeli & Chilean tech ecosystems. When she’s not working on marketing and program development projects for Refresh, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and exploring Miami. Mollie is a senior at the University of Miami pursuing degrees in Economics and Judaic Studies.
Peter Martinez, Director and Board Member: Peter Martinez is a senior software engineer, community organizer, and serial entrepreneur. Over the last eight years, Peter has been an integral part
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ELEVATOR PITCH TechLauderdale is an organization of collaborative trailblazers passionately curating content, inspiring creativity, building tech brands, and connecting business leaders to cultivate and expand the tech ecosystem in Broward county. Through events, networking, programs and education, we provide technology-related companies, academic institutions, entrepreneurs, and related organizations with an active forum to grow the business of technology in our region.
Greater Fort Lauderdale sits in the center of the South Florida tech ecosystem, the sprawling hub of tech and innovation spanning between West Palm Beach to the north and Miami to the south. The South Florida Tech Alliance, an organization with a deep history in Greater Fort Lauderdale rebranded to TechLauderdale as it celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2019 as part of a partnership with the Broward Workshop. This rebrand is a commitment to making Greater Fort Lauderdale the epicenter of the South Florida tech ecosystem. Our mission remains that TechLauderdale promotes the growth, connectivity, and awareness of the thriving technology ecosystem in Greater Fort Lauderdale.
OUR STORY There is a rich history of tech in South Florida, from IBM and Blackberry to Magic Leap and Chewy, with an amazing amount of technology that has disrupted industries and changed markets in Greater Fort Lauderdale. TechLauderdale is committed to continue growing this tech ecosystem and bringing value to individuals and businesses at every stage in their lifecycle to help them with the education and resources needed to breathe life into the ecosystem.
TechLauderdale hosts over 50 tech-related events and conferences per year which include monthly events on relevant topics including Cloud Services, AI, Development, Blockchain, IoT, Entrepreneurship, and local success spotlights and features on the history of tech in South Florida. It also hosts flagship events which include IT Palooza, TechTalentFest, SUP-X, and an annual Cinco De Mayo Golf Tournament.
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Council of South Florida, and TEDxBocaRaton. In 2020, Code Camp, a longstanding developer conference will merge operations with TechLauderdale, and there are more STEM-focused programs in the works with other partners.
ITPalooza has evolved into South Florida’s Premier Conference for tech professionals. Attracting over 1,500 local and regional tech professionals, the event features support for Toys for Tots as well as other local charities, speaker tracks, a partnership with the CIO Council of South Florida, exciting vendor exhibits, and non-profit and startup tables.
TechLauderdale is committed to being a hub for tech professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs. With this, members and non-members alike can share invaluable programming and events. A new membership program has been rolled out in 2019 to provide individuals and organizations with the choice on how to best utilize member benefits, with a great deal of flexibility and exclusivity. Key benefits include new ways for members to take advantage of ongoing tech education and training, exclusive networking and learning opportunities, and making valuable connections.
TechTalentFest connects local talent with local companies. This event is held each spring, featuring over 500 open positions in South Florida. Tech professionals get the opportunity to interact directly with the recruiters from South Florida corporations. SUP-X, the Startup Expo is a regional event for startups, entrepreneurs, and investors featuring 1000+ attendees, 100+ exhibitors, and a startup competition. This includes the Women4Women forum featuring female founders, entrepreneurs, and investors.
We are all things tech in Broward County. LEARN. CONNECT. GROW.
The Annual Golf Tournament takes place around Cinco De Mayo each year and is a great way to hit the links and network with your peers outside of the office for a day.
954-247-4708 executivedirector@techlauderdale.org South Florida Technology Alliance TechLauderdale techlauderdale.org
TechLauderdale also partners with several organizations on events that promote tech through South Florida, including eMerge Americas, the CIO 58
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SOCIAL INNOVATION “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” ~ ANAIS NIN
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Our First #SDGsInMiami event in June 2018
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SIM Activation table at the SDGs Anniversary 2019 at Venture Cafe Miami
Activation table at the University of Miami with our Ambassador SDG 16, Liuba Abreu
ELEVATOR PITCH #SDGsInMiami Ambassador Series
Social Impact Movement builds partnerships to promote social change in Miami by highlighting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Connecting business leaders, enterprises, organizations, and government, linking local social responsibility actions to the global goals.
The SDGs Ambassador Series is a movement of changemakers, social entrepreneurs and global thinkers and doers that are committed to inform, educate and demand a call to action to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Miami. Our goal is to leverage private and public connections to spread the movement and create community-driven opportunities to create positive change.
OUR STORY Social Impact Movement was founded in 2016 with the mission to connect people to social-related topics. It took us more than a year to understand we could play an important role in linking Miami to the global conversation. We decided to step up, taking the challenge—and the opportunity—to act for the social change movement. The Agenda 2030 framework was incorporated in early 2018 at our core mission.
The Ambassadors are passionate community leaders specializing in one of the goals. They are equipped with curated knowledge and advocacy skills to inform and influence stakeholders, policymakers and decision-making leaders. The Ambassadors facilitate salon-style conversations, provide educational workshops, organize community events, create partnerships, and support the design of projects related to the SDGs. Their work is volunteer-based and relies on Social Impact Movement’s expertise and resources to carry out activities and projects.
Our programs raise awareness, educate, and inspire our community to take action on issues related to SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 14 Life Below Water, and SDG 16 Peace, Justice, & Strong Institutions. 61
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From left to right: Erick Gavin (Board Member), Claudia Akel (CEO), Scarlett Lanzas (Board President), Cindy Makita (SIM Ambassador SDG 5)
Informing, educating, and engaging.
From left to right: Claudia Akel (CEO), Scarlett Lanzas (Board President), Liuba Abreu (SDG 16 Ambassador) and Mariana Ferrari who joined our SDG5 program with her company DOOIT.
Explaining the SDGs
1951 NW 7th Avenue, Suite 600 Miami, FL, 33136 305-912-8004 Social Impact Movement socialimpactmovement socialimpactmov socialimpactmovement.org
Claudia Akel, Founder and CEO
#SDGsVoicesInMiami
#SDGsInMiami Discussion and Action Circles
Social Impact Movement gives a voice to Miami community members doing amazing work to make our city a better place to live, study, work, and innovate. We highlight individuals and entities that are impacting Miami by providing a unique platform to share stories of change thus providing opportunities to learn and engage with diverse stakeholders. The goal is to bring #SDGsVoicesInMiami to the community in an inclusive environment with a language accessible format where local guest speakers will interact with community members. The sessions are designed by thought leaders and aim to discuss topics of interest with the intention of providing content and a space for dialogue for English, Spanish and Portuguese speakers.
Inspired by TED Talks and Brazilian sociologist Paulo Freire, Social Impact Movement developed a learning-sharing format that is our signature program: Discussion and Action Circles. The layout consists of 2 thought leaders, 1 facilitator, 12 attendees per circle and a topic to be covered during a 15-20-minute session. With 2 to 4 circles per event, attendees are encouraged to switch circles and participate in all discussions, hence absorbing an overall idea of the topic and prompting a call to action to join the #SDGsInMiami initiative.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Caribu helps children age 0-7 to read and draw with their parents and grandparents through a video-call when they’re not in the same location. Caribu is a game-changer for the hundreds of millions of global families that are separated by distance and need to make memories together with their (grand)children through mobile and tablet devices.
OUR STORY We saw a picture of a soldier trying to read a children’s book to his daughter through a webcam and realized we could build something better. Today, many families are separated by distance because a parent travels for work, a grandparent lives in a different state or country, a parent is deployed, or the family is part of the 50% of couples who are divorced. Caribu’s platform opens up opportunities for children to connect with adults who can engage with them in real-time as they read and draw together.
Milestones
Caribu is using tech to rapidly scale and innovate a solution for the hundreds of millions of families, across the globe, that are separated by distance and want to make memories together with their (grand)children through mobile and tablet devices. Caribu allows you to call the toddler in your life, pick out a book, and read or draw together in real-time through a shared-screen video call. An in-app library has hundreds of books from leading children’s publishers (including Highlights, Sesame Street, Mattel, Usborne, and many others) in seven languages, and interactive educational workbooks and activities that you can draw on together. The result is an engaging experience in a carefully designed, curated, and secure platform. As our users say, “It’s FaceTime that kids don’t run away from.” Today, Caribu has customers in 164 countries.
We have been the finalist or winner in over 30 pitch competitions, winning over $100K in cash and prizes from organizations such as the 1776 Global Pitch Competition (with an investment from Steve Case), SXSW EDU, InterAmerican Development Bank, The Pitch Podcast on Gimlet Media, Teach For America, and Babson College. We have also been selected for many prestigious awards such Caribu being listed as a World Changing Idea by Fast Company and our CEO being named a Toyota Mother of Invention and one of the Top 100 Female Founders by Inc. Magazine. Caribu has been featured in Forbes for three years in a row, and has had over 90 international and national earned media mentions. We are also partnered with Blue Star Families to donate free subscriptions to all currently serving military.
Human connection has become a luxury good. Caribu’s mission is to bring families together, and our future vision is to be the world’s premier communications tool for people to collaboratively learn, be entertained, and connect. We want to change the world by creating the best and most engaging alternative for people to learn and bond with their families even when they can’t all be there in person.
“Caribu has a novel solution to a global parenting problem,” says Ryan Gunnigle, co-founder of Be Curious Partners and CEO of Kids II, whose brands include Bright Starts, InGenuity, Oball, Disney and Baby Einstein . “I believe this technology will redefine how families communicate and we’re excited to invest in this strategic partnership.” 63
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Maxeme Tuchman, Caribu’s CEO and co-founder, is eager to bring about the company’s future—and to do it in Miami. “The ecosystem in Miami is still young so we can be a big dolphin in a small pond,” Tuchman says. “In the past 3 years, we’ve invested as much in the Miami ecosystem as they’ve invested in us, and I’m honored to be building and growing our company in my hometown. There is an incredibly supportive and collaborative group of women in our ecosystem who will do everything in their power to lift each other up, celebrate each other, and help each other succeed. The future IS Miami.”
Her advice for future CEOs?
Maxeme Tuchman CEO & CoFounder with Team
“Get a CTO as your co-founder. Make sure they can explain things to you like a six year old, that they have patience to do that, and that they realize the value of having you understand their world,” she says. “Also, have a BHAV (Big Hairy Audacious Vision) and keep your eyes on the prize. If you’re building something with an inspiring vision that’s going to change the world or create solutions to real-world challenges, that will keep you motivated. Finally, keep track of the small wins. You will have them. Lots of them. Remind yourself that those will add up to big wins one day.”
111 NE 1st Street, 8th Flr, #112 Miami, FL, 33132 415-952-3974 Caribu Caribu IG- @Caribu caribu.com 64
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ELEVATOR PITCH Papa is a platform dedicated to solve the loneliness crisis. By connecting older adults to college students, we bridge the gap between two distinct generations. Our enthusiastic students – known as Papa Pals, are considered “Grandkids On-Demand!” to our members. Companionship, assistance, and transportation provided by our pals can be easily accessed through the Papa mobile app, joinpapa.com, or toll-free line 1-800-348-7951. Health plans, health systems, and employers, offer our Papa program as a benefit to our consumers.
the option to independently request services directly through our website and upgrade to a premium membership. Before devoting his work fulltime to Papa, Andrew had a leadership role at MDLIVE; a Florida telehealth company. While working at MDLIVE, Andrew sought out to find someone to support his grandfather, Papa. It was clear to Andrew that his grandfather needed some assistance, but he felt a traditional home care service was not necessary. Papa was still brimming with energy, and would thrive best with a fun and energetic companion. After reaching out to his friends and family on Facebook, Andrew connected with and hired Andrea, a pre-med student from South America. Andrea’s natural passion for caring and health was evident through her
OUR STORY According to a national survey conducted by Cigna, the two loneliest generations in the United States are college-aged young adults and the elderly. In an effort to address the needs of both populations, we at Papa hire young, fun, and educated pre-healthcare students and nursing students to work with our older adult members. Our program offers real-world job experience for future leaders in healthcare. At Papa, we implement a rigorous on-boarding process. After multiple preliminary screenings such as: personality tests, background checks, and motor vehicle checks, prospective pals complete our comprehensive online training. This step is critical to the success of Papa, as it ensures the safety and satisfaction of our members. Of those who apply for a position, only 15% become a Papa Pal. Isolated older adults are often in need of additional assistance at home. Health care partnered with Papa grant members an allotted amount of hours a month with a Papa Pal. Our Papa Pals accompany our members to the doctor’s office, help them with home tasks, and engage them in technology, while providing general companionship. Members also have 65
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Papa, INC. Miami, FL 800-348-7951 salesquotes@joinpapa.com join_papa Join Papa joinpapa.com
authentic relationship with his grandfather. Until his passing, Papa enjoyed regular visits with his new pal. Andrew witnessed his grandfather’s health improve as Andrea began her visits. His background in healthcare allowed him to identify the power of tethering these two generations. He sought out to create a consumer service dedicated in supporting older adults by connecting them to college students for companionship. In 2016, Andrew left his career at MDLIVE to work full time on Papa with his co-founder and friend, Alfredo Vaamonde. Thanks to the help of YCombinator; the prestigious startup incubator in San Francisco, Andrew and Alfredo successfully launched their program. Three years later, Papa is now active in over 15 states, connecting hundreds of older adults with college students every day.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Innovation Senior Management (ISM), headquartered in Miami Beach, Florida, manages a continuum of senior housing that includes independent, assisted living and memory care middle-market communities throughout the State of Florida.
OUR STORY Innovation Senior Management is a privately-owned business founded in 2016 whose leadership has over 125 combined years of experience and has grown to become a leader in the Florida senior living market. Innovation Senior Management is certified as a Women-Owned Business (WBE) and a Minority-Owned Business (MBE). ISM has expertise in affordable and middle-market communities. They are leading experts with in-depth knowledge of rules and regulations of the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), CMS and USHUD. ISM understands how to create an environment that will have a positive impact on the quality of life for low-income and middle-income seniors. 67
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Pilar Carvajal CEO and Founder
Our growth strategy includes the following
by 2030. Future industry growth will be spurred by the 77 million Baby Boomers planning to retire over the next two decades.
To secure management contracts with current owners in the State of Florida (50+ beds). To partner with strategic and financial partners that acquire and build new properties with ISM as the operator partner in the State of Florida.
The assisted living industry is a $80+ billion industry. The four largest ALF providers in the country make up 13% of the market share. This competition is well-branded, caters to high income seniors, is well known and continues to grow, but services are affected by the large scale of the competition. The remaining 87% of the market is highly fragmented, composed of a variety of mom and pop operations with few, if any, national chains. The market for senior living has greatly expanded. Yet the industry has generally focused on higher-income people.
To build a portfolio of middle market, branded communities in the State of Florida. ISM is positioned to create a portfolio of 25 communities within the next five years.
Core Competencies Operational Expertise New Construction/Licensing/Lease Up Conversion/Licensing/Lease Up Turnaround of Existing Facilities Maximization of Operating Profits/Expense Control Maximization of Occupancy (private pay/affordable pay residents) Government Subsidies (Medicaid and Veterans Administration Aid & Attendance) Investor Relations Experienced Executive Director Pool Industry Overview
Currently, services are out of financial reach for 8 million middle income seniors. By 2029 there will be 14.4 million middle income seniors. Innovation Senior Management’s growth opportunity is to create a management portfolio of branded, high quality, middle-market communities in the State of Florida. Innovation Senior Management 1688 Meridian Ave, #700 Miami Beach, FL, 33139 800-425-9914 innovation-sm.com.
Every day the need for assisted living and memory care communities increases for individuals of all incomes. Roughly one million Americans reside in senior care facilities. This number is expected to almost double 68
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ELEVATOR PITCH Recipes for Change is a nonprofit organization founded by Chef Santiago Gomez in 2017. It is a localized society created to evoke social change by inspiring and educating people through gastronomy, volunteer programs, educational workshops and fundraising events.
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OUR STORY Our aim is to unite Miami’s local community in order to educate the next generation and to nourish at-risk communities. During our work, we came across a gap within the food system. In the United States there is an increasing disconnect between us and our food. For most people, they don’t think about how their food got the grocery store, where it came from, how many will actually be eaten? Without programs or education to change that, it will continue getting worst. Homeless shelters and community kitchens have a massive positive social impact – they give people a safe place to be and food to eat, however, for these communities at risk, the disconnect between them and their food is even greater.
@recipesforchange info@recipesforchange.org recipesforchange.org
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ELEVATOR PITCH Riposte is a lifestyle brand that enhances our sense of belonging, thanks to its genuine designs made by local street-artists, printed or embroidered on clothes made of organic fabrics. Our motto: Reliable fashion, Local soul!
OUR STORY The brand was founded in May 2019 by Nicolas Riviere, a French entrepreneur based in Miami. The name of the brand needed to have meaning in French and in English. The exact definition of Riposte is a quick and clever remark, often made to answer a criticism, which is clearly related to the origin of street-art (which was called graffiti back then). Riposte tackles 3 issues: Issue #1: Pollution caused by the clothing industry: After the petrol industry, fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world. For example, in 2015, the pollution from producing polyester depleted the planet as much as nearly 200 coal power plants. Riposte #1: The use of organic cotton: GMO-free fibre that uses less water than standard cotton. In addition, its production does not involve the use of chemicals (no fertiliser or pesticide) and encourages rotation of crops to keep soil healthier, more fertile and maintain humidity. Waste from the cotton ginning process is also recycled for the animal feed industry. Issue #2: Street-artists’ financial sustainability: What really makes streetartists, is that they are expressing their art for free. Riposte #2: Collaboration with street-artists: Thanks to its partnership with local street-artists for genuine designs Riposte creates a new financial opportunity for them, to make sure that street-artists are financially sustainable to ensure their abilities to keep doing their art for free and for all. It is key for them and for the neighborhood’s true colors.
Riposte #3: Identities redefinition thanks to art: The collaboration with street-artists of different cities allows to get the essence of each one of them. It is the evolution of art and sustainable fashion combined that make us truly unique. The development of this company has been fueled by the discovery of new street-artists, their vision and the type of creativity that they are able to bring to simple ideas. That similar thrill is the one Riposte shares with its clients. These garments are more than fashion, they are an artistic experience.
Issue #3: The wearing of apparels as strong as our sense of belonging: Today cities’ identities are almost exclusively linked to tourisms and local sports team. The fashion that currently exists for tourists is less appealing. It is the traditional palm tree or beach-scape that every other city can have and looks similar. It is interchangeable, often poorly designed, and it is not unique in any way. Concerning the clothes related to sports team, what if the local team has bad results? What if the team moves to another city? The name of the city would be deeply impacted.
What moves this company further along, are people in the sustainable fashion world and street-artists with the vision to reimagine cities in a whole new way. The adventure has just started! This is why after this first collection about Miami, Riposte will enhance the way of belonging of its clients in cities across the US (New York, Los Angeles…) and the world (Paris, Rio…)
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Nicolas Riviere - Founder nicolas@weriposte.com weriposte weriposte weriposte.com lluting. 2nd most po t. stry is the du in ith their ar w ng g hi in a liv e clot ring. le to make Because th bo gg d ru st an d ts sa be reet artis orhood will Because st ng. our neighb re you belo they stop, oud of whe pr ly Because if al re be to t an w u Because yo cause » those « be answer to er ev cl fabrics) d ed k an recycl ves a quic (organic or Riposte gi to recreate stainable su ts st tis ar Þr the street by being rating with and collabo clothing br bols. cities sym movement ovement, a part of a m e w source ar u ne a yo eate g Riposte ent that cr em By wearin ov way to m ur a , yo et ifting ts the plan ovement sh that protec artists, a m et re st r fo of revenue belong. where you be proud of Riposte with
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600 USA LLC e, Suite Riposte 7th Avenu 1951 NW 33136 Miami, FL,
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Computers are not magic but they will improve the education system. it’s thought that by integrating computer science and technology into the comunities it will be easier for children to find learning materials online. The students are also able to create and collaborate in a local community so their families are also able to learn from the access of information” ANDRES HURTADO RANGEL FOUNDER MAKINGTHESHIFT.ORG
ELEVATOR PITCH MakingtheShift.org Foundation’s goal is to provide resources to children get access to knowledge in sustainability, innovation, art, social responsibility, education in science, technology, and entrepreneurship, that activates the mindset and builds skills in youth from under-resourced communities to ensure their success and to create a more secure, responsible, selfsustainable & vibrant society.
mentors can engage students wherever they are in any place in the world.
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Opportunities to children by having access to knowledge and science Labs and sensors, each child group is able to work together on an experiment. Young students work with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning, to investigate ways to use technology to preserve their environment and engage other students to introduce personalized learning at a low cost.
WHY Early education programs that promote entrepreneurship and human development help to create sustainable environments. When a child is in any of our programs they are building a lifetime of skills and confidence. They learn about goal setting, decision making, team management, people skills, and business ethics—aspects essential to leadership, success, and life.
DEVELOPMENT Students can collaborate on activities with other students so they can learn from each other. They can share resources with children in their village or any country and share projects as their world expands and so do their future possibilities.
HOW By putting their minds and energies to a project, children can overcome any challenge. There are no limitations in their minds. They can BE anything. They can DO anything. We help them build a lifetime of skills and confidence. Children connected to the World and to our Future.
RENEWABLE ENERGY For children in our world nations, the education program is their way to a very different world than the one in which they live. 14% of the world’s population still lacks access to electricity, and another 3 billion rely on wood, charcoal, coal, and dung for heating and cooking. Our Initiative inspires affordable off-grid energy sources to increase access and allow more people to participate in climate-change awareness.
INTERCONNECTED WORLD 52% of the world’s population is still not online. Even where people have access, they often do not subscribe to broadband because it is not affordable, or they lack the skills to use it. This problem is particularly acute in emerging markets. These young students can have e-learning tools online and 73
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Village at Valle del Cauca, Colombia.
RESOURCES 1. A used 20-foot shipping container already in the location will be repaired to be a Discovery LAB. (USD$800) 2. 800-Watt 24-Volt Eclipse Monocrystalline Solar Panel Off-Grid Premium with Kit 40 Amp MPPT Controller ( USD$2,500 ) 3. 7 Refurbished LAPTOPS - (USD$300/ea) 4. Projector EPSON (USD$400) 5. Science KIT instruments A. Chemistry D. Engineering B. Biology E. Coding C. Physics F. Robotics 6. Robotics STEM Kit (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) (USD$500) 7. We establish Partnerships with the United Nations SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) to register our voluntary commitments and multi-stakeholder partnerships, facilitating global engagement in support of the implementation of the 17 SDGs.
900 Biscayne Blvd, Office 501 Miami, FL, 33132 786-529-2784, 305-697-2165 74
president@MakingTheShift.org MakingTheShift.org Making The Shift.org MakingTheShift.org
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“ The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” ~ ALBERT EINSTEIN
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Miami Arts Marketing Project, a collaborative high impact conference and series providing a discovery of the latest trends in marketing, innovation and exploration of curated partnerships and new audiences. It is a leading-edge experience curated for arts professionals and creative entrepreneurs. ArtsBoardMatch.org, which is like a dating site for board matches. The board marketplace showcases nonprofits that have completed the Building a Better Board workshop and have a strategy for recruiting new members. The site also provides resources for board candidates and the top five benefits for joining a board. Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, which provides pro bono legal consultations for artists and creatives, and Patent Pro Bono Florida (in collaboration with USPTO) matches patent attorneys with low-income inventors. VLA also includes networking events and outreach for entertainment, IP, corporate, and patent attorneys. ArtburstMiami.com, Miami’s media hub for the arts. Arts journalism has been dying for the past decade, hurting audience development,
ELEVATOR PITCH For 35 years the Arts & Business Council has led the movement to empower the creative ecosystem with high-impact partnerships between business, entrepreneurs, and the arts. As Miami’s only organization that leverages the arts for economic vitality, ABC programs inspire employees, stimulate innovation & foster creativity. We assist 500+ arts groups and 150+ artists through executive consultancies, leadership training, audience development, workshops, forums, curated outreach & networking events.
OUR STORY When a business partners with the arts, they strengthen the entire community. The Arts & Business Council plays a leading role in developing programs that bring together business and arts for effective and mutually beneficial outcomes. Our signature programs include 77
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outreach, and independent reviews for the cultural community. Artburst is a cutting-edge website that highlights articles, reviews, and feature stories from some of South Florida’s top arts journalists. The arts have a 1.4 billion dollar economic impact in MiamiDade, and creative industries are thriving. We are a global community that embraces new business ventures, technology development, and entrepreneurs with the creative spark that will propel society into the next century. With over 1,200 arts organizations and thousands of creative visionaries, Miami is a top cultural destination, an innovation hub, and the gateway to Latin America. Our city is multilingual, multicultural, and multifaceted with unlimited possibilities. Building sustainability through relationships and tapping into our community for partnership and support has proven to be one of the cornerstones of the Arts & Business Council’s longstanding success. Our pARTnerships provide our member companies with instant access to the creative ecosystem, meaningful employee engagement, and targeted high-impact opportunities to showcase their brand. Our network of corporate and cultural professionals collaborates to be enriched through leadership development, volunteerism, and sustainable business practices that strengthen our community. 78
info@artsbizmiami.org ArtsBizMiami arts-&-business-council-of-miami artsbizmiami.org
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ELEVATOR PITCH Mais Music offers personalized entertainment services and music curation for venues and events in South Florida. This includes booking bands and DJs for a single night or on an ongoing basis. From contortionists to classical violinists, it can mean assembling a jazz band specifically for the needs of your event, or a lively show full of performance and spectacle.
“We, musicians, normally struggle when it comes to making a business out of our gigs,” says Romand. “We can be great as performers and entertainers, but we don’t always know how to sell our product.” That’s where Mais Music comes in. As a liaison between the venues that need entertainment and the musicians themselves, Romand is perfectly positioned to help both camps.
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“It’s not just a service,” says Romand. “With most entertainment companies, you go to their website and book a band, and that’s it,” says Romand. “At Mais Music, we create a personalized experience for each event.”
When the Franco-Brazilian Estela Romand moved to Miami to get her degree in Music Technology at Florida International University, she didn’t expect her side job as DJ would eventually lead to opening her own company. But through her DJ experience and her background as a musician, she recognized a need for a niche she knew well: music curation for venues.
The Team at Mais Music knows that no two events are the same, and they pride themselves on their level of customization. “If there’s no band that’s just right for your event, we create one for you. We’ll take a singer from a Bossa Nova group, grab a Latin percussionist, and put them together in a Miami band.”
What started for Romand as informally connecting musicians and DJs with hotels in need evolved into personalizing and curating bands while working closely with wedding planners and event producers.
Mais Music also creates full-scale performances, from musicians to fire dance. “We ask: how can we enhance the experience?”
Romand is still a working pianist and DJ herself, performing with her electronic band Dsided, and with the New World Symphony’s acclaimed electronic orchestral performance “Pulse.” This lends Romand an intimate and up-to-date insight into Miami’s music scene.
Romand is particularly proud of an event Mais Music did for the 2016 opening of the River Yacht Club, where she was the Music Director. With multiple “activations” throughout the night, Mais Music had a duo jazz with 79
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a grand piano (lifted in with a crane), a live DJ set, and aerialists and fire performers on the rooftop. Most impressively, in front of over 2000 guests, Mais Music had an opera singer zoom up to the restaurant in a boat, with a spotlight on her, regally draped in white to the audience’s amazement. “People today still talk about that event,” Romand says with delight. Today, Mais Music has plans to expand beyond entertainment, using music as an integration point with the community. “South Florida is such a melting pot. One of my personal goals is to use the power of music to bring people together for the greater good,” says Romand. Some Mais Music clients include Intercontinental Hotel, No 3 Social, Sushi Samba, Generator Miami, Oceana Residences as well as a variety of private and corporate events, from luxurious locations such as The Breakers in West Palm Beach to intimate spaces like Life House Hotel in Little Havana, Miami. To find out more about Mais Music and their personalized services head over to www.maismusic.com.
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Mais Music info@maismusic.com 305-515-3885 maismusicinc Mais Music maismusic.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Creator Connect came to me in October 2017, lying on my couch in Boca Raton, Florida. I thought to myself, what if every time someone posted to Facebook or Instagram they could turn their post into an inspiration for custom artwork. That day the concept of Creator Connect was born. A platform that would allow users to connect and create a press of a button was on the way.
OUR STORY We built our Beta platform April 2018 and eventually launched an iOS app this March 2019. We are constantly growing the platform and adding artists and clients. We want our artists to have a platform that gives them access to growing their network and practicing their skills. This is pushing us to constantly improve our tool. Our network of artists spans the world: London, Ukraine, Russia and USA. Coming soon we will release an Android app and our complete version for our Web platform so please do continue to check for those items and visit our website to join our mailing list. Some of our reviews have been the following.
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PICK AN ARTIST TO CREATE CUSTOM ARTWORK WITH YOUR OWN PHOTOS. To learn more about Creator Connect, please visit creatorconnect.cc
MORE IN DEPTH As the project went on, I found that it would be much more complex. I needed to prove that people wanted commissioned artwork and make it easier for people who love art but do not know much about it to share their inspiration post. Therefore we created a custom submission form that educated the user on the piece of artwork they would like the artist to create. We then created an artwork submission form that allowed the artist to see the materials they use within a project so people can realize what the artist used and maybe justify the cost. Once I proved the business model using Google adwords I realized this need to be scalable organization. Therefore I built another web platform for it that allowed people to shop for artist. As that started to expand we realized the way to truly scale this business is to give the power to the people and encourage them to do what we all love‌ Which is creating new things. Therefore we released our first mobile version of Creator Connect in March. 82
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“Our future growth relies on competitiveness and innovation, skills and productivity... and these in turn rely on the education of our people.� ~ JULIA GILLARD
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Culture. More recently, Wyncode’s bootcamp program was the #12 ranked coding bootcamp in the country according to Course Report (and highestranked in Florida).
Wyncode Academy is a leading technical school dedicated to training top technology talent through best-in-class accelerated and immersive programs. Wyncode’s mission is to immerse ambitious individuals in a demanding yet inspiring environment engineered to develop successful software developers and product designers with business acumen.
Wyncode’s purpose is to help people and companies grow. Their programs are tailored for anyone with the tenacity and dedication to learn these skill sets. In turn, this empowers individuals not only to transform their careers but their lives as well.
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Wyncode also believes strongly in the importance and the benefits of building a diverse technology ecosystem. Through its scholarships and programs, Wyncode is committed to closing the gap for Women in Tech, supporting Veterans who want to break into tech and providing access to underrepresented groups to take part in these programs.
With various courses in Web Development, UX/UI product design and Digital Marketing, Wyncode’s innovative curriculum prepares students to compete in the national job arena. This is demonstrated by Wyncode’s 93% job placement rate, 750+ technology graduates and 350+ hiring partners.
In addition, Wyncode’s talent placement arm, Wyntalent, focuses on promoting initiatives through Wyncode’s 350+ Hiring Partners to ‘hire local’ in an effort to help those individuals and companies grow through innovative, inclusive and sustainable hiring practices.
Launched in 2014, Wyncode is the first coding boot camp to open in South Florida and the first to be licensed by a state Department of Education. Wyncode has been awarded South Florida Business Journal’s Start-Up of the Year, Beacon Council’s Educator of the Year and Tech.co’s Best Company
How would Wyncode sum up what they teach? It’s to Never Stop Learning. 85
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Johanna Mikkola Co-Founder & CEO of Wyncode Johanna Mikkola is the CEO and Co-founder of Wyncode Academy a leading technical school dedicated to training top technology talent through best-in-class accelerated and immersive programs. With various courses in web development, UX/UI product design and digital marketing, Wyncode’s innovative curriculum prepares students to compete in the national job arena. This is demonstrated by Wyncode’s 93% job placement rate, 750+ technology graduates and 350+ hiring partners. Johanna was selected as an Endeavor Entrepreneur in June 2015 joining a prestigious network of only the most select high impact entrepreneurs around the globe. Johanna is an Entrepreneur-inResidence for Babson College WIN LAB, is a founding member of the Miami chapter of the Female Founder Collective, sits on the content advisory board of eMerge Americas, and is an Ambassador for Aminta Ventures. She is also a member of Entrepreneur Organization. She was recently selected as Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s female leader in technology and was a finalist for Entrepreneur of the year. Johanna was awarded the 40 Under 40 Award by South Florida Business Journal. Johanna is passionate about people and places, having considered multiple cities to launch the coding school she and co-founder Juha Mikkola enthusiastically chose Miami for the opportunity to make a positive impact on its growing ecosystem. She is also an advocate for Women in Tech, promoting Wyncode’s goal to close the gap for women in STEM and speaking recently at a Tedx Talk about the importance of diverse teams and How to hire the right tech talent. Before launching Wyncode in 2014, Johanna spent a decade in corporate management with the National Hockey League becoming the highest-ranking female in her department’s history. There she led a team of managers as well as overseeing the business operations of the officiating department, managing the largest departmental budget within the organization. 2650 NW 5th Ave Miami, FL, 33127 Wyncode Academy wyncode wyncode.co
Johanna holds an honors Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Toronto. In 2007 she represented Canada as a forward at the World Floorball Championships.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Six years later, LaunchCode’s model completely flips two traditional ideas on their heads: it changes the way people are educated and changes the way employers hire.
LaunchCode creates economic opportunity by adding new talent to tech ecosystems across the nation. While careers in technology have traditionally been reserved for those with a four-year computer science degree, LaunchCode’s programs are free and accessible to motivated individuals who are assessed for passion, drive, and aptitude rather than credentials.
Fundamental to LaunchCode’s method is an innovative, skills-based apprenticeship model providing regional employers with homegrown, diverse talent in a low-risk trial that encourages hirers to ditch their strict resume credentials. Apprentices are paid living wages and learn skills on-the-job and through mentorship from a senior employee. The host company gets to “try before they hire” and LaunchCode’s model seamlessly integrates with their current hiring practices. The process is a win-win and effective in filling niche skills gaps in an accelerated format—more than 90 percent of LaunchCode apprentices are hired into full-time roles, most after 90-120 days.
OUR STORY Founded as a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2013 by entrepreneur Jim McKelvey, LaunchCode was conceived in response to the tech talent shortage plaguing companies across the nation. Jim experienced the issue firsthand after cofounding payment processing technology, Square, was forced to move from St. Louis to Silicon Valley to tap into the robust pool of tech talent it needed to thrive. The move left Jim—a St. Louis native—grappling with the fact that those high-paying and upwardly-mobile jobs wouldn’t be in his hometown. He knew the region was rich with individuals driven to succeed but without an accessible and affordable pathway to do so. LaunchCode would be that pathway.
Just as cutting-edge as its apprenticeship program is LaunchCode’s hybrid education model, which equips students with both the technical and jobreadiness skills needed to land their first tech job. Free and accessible to learners, LaunchCode’s curriculum revolves around what skills are in-demand by local employers and adapts based on industry trends— differentiating the model from that of traditional higher-education learning. The curriculum blends part-time, in-person instruction supported by teaching assistants and mentors with online, out-of-classroom work. Another benefit of LaunchCode’s unconventional classrooms is the community-like environment it creates. Students benefit by learning alongside individuals from all walks of life, but all working towards a common goal. Since inception in St. Louis, LaunchCode has expanded to several other cities, opening an office in South Florida in 2015. LaunchCode has hosted several iterations of their free education and job placement course in Miami-Dade and has launched nearly 200 tech careers in the region. In 2019, LaunchCode announced its first course in Broward County after receiving funding and in-kind resources for the course from The Jim Moran Foundation, The Batchelor Foundation and the City of Deerfield Beach. LaunchCode’s impact on the Miami ecosystem is tremendous. Its students launch into life-changing career trajectories, gain financial security and, most notably, get the chance to achieve their dreams by stepping past the barriers to their success. Likewise, LaunchCode’s company partners benefit from tapping into a robust pool of driven individuals they otherwise would have never found.
launchcode launchcode.org launchcode.org
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Preparing the Next Generation for the 4th Industrial Revolution
legacy by providing internship opportunities to college and high school students interested in STEM – our next generation of professionals. We have educated over 1,000 children ages 4-13 in Greater Miami.
ELEVATOR PITCH Code Explorers is a technology research and training development organization. Today’s global workforce faces an urgent need to gain new skills to keep up-to-date with the changing requirements of their jobs. Similarly, the global workforce of tomorrow – today’s children and youth – urgently need an education that sets them up for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Social Entrepreneurship is at the heart of what we do. Whether is developing and delivering remarkable technology program for kids or researching emergent technologies for social causes, Code Explorers is at the forefront of the next generation, emergent technology learning. With community support, we can make an impact in Miami for the best place to live, work and play. Want to know how technology and our research can make your company Social Responsibility shine? Interested in bringing our award-winning kids’ programs to your location? Give us a call to explore alternatives for engagement.
OUR STORY Code Explorers was founded in 2014 as a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit organization by university professors, professional engineers, computer scientists and instructional designers. With innovative technology programs in computer science, 3D, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, augmented reality, and internet of things as well as career explorations in engineering, we can start preparing the next generation much earlier than entire generations that came before us. Code Explorers innovative technology programs change student lives, inspiring them to see the possibilities in emerging technologies.
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September 2019 – Code Explorers was selected by the United Nations to present the Miami Empathy Tech project at the General Assembly UNSDG Action Zone. The R&D technology innovation project consisted on the integration of Artificial Intelligence with Virtual Avatars, 3D and Virtual Reality to teach empathy using the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework—a first in South Florida. August 2019 – Comcast donated through Dell Philanthropies VR-ready computers to support our emergent technology programs.
Our vision is to empower students around the world with the skills they need to become lifelong learners through innovative technology educational programs. Working together, we believe we can create an educational transformation for economic grow and global competitiveness. We believe in the development of young people who will change the world and that diversity is a source of innovation. We are proud to continue our
May 2019 – Amazon Web Services provided a grant and professional support to Code Explorers to develop educational programs using AWS AI Avatars and Virtual Reality. 89
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April 2019 - The Children’s Trust in Miami, Florida awarded Code Explorers an innovation grant to develop the World’s First Virtual/Augmented Reality (VRAR) sustainability with empathy educational curriculum for youth in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG). June 2018 – City of Doral announced Code Explorers as an educational technology partner for its Smart City program. March 2018 – City of Doral, FL awarded a contract to Code Explorers to develop and implement the first Internet of Things (IoT) Virtual and Augmented Reality Art Exhibit gallery in celebration of The Sister Cities International program. June, 2016 – The Children Trust awarded Code Explorers a 2-year grant to participate in a Capacity Building program for Community Based Organizations or CBO’s. Feb, 2016 – University of Miami Toppel Career Center nominated Code Explorers for Internship of the Year. codeexplorers 305-454-6515 info@codeexplorers.org Watch our customer experience on our YouTube channel Code Explorers, Inc codeexplorers.org
December 2015 - South Florida Digital Alliance awarded Code Explorers the Digital Excellence and Digital Awards. The awards recognize those organizations throughout South Florida who have made a positive impact in the community through the use and deployment of technology. May 2014 - Code Explorers is born. 90
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ELEVATOR PITCH Xennial Digital (XD) is a Miami-based tech company born in early 2018 with the sole objective of transforming learning through the use of VR, AR and Mixed Reality. The company is a self-funded startup that became independent in March 2018 when it separated from global conglomerate WPP, one of the world’s largest marketing and advertising holding companies. After 12 years under WPP, Co-Founders Douglas Fajardo and Lorenzo Vallone decided to purchase back the company to follow their vision to build eXtended Reality (XR) platforms and solutions through Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality technologies.
Diego Silva – XR Creative Director, Tiffen Baker – VP/Sr. Client Director, Lorenzo Vallone – Co-Founder / CTO, Douglas Fajardo – Co-Founder / CEO
OUR STORY XD has made great advances during its short life launching the first version of its XR Learning Platform, which has been implemented in dozens of schools, universities and corporate training environments, both in the U.S. and internationally. The company has also been recognized for some of its high impact learning projects, including the implementation of a VR Training Lab for farmers being impacted by climate change in the highlands of Guatemala, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy. The VR Training Solution allows farmers, some of them illiterate, to build irrigation systems through the capture of rainwater, by simulating in VR the way they learn: by listening, seeing and doing. XD was also selected by Magic Leap as one of only 33 companies, from over 7,000 global submissions, for its Independent Creator Program. Under this program, XD built one of the first Spatial Computing experiences focusing on Climate Change education and awareness.
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VR Lab at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
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Creating a highly engaging learning experience in the classroom.
Xennial Digital’s CEO, Douglas Fajardo, has also been recognized in his native country of Guatemala as a top entrepreneur by various entities and is currently a member of the Leadership Team of the Singularity U Miami Chapter.
Selected by Magic Leap for its Indie Creator Program.
Xennial Digital Xennial Digital xennialdigital.com
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Carlos Vazquez started Miami EdTech as a meetup in January 2017. “It was born out of my journey as an entrepreneur in education technology and having so many colleagues navigating the EdTech world,” he says. “The meetup was just to help people through the combined effort.”
Miami EdTech exists to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit within today’s educators and to create a world where innovative technologies redefine education with real-world, scalable solutions.
Outreach and support from CIC gave Vazquez the confidence and infrastructure he needed to grow the meetup into what it is today: a hub for getting the latest EdTech into the hands of those who need it most.
OUR STORY The most transformational innovations in education are born from partnerships with learners, parents, teachers, and administrators. As Miamians themselves, the Miami EdTech team has developed its programming and ethos around serving both its stakeholders and the city it calls home.
Its SIEL (Social Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership) Incubator, the result of a partnership with Teach for America, helps bring the latest EdTech to students who face inequities. Through the critical lens of education principles and frameworks, the incubator focuses on combining
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best practices of launching and scaling a startup, empowering its cohorts to develop and deploy effective solutions for issues in education. The sixweek program teaches design thinking, user testing, and lean scaling, in addition to pitch coaching, so that participants can start building their EdTech business.
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In 2019, Carlos also founded the Miami chapter of CSTA (the Computer Science Teachers Association). CSTA Miami’s goal is to connect Miam to the great global movement on CS education, connecting local computer science teachers and adding their voice to that of the national computer science education community. It gives educators who have been through Miami EdTechs’ programs a chance to be part of a larger, permanent community. And when educators are empowered to use more technology in their classrooms, everyone benefits—especially students.
For entrepreneurs further along in their entrepreneurial journey, Miami EdTech has created its Accelerator, which helps diverse groups of entrepreneurs to build out ideas and products that solve some of education’s biggest challenges. From educators who have an idea to solve a problem they face in the classroom but lack insight on what to do next, to existing EdTech companies seeking collaboration and community, to coders and developers who want to work in the EdTech space, the Incubator supports them all. Participants identify their market strategy and use iterative learning to develop an MVP. They also have a chance to pitch their MVP to a group of EdTech experts and investors to access the capital they need to grow.
Miami was recently ranked number one in terms of startup activity in the US, and it’s clear that Miami EdTech’s energy has contributed to that movement. “Miami is a city that should be known for its diversity, strength of character, its passion, and its resourcefulness,” says Carlos. “We see ourselves as part of that.”
The organization’s programs aren’t just for entrepreneurs. The EdXpert Program is powered by Microsoft, which awarded a $125,000 grant to the program in May 2019. EdXpert provides professional development opportunities in computer science to Maimi-Dade County public school teachers. This “train the trainer” program builds capacity for teachers to deliver computer science and technology-enabled lessons in the classroom. In increasing the pipeline and diversity of computer science teachers, the EdXpert Program makes computer science education in Miami-Dade more inclusive and supports the development of 21st-century skills for students.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Yasiara came from Colombia and studied at Columbia U, but she’s an exception. According to the BBC, today 9 Million Latin American students want to study their degree overseas but only 1% actually do so. Why? Because they don’t know what options are available to them and if their families could even afford them.
OUR STORY Misstudy was born to offer overseas students the best education opportunities in the world. In one stop, they are able to choose from our global database of universities, the university that fits the best with their needs and budget, and prepare for the application process which multiplies their chances of acceptance. Our solution works for everyone, but we focus principally on students trying to study their undergrad or grad degree overseas. We are focused on the Latin American market right now given my expertise, and next plan to expand to Asia and the Middle East. In certain countries where the company is present, Misstudy looks for key strategic partners. For example in Ecuador, the company has partnered with 2 entities. One has access to a database of thousands of high school students and parents and creates tailored events for Misstudy to attend. The other is a 10 year expert in selling online education in Latin America and provides marketing and sales strategies and a local sales force. Misstudy provides a unique and patented insight into elite university admissions. Getting into a top school is a daunting process. We unlock educational possibilities by creating strategic plans with future undergraduate and graduate students. Our programs are at the crossroads of one of the most important decisions in life and they differentiate candidates and maximize their overall lifetime value. It’s about making a choice between two different futures.
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Financial services.
Our innovative platform has been adopted by a global network of influential scholars and fortunate graduates. We unlock educational possibilities by creating strategic plans with future undergraduate and graduate students. But at Misstudy our impact goes beyond academia and we measure success by the influence our alumni have on business and society. Having lived in ten countries and fluently speaking four languages has allowed Misstudy to compete on a global level and adapt the platform to local idiosyncrasies.
• Housing. • Insurance. • Travel agencies. • Test preparation centers.
We’re an online company and we have helped more than 700 students reach their goals to study anywhere. We support the student’s from Miami who have gotten scholarships and are studying in amazing places like: NYC, Boston, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona and more!
• Visa application services. • Head hunting.
Besides our core admission business, we have partnered with service providers for foreign students, to generate further sources of revenue. Examples of services provided are:
• SubAgent contracts. • Webinars to promote specific university programs. Yasiara Ortiz yasiara.ortiz@misstudy.com 786-609-6927 929 Meridian Ave Apt. 1 Miami Beach, FL, 33139 misstudyy misstudy misstudy.com 96
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“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.� ~ GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
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ELEVATOR PITCH Water is one of our more precious resources. At Ecovie, we believe that decentralized water management is necessary to help assure everyone has clean and plentiful water. Potable water scarcity, water quality, water discharge, and storm water runoff are real issues impacting communities across the country. At Ecovie, we design and deliver on-site water management solutions for commercial and select residential scale. By collecting rainwater, treating and recycling greywater and blackwater, we contribute to developing water resilient communities, one building at a time.
Southeastern Florida is facing water problems that can be resolved with thought leadership, proper planning and a comprehensive action plan. Here, we explore the issues in Southeastern Florida and present ways in which on-site water management can help prevent and solve water issues that could have a strong effect on the health of our people and especially our children.
Miami Can Potentially Run Out of Potable Water
The challenges facing Miami water contamination have been escalating to new heights. Flooding, discharge of fats, oil and greases, buildings discharge, overloaded treatment plants, mined limestone quarries, saltwater intrusion, leaking septic tanks and cracked superfund sites, are all contamination problems on their own. When all of them are considered together, we can easily reach a crisis point, where short term solutions will have a very slim impact.
Water Contamination Risks Facing Miami
Every city has water supply challenges, no matter how much water surrounds them. Miami is often considered an area with abundant water and thus immune to water supply issues. We more often think of an excess of water causing flooding and runoff exacerbated by sea-level rise. In fact, we do not think enough about the availability of potable water, which is the most urgent need that we must address before it is too late.
Flooding
In addition to property damage, safety, and nuisance of flooding, dirty, contaminated water is washed into waterways. In the case of Miami and the other southeastern cities, this is more immediate than in other areas. Southeastern Florida has an added runoff caused by urban and local natural factors.
Miami pulls its drinking water from the Biscayne aquifer. As stated by the United States Coast Guard, the Biscayne aquifer underlies an area of about 4,000 square miles and is the principal source of water for all of Dade and Broward Counties and the southeastern part of Palm Beach County in southern Florida. Throughout much of the its area, the top of this high permeable aquifer is at or near the land surface. The water in the aquifer is easily accessible, but it is also very susceptible to contamination, since shorter and more direct pathways are present. The Biscayne aquifer, that provided us with clean water for many years, is now at risk of having salt intrusion and serious contamination.
As many other cities, Miami is built with impermeable surfaces. Paved areas and rooftops are perfect conduits for storm water runoff. This dirty water reaches our canals and Biscayne Bay almost immediately affecting the water quality and creating flooding.
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Discharge of Fats, Oils, and Greases
Flooding is also more prevalent due to a stronger rainfall intensity. Miami’s rainfall during heavy rains has increased over 7% over the last 50 years. While this may not sound high, it can represent the difference between flooding and not flooding.
Miami is under an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consent decree to reduce the wastewater discharge that is contaminating Biscayne Bay. Fats, oils, and greases (FOG) are significant water contaminants and are a problem in Miami area, where the food service industry is a key component of the local economy and adds FOGs to the residential wastewater. These FOGs directly affect local waterways and can have adverse effects on wildlife and the quality of potable water. FOGs can clog pipes and cause raw wastewater discharge into major waterways such as Biscayne Bay which in turn reaches the Biscayne aquifer, Southeastern Florida’s main water supply.
The frequency of fair-weather flooding, where unusually high tides bring ocean water into streets and neighborhoods, is also increasing.
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Building Discharge
Building discharge is created by water coming from toilet flushing, showers, washing machines, kitchen sink, dishwasher, bathroom sinks. This water goes to the sanitary sewer. A single family of four tends to generate about six thousand gallons of wastewater per month, that goes into the sanitary sewer. Additionally, garden irrigation and storm water discharge can add about three thousand gallons per family per month, going to the storm water sewage. Building discharge is a big issue in Southeastern Florida and many building permit requests are being denied in certain areas of MiamiDade County because the sewage system simply cannot handle any more wastewater.
Overloaded Treatment Plants
Treatment plants can physically only handle a certain amount of water each day. When a major rainstorm occurs, the systems physically cannot handle the amount of water flowing through them, so raw wastewater is discharged into local waterways. This contaminated water eventually makes its way into the Biscayne aquifer.
Mined Limestone Quarries
About 20 years ago, limestone quarries were mined in close proximity to the Biscayne aquifer. Now, contaminated water, including mining chemicals, has less distance to get to the aquifer and is reaching our potable water source.
Leaking Septic Tanks
Septic tanks are used throughout Miami-Dade County and there are over ninety thousand in use. These tanks are known to leak, and waste can easily get into the groundwater. Since Biscayne aquifer is so shallow, this contamination is a major driver of septic tanks water leakage with acetaminophen (Tylenol) being detected in many areas.
Saltwater Intrusion
In the Miami area, the aquifer is quite close to the seafloor and saltwater can seep into its base. This occurs when sea levels rise and added pressure is put on the walls of the aquifer. This saltwater intrusion is contaminating the Biscayne aquifer. 101
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Leaking Superfund Sites
According to the EPA, South Florida has 11 superfund sites. The Superfund sites are underground storage tanks created to store hazardous waste and keep them safe from adverse weather or tampering. However, it is very common for them to leak. These tanks can sometimes be mere feet away from where groundwater runs. Many Miami-Dade area sites have been designated as EPA superfund sites and have been proven to be contaminating the aquifer.
It has been calculated that a non-potable rainwater system on a singlefamily home could supply up to sixty thousand gallons of water per year and an order of magnitude more for large buildings. Potable rainwater systems can approach full off-grid water supply and reduce the water discharge for the benefit of its residents. By reducing the amount of water that needs to be treated centrally, the benefits of rainwater collection are twofold. First, they lessen the load on wastewater treatment facilities, specifically during rain events. Second, saltwater intrusion lessens due to fewer voids in the aquifer.
Miami economic and urban growth coupled with the increase in rainfall in the last few years creates a perfect storm for water contamination. Building and food services discharge, overloaded treatment plants, mining chemicals, saltwater intrusion, leaking septic tanks and dripping superfund sites, are directly impacting the quality of the water we drink.
As one of many storm water best management practices, rainwater collection offers runoff reduction and adds a viable water supply by using collected water on-site beneficially.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) estimates that by 2045, as much as 29 percent of Miami Beach and 26 percent of Key Biscayne could be “chronically inundated,â€? which UCS defines as flooding twice a month. This will be due to the combination of heavier rainfall, higher tides, and more impervious surfaces.
Greywater Recycling
Greywater is water coming from showers, laundry, bathroom sinks and cooling towers. It has less contamination than blackwater, which includes toilets and kitchen discharge. A greywater system treats water on-site for potable and non-potable purposes.
Miami area is facing water disruption and scarcity of potable water risks and more urgency is needed to build a water resilient habitat for all of us. The solutions typically offered tend to be large scale in nature. Steps like increased release from the Everglades, large city sewer expansion, and piping and pumping infrastructure replacement-in-kind are under work. However, there are resilient complementary on-site solutions that are faster, easier and cheaper to execute.
On-Site Water Management Solutions
By managing on-site water, it is possible to create a safe water supply for potable and non-potable needs while benefiting our environment. Treating rainwater, grey or black water, insulates us from water shortages while reducing demand from aquifers and reservoirs. Cutting wastewater and stormwater discharge keeps our cities growing and our water source cleaner. Using on-site water provides emergency water supply in crisis time.
Rainwater Collection
Rainwater collection is a simple and efficient way to help reduce runoff, prevent flooding and provide a very viable water supply, taking load off the Biscayne aquifer. It is relatively low cost and low maintenance depending on the system capacity. In a rain-heavy area like Miami, rainwater can be collected and used for non-potable applications like toilet flushing, irrigation, and cooling tower makeup. It can also be used as potable water with the proper water treatment. Using clean rainwater as a drinking water source is at least as healthier as the municipal water supply with the advantage of lacking pesticides and fertilizers, toxic Superfund material, septic tanks contaminants, carcinogenic chlorine and pharmaceuticals, among other contaminants, all present in our tap water. 102
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There is a copious amount of shower, laundry, bath, and sink water that comes from buildings. In fact, greywater is the largest wastewater contributor in a city. Well over 50% of all domestic wastewater can be captured as greywater, reducing discharge over 50% and cutting the load on downstream infrastructure. In effect, a twenty-story high rise could discharge closer to what a ten-story high rise would do. The impact on the environment and the development opportunities offered could be transformational. By treating captured greywater to a standard required for toilet flushing, cooling tower make-up, irrigation, and laundry, the strain on municipal water treatment and overflows would be greatly reduced. Florida requires that greywater recycling systems be certified NSF 350. Look for those types of systems when selecting a greywater system.
Blackwater/Wastewater
Blackwater is wastewater coming from toilets and kitchens, which tends to have a high biological load (BOD), fats, oils and greases (FOG), and solids. Around ninety thousand residences in Miami-Dade County keep this water in a septic tank. Rather than allowing lightly treated water from an inefficient septic tank to leak into water supplies, it is relatively easy to treat wastewater and blackwater to a standard in which it can be used on-site for non-potable purposes.
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One of the easier solutions is to convert the ninety thousand septic tanks in Miami-Dade County to active aerobic systems. There are systems on the market that allow for retrofits to reusable water quality without having to replace the tank. The net cost of such a solution would be a small fraction of the proposed city sewer extensions under discussion, even including monitoring and regulation. Since water from such systems is suitable for drip irrigation, there can be zero discharge and no seepage of contaminated water to the aquifer. When coupled with a greywater system, the actual amount of water requiring treatment is more than cut in half.
We can tackle our water issues with strong innovation, establishing Miami and Southeastern Florida as leaders in the area of comprehensive water management solutions. Only if city officials establish adequate regulation, if developers, architects and engineers design with comprehensive on-site reusable water management as a critical design criteria, if Universities collaborate for research and development purposes, and if the community in general is supportive of a leading initiative on water reuse, will we be able to accelerate our cities preparedness and to become one of the leading water resilient cities in the USA.
Like many other US cities, Miami has an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) consent decree and significant issues with clogged piping infrastructure caused by fats, oils and greases (FOG). Food services are the main contributors to FOG and the focus of many of the solutions. By eliminating discharge and by monitoring interceptors and grease traps, Miami Dade County can go a long way to preventing FOG related issues downstream. This in fact is happening with programs being implemented by Miami-Dade County.
We have the responsibility to create a healthy environment for our children. Let’s do it. For more information, please contact Ecovie Water Management at +1 833 ECOVIEE
Conclusion
Worldwide, on-site water management is collectively making a big impact on the water supply. These techniques are just starting to be adopted in the Miami County area, and will, if widely adopted, be part of the solution to its water challenges.
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Rachel Silverstein, Executive Director
ELEVATOR PITCH Miami Waterkeeper is a nonprofit focused on keeping the water in South Florida clean. Through community outreach, education, sciencebased research, and legal advocacy, Miami Waterkeeper aims to ensure swimmable, drinkable, and fishable water for all.
OUR STORY Rachel Silverstein, Miami Waterkeeper’s Executive Director, began running Waterkeeper in June of 2014. The organization is part of an international network of water nonprofits that are members of the Waterkeeper Alliance. “We’re all independent nonprofits focused on our own local watersheds,” Silverstein explains; her jurisdiction is Miami-Dade and Broward County. “We basically cover from the Everglades out to the reef.” Waterkeeper functions as a community watchdog organization stewarding the local waterways, making sure they’re kept clean and safe for the environment, and for our community needs. 105
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“We believe clean water is what makes Miami, Miami,” says Silverstein. “It’s what makes people live here. It’s central to our culture here, our economy, our community, our environment.” Miami Waterkeeper focuses on three major themes: clean water and water pollution; habitat protection (coral reefs, seagrasses, mangroves, dunes); and finding sea level rise resiliency. Silverstein is a San Diego native with a PhD in coral reef ecology from the University of Miami and has worked on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard. She says she wanted to advocate to protect coral reefs because they’re disappearing so quickly. “I felt this position was a good mix of science, policy, and making change to protect the environment that I love,” says Silverstein.
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Though you can never really solve the region’s water-related problems, Miami Waterkeeper has had some impressive successes. They were able to stop a sewage leak within a matter of days that had been ignored for over a year. They were able to get several hundred Endangered Species Act-listed corals rescued during the PortMiami Deep Dredge project, and over 10,000 replaced out on the reef. They’ve also achieved tangible improvements in how dredging projects will be conducted in the future, because of how the 2013-2015 Port of Miami dredging project damaged hundreds of thousands of corals. Silverstein takes pride in Miami Waterkeeper’s “unique approach” in combining science with community outreach, and legal and political advocacy. With lawyers, scientists, and education specialists on staff, they approach problems from all of these angles. They’re also “hyperlocal,” says Silverstein, “so we can respond to issues and events in our community very quickly.” Despite tangible progress, “there’s no shortage of work in our area,” says Silverstein. “One of the most difficult things we deal with is having a limited capacity as a small nonprofit. So we’re always trying to grow.” Everything the organization deals with is urgent, but Silverstein says sea level rise is particularly pressing in the Miami region. “It’s the issue that affects all other issues we talk about in our community,” she says. 107
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“From public health, to security, to the environment, to schools, hospitals, emergency services.” Many changes will have to be made in the days and years to come, she says, in terms of infrastructure, and how people live in this part of the world.
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Anyone can become a member of Miami Waterkeeper. The best way to stay in touch with them, says Silverstein, is to follow them on social media (@miamiwaterkeeper). For more information, visit miamiwaterkeeper.org.
Miami Waterkeeper is a grassroots organization that can’t do their work without the community. A lot of their funding comes from donations, and they have many volunteer events that people can come to. They have a program called “1000 Eyes on the Water” that trains community members to identify, document, and report pollution in their neighborhood and on the water as they go about their daily lives. Miami Waterkeeper also shares their water sampling data through an app called Swim Guide, which is free and updated weekly with the latest information about where it’s safe to swim.
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“FAB Camper” was the brainchild of a group of local high school teens. They volunteered as summer interns for FillABag, providing local area youth camps with impactful eco-activism experiences.
beach. Planted next to sorting trash cans at a beachfront access point, the whitewashed 6’ post with 4 sea-green pegs was a beacon designed to hold reusable bags and buckets for people to use. “Did you forget your bag today? No problem, use one or ours!”
ELEVATOR PITCH FillABag stations empower people to turn daily beach walks into meaningful clean ups by providing reusable bags and buckets to fill with trash during their stroll.
In 2018, our friends at www.volunteercleanup.org, a group of Miami-based ecowarriors, suggested that we enter and submit our concept to The Miami Foundation Public Space Challenge; a competition open to Miamians who want to create, improve or activate their local public spaces.
OUR STORY The Ocean Conservancy considers that the number one threat to Florida’s marine environment is trash and marine debris.
After winning the 2018 Public Space Challenge grant, and with the ongoing support of the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, 14 FAB Stations have been activated so far in Key Biscayne, Virginia Key, Surfside, the Dr. Von D. Minzell-Eula Johnson State Park in Dania Beach, and on the historic Flagler Avenue boardwalk in New Smyrna Beach. Expansion plans in 2019 include more FAB Stations in Miami-Dade, Broward and Volusia Counties, as well as charter stations in Palm Beach and Indian River Counties.
In 2015, we had an idea; bring an empty bag on daily beach strolls, fill it with trash found along the shoreline, and share our activity on social media and community chats. The public response to our plan has been overwhelmingly positive. Clearly it has tapped into a growing sense of outrage at the destruction of our coastal environments.
FillABag is proud to be part of a growing international movement of ecominded awareness and action. Locally, our beaches in South Florida are one of our most valued treasures and knowing that we are not alone in wanting to preserve their beauty and magic is encouraging.
People began sharing their own “fill a bag” pictures, while others asked how they could help.
“Let’s make it easy!”
National Institute of Health studies indicates people of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds benefit from connections with others while engaging in environmental activism. After participating in beach clean ups,
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FillABag Station located in Key Biscayne
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Manny Rionda - CEO and Founder, Nancy Levitt Davis - Co-Founder, James Duncan - Co-Founder
people are more confident in their knowledge about their environments and more observant of marine life. FAB stations provide an important opportunity to learn the joy of community service and the value of our environment. There’s a movement happening. People are tired of seeing trash on their beaches, and in their communities. Folks are organizing and participating in clean ups on a more consistent basis, and FillABag is making it easier to engage people in activities that impact lifestyle awareness choices.
FillABag volunteers Manuela McDanal and her 4 year old son Nico.
From the onset, FillABag’s foundation was designed around the MVP Model; Minimal Viable Product. Let’s provide a way to engage people in eco-activism, and allow the individual’s and the local community’s response to define its trajectory.
Biscayne Community Foundation, in securing funding sources to ensure our ability to sustain and scale the longevity of the project. Join the movement by filling a bag at your favorite beach and by following us on Instagram @fillabag.
When selecting and vetting potential sites, all efforts are made to tailor the project to the community and its location. This includes collaboration with location stakeholders; ensuring that the design compliments the character of the location, integrating social media platforms, scaffolding a maintenance model defining roles for volunteers to monitor the FAB Station, and an educational outreach component. Throughout the process, we continue to work closely with our non-profit fiscal sponsor, The Key
FillABag 200 Crandon Blvd. Suite 109 Key Biscayne, FL, 33149 getinvolved@fillabag.co
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ELEVATOR PITCH Lady Green Miami is dedicated to bringing sustainability into today’s waste management. Through its innovative pay-to-throw/recycle service and other unique programs, Lady Green hopes to significantly benefit the environment, the economy and everyone’s quality of life.
In addition to helping participants and communities reduce, reuse, and recycle, Lady Green offers educational and incentive programs to help its message take root. Through education, Michelle believes that a sustainable and holistic approach is the most effective in creating a lasting change when it comes to matters of waste management.
OUR STORY
A recycling guide, for example, helps households and businesses navigate what materials go where—and why—and a composting how-to toolkit enables people to even further reduce their waste by entering organics back into the nutrient cycle and keeping them out of the landfill. The company also offers electronics recycling and junk removal services.
Michelle Salas founded Lady Green Miami Recycling Company in 2010 with a goal to protect the environment and help people and businesses through waste reduction in Miami communities. Today, Lady Green Miami provides waste pickup and multi-stream recycling services to over 1,000 locations throughout Miami-Dade County.
But Lady Green doesn’t stop there. To ensure customers understand the system, Lady Green staff spends time with clients at their properties to offer best practices and answer questions. They also service the bins from wherever they are located; customers don’t need to move them to the curb.
“Lady Green recognizes the rising environmental challenges and demands that our generation faces as well as future generations,” says Michelle. “Natural resource depletion is of specific concern to me because natural resources provide all of the world’s products and services. Our environment and its natural resources are also at risk from the global impacts of climate change.”
There is also a mobile app that will be launched by the end of 2019, which will allow customers to schedule pickups, review their waste diversion
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metrics, and gamify their recycling practices in an effort to educate and reduce contamination rates. Michelle is also publishing a children’s book entitled The Lady Green Club to inspire young generations to care for the environment.
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manner. We look forward to continuing to grow our services provided within the school while cheering them on as an industry game-changer.” - Meghann Collard
“Currently, I feel like we’re so disconnected from waste,” Michelle said in a recent interview with Waste360, whose 40 Under 40 award, Michelle earned for her inspiring and innovative contributions to the waste management and recycling industry. “But through storytelling, I hope to help fix that disconnect. I also hope to inspire children to go after their dreams by relaying the message that anything is possible if you truly believe and work at it.”
Testimonials
https://thefloridavillager. com/2019/04/08/ palmetto-elementary-ischanging-the-world-onebottle-at-a-time/
Gulliver Preparatory Schools – Tyrone Sandaal, Prep Dean of Students 305-666-7937 ext. 1549 “When our school decided to review our sustainability and recycling efforts we met with a number of companies. We chose Lady Green because Michelle’s commitment to recycling and the environment inspired us. She has been a proactive partner in our work ever since. Every single thing she said that she would do she has done. Her data-supported recommendations for organizational improvement have reinvigorated our program. I recently recommended her enthusiastically to a neighbor school because I believe highly in the ethos of the company, and in Michelle’s leadership.” –Tyrone Sandaal
E-Scrap, Inc. – Gustavo Michelle Salas, Founder & President Saliva, President 305-636-1911 “During the last two years it has been a success story to work with Michelle Salas and Lady Green. This is due to her diligence and ability to comprehend our needs. Her positive and pleasant attitude makes it a pleasure to work with Michelle. We are highly motivated to find and explore ways to do more recycling projects with Michelle and Lady Green. Her company provides top-notch service and quality.” -Gus Saliva
Palmetto Elementary - Meghann Collard, PTSA - 305-238-4306 “Lady Green Recycling has been paramount in our efforts to bring responsible plastic and aluminum recycling to our school. Their extensive knowledge on the waste management category, combined with their passion for proper waste disposal and reduction is exactly what our students and community need. Their partnership has allowed us to teach better ways to recycle, and made it easy for us to manage the day-to-day process in a cost-effective
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LEAN ORB COM POSTABLE FOOD PAC K AGI N G
ELEVATOR PITCH
like NBC and the Miami Herald, after becoming one of the finalists at Babson College’s accelerator WIN Lab, which stands for Women Innovating Now.
Lean Orb is a Miami-based compostable foodservice packaging company that is transforming the disposable food packaging culture in the hospitality sector and beyond. Their team designs and distributes alternatives to single-use plastic tableware and catering supplies. They offer solutions to restaurants, hotels, corporate headquarters, music festivals, schools, and other venues where disposable items are used. The company is committed to producing responsible packaging which will take us a step closer to a society where financial, ecological and social innovation co-exists without compromising the resources of future generations. Team’s core mission is providing immediate quantifiable solutions to the problem of plastic waste.
When building products, the team is committed to converting highly renewable and recycled fibers. Additionally, all products have an upside to the end-of-life challenges by being compostable. Unfortunately, almost all single-use food packaging we have ever used around the world, still exists somewhere. Plastic items like disposable cups, straws, plates, and containers end up in trash sites as well as in rivers and oceans around the world. With the foodservice industry discarding close to 180 billion plastic disposables, the problem Lean Orb is solving for their customers is referred by local governments as the global environmental crisis.
OUR STORY
There is an presumed convenience to plastic packaging, but as we’ve all learned, these products have had an unintended consequence. While Lean Orb’s expertise is in product development, the team’s ambitious goals for environmental progress goes beyond sustainable product solutions. Much of the team’s attention is focusing on raising awareness and educating the
Since its launch in 2017 by the founder and CEO Anastasia Mikhalochkina, Lean Orb has been able to design a complete portfolio of products based on various fiber technologies. The company’s headquarters is currently at the Cambridge Innovation Center which is a known hub for many cutting-edge start-ups. In 2019, the company was recognized by multiple media channels,
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Anastasia Mikhalochkina, CEO, Founder
Carolina Franccesca, Account & Strategy
Javier R Gutierrez, Finance
Mariella Echeverri, Operations
Jen Abernathy, Community Outreach
Jordan Gallant, RD
corporate sector on the responsible reduction of overall packaging waste. Miami is a waterfront community, the waste we fail to keep onshore not only becomes a local problem, but also a global problem. As a community, we understand that single-use toxic materials should be obsolete and the company is currently facing significant growth based on the corporate demand for solutions. The diversity of products they offer has allowed the company to work with a variety of clients such as the Four Seasons, The W Hotel, Cambridge Innovation Center, Carrolton School and large music festivals such as Ultra who are taking the environmental initiative to phase out plastic disposables from operations. Closing the loop of waste is a challenge but these products are designed to inspire policymakers to build more industrial composting sites for the public and private sector in order to promote responsible consumption of packaging.
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WHEN YOU KNOW, LIKE WE DO, THAT YOU NEED 800 GALLONS OF WATER JUST TO PRODUCE ONE T-SHIRT, YOU CLEARLY UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY TO PRODUCE ONLY WHAT IS WORTH PRODUCING.
ELEVATOR PITCH Sustalytics is a service platform for fashion brands and retailers that predicts customer demand by leveraging artificial intelligence. We empower fashion companies to understand their customers’ needs to produce effectively and to be profitable and sustainable.
OUR STORY Retail fashion companies overproduce because they are not able to accurately forecast for tomorrow with the tools they have today. H&M was accused of burning 60 tons of unsold clothes worth $4.3 million. Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Nike, just to name a few, face the same problem. The truth is that it’s actually a handful of people who have historically decided on massive production, basing that decision on old data, trends, and to be frank, their gut feeling. And when they get it wrong, the consequences are considerable—both economically and environmentally. When you know, like we do, that you need 800 gallons of water just to produce one T-shirt, you clearly understand the urgency to produce only what is worth producing. We were part of the Google Launchpad Program in Miami and selected to participate in one of 500 Startups Miami’s founder boot camps. We joined their Startups-in-Residence program this year.
Sustalytics enables brands to produce only what consumers want by predicting demand. We leverage technology to offer tailormade insights for each brand on each of their prototype products per precise location so they can optimize their designs, production, and distribution. Let’s not forget that the T-shirt you are wearing today travelled halfway across the globe to get to you.
Now, is it truly innovative and groundbreaking to check what people want beforehand? It’s not. But it is innovative to bring it to the industry’s attention when the industry has not leveraged it. Netflix decided to produce House of Cards because they analyzed their users’ data and realized that was what they wanted. Known to have reached up to 4.6 million viewers, HOC proves the power of big data & customer analytics.
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Our value proposition follows the same logic: we stitch the data together to understand what consumers want so that the fashion industry can become more customer-centric and benefit from customer intelligence. Through data, we understand how customers think and behave; we make their voice have meaning and advocate for their needs. We translate these precious insights into actionable data that empowers retailers before making business decisions. We give brands and retailers the ability to better satisfy their customers and to make them feel valued and to be sustainable. If you are interested in learning more and see how we can support you in optimizing cost, pleasing consumers, and helping the environment, please contact us at info@sustalytics.com or visit our website www.sustalytics. com. If you’re interested in seeing what are the latest trends based on consumer intelligence, please check our whitepapers on: www.sustalytics.com
Esquisse lingerie, one of our client brands, proves extraordinary growth potential by focusing on what customers want. A sustainable lingerie brand, they grew their assortment offer from intimate apparel only to adding sleepwear and swimwear in just 1.5 year. Tally Weijl is a multinational client brand present in 39 countries and with more than 860 stores. Beat Gruering, founder and CEO said that thanks to Sustalytics, Tally Weijl is “predicting bestsellers correctly 9 out of 10 times. We measured a +15% in potential revenue growth.�
66 W Flagler Street, #1007, Miami, FL, 33130 FLinfo@sustalytics.com 305-815-7898 sustalytics.com
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THE FUTURE OF AI
growing pains involved in creating and adopting the next tool to power the future of information. Such a tool will be directly implemented with current technologies that will filter massive data, make accurate decisions, and automate problem solving to heights never seen before. The web ate software and JavaScript ate the web, that’s why today most business software is written in JavaScript, but yet the language most used for AI is still Python; this approach adds complexity and slowdowns to businesses that cause them to lose massive opportunities in leveraging their data and building solutions for their customers. Liquid Carrot is an open source AI framework written in JavaScript for building deep learning models that software developers can use to automatically build, train, and manage AIs. In our horizon is a platform with a transactional REST API and team features to deploy AI, track AI performance, and manage projects collaboratively in any use case. Our tool today can help developers take all of their day to
ELEVATOR PITCH Liquid Carrot is an open-source AI framework to help software developers build neural networks and deep learning models using structured / unstructured data sets of any kind.
OUR STORY As we find ourselves trapped deeper in the ever-increasing swell of data in the Information Age, it’s becoming evident that we as people no longer have the ability, the bandwidth, nor the thought power alone to even make sense of all the information that is hurdled our way on a daily basis. Even companies like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are experiencing the 119
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day information, drive insights to make better decisions, and give them the power to take back what every business truly does, fix problems that are found in the world today. But tomorrow’s tool will do even more.
Liquid Carrot was born. As of today, Liquid Carrot has been in operation for just over 24 weeks, but its tool has become the 3rd largest AI-library in the space by download rate and is the fastest growing week over week.
The story behind Liquid Carrot goes back to when Chris and Luis were running the tech operations of an ecommerce startup in Miami, FL: upon hitting the scaling phase with that startup, two team members alone couldn’t handle the massive amounts of data being parsed every day, and certainly couldn’t handle inventory and stock analysis for 16,000 SKUs, while trying to automate as much of the process as they possibly could all at the same time. They felt a need to augment their production to keep the company alive and, after some exploration, AI was the best way to do it. But when they looked to the market for available solutions, none were easily implementable, scalable, or dynamic enough to get the job done and so
The Liquid Carrot Team is on a mission to help democratize AI for the world and give everyone the ability to solve their most pernicious problems.
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Win cash & prizes playing your favorite video games
ELEVATOR PITCH Gaming Frog is an eSport platform that allows gamers to play their favorite games for cash and prizes.
OUR STORY Juan and I met playing Call of Duty: MW2, in 2009. At the time I was living in Colombia and he was living in Miami. After playing for a while I came to Miami to visit my family and finally met him in person. I remember playing COD for hours, even until the sun came out at times. We have always been very competitive and ended up playing FIFA games for money between us and our friends. I remember back in 2016, I was on a winning streak playing FIFA 16 at the time and I just got bored and said to myself, “I wish I could play this for money”. I immediately got the phone and sent Juan a text. Asking him what he thought about the idea and if he would be interested in starting a business on it. This is how Gaming Frog came to life.
• • What makes Miami a unique city for doing business, is its diversity. We have people from all over the world, coming from different social classes. This is why there are so many great ideas and business opportunities. We are in a melting pot, where people immigrate to with different views of the world and with the hunger of success and this city can offer the infrastructure for everyone to achieve their dreams and make the impossible true.
• • We have been working in different ways to differentiate ourselves from our competitors. One of the most obvious ways was to integrate an AI, in order to determine match outcomes automatically. We have tested a few AIs and we are still in the process of coming out with the best way possible to enhance the user experience. But the true key component we believe will make this the best platform is the Social component. We are creating a social platform within our application, so users can follow each other and share achievements and view other users’ activities. This is very important, because we must have our users engaged with the platform even when they are not playing on it, this is will keep our users coming back.
• • Building a startup seems very simple, but it is not. It is very common for entrepreneurs to leave some stuff unaccounted for. There is a simple explanation to this: lack of expertise and the excitement of kicking off a new venture. But these two things are our greatest assets, that we as entrepreneurs have, if we knew all the things that we were about to face, probably we wouldn’t tackle the challenge of creating a startup. In our case it was the legal complexity this business has, we had no idea until we started looking for payment processors. We then realized we needed a legal structure (which we now have) before anything else, this is the reason we have taken more time to launch than initially expected. 121
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MEET THE TEAM
Lucas Romero – CEO
Juan Duque – CTO/CMO
Phone: 305-332-5720 Email: lucas@gamingfrog.com
Phone: 786-416-4592 Email: juan@gamingfrog.com
HIGHLIGHTS • • FAU Techrunway - Winners
EVENTS •• • • • • • • • •
Unbound 2017 Emerge Americas 2018 Collision 2018 Google Launchpad 2019 Emerge Americas 2019
NEWS
gamingfrog16 gaming-frog
• • Univision • • The young Folks
Gaming Frog gamingfrog.com
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“You can’t solve a problem on the same level that it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level.” – ALBERT EINSTEIN
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The platform that tests and integrates tech solutions 10x faster, accelerating open banking
ELEVATOR PITCH FinConecta provides the technology infrastructure necessary to implement open banking. Through one single integration, FinConecta can easily connect Financial Institutions’ core banking systems with third-party FinTech providers worldwide.
OUR STORY The digital era brings new disruptive technologies, innovative business models and new players that are rapidly modernizing the financial industry. Financial Institutions (FIs) are seeking new business models to get closer to customers, streamline their processes and respond to current market demands. Most FIs now understand the importance of moving towards an open architecture model to leverage new technologies and partner with third-party Fintech solutions. Open banking is revolutionizing how banks create value.
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Mauricio Lorenzetti, Co-Founder & CTO and Jorge Ruiz, Co-Founder & CEO
FInConecta’s platform, 4wrd, uses a switch engine that seamlessly accelerates open banking and innovation by facilitating the integration of multiple third-party solutions, bolstering digital bank initiatives and enabling the creation of marketplaces. With 4wrd, FIs can launch solutions 10 times faster, significantly reducing the time to market of new digital services. Additionally, FinTechs can deploy services worldwide with just one integration, leveraging the power of the ecosystem. The platform is built on the foundation of the most modern and reliable technological infrastructure of APIs and ESB. It is a modular, flexible and scalable structure capable of supporting open banking models, where each component plays a specific role in the processing of digital services.
A worldwide solution for Open Banking
The 4 components of 4wrd introduce a wide range of solutions that include an API Gateway and management tool that facilitates the integration of third-party solutions, access to the only global Fintech marketplace with more than 200 tech solutions, a secure Sandbox environment for validating Fintech digital solutions using the financial institution’s core system’s test data, and the technological infrastructure to host all services securely in one place.
FIs wishing to embrace the digital world need to partner with FinTech companies. Finding, selecting, and integrating FinTech services is the weakest link in this equation.
FinConecta is a global company with the capital from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), The Venture City (private equity fund) and
FinConecta contact@finconecta.com finconecta finconecta.com
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We make investors happy by keeping families in their homes ELEVATOR PITCH Crowd Capital is a game-changing social impact fintech operating at the intersection of crowd financing, investment platforms, and real estate. We help defaulting borrowers secure their homes while delivering above market average financial returns to our customers in a frictionless and transparent way. By leveraging machine learning and mobile first technologies, we are able to identify, convert, and de-risk the highest returning assets while capturing margins others have not. Through our proprietary platform we’re opening up a niche real estate investment to everyday people helping to secure the financial future of borrowers and customers alike.
OUR STORY Crowd Capital was born out of frustration in the lack of opportunities for people to truly make a difference while satisfying their pragmatic desire to make money. Through a unique approach towards collateralized asset investment, Crowd Capital’s mission is to provide everyone transparent access to low-risk investments that make a meaningful difference for both investors and communities. The largely untapped secondary mortgage market provides an opportunity to achieve both social and financial returns, also known as Double Bottom Line returns, with a risk profile people could be comfortable with. From a financial standpoint, the unique combination of promising returns, collateralized nature, and low stock market correlation make it a logical choice. More importantly, the secondary mortgage market gave us an opportunity to make a difference; to work with homeowners who were running out of options and give them another chance. Our funds are comprised of a diverse blend of performing and nonperforming residential real estate notes of varying durations, risk and yield profiles, from across the country. Focusing on collateralized assets, in the
form of residential real estate notes provides safety and stability while still netting promising returns for the fund. Using a data-driven due diligence approach that takes into account both the notes themselves and the borrowers, the fund benefits from a wide stream of income opportunities. While some notes will be purchased for their steady ongoing income or their resale appreciation, the fund is uniquely positioned to capitalize on non-performing notes. Through a comprehensive borrower evaluation process, and subsequent remediation process, Crowd Capital specializes in converting these delinquent notes into re-performing ones, all while keeping the families in their homes.
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Our vertically integrated technology platform allows us to raise capital from our customers, optimally deploy the capital across multiple residential notes, and then manage the notes to maximize their financial and social returns for our customers. Through a proprietary machine learning risk mitigation engine, high potential investment opportunities will be identified and monitored throughout their lifecycle to ensure risk characteristics remain within acceptable limits. Our personalized borrower counseling approach for defaulting homeowners will allow us to streamline the process for borrowers to modify the terms of their mortgage, thereby enabling them to afford the monthly payments. To de-risk the borrower from re-default, the mobile application that drives the personalized borrower counseling approach will also serve as a tool to help augment financial literacy and responsibility. To provide complete transparency for our customers across both financial and social returns, our proven asset management technology will be integrated into a private blockchain that will record all transactions in an immutable general ledger. We wanted to altruistically shape investing and put people’s money to work as hard as they do while making a positive impact on the people who need it most. Maximizing social impact while netting solid financial returns might seem like a daunting proposition, but Crowd Capital is uniquely positioned to achieve that goal. Whether it is our dynamic and dedicated team or our intuitive and transparent platform, we are single-mindedly committed to the Double Bottom Line.
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Christian Rotter, CEO & Co-Founder
info@crowdcapitalpartners.com crowdcapitalp crowdcapitalpartners.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Solution
Guru the friendly lender is a mobile payday lending application, helping people get out of these financial troubles by providing them with small affordable loans and educational resources to help improve their financial situation.
Guru is the first incentive driven payday lending service in the market offering a friendly alternative to those in need. With an incentivized repayment program, the borrower is rewarded with an incrementally lowered interest rate with every loan payed on time. In addition to making it more affordable and accessible for people to qualify and payback their loans, Guru is dedicated to educating users on how they can improve their economic situation with free content and access to educational resources. How did Guru Financial come to be?
OUR STORY Problem People need access to credit in order to help pay their bills and take care of their families, but the average payday loan is inconvenient and tends to keep borrowers in a cycle of debt. With a study showing over 80% of payday loans rolled over or re-borrowed, and only 14% of borrowers actually able to afford to pay them back, mostly due to exorbitant rates.
Around two years ago, we started kicking some business ideas around, mostly in the financial technology sector (FinTech). Like any aspiring team of entrepreneurs, we set out to identify a problem or “gap� and propose a
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solution or alternative to the status quo. Sure enough and by definition, we noticed that the most neglected space in the financial services sector was the “underbanked”. We came to realize very quickly that for consumers with little to no credit, there were limited options to fairly and efficiently borrow money. We looked at what was out there and decided that we could create a better product. Our sights were set on disrupting the payday lending sector and all its stigmas by offering a true alternative.
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Next steps Next steps are to successfully launch the platform. While we have conducted a beta tests with 29 users and have circulated approximately $2,500 through the app we are not yet live on the app store.
Milestones • • • •
Successfully completed closed-loop beta test 29 live users & $2500 in issuances 100% success rate on identifying intentionally falsified information Average application time: 4 min. 50 seconds (full approval within 10 minutes) • 100% success rate linking bank accounts (including community banks) • Transactions on both iOS & Android • Selected as a top 100 Startup for Emerge Americas Startup Showcase Exhibition • Winner of the Miami Herald 2019 Startup Competition
We are also in the process of negotiating several software license opportunities with major players in this space. We see the potential of our app as a white-label solution as complementary revenue stream.
655 Ives Dairy Rd Miami, FL, 33179 warren.krupp@gurufinancial.io 305-360-4775 gurufinancial.io
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“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.� ~ F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
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FOUNDED IN MIAMI, LEADING THE NATION Compassion-driven hospice care by industry-leading experts
VITAS® Healthcare, the nation’s leading provider of end-of-life care, specializes in patient-centered solutions, technology, and research that delivers compassionate hospice and palliative care to patients with advanced illnesses seeking quality of life at the end of life.
specialties can be delivered in patient and family’s preferred setting of care, and in accordance with their wishes and values.
A driving force for advancement within the expanding hospice provider community, VITAS has built a reputation based on its ongoing embrace of patient care innovation and its legacy of advocacy for Medicare coverage, improved access to care, and cutting-edge technology. Its hospice solutions deliver results on two fronts by:
Virtual/augmented reality experiences and 5G mobile technology to ease the pain and anxiety of hospice patients in select markets. Alternative therapy services—such as music therapy and Paw Pals pet visits—to complement the care patients receive. Studies suggest that complementary and alternative therapies enhance the quality of care for patients nearing the end of life with the lessening of symptoms, including anxiety and pain, and improvements in mood and sense of control. Mobile clinical workstations for 8,000 clinicians who use company iPhones and iPads to enhance communications, orders, and interactions at the bedside. The mobile transformation of its workforce earned VITAS the 2018 Process Excellence Network Award from PEX. Telecare clinical support for a direct line to medical advice, support, and hands-on care, as appropriate, at any time of the day or night. A VITAS Telecare nurse answers each call and has access to patient files and the expertise to answer questions, provide medical advice or dispatch a team member to the bedside.
These initiatives include:
Ensuring quality of life for advanced illness patients whose medical treatments are no longer effective or preferred Supporting healthcare partners’ goals of providing high-quality, costeffective, patient-centered care throughout the care continuum The concept of an interdisciplinary hospice care team—physician, nurse, aide, social worker, chaplain, bereavement specialist, and volunteer— remains at the heart of our end-of-life care model. This continued and sustained success is supplemented by initiatives that modernize hospice care and influence thinking about how other healthcare
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A mobile app offering easy-to-use hospice resources for clinicians including robust eligibility information, easy and secure patient referral, in-app registration, and calendar reminders for VITAS webinars on endof-life diagnoses and topics. Modern website with enhanced content for healthcare professionals. VITAS.com also supports patients and families and is available in many languages including Mandarin, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.
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A Values-Driven Healthcare Powerhouse While much has changed in the hospice profession since 1978, four VITAS Values remain sources of inspiration for its employees:
In 2018, VITAS celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special ceremony at the Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College. The iconic Miami landmark was illuminated purple to honor VITAS’ four decades of advancing the American hospice movement and compassionate care for hospice patients and families. The undisputed influence of VITAS within the healthcare industry continues to grow, especially as it searches for and develops care models that balance modern medicine’s capabilities with the basic human desire of seriously ill patients to live as well as they can with dignity and compassion, all the way to the end of life.
Patients and families come first. We take care of each other. I’ll do my best today and do even better tomorrow. I am proud to make a difference.
VITAS HEALTHCARE 800-582-9533 VITAS.com
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@VITAS-Healthcare @VITASHealthcare @VITAS Healthcare @vitashospice
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A PURPOSE-DRIVEN HEALTH TECH COMPANY ELEVATOR PITCH Welwaze’s mission is to prevent breast cancer deaths. We are a purposedriven health tech company that sits at the intersection of medical devices, artificial intelligence, and the healthcare industry. We strive to deliver innovative, viable, and scalable medical technologies.
changes in accordance to surface temperatures in a woman’s breasts in just 15 minutes. Celbrea TMDTM has been extensively studied and validated via clinical trials in over 5,000 patients at established clinical research centers across the U.S., Europe, and South America. The Celbrea mobile app that is in development will use computer-vision to capture high-quality images that feed into a machine-learning algorithm to provide instant analysis and reporting capabilities of each users’ unique independent risk profile.
OUR STORY Our unique ecosystem includes Celbrea TMDTM, an FDA-cleared medical device that supports early detection of breast abnormalities and a comprehensive companion app, that will have the potential to disrupt conventional breast-health programs and protocols. Celbrea TMDTM aims to deliver a safe, effective, non-invasive, and easy-to-use technology to support routine physical examination including palpation, mammography, and other established procedures for the detection of breast disease, including breast cancer. Celbrea TMDTM is a functional test that measures absolute temperatures on the surface of the breasts and helps to determine if there is a significant difference between mirror segments of the right and left breast. Clinical studies have shown that a temperature difference of 2oF or more may be an indication of a potential underlying breast pathology. The product incorporates more than 1,000 sensors in a biocompatible, multilayer pad specially designed to visually display color
Our stellar team is composed of seasoned professionals and entrepreneurs with diverse and ample expertise in healthcare and other industries. We have more than 200 years of combined experience from leading companies such as Novartis, Pfizer, Abbott, Teva, and Johnson & Johnson. Welwaze Medical is headquartered in Miami, Florida, a city that has nurtured many successful biomedical and medical device companies and world-class health systems and specialty care centers. Welwaze has received numerous awards and accolades, including the prestigious Novartis Innovation Week award, a nomination at the StartUp Health Moonshot Showcase, and a finalist award for the Lyfebulb Helsinn Innovation Summit for Oncology. 135
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Welwaze Medical Inc 2800 NW 105th Ave Miami, FL, 33172 info@welwaze.com 305-749-9908 Welwaze Medical, Inc. welwaze welwaze.com 136
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HealthSnap is a technology-enabled service company on a mission to help people understand and benefit from lifestyle data. Our goal is to empower healthcare providers, corporations, patients, and health and wellness companies to switch from a reactive posture to a proactive one; focusing on actual healthcare instead of ‘disease-care’ by integrating critical, healthassociated elements of lifestyle data into patient care.
American healthcare has traditionally focused on treating acute conditions. Meanwhile, lifestyle-related chronic diseases now account for 81% of all hospital admissions, 76% of all physician visits, and $1.5 trillion in healthcare spending each year. With the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, the sector is reshaping into a model that centers around chronic disease prevention and reversal. HealthSnap offers the first device-agnostic Lifestyle Data Analytics Platform, which transforms patient-generated lifestyle data from wearables, sensors, apps and questionnaires into a concise, easy-tounderstand and actionable Lifestyle Profile.™ Our mission is to leverage data to bridge the gap between lifestyle and medicine, and we do this not only by collecting and aggregating lifestyle data, but by analyzing it in a way that allows both patients and clinicians to anticipate and prevent debilitating, costly chronic conditions. By taking the critical extra step to make sense of lifestyle data, we provide a powerful tool for healthcare organizations to use as building blocks for personalized and data-driven health roadmaps as they begin to shift toward value-based care models.
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Originally founded by a team from the University of Miami, HealthSnap is made up of a unique blend of healthcare experts, scientists, and engineers committed to fundamentally shifting healthcare from the reactive ‘diseasecare’ paradigm of the past into a proactive, preventive care model of the future. Dr. Wesley Smith, HealthSnap’s Chief Scientific Officer, is a professor at the University of Miami, where he continues to research and develop various application approaches utilizing established research in exercise and nutrition in clinical settings. Yenvy Truong, HealthSnap’s CEO, has over 15 years of experience in the healthcare field and has brought healthcare and diagnostic products to market both domestically and internationally. With a background in sales, marketing, and product launches in the physician and wellness market, Yenvy is guiding HealthSnap to create market adoption in clinical settings. HealthSnap has been gaining recognition within the Florida Innovation Community. Recent honors include being named a 2019 Cade Prize Sweet 16 Finalist as one of the most innovative new companies in Florida, and ranking in the top 20 out of 150 early stage companies in Florida at the 2019 Florida Venture Forum. 1951 NW 7th Ave, Ste 600 Miami, FL, 33136 Hello@HealthSnap.io 888-780-1872 ext.1 myhealthsnap MyHealthSnap healthsnap-solutions HealthSnap.io 138
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ELEVATOR PITCH Dalent Medical is committed to creating better solutions for physicians to help restore health and well-being to patients living with sinus-related conditions. The company’s first FDA-listed product, the Sinusleeve™ Balloon Sinus Dilation Sleeve is used to treat chronic sinusitis, a condition that affects more than 30 million people annually according to Center for Disease Control.
OUR STORY After operating one day, ear, nose, and throat doctor, Gus Arrieta, was struck with how many complicated and expensive medical devices he had used for just one procedure. Staring at the pile of packaging from the devices, he was inspired to create a simpler, better, and more efficient device for balloon sinus dilation — the Sinusleeve™ Balloon idea was born. The doctor teamed up with Peter Flores, a biotech engineer, and they began working on a prototype. The working title for the project was “Dale ENT”, dale (dah-leh) meaning “go for it” in Spanish. The “let’s do it” mentality ended up becoming part of the company’s DNA and the project code name was the perfect fit being a perfect fit for the company brand. Dalent Medical added experienced medical device executive Shawn McCoy to the team, raised an investment round, and it was off to the races. In 2019, Dalent Medical was granted a patent for the Sinusleeve™ Balloon, registered as an FDA manufacturer, and began marketing and sales to ENTs.
reusable positioning and suction devices by way of a conforming sleeve. The Sinusleeve™ Balloon accommodates instrumentation of varying sizes and curves, allowing access, simultaneous suction and balloon dilation all in one. Chronic sinusitis is a condition which affects more than 10% of the population within the United States. The amount of surgeries to treat this condition continues to rise as less invasive techniques offer improved patient experience, measurable quality of life improvements, and lower healthcare costs. Dalent Medical is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this market by disrupting the category with a more innovative device developed by ENTs for ENTs.
The Sinusleeve™ Balloon is a single-use, disposable, balloon sinus dilation (BSD) sleeve device used for treating chronic sinusitis. Developed and manufactured in the United States, the device fits over rigid, flexible and 139
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magiccity.district magiccitydist Shawn McCoy, CEO
Peter Flores, CTO / CBDO
Dr. Agustin Arrieta, CMO
Before the Sinusleeve™ Balloon, ENTs needed more devices on-hand to execute sinus dilation procedures. Now with a more versatile sleeve, surgeons can streamline costs without limiting their instrument options. In summary, this device is purpose built to enable doctors to provide better care and lower costs. Following the launch of the Sinusleeve™ Balloon, Dalent Medical is continuously working on additional medical devices that align with their vision of providing patients and doctors the best tools with the highest value. Headquartered in Miami, the company also has an office in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Michael Dollar, VP Marketing & Commercialization
Dalent Medical 2222 Ponce de Leon, Suite 300 Coral Gables, FL, 33134 888-432-5368 Media@DalentMedical.com Dalent Medical DalentMedical.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Pathwaves is a Miami-based Biopsychology Digital Therapeutics company providing Mental Health as well as Performance Improvement Services utilizing neurotechnology equipment combined with timeless cognitive behavioral therapy and/or coaching techniques. Neural Empowerment is their proprietary process which begins with a Quantification of Mental Function.
OUR STORY Originally founded by Geoffrey Cole and Dr. Francis Flynn in 2008 as The Brain Training Centers of Florida, the company evolved into Pathwaves in 2016 as they forged the Neural Empowerment process through extensive research and development, performing over 16,000 sessions in 12 years.
Why did Mr. Cole create Neural Empowerment?
Pathwaves is based in the “Magic City”, a versatile community known for embracing new and unprecedented ideas, and means of doing business. Miami’s diverse cultural population encourages a significant international business volume and creates the ideal atmosphere to thrive, locally and internationally.
Through his personal and professional experience, Mr. Cole realized that there has not been a standardized psychology process, nor a manner of providing objective reporting. The number of facilities that objectively or subjectively measure, track and report their effectiveness is negligible. In 2015, the Neural Empowerment program was created with seven years of research. Neural Empowerment is a standardized program which combines proven therapeutic and coaching techniques with “neurofeedforward”, a process which subjectively and objectively measures, tracks and reports its efficiency.
Pathwaves addresses a variety of issues from depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and many other symptoms, to successfully obtain an ideal state of mind. Their clients range from first responders to athletes, to individuals who desire to take control of their mental function through a non-invasive and holistic method that combines hard science and expert guidance. The initial Quantification provides an objective (via EEG) numerical scoring for Anxiety/Stress levels, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, Sleep Quality, Self-Esteem, Physical Effects of Mental Function, and more. The Neural Empowerment process then offers the tools to improve the state of mind. This is typically accomplished in ten to fifty visits at a duration of approximately 2 hours per visit, which combine Pathwaves’ Psychological Coaching, enhanced by Digital Entrainment Therapy utilizing biofeedback equipment in this new proprietary methodology. Performance tracking & reporting is integral in this process.
Industry Advice?
“Today’s technology is providing incredible opportunity to dive deeper into the health of humankind. I encourage you to embrace the possibilities rather than cling to accepted norms,” comments Geoffrey Cole. And he adds, “When a new methodology is created, it is vital to thoroughly research and develop the technique. Once established, keeping your eye on the ball and perseverance become the most important factors.”
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A vision for the future Our goal is to continue to spread awareness of our research and facilitate personal growth, relying on neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to rewire itself and build new neural connections that provide a state of peaceful control. Our vision is to see a world where people live in a state of mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical harmony” Geoffrey Cole, Founder and CEO. We provide the modern approach to mental health and performance” Geoffrey Cole, Founder and CEO. Pathwaves 1951 NW 7th Avenue, #600 Miami, FL, 33136 305-858-6616 PathwavesLife pathwaveslife.com 142
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Developing Custom Healthcare Software & Delivering Innovative Technology Solutions WHO WE ARE AMR Healthcare Consulting (AMR) is an award-winning, nurse-led technology firm developing custom software and delivering innovative consulting solutions for the healthcare industry. We are a team of nurses, physicians, technology experts, software developers, and project managers leveraging industry knowledge to offer the latest technology solutions for our clients. AMR’s mission is to improve healthcare delivery, patient safety, and the relationship between patients and healthcare providers with the use of technology.
OUR STORY AMR was founded in 2010 by Aliya Aaron, a registered nurse and software developer who identified the need to bring a clinical perspective to developing technology solutions for care providers. Aliya set out to bridge the gap between patient care and technology by offering consulting services aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of care for patients and the staff that utilize this technology. Over the years AMR has continued to expand its services, adding new capabilities to meet the demands of our clients.
WHAT WE DO AMR covers the entire spectrum of custom healthcare software development and consulting. We develop electronic health records (EHR), mobile apps, health related websites, care team communication platforms, healthcare databases, telemedicine platforms, medical billing solutions, electronic medication management platforms, patient portals, practice management solutions, and other cloud-based platforms.
Recognized as CIO Review’s 20 Most Promising Healthcare Consulting/Service Companies in 2019, AMR’s roster of clients includes: Award-winning acute care, teaching hospitals
AMR also offers a full array of IT consulting services, helping healthcare organizations improve clinical and business processes. Services include, IT management, EHR implementation and support services, digital health advisory, and product development. Our services are tailored to each client, designed with mission-critical ends in mind: strategic, clinical, business and technology goals driving the need for innovation and change.
Academic health centers Integrated delivery networks Healthcare vendors Community hospitals Critical access hospitals Long Term Acute Cares Private medical practices Physician-led health care organizations Healthcare startups Skilled Nursing Facilities Pharmacies Clinical laboratories Telemedicine organizations Consumer health entities Ambulatory surgery centers
Aliya R. Aaron, MSHS, BSN, RN CEO & Principal
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DRIVING INNOVATION
AMR’s Patient-Centered approach is what differentiates us from other technology firms. We aren’t just a technology firm, we are a clinician driven healthcare technology firm that understands how clinicians think, we develop software and design solutions for end-users with the patient at the center of care.”
Technology has always played a crucial role in healthcare innovation, and advances in digital technologies will create enormous possibilities and opportunities. With this understanding, AMR will focus on developing new innovative solutions to help solve healthcare’s toughest challenges. We are incorporating emerging technologies such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, chatbots, blockchain, IoT and advanced algorithms in software development to drive improvements in care.
Aliya Aaron, CEO & Principal
LOOKING AHEAD AMR relocated to Miami in 2012 considering Miami is the second largest healthcare hub in the U.S., with 8 hospitals, accounting for over 33,000 beds, globally recognized research universities, a legacy of successful healthcare companies, and a growing number of health tech startups. As our company continues to grow, AMR is looking to help further establish South Florida as a hub for health-based technological innovation. Our goal is to continue developing software and delivering technology solutions that help transform care and improve the lives of patients.
For more information on how AMR Healthcare Consulting can transform your healthcare business info@amrhealthcare.com 954-541-4771 amrhealthcare.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH For over two decades, the hand sanitizer industry has made little to no improvement becoming an antiquated and commoditized industry. We are a digitally native brand that has set out to change the industry. We believe hand hygiene should be fun, convenient, cool, and pleasing. At Touchland, we have created a fashion-forward, innovative hygiene solution that takes care of the skin and provides a refreshing sanitizing experience. We have redefined the way people see hand sanitizers by creating a product that not only meets its main functionality, sanitizing, but also delivers superior skincare benefits to the skin and a great user experience.
OUR STORY In order to make a positive impact in the world, we also created a social initiative called Touchlives. We dedicate a portion of our profits to send our sanitizers to developing countries where hygiene is crucial to survive. By listening to what people were complaining about, we were able to see the weak points this industry’s product had: strong alcohol smell, sticky residue, drying experience, and lack of design, just to name a few. Our formula is not gel or foam, like the majority of hand sanitizers. We have developed a liquid-based, deep-hydrating, fast-absorbing, and non-sticky formula with 6 essential ingredients that are safe and clean for your hands, keeping them soft, clean, and smelling great. Each Power Mist contains 500 sprays, which means up to 20 times as many doses as a regular gel pocket-sized hand sanitizer. Positioning the Touchland brand within the Millennial and Gen-Z generation has brought an incredible market response, which has led us to have really high customer engagement. We have built a community of Millennials and Gen-Z who were looking for more than just a commodity product. No one was listening to them, so we did! Although Touchland launched 11 months ago, we have been overwhelmed with support and love from many beauty bloggers and beauty editors. Despite being a young startup, Touchland has been featured in many media outlets like Forbes, “How Touchland is Giving Hand Sanitizer a Makeover Fit For The Age of Instagram”; or HuffPost, “The Nespresso or Nest of Hand Sanitizers On-The-Go and At Home or Commercial Use,” among others. We have proudly created a product that stands out in its design, formula composition, and customer experience. In order to make a positive impact in the world, we also created a social initiative called @touchlives. We dedicate a portion of our profits to send our sanitizers to developing countries where hygiene is crucial to survive. We want to become the pioneer and innovator in the personal care industry by creating revolutionary solutions that improve user experience through design, formulation, and technology. We’re working hard on new product releases that will make life easier, happier, and healthier. 147
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Touchland 100 SE 2nd St. Miami, FL, 33131 touchland touchlandofficial touchland.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Energy Storage is the missing link between the century-old centralized fossil fuel-powered electrical generation scheme and the distributed and sustainable energy system of the future. On the macro-scale, storage allows higher penetration of intermittent renewable energy; when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow, short and long-term energy storage will step in. On the micro-scale, batteries and similar technologies allow for backup energy, power quality and more efficient use of electricity. Both concepts combine to leap-frog the current paradigm and accelerate the energy revolution.
OUR STORY ON Energy Storage was born as the cutting-edge, electricity-centered spinoff of an Oil & Gas company in search of an opportunity to expand and transition in a growing trend within the energy industry. As renewable energy continues its rapid adoption in the grid, and society calls for an increasingly integrated and sustainable electric system, energy storage has become crucial in this transition. We believe in the radical transformation that energy storage will represent for the energy sector; and are certain that it will disrupt energy as we know it; making space for a more integrated, dynamic and efficient network. Because of this, ON strives to lead the energy evolution by facilitating the inclusion of energy storage in the electric grid and adding value by utilizing the full potential of this revolutionary technology. We are a fast-paced, result-oriented team that designs, builds and operates energy storage systems in Latin America; focusing at the moment on Commercial and Industrial (C&I) solutions. Latin America’s high demand charges and vast territories represent a perfect opportunity for efficiencies in energy management and pay-for-themselves structures that are very attractive for small, medium and large businesses. Latam’s rapid economic growth and unexplored territories in terms of energy storage means we have found a blue ocean in an industry sector growing exponentially. Our systems combine top-of-the-line storage technology with in-house big data and machine learning software to mold our clients’ electric consumption and optimize their energy use. Our proprietary algorithms and analytics tools allow us to design tailor-made solutions for each customer, and maximize the technical and economical performance of each project.
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dying when you’re on the go. The second is that this first problem is a problem for venues. If your customer’s phone dies in a restaurant, they leave your restaurant. They may ask you to take their phone behind the counter to charge it, but taking someone’s phone is a liability. The Chargello battery sits at the customer’s table, where they charge their device themselves. The third problem Chargello solves is that, for advertisers, traditional media channels are no longer what they used to be. This includes print, television, and radio, of course, but even digital. Chargello’s batteries are a fresh space for advertisers: the customer interacts with the product, which creates an experience that lasts about an hour. This is interactive, uninterrupted exposure to the brand being advertised on that battery, and there’s a positive association created because you’re doing something good for them—the battery is charging their phone.
ELEVATOR PITCH Chargello makes portable phone charging kits, places them in restaurants and other venues, and uses this unique location to sell targeted ads. By doing this, they have built a highly focused new media channel while also solving the universal need for charging your phone away from home.
Chargello’s very first installation was in April 2016. At first it was a challenge to find brands to put ad dollars into an experimental, unproven media channel, but it didn’t take long to turn that around. The first major brand they landed was Diageo, the largest spirit company in the world, for whom Chargello made a highly successful campaign for Don Julio Tequila, Zacapa Rum, Ketel One Vodka, Cîroc Vodka, and Tanqueray Gin. They’ve since begun relationships with the AmericanAirlines Arena and Marlins Park, so that their chargers are used at every Marlins game and every Heat game. They also work with American Express, and the Baptist Health System uses their chargers system-wide in all their hospitals and outpatient centers.
OUR STORY “My phone was always dying wherever I went, and I figured this was a big problem for people,” says Freddy Sidi, the CEO and Founder of Chargello. “It becomes so frustrating, so repetitive. You’re walking around with literally a cable. You’re in a café and you need an outlet but you can’t sit by the outlet because someone else is sitting there.” Funnily enough, Sidi found out later that his iPhone had a recalled battery, so his version of this problem was more acute than average. But without that bad battery, the idea may never have been born. And it’s good it did. Chargello is now in twenty-six countries and over 6000 restaurants and other venues (such as beauty salons, hospitals, hotels, doctors’ offices, banks, and car dealerships), and they’re on their fifteenth version of the charger. “It seems to be a need!” says Sidi with a laugh.
Sidi sees Miami as key to Chargello’s success. “It’s a smaller market, but has huge international appeal,” he says. It also takes a lot less capital to make a dent in the market—unlike, say, New York, where it would be harder for a startup to gain traction in the restaurant world. Miami is also the hub of a lot of cultures, says Sidi, which functions as a natural proving ground. “If something works in Miami,” he says, “it can work anywhere.”
Part of its success may have to do with the fact that Chargello solves not just one problem, but three. The first is the universal problem of your phone
Chargello is still only getting started. They raised capital for first time recently, and intend to expand into five new U.S. markets in the near future: 151
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they’re currently finalizing the New York expansion, plan to launch Los Angeles in December, and in 2020’s Q1 they’ll be launching Dallas, Chicago, and Las Vegas. Sidi emphasizes that, beyond just expanding geographically, Chargello is trying to create a change in the culture. “Anywhere people spend more than twenty minutes, we want them to be able to ask for a phone charger, and we want to be the brand that provides it for them. We want people to expect that, and receive it. It’s about changing the culture itself.”
Chargello info@chargello.com 855 44CHARGE (855-442-4274) chargello.com
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People rent their houses, they rent their cars, and now more and more people are renting their boats. Boatrax provides these owners peace of mind; not only in knowing where their boat is, but its mechanical condition as well.” – Arturo Malave, Co-founder
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Boatrax is an IoT Platform that leverages the power of data to make boat usage and management more efficient, reliable, and hassle-free. Using its proprietary IoT gateway, Boatrax stores and transmits critical metrics from the boat’s engines and sensors to help boat owners lower maintenance costs and achieve operational transparency unlike anything available in the market.
Boatrax was born out of a need for effectiveness and simplicity to manage their founder’s boat. With the vision to provide an amazing experience to boaters, Boatrax created a solution that is more than a device that secures the boat’s metrics, it’s an intelligent platform that tells the real story of a boat creating a huge potential to provide transparency and value to the recreational boating industry.
Imagine if you had a boat or managed a fleet of boats and could always be 100% certain that you were ready for the next outing. With Boatrax, boat owners can share and access critical boat information like the battery charge, fuel level, engine hours, and the most current alarms to ensure that their boat are in great condition for a beautiful day on the water.
Our company’s co-founders and FIU grads Arturo Malave and David Villegas, are more than mere business partners. They are family and as far as they are concerned, the number 1 fun-filled family activity, particularly in South Florida, is boating. Their love of being on the water convinced them to focus their energy on making the boating industry the newest grounds for innovation. 153
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INNOVATION, COLLABORATION AND INDUSTRY INTEGRATION We believe in deep collaboration with the industry to uphold the highest standards of information and develop valuable and actionable insights to help boat owners spend more time in the water. We believe that every boat owner has the right to enjoy their passion for boating with peace of mind and that no one should be burdened by boat ownership. Our passion for challenging standards and never compromise has lead us to design products and services that make a clear statement of where technology in the recreational boating industry could and should go. We are on a journey to become the leading industry platform that enables smart, safe, unforgettable boating experiences.
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OUR STORY Wise Mobility began three years ago as TIKD, a strictly B2C product that was an easier, cheaper way to handle a traffic ticket. Users could contact TIKD directly, and TIKD hired a lawyer to help them with their fines. The system was a success, but founder Megan Broccoli knew there was more to the equation. There were vehicle fleets—both traditional and shared mobility—all over the country that, for all of their innovation otherwise, were still relying on the U.S.P.S. to deliver notices of fines and violations.
Wise Mobility automates violation management for both traditional and shared-mobility fleets, freeing clients from the tedium of paper-based notifications and payments. Its comprehensive yet elegant platform is the cheapest and easiest way to manage parking, toll, and camera violations.
Some companies, Megan would learn, had hired employees whose only task was to monitor the mail for these notices by opening every envelope the company received. It was the most efficient way to ensure that the tickets or fines were paid on time. The citations’ due dates, after all, were based on the date of issue, not the date of receipt—and who knew how long the notices would spend in transit? 155
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elsewhere, Wise Mobility could show that it had the backing of the sixthlargest metro area in the country.
“We started to ask instead, ‘What if we didn’t ask people to send their tickets to us; what if we retrieved them electronically?’” Megan says. “The pace of the U.S. Postal Service is the benchmark we have to beat, if you can believe that.”
“When the city gave us this data, they also gave us traction and credibility,” Megan says. “We could go to other cities around the country, and their issuing agencies would partner with us because Miami had seen the value of what we were doing. Now Wise Mobility covers more than 1000 cities & agencies across the US.”
Wise Mobility started integrating with issuing agencies across the country, pulling data on parking, camera, and toll violations in real-time and notifying users immediately of any outstanding fines. That solved the snail-mail issue and another problem endemic to a fleet: the driver is not always the owner, but the owner is always liable for any tickets. Through its supercharged platform, however, Wise Mobility ensures compliance and liability transfer.
This particular application for Wise Mobility’s technology has significant implications not just for American cities, but for communities abroad as well. It’s something Megan and her team are looking forward to making happen.
Today, Wise Mobility has integrated with over 1,000 issuing agencies, and under its management are 10,000 vehicles—from fleets of over 1,000 to ones of 11—across the country. But it all started in Miami.
“We’re using really cool innovative technology to build this platform,” she says. “We’re super scalable, we’re dynamic, and that’s part of what makes the platform so good. We can take any kind of customer, any kind of fleet—anywhere, eventually—and they can use our product because it is so flexible. That’s by design.”
“The issuing agencies in the city were super helpful when we requested citation data,” Megan says. “It is publicly available, but that doesn’t always mean it’s easily accessible. Miami was always really open, though, and we started making all of these connections.”
Wise Mobility Coral Gables, FL 305-416-5307 fleet@wisemobility.com wisemobility.com
Megan and her team got to know court employees—including Harvey Ruvin, Miami-Dade County’s Clerk of Courts—and eventually the County’s Information Technology team, all of whom were eager to help Wise Mobility garner the bulk citation data it needed to get off the ground. The city’s generosity meant that when it was time to repeat its model and requests 156
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ELEVATOR PITCH stries like Artificial Intelligence, Innovation is at its peak. New indu Reality are setting the ground Computer Vision, and Augmented a next 20 years. However, there is for what is going to come in the upting a $2 trillion market, and relatively new industry that is disr in our economy. We are talking s one of the most essential industrie like Uber and Lyft are changing about Transportation. Companies fact, car ownership is reaching In the way people are going places. else’s car is becoming the norm. its peak as sharing a ride in someone minutes as passengers by 2030, As we project to spend 450 billion category within Ridesharing. in-car commerce is arising as a new
OUR STORY ctive embedded in-car advertising Vendy is arguably the most effe its mini convenience box located and commerce platform. Through Vendy brings snacks, essentials, on top of the car’s center console, while helping the drivers increase and cosmetics to the passengers brands also win since they now their earnings. In the process, CPG connect with their consumers to have a new unsaturated channel visually, physically, and digitally. Vendy’s seamless web application How it works? Passengers visit enter the car. They proceed to type on their personal phones as they
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in the unique code ass igned to each Vendy box . Following this, they are prompted with a me nu of the items being off ered. After selecting the products, they can pay their preferred me thod of payment, whether it is a Credit card, ApplePay, Venm o, or GooglePay. Once the transaction is succes sful, the driver gets an automated SMS with the summary of the ord er and proceeds to ha nd over the products to the passengers when safely stopped. Salomon Horowitz, Fou nder and CEO of Vend y and former Florida Lyft Operations Mana ger, realized that driver s were barely making money after putting 40 to 50 hours per week behind the wheel. He even saw that some dri vers were losing money after car expenses. In parallel, he understood that passengers are bec oming an extremely valuable captive aud ience as they spend on average 23 minutes inside the car. That’s wh en the idea of Vendy was born. His initial thought was “If we can monetize the attention of the passengers to help drivers earn more money, we will be int o something.” Salomon quickly put tog ether a prototype and hit the road as a Lyft driver. As he expected, passengers were intrig ued by Vendy and he closed some sales on the first day. Since the n, Vendy now counts with hundreds of dri vers in Miami, multip le brands advertising their products, and a team of 8. Their vision is to become the #1 commerce platform on wheels.
support@vendybox.com getvendy vendybox.com
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SELF-SERVICE SHIPPING
EVERYWHERE “ .. Combining...[SEND’s] engineering prowess with ShipRite’s 29 years of retail shipping experience was a great match... The word of retail is turning more and more to self-service and SEND will be out front.”
ELEVATOR PITCH SEND™ is a fully automated Self-Service kiosk designed specifically for shipping stores and mailrooms, such as The UPS Store, FedEx Office or USPS locations. Our solution is engineered to drastically reduce the cost structure of those locations and to allow unprecedented expansion to new venues with a minimum investment. More important, SEND™ also improves the customer experience.
OUR STORY Our founder, Jaime Rubinstein, is an automation expert who realized that there are self-service stations in many high-volume service industries, such as banking, air travel, public transportation, fast food, or large retail stores— except shipping stores. He decided to seize this opportunity.
J. Mark Ford, President, ShipRite Services, Inc.
The shipping industry is amazingly large and solid. It relies on cutting-edge technology to move parcels around the globe, but surprisingly, not a lot has been developed to interact directly with customers who walk in to send a package or envelope. Those customers demand faster processing and a technology-enhanced experience. Time is money! Americans spend around $25 billion a year in 45,000 shipping locations. That market for sure could use more automation! After Jaime set up a team of experts, they realized that the global market is close to $45 billion. All around the globe, public and private shipping stores notice that their customers are facing long waiting times. Many national postal services are losing money, and the number of parcels shipped only continues to grow every year, making the situation worse. The result is a solution which combines an app and a kiosk in a seamless experience. You upload the Ship From and Ship To info in the SEND™ app or website at your convenience and it will immediately check for errors, saving you the time spent doing this at the store.
The team diagnosed what was missing with other self-service kiosks around the globe, used prototypes to conduct pilots with actual customers, and interviewed hundreds of potential users, industry experts, shipping-store owners, and hardware and software suppliers, gaining valuable feedback and powerful insights.
The SEND™ kiosk is able to offer you the most convenient options for your needs (Think USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.) in less than 5 seconds because it automatically recognizes if it is a package or an envelope and instantly measures and weighs it. Just select your option on the screen, pay at the card reader, and place the label. In and out of the store in two minutes!
Our patent allowance was recently awarded. It is based on the innovative ways in which different technologies were used and integrated into a single solution. 159
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Miami has been a great place to find investors and exhibit our solution at innovation events, such as Unbound Miami and eMerge Americas. And it simplifies working with Latin American companies. Please visit Servientrega International at Doral to use SEND™! If you run a shipping store, a high-traffic venue where this service could be offered, or a small TPL, let’s get in contact!
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ELEVATOR PITCH Barxie is a pet care marketplace for finding, scheduling, and managing appointments of pet grooming, dog training, pet sitting/boarding, dog walking and veterinary care, anchored by a SaaS platform for business management.
OUR STORY Barxie is the inspiration of two dog lovers, David Ocumarez and Fidel Hechavarria. In early 2017 David adopted Lucy, an adorable Shih Tzu rescued from a puppy mill before ending up at the dog rescue center in Miami. The pup was to be a gift for his daughter, and since then they’ve quickly become best friends. 161
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David needed to find a professional pet groomer for Lucy and after asking for recommendations ended up in a nearby salon. The experience was awful, Lucy was in a crate for 4 hours waiting to be groomed, she ended up traumatized. After all, he decided to make pet care an enjoyable and healthy experience for pets, but he needed help. This was when he invited his good friend and partner in many endeavors, to join a new venture. Fidel became the co-founder of Barxie. David and Fidel founded Barxie with the mission to make pet care convenient and accessible. If you’ve been stressing about finding care for your pet, your search stops here.
Our platform has two main components: The marketplace that faces pet parents and allows them to connect and book appointments with local pet groomers, pet sitters, dog trainers, dog walkers, and veterinarians. The SaaS platform that allows SMBs in the pet care space to manage their customers, services, availability, calendar, and appointments.
Our mission: Barxie’s mission is to make pet care finally work. We’re building technology that simplifies the way pet parents connect with pet care pros they love.
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David Ocumarez Co-Founder & CEO 786-410-7978 david@barxie.com barxie.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH PADL makes getting out on the water easy by combining technology and paddleboards into its paddle share system. Users can quickly unlock a smart board from one of PADL’s docking stations through the mobile app and enjoy their ride.
The stations securely house four smart paddleboards, which can be unlocked and rented via the PADL mobile application. Each station is solar-powered, equipped with safety gear, and located steps away from shorelines. PADL smart boards each contain GPS technology for users to monitor routes, track distances, and engage with the PADL community. GPS technology plays a critical role in our commitment to safety, with real-time tracking of our active rentals and our partnership with Sea Tow gives us the reliance of 24/7 on-the-water support.
OUR STORY PADL is on a mission to get more people out on the water to experience what’s out there. Through the creation of paddle share and patented duallocking technology with the support of growing sharing-economy habits, PADL is able to achieve the mission and promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Paddleboarding today is just too difficult: owning equipment is expensive and cumbersome to lug and store, while traditional rental concessions are inconvenient and inaccessible to most due to pricing and operating hours. PADL makes getting on the water easy. Docking stations with smart boards are placed in convenient locations available to use.
The mobile app features a location-based map that showcases the stations: location details, number of boards available and rate. The rental process from here takes less than 30 seconds – users stand in front of the board they wish to ride with their mobile device in hand, and Bluetooth technology will prompt a pop-up to confirm rental. Once they accept, payment is processed, and the board will unlock. Not sure how to carry a paddleboard? A 3-step infographic will appear on the app that demonstrates how to safely remove the board, paddle, and lifejacket from the rack. Now the fun can begin! 165
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The initial stations are located on beaches, but as the company ramps up to expand locations, its paddleboarders will also get to explore lakes, rivers, and bays worldwide. Riders start their mornings with sunrise paddles, practice yoga, do a little fishing and clean up our ocean. We have a community that loves to share their routes, compete for more hours paddled, and simply make paddleboarding a part of their routine. This is who we engage with and are dedicated to serving. People are naturally drawn to water, and at PADL, we want to give them another mechanism to enjoy it. Paddle share is just the beginning, and we will continue to combine our passion & innovative technology to change the way you get out on the water. u il Kho , K hal o l l e v Andres A
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ELEVATOR PITCH TheGrint is a Golferhood. Our golfers use TheGrint when they are on the golf course to track their scores, but also when they are back home, looking at their own stats or checking out the scores of their friends as they play live. Our community of golfers keeps growing fast across the world. And that’s because we solve a very critical issue for the golfer. We are the only App to provide a Free Golf Handicap Tracker from USGA Registered Clubs that are valid for USGA sanctioned events. We are able to do so because we found a pretty clever and legit way to use USGA Handicap System without a cost, through leveraging volunteers from our own community of golfers. What we are most proud of is the sense of belonging that our Grinters have, and how much they feel TheGrint as their own. We have been able to accomplish that because every single new feature and improvement that we made to the App comes from ideas of our own community of golfers. 167
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OUR STORY We started in 2012, 3 Co-Founders with the idea of improving how golfers obtain their Golf Handicap. We began by trying to collect physical scorecards and transcribing the scores, and quickly evolved to having the golfer send us photos of their scorecards digitally. Our app evolved from a Handicap app to the first Social Golfer app. We were the pioneers in Free USGA Handicaps, we invented the Live Leaderboard feature, and continued to innovate when we became the first app where golfers could share their golf with others. We focus on product first. And to have a great product you always need to stay ahead of others through continuous improvement. The fuel of that… our users. Our development pipeline is exclusively built with ideas from our community of Grinters. And while these ideas come raw, it is our job to interpret them and give them form. If we do that right, and prioritize them properly we then end up with an endless pipeline of innovative enhancements. We have been awarded several prizes including winning the Shark Tank competition from Greg Norman in 2017. Additionally we have been recognized on a national level by publications like Golf Digest, Golf Magazine or CNN with phrases like “App changes golf for amateurs”. 168
Grint LLC 2030 S Douglas Rd, #209 Coral Gables, FL, 33134 contactus@thegrint.com thegrintgolf thegrint.com
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MEANINGFUL TRAVEL E X PE R I E N C E S
ELEVATOR PITCH Meaningful Travel Experiences allows travelers to visit destinations with the knowledge that in doing so, they are supporting local people and businesses in honest work, they are deeply immersing themselves in other cultures, and they are experiencing a destination meaningfully. uses a format based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), offering an easy way to evaluate whether an ally implements them. These benchmarks include: 1. No poverty 2. Zero hunger 3. Quality education 4. Gender equality 5. Decent work and economic growth 6. Climate action
OUR STORY What is Meaningful Travel Experiences? Meaningful Travel Experiences offers its clients the opportunity to enjoy global destinations in the most honest, deep, and meaningful ways. Honest, because we partner with people and businesses with good practices and values. Deep, because we immerse our clients into the culture of the destination chosen in the most authentic possible way. Meaningful, because we involve local projects with a true domino effect in the lives of others.
“I strongly believe that tourism is a force for global good, and with Meaningful Travel Experiences I’m committed to promoting sustainable solutions in communities around the globe,” says Robert Hubbard, Meaningful Travel Experiences’ founder and CEO.
MTE works in two ways. It offers trips from recognized allied companies and projects who have proven they follow MTE’s own standards. From among their offered trips, MTE selects for its clients those trips with the greatest social impact.
Who benefits from Meaningful Travel Experiences? Of course the communities in MTE’s destinations benefit, whether through support of the local economy through visitors’ purchases or through the work that visitors can help with during their stay. MTE also emphasizes local investment in all of its meaningful travel trips. Rather than big international chains, the company works with small, locally owned
The second way MTE works is by creating its own travel programs. To assure the company works with allies who reach their standards, MTE 171
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businesses, helping to keep the overall cost of our trips down—and to keep travel dollars where they are spent. Supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout the world strengthens communities, raises the overall quality of life, and ensures that the places clients love will continue to be loved.
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A former Alumna of the International Volunteer Leadership Program (IVPL), managed by the U.S. Department of State, Karem has been recognized for her accomplishments as Founder and Director of the nonprofit Human Rights and Cinema Venezuela, which works with children, teenagers, and young people and offers free educational spaces for human rights. Karem’s background and her passion for people invigorate MTE’s clients to live their experiences to the fullest—without compromising the places they visit.
Who are Meaningful Travel Experiences’ clients? Thanks to technology, the world is more interconnected than everything before, and people—travelers especially—become more conscious of everything around them. Because Millennials are the first generation growing up with this kind of technology, they have developed from a younger age a sense or that the world is greater than themselves. Meaningful Travel Experiences is the perfect outlet for their wanderlust. Baby Boomers also form a large number of MTE’s clients, as do women, who make up 65–70% of MTE’s client base.
Who are the people behind Meaningful Travel Experiences?
Robert Hubbard, MTE’s other founder, was born on England’s Norfolk Coast, and it seemed inevitable that he would be drawn to the sea and to travel the world. After years of sailing and traveling with the British Merchant Navy, Robert moved to Miami in 1983 and established Interworld Travel, Inc. The company introduced him to destinations that need more than just tourism— they needed help. When Meaningful Travel Experiences was born, it was from Robert’s desire to give back to society through his passion for travel.
Karem González and Robert Hubbard co-founded MTE in 2016. Each came to Miami from somewhere else, but they are united in their vision of creating a more supportive and inclusive world, connected by diverse people through local travel experiences.
“What I love about travel is that it opens your eyes to new things by immersing you in culture, fostering genuine connections, and viewing the world through a widened lens,” he says.
Who are MTE’s partners?
Karem González is Venezuelan—and a Millennial!—with experience in the design and direction of Cultural and Social Projects in her country. Her experience has translated perfectly to helping travelers get involved with a variety of activities in the places they visit.
MTE’s partners are Entrena in Dominican Republic, G – Adventures/Canada USA, and Intrepid/Australia/UK/USA. CIC Miami 1951 NW 7th Avenue, # 600 Miami, FL, 33136 meaningfultravelexperiences meaningfultravelexperiences.com
“My greatest passion in life is supporting people, and what I love most about travel is meeting new people, trying amazing local food, and living great adventures in a sustainable and supportive way,” she says. 172
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of a reason to use the airline’s website, to make the purchase there, and to feel confident they’re getting the price they want there,” says Seth Cassel, President at EveryMundo.
ELEVATOR PITCH EveryMundo provides software products that airlines integrate into their websites to improve their direct sales and help them compete with the third-party giants of the travel industry.
To improve an airline’s digital presence, the EveryMundo product airTRFX is used to deploy landing pages with real-time fares for their entire route network, meaning pages for every origin, destination, and route in more than 25 languages. These pages are designed to accommodate all screen sizes and have high SEO performance.
OUR STORY In today’s digital world, airlines must execute best-in-class online marketing strategies if they intend to compete with third-party online travel companies for business and customer loyalty. Low fares are the best direct marketing message, considering that the cost of a ticket has the greatest impact on consumers when deciding what airline to fly. As digitally native tech companies, online travel agencies are able to focus their considerable technical resources towards marketing the best fares to attract travelers. Airlines rarely have the technical resources to devote to marketing their real-time fares across the web. That’s where EveryMundo comes in.
On these pages, airlines can place EveryMundo airModules, eCommerce visualizations that add additional points to the booking engine. These modules display fares and come in a variety of designs that are made for users in different stages of the conversion funnel. Some of the designs include calendars, maps, mosaics, and histograms. For example, an airline can choose a calendar layout, where customers can see the best available real-time fares for each day. Or they can use a trending destination module, where airlines can push routes they need to sell, or push routes according to their popularity.
“We’re giving them the technology to create a user experience that rivals if not surpasses that of the travel agencies, and therefore gives the user more
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advertisements. These tools allow for airlines to plan, launch, scale, and optimize their digital marketing campaigns and generate additional traffic through their digital channels, including search engines, social networks, display ads, email promotions and affiliates.
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25 SE 2nd Ave., Ste. 900 Miami, FL, 33131 305-375-0045 everymundo everymundo.com
EveryMundo was founded in 2006 and has since grown to become the global leader in Fare Marketing technology, working with more than 40 airlines worldwide ranging from major full-service carriers (United, American, Emirates) to Low-Cost Carriers (Spirit, Volaris, Frontier) in 60 countries and marketing in over 25 languages. So far, the Miami-based tech company has chosen not to raise capital and has independently bootstrapped its way to nearly 100 employees mainly in Miami, as well as smaller offices in Ecuador and Hong Kong. 174
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ELEVATOR PITCH My-Cierge is an all-in-one Travel Management System designed to empower Short-term Vacation Rental Property Managers with the technology they need to engage, connect & create experiences digitally for all their guests travel needs.
OUR STORY I worked at some of the best hotels across the Midwest, South Florida, and the beautiful Caribbean while in the industry my focus was Guest Experiences & Hotel Operations. During my 15+years in the hospitality I begin to notice a trend within the hotels, they typically ran the property with old school processes and always had a blind spot due to normal human error. It was late 2016 when I decided to create a platform to streamline the day-to-day operational needs for all things along the guest experience journey. On the new founder path I found my Co-founder Marco which unbeknownst to me worked across the street from me for years prior to us meeting. We discussed the many ways in which hotels lack the use of any major technology or automation systems. So we begin building My-Cierge a 3 part platform Guest App, Staff and Dashboard. Behind the scenes we wanted teams to be able to track, dispatch & executed all requests made from guests and easily communicate amongst one another throughout the property and departments. We quickly realized our 25+ years of combined hospitality experience is one of our strongest advantages.
As of July 2019 we have made a pivot to focus on providing these same services to home sharing hosts and property managers within the vacation rental sector. Ideally we want to promote engagement and encourage information to be shared digitally, our team has also created partnerships which helps increase revenue for host. My-Cierge was designed to take a very socially-driven approach to experiential travel market. We understand travelers typically book excursions if they come as a recommendation so we allow the guests to explore local cultures, cuisines and places within the app that are curated by My-Cierge and approved by the property host. Other great feature our customers really enjoy are real-time chatting, locations & maps helping the traveler always find their way back home and internal reviews and ratings.
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Full-service hosting done in half the time because My-Cierge helps hosts offer more than a place to sleep.�
Imagine as a host offering full-service experiences while dedicating half the time, because at My-Cierge we believe every great host offers more than just a place to sleep.
Our Future
My-Cierge future is bright and our possibilities are truly limitless thanks to the high demand in both the Experiential Travels market and the Vacation Rental Sector. We are planning to corner the Florida Market and even move our services to the Caribbean. As our customer base grows so will our features for example, we will believe a vacation rental loyalty program is needed. Our vision is to continually raise the bar for the service industry and move the experiential travel market forward digitally. We are focused on offering tailored experiences, that help the Vacation Rental owners create a sense of loyalty and trust amongst their travelers.
Our Milestones
We are proud to share that we are a bootstrapped start-up and have made small waves within the entrepreneurial world. We have exciting things in the works but Our founder Samella has been featured in Voyage Miami Magazine and will also be recognized in the upcoming Who’s Who of the Vacation Rental World 2020! We encourage travel enthusiasts to continue to follow our journey!
My-Cierge: Samella Watson: Visionary & CEO Miami, FL, 33130 786-563-3103 travelservices@my-cierge.com myciergeapp my-cierge.com
Samella Watson, Visionary & CEO
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FOOD & BEVERAGE “All work and no play doesn’t just make Jill and Jack dull, it kills the potential of discovery, mastery, and openness to change and flexibility and it hinders innovation and invention.” ~ JOLINE GODFREY
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ELEVATOR PITCH In the Kitchen Miami (ITK) is a Culinary School dedicated to inspiring and instructing the Miami community, as well as visitors from near and far, to enjoy all aspects of food and cooking and to teach them to gain greater joy and assuredness, wherever and whatever they cook.
In the Kitchen Miami (ITK) focuses on all things food and beverage, providing a wide range of cooking classes for all levels. Dedicated to inspiring and instructing the home cook and food enthusiast, In the Kitchen Miami’s hands-on classes are intimate and interactive with no more than 16 students per session. 179
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Classes range from the most basic kinds of culinary instruction to masterclasses even seasoned professionals will want to attend. Even so, ITK is for enthusiasts of all levels, including kids as young as five. Participants can come occasionally or as often as they wish, solo, or with a group. We currently have over 200 classes envisioned, with more being added as our interests and curiosities navigate us through the world of cuisine. Additionally, we offer retail goods that we feel empower you to make food more delicious and give you an edge in meal preparation—the same products we use in this kitchen and our homes. In the Kitchen Miami is available for Private and Corporate Events, including cocktail parties, team building, and more and can be designed in a myriad of ways. Typically, the evening starts with greetings and a welcome cocktail. Then it’s aprons on and down to the task of creating delicious food. Participants are walked through the recipes and then they are split into groups where they are responsible for gathering their mise-en-place. Through guided instruction, they create the recipes presented. As there are a lot of ingredients that need prepping, no participant is left idle. Finally, the finished product is presented for all to taste and to revel in their success. ITK is defined neither by boundaries nor borders. We are guided and inspired by our passion for food, education, and community.
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50 NW 24th Street Suite 113 Miami, FL, 33127 305-748-6915 cooking@inthekitchenmiami.com inthekitchenmiami Book Classes at www.Inthekitchenmiami.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Southbound Hospitality owns, operates & consults for restaurants. Three, a celebration of South Florida’s cuisine, and No.3 Social, a vibrant rooftop lounge, are part of the Southbound Hospitality family, and each is giving fresh life to the Wynwood Arts Distrct.
Southbound Hospitality was created in 2015 with the idea that it would be fully connected to the community. Southbound is the anchor for Wynwood Arcade and encompasses a Culinary Education Space, Restaurant, and Rooftop Bar & Lounge. Our venues serve the local and surrounding communities, as well as a destination for those from afar. 181
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Three Restaurant
No.3 Social Rooftop Bar & Lounge
Three is a celebration of the cuisine of South Florida in a setting that is energetic and welcoming. The restaurant is located in the heart of the Wynwood Arts District and is an engaging, atmospheric place for drinking, eating, and socializing.
Up the cascading steps of the Wynwood Arcade, above the painted streets and art-laden walls of Wynwood, guests can discover the eclectic charms of No.3 Social, Southbound Hospitality’s rooftop bar & lounge. No.3 Social introduces guests to a tropical realm of art, comfort, and flavor, where they can enjoy a selection of globally-inspired street foods, all with a Florida cultural and culinary influence; accompanied by a bar program that features vibrant cocktails inspired by local ingredients, tap wines, and craft beers.
Three’s Chef’s Counter, located in the heart of the restaurant, is our 12-seat kitchen bar that overlooks the chefs cooking. A conversational piece within the beautiful dining room of Three, where guests can learn and engage. Our chefs guide this personalized and educational endeavor, offering an opportunity for guests to interact with the chefs who crafted Three’s dynamic menu.
No.3 Social is alive with music: DJs spinning, live bands, a carefully crafted social soundtrack influenced by past and present, all as a backdrop to events inspired by the Wynwood community. Whether the sun is setting over the Wynwood Arcade, or the sky is dotted with stars, guests can enjoy the soulful and eclectic vibes of this unique space, becoming part of the artistic and cultural nuances that make Wynwood famous.
We chose the name “Three” as it encapsulates Southbound Hospitality’s presence at Wynwood Arcade—three principal partners with three endeavors: the Cooking School, the Restaurant, and the Rooftop Bar & Lounge. “Three” is representative of past, present, and future and is considered the number of harmony, wisdom, and understanding; “Three” is a sacred number, a divine number, and is at the core of good fortune.
While on the rooftop, guests can look out upon the painted buildings and streets of Wynwood, or relax and sip on a delicious cocktail in the shade at No.3 Social’s indoor space.
We look forward to welcoming you to Three. 50 NW 24th Street Miami, FL, 33127 305-748-4540 Three_wynwood Threewynwood No3social www.threewynwood.com 182
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ELEVATOR PITCH The Doral Yard is a community gathering space designed to foster local entrepreneurship and culture. Expanding on The Wynwood Yard concept, the 20,000-square-foot venue will bring culinary delights, live entertainment, and round-the-clock events to Downtown Doral. Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is also a certified yoga instructor with passion for holistic health and wellness.
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Della’s desire to make healthy food affordable and accessible to all was the catalyst for della bowls, a globally-inspired, plant-based, fast-casual concept. After testing the concept in Boston, she moved to Miami in 2014 to open the first store.
The Doral Yard at Downtown Doral is scheduled to open in early 2020. The Hub will encompass a mini-food hall, co-working, meeting and event space and a full bar indoors. The outdoor area, called “The Backyard”, will include culinary vendors, an anchor restaurant and bar, a stage for live music and cultural performances, and a dynamic nature-inspired entertainment area for gathering and dancing.
The Wynwood Yard, Miami’s first culinary incubator and community hub, was galvanized by Della’s experience attempting to find a location for della bowls in Miami. She realized that there was a great need for a platform to foster the development of innovative Miami food, culture, design and fitness entrepreneurs.
Della Heiman is the Founder and CEO of Yard Hospitality, which encompasses the brands of The Doral Yard, della bowls, and The Wynwood Yard. Della grew up in the Midwest, where her family’s culture and ethos honed her entrepreneurial spirit. Previously, Della worked in the fields of political communications, textile manufacturing, and venture capital in the U.S., the Middle East and Asia. She holds a BA in History and Spanish
The Wynwood Yard operated as a thriving community hub from 2015 to 2019, until the leased property was sold. Dozens of culinary entrepreneurs 183
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held residencies at the hub, while hundreds of others hosted pop-ups at The Yard. The Wynwood Yard was designated as one of Miami’s most important venues for live local music, at times hosting international performers such as Shakira, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Proteje, Natti Natasha and others. della test kitchen was a prototype restaurant within The Yard, designed to gather and adapt to community feedback in real time
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Della Heiman, Founder and CEO
In 2019, Della Heiman partnered with Joe Furst, one of the driving forces behind Wynwood’s revitalization, to bring the Yard concept to Downtown Doral. Joe is the founder of Place Projects, a real estate investment and development company that strives to create unique projects and memorable experiences through thoughtful curation and human-centric planning. Joe currently has investments throughout Florida, including Wynwood, Doral, and St. Petersburg. Prior to focusing on his own ventures and founding Place Projects, Joe spent ten years as Managing Director and Principal of Goldman Properties’ Wynwood portfolio. He played an integral role in the transformation of Wynwood from desolate industrial district into an engaging destination, which now attracts more than 1 million annual visitors and is recognized as one of America’s 39 coolest neighborhoods. Goldman’s Wynwood portfolio consists of over 30 properties comprising over 400,000sf of land. Joe oversaw all development, financing and leasing initiatives within the portfolio, including The Wynwood Garage (www.thewynwoodgarage.com), a 250,000sf mixed-use development.
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Joseph Furst, Partner and Co-founder
The Doral Yard at Downtown Doral 8455 NW 53rd St Doral, FL, 33166 hola@thedoralyard.com
doralyard The Doral Yard thedoralyard.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Chef Carlos Garcia’s fun-dining experience, where cocina sabrosa meets our kitchen table, a sister restaurant of Resurante Alto in Caracas.
OUR STORY We get inspiration from our Latin American background, but also from our experiences and travels from around the world, to bring flavors utilizing the best and freshest local products. Our space, created by James Beard Award Winner Alejandro Barrios, brings together Miami’s brightness and joy with the coziness of a neighborhood restaurant. Obra is a place where families, friends, co-workers, couples can experience a good meal and a full bar being served by the chef and his team, creating and an interaction with them. Food needs to be tasty, dishes must invite diners to share. No matter if it’s a quick business lunch, a full meal among friends and family, or after office cocktails and bites, Obra is Brickell’s go-to place.
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Chef Carlos Garcia, his contemporary Venezuelan cuisine sets forth a unique interpretation of a territory through edible metaphors with constant inquiry into the region’s culinary repertoire and pantry, through direct contact with local producers. Carlos brings that same philosophy to offer wholesome dishes with a Latin American accent.
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1331 Brickell Bay Drive, (Jade Bulding) Miami, FL, 33131 info@obramiami.com Reservations: 305-846-9363 or opentable/obrakitchentable
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ELEVATOR PITCH At eMerge Americas, we’re transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas by partnering with the entire tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem, from government to higher-ed, startups to investors, corporate enterprises to media.
eMerge Americas is the premier technology event connecting the Americas held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with corporate business executives, government leaders, and entrepreneurs, eMerge Americas is transforming Miami into the tech hub of the Americas. In 2019, eMerge Americas attracted over 16,000 attendees and more than 4000 companies represented from over 40 countries. eMerge Americas serves as a catalyst in order to foster innovation and investment in South Florida and Latin America. The eMerge Americas founding partners include: Medina Capital, A Rod Corporation, Greenberg Traurig, Knight Foundation, Miami-Dade County, and the Miami Herald. For more information about eMerge Americas, please visit: www.emergeamericas.com.
We’re connecting the dots – between talent, capital and entrepreneurs. And we’re telling – and amplifying – the stories of how Miami is transforming. We’re attracting the best and the brightest from around the world to come to Miami to launch, build, and successfully scale their ideas. The eMerge Americas Startup Showcase is a multi-week training program – at no cost – which culminates in a grand finale pitch competition in front of leading venture capitalists, corporate enterprises, government officials, and global media outlets at the annual eMerge Americas conference.
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“The Startup Showcase is the heart and soul of eMerge Americas — it’s the cornerstone of our year-round programming and an anchor of our annual conference,” said Melissa Medina, President of eMerge Americas. “We have meticulously created programming to not only foster exposure to networks of venture capital funds and growth equity firms but also connecting
eMerge Americas is a platform dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the Americas. We’re a year-round platform that hosts a signature tech conference annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center. 189
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Left to Right: Melissa Medina, President of eMerge Americas; Felice Gorordo, CEO of eMerge Americas; Diane Vidoni, COO of eMerge Americas
stakeholders to nurture and scale the nascent technologies these innovative startups have created.” “We believe the most compelling investment opportunities at a global scale will emerge from across the Americas,” said Felice Gorordo, CEO of eMerge Americas. “This has been a record year for venture capital investment in South Florida and throughout Latin America, and eMerge Americas seeks to be a catalyst for building sustainable startup ecosystems throughout the region by partnering with entrepreneurs, investors, large corporate enterprises, higher-ed institutions and governments in each market.”
2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd Suite 900 Coral Gables, FL, 33134 info@emergeamericas.com
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Brazil Society’s stunning events are born of its founders’ passion for entrepreneurship and Brazilian culture. Creative Director Flavia Marchesini has vast experience in corporate sales and marketing, having worked for Citibank for 14 years. Christiano Marchesini, Brazil Society’s CEO, brings extensive experience in financial services (Citibank and HSBC) and luxury retail (Cartier). Both created and developed the Brazil Fashion Forum at the Faena Forum and the Sounds of Brazil Series together with M2 Connection and Faena Live.
ELEVATOR PITCH Brazil Society is the mastermind behind Brazil Fashion Forum and Sounds of Brazil, two of Miami’s most-anticipated events that bring high-level Brazilian culture and lifestyle into the heart of the city. Brazil Society curates not just special moments but also provides important, real sales and marketing results to its clients, partners, and sponsors while supporting brands to develop their value in the U.S.
Held annually at the Faena Forum, Brazil Fashion Forum showcases Brazilian culture through fashion and art in an exclusive experience event. Brazilian designers display their masterpieces on the fashion runway surrounded by a fashion gallery, a forum with exclusive talks, and popups for exclusive sales during the event—all curated by talented fashion experts. The 2019 gallery featured sustainable fashion by Martha Medeiros, and Barbara Fialho served as the 2019 Fashion Ambassador. Sinesia Karol, Ostra Brasil, Maison Alexandrin, and Cecilia Prado presented their newest collections for the first time in Miami.
OUR STORY In its first year (2017), Brazil Fashion Forum was named South Florida’s best Brazilian cultural event, and since Sounds of Brazil began, it has brought renowned artists like Dado-Villa Lobos and Marcelo Bonfa of Legião Urbana, Marina Lima, Vanessa da Mata, Paulo Ricardo, Paula Toller, Barao Vermelho, and Adriana Calcanhotto to eager Miami audiences.
In its aim to create a new international fashion event, Brazil Fashion Forum has drawn the support of Chopard, UBS, L’Oreal, Artefacto, and others.
The initiatives are pioneering in the way they bring upmarket events to Miami’s worlds of fashion and art, and specifically to the wondrous Faena District. Brazil Society is proud to participate in the district’s “Rethink Experience,” an initiative to which not only Faena but also the Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, through its “Journey through Brazilian experiences,” lends it support.
“We are delighted to sponsor Brazil Forum because it provides our clients a wonderful opportunity to participate in a dazzling event that brings the best of Brazil creativity and style to the US,” UBS has said. 191
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Sounds of Brazil is equally sophisticated and ambitious in its aim to showcase the best of Brazilian culture. Sounds of Brazil started in 2016, is produced by M2 Connection, and brings the best of Brazilian music to Miami in a high-level production. Important sponsors like Avianca Brasil, BTD, Faena Theater, Fragomen, Ornare, and Artefacto have supported the series, creating a sophisticated and unique experience for their VIP clients and celebrities. With its team’s deep experience, style, and ambition, Brazil Society’s stunning, sophisticated events showcase the best of Brazil—and uplift Miami in the process.
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Faena Forum 3300-3398 Collins Ave Miami Beach, FL, 33140 786-554-7618 Brazil Fashion Forum brazilfashionforum brazilfashionforum.com
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WOHASUÂŽ Foundation is the organizing body behind the premier World Happiness SummitÂŽ and H-20 Government Meeting focused on increasing wellbeing at the individual, community, corporate, and civic levels. WOHASU serves as a networking platform for attendees, experts, and partners where new ideas are incubated, and innovative programs and services are created.
WOHASU strives to educate individuals, organizations, businesses and civic leaders about the importance of learning and implementing datadriven tools and policies that increase happiness and wellbeing. Happiness research and practices provide proven advantages that help optimize the actions and wellbeing of individuals, organizations and communities. Through the promotion of these science-based principles, the foundation hopes to achieve its goal of co-creating a more positive and happier world. 193
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The World Happiness SummitÂŽ gathers the top experts in the science of happiness, positive psychology, sustainability, economics, mindfulness, health and wellbeing to create an inclusive event that unites people from around the world with the purpose of learning, experiencing and practicing tools that assist people on the path to self-actualization, wellbeing and
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happiness. Our expert keynote speakers use their vision, time, creativity and passion for good to share about the benefits of choosing happiness with a global audience. The 4th Annual World Happiness Summit: Happiness Revolution takes place on March 13-15, 2020, in Miami, FL.
WOHASUÂŽ & The World Happiness Summit WoHaSu World Happiness Summit happinesssummit.world
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ELEVATOR PITCH Nuage Designs is a leader in couture linen and furniture rentals for events with 15 years servicing top event planners, celebrities, and luxury hotels around the world. We source and design with textiles that offer a fresh take on trends and a modern interpretation of timeless classic styles. With in-house production, everything cut and sewn in Miami, FL, we can service the events industry at large while also collaborating on unique custom projects worldwide.
OUR STORY Combining an education and career in luxury Hospitality, Pablo Oliveira infused his passion for design and global travels to found Nßage Designs. Under his direction, Nßage has grown from the vicinity of Miami’s culture rich Little Haiti to cater to a diverse community of creatives nationwide and abroad, offering an abundance of design advice with the highest standard of service. A key success factor for our company is to consistently offer unparalleled design aesthetics and expertise and provide any event with the best selection in linen and accessories. From royal weddings to inaugural balls, Nuage Designs has been dressing the tables of some of the most prestigious events globally.
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In order to keep our leadership within the industry, we particularly value our human capital. We cherish individual talents and foster a collaborative atmosphere with the goal of creating the most joyful environment, providing career and personal fulfillment for those who share our passion for design and service excellence. We believe in giving back to the community by supporting local and national non-profit organizations. We strive to work as a team to elevate the experience of planning, designing and enjoying an event by consistently and successfully delivering high quality products while anticipating and exceeding our clients’ needs. At Nuage we are committed to providing memorable and unique experiences for our team, for our business partners who we consider an extension of the Nuage team, and our clients.
355 NE 71st Street Miami, FL, 33138 305-573-7840 info@nuagedesigns.com nuagedesigns.com 196
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CREATING AMAZING EVENTS DCE PRODUCTIONS SINCE ITS INCEPTION JUST FIVE YEARS AGO, DCE PRODUCTIONS LOOKS AT THE WORLD OF LIVE EVENT PRODUCTION THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS.
Dissatisfied with the status quo of audio visual services received for events they were managing in hotels and convention centers, DCE’s founders decided they could do the job better on their own. With no prior A/V production company experience, they applied professional strategic planning and execution skills and started investing in equipment and people. And one event at a time, DCE Productions began delighting meeting and event planners with technically sophisticated shows. Today, DCE has produced some of the most spectacular events in the Florida region and has a hand in producing more than 450 events a year for hundreds of customers. According to CEO Paul Harris, their work begins months, or even years, before the event. “One of the key differentiators of DCE vs. the alternatives is our involvement in the planning process. The sooner we can start brainstorming and collaborating with our client’s event team, the more dynamic the end-product. We tend to cause our clients to raise their goals and elevate their game when it comes to events.”
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DCE Productions is dedicated to developing, designing, planning and producing successful events for organizations across the country. They pride themselves on helping companies and organizations communicate their message using technology in both live event environments, in creative video production projects, and with hybrid in-person / remote attendee events using the latest in live streaming and web conferencing. Their resources include the sharpest, technically savvy producers, videographers, video editors, graphic artists, event experience designers, technical directors, project managers, audio engineers, video engineers, lighting directors, IT specialists, audience response technicians, webcasting technicians and digital signage technicians. “We roll up our sleeves early and develop concepts that ensure memorable experiences for each events’ attendees,” said Harris. A key to DCE’s formula is rooted in one of its founding tenents: Become a vital part of the customers’ event
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management team. Most AV companies serving live events begin by compiling a detailed list of equipment and seeing how fast they can inflate a number on the bottom line of a price quote. DCE approaches each project asking “What is the objective of this event?” By assuming an interest in the overall success of each event, they become accountable to their customers on a different level than in-house AV providers or momand-pop AV companies. “It’s all about providing an event experience that motivates and inspires the audience while maintaining the integrity of the event,” added Harris. Regardless of the scope of the event or the size of the audience, DCE applies its formula for success. From a meeting for 25 people to a keynote for 10,000. And based on overwhelmingly positive customer satisfaction, Florida-based DCE Productions has clearly succeeded in re-inventing the live production business. 198
813-606-4107 heidi@dcelive.com @DCElive DCELive dcelive.com
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OUR STORY Venture Cafe Miami’s strategic approach is intentionally different from that of other stakeholders – we are not a direct service organization; rather, we amplify the impact of collaborating organizations to improve outcomes for entrepreneurs and innovative individuals who are producing solutions to society’s most pressing problems, VCM’s platform aims to better connect individuals with each other and opportunities, often in the form of much needed resources and capital. Our theory of change is simple: by filling the existing gaps in Miami’s entrepreneurial and startup community that limit access to capital and opportunity, we foster the social and economic growth of the region and increase individual economic mobility.
ELEVATOR PITCH Venture Café Miami is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building an accessible and inclusive innovation community. We design initiatives that connect innovators with each other as well as access opportunities to accelerate their growth and increase entrepreneur-led economic impact in the region.
Our mission is to create an inclusive and diverse innovation ecosystem in South Florida by curating programs, designing activations, and creating partnerships that foster social and economic growth that includes everyone who identifies as an entrepreneur or innovator.
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VCM is uniquely positioned as an ecosystem builder. Though a relatively new field, Kauffman Foundation defines a successful ecosystem as one “that allows for the fast flow of talent, information, and resources [to help] entrepreneurs quickly find what they need at each stage of growth.” Accordingly, VCM systems-thinking approach to building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem fills an unmet need as a neutral architect of the infrastructure necessary to enhance collaboration among key stakeholders and create access to capital and resources for a diverse community of innovators. Instead of traditional direct service programs, VCM’s offerings include platforms designed to address a specific gap or need that affects the broader innovation community and is aligned with our six pillars of Building and Strengthening Connections, Broadening Innovation, Access to Capital and Resources, Civic Innovation and Convening, Global Network and Cultivating Talent. No other organization in South Florida offers this level of quality, content, diversity and access to investors, leaders in the community, job creation and workforce development for entrepreneurs and community members. VentureCafeMiami venturecafemia info@venturecafemiami.org venturecafemiami.org 202
Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, Esq., Executive Director
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Exploring the global Startup ecosystem ELEVATOR PITCH
Events are for everyone—founders at all stages, developers at all levels, community organizers, investors, change-makers, and those working to drive startup growth. If you work at a startup, are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur or joining our community, you cannot miss out!
Multi-day, Unconference that brings together startups and early-stage entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, service providers, accelerator programs, in a multi-venue to experience the city’s local startup ecosystem including a startup competition.
REASONS TO ATTEND
DISCOVER YOUR FUTURE SELF AND GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE BEST STARTUPS AND TECH COMPANIES IN MIAMI.
Meet fellow founders, entrepreneurs, developers, and investors in casual venues to talk shop, share code and make plans Be part of a culture that celebrates sharing and learning from one another Learn from incredibly smart entrepreneurs and experienced mentors Network with the entire Miami startup community and interact with startup teams and hiring managers in meaningful and impactful ways.
Startup SAFARI Miami is an adventure into one of the fastest-growing startup hotspots in the Americas. Flourishing amid a culturally-rich, tropical atmosphere, Miami’s startup ecosystem attracts talent, resources, and ideas from around the world.
To meet the most important startups of your ecosystem, set your own Startup SAFARI agenda and visit founders, coworking spaces and accelerators in their own offices to create meaningful connections.
Our Global community will come together over 2 days to attend 100+ sessions throughout the city of Miami to connect, collaborate and celebrate the innovation and startup ecosystem.
Meet students, startups, VC’s, co-working spaces and accelerators of your startup scene and create meaningful connections. Dive deep into the local startup scene and experience the startup lifestyle with Startup SAFARI Miami. 203
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Miami is a truly GREAT place to build a company, but most of the earlystage startups are not aware of the local resources available to grow.” To help entrepreneurs, founders, investors in Miami find the resources and opportunities they need, we invite them to explore the StartUp Ecosystem they’ve been searching for, by having a SAFARI expedition.” Andres Hurtado Rangel, CEO, Startup SAFARI Miami
Throughout our travels, our passion for local startup ecosystems grew even stronger. And the potential and need were clear. We knew that we were working on the right topic. However, the amount of work we put in these events was crazy. We had to ask ourselves: Is this worth it? Over the course of five years we made so many meaningful connections around the globe it sure was valuable to us. However, was it valuable to the local startup ecosystem? We knew we could do better. Also, the model we used to organize these events was neither scalable nor efficient. We had to reimagine it. At some point, we decided to add Startup SAFARI to the PIRATE family. We evaluated whether it could help us scale our vision of a decentralized global network of startup ecosystems. And we found that Startup SAFARI has the potential to be just that
Mr. Rangel is a Serial Entrepreneur, Business Owner, Business Consultant, Investor, Lender, and Speaker. He masters the skills of Business development, Partnering, Branding, Marketing, and Networking. He is an expert in complex IT environments for enterprise, multinational corporations, government, Small-Medium Businesses, and he is an active Developer of Enterprise Cloud Solutions and CyberSecurity. visit www. AHRangel.com
Startup SAFARI is focused on local but is at the same time a powerful global network. There are many more startups than just those in the hotspots like Silicon Valley, Tel Aviv or Berlin. Also, there are plenty of ambitions worth pursuing other than becoming the next unicorn. Or in general, terms, whereas the Fortune 500 might be sexy and talked about in the media, the Fortune 5 million are the ones that fascinate us.
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We want to celebrate the smaller startups. Bootstrapped entrepreneurs. Those that built profitable companies from scratch. And we don’t care whether you are making 50 million or 1 million in revenue. Are you building something valuable? Are you creating jobs? Are you changing the world for the better (at least a little bit)? Whether big or small, all entrepreneurs are going through an entrepreneurial rollercoaster.
Our story begins in 2011 in Germany when we started a startup-conference called PIRATE Summit that brings together selected startup founders from the European startup ecosystem to Cologne to celebrate entrepreneurship with us and just have a good time. Essentially — as we didn’t like the tech conferences at the time — we created an event we’d love to attend ourselves.
Entrepreneurs are our heroes. They deserve recognition. Especially the local ones. By building a global community of local ecosystem builders we want to give innovative ideas, creative entrepreneurs and startup ecosystems a stage.
Over the years it has always been the idea to bring the PIRATE spirit to local startup ecosystems. It started with a road trip to six countries in Eastern Europe back in 2012, called PIRATES on Shore and later PIRATE Summit Global.
Right now we are organizing plenty of Startup SAFARI Events in North America, LATAM, and Brazil in cooperation with our chapter leads around the world, and we introduce the decision-makers of the companies to the Startup Ecosystems. Email me at andres@stratupSAFARI.miami for more info.
We did PIRATE Summit Global because we have always been fascinated by local startup ecosystems beyond the normal hotspots. That’s why we organized events in over 36 cities like Paris, Prague, Barcelona, London, Budapest, and many others. What we experienced blew our minds. Not only did we meet great people there. We also found that there are a lot of hungry entrepreneurs, tech talent and promising startups. However, the ecosystems are — at least from the outside — hard to access and didn’t have the exposure and recognition they deserved.
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ELEVATOR PITCH Pitch Night MIA is a monthly pitch competition designed to bring the startup community together for a night of entertainment, education and collaboration.
OUR STORY Miami right now is buzzing with an influx of innovative people, businesses, and opportunities. With everything being so new, it can be challenging for founders and investors to navigate through the different communities and resources available to them.
can make a world of difference. Having hosted dozens of events to build communities of thousands of people across two cities, they have seen the value created from those who have attended. Pitch Night MIA is an extension of Pitch Night NYC which was started in 2018 and expanding into other cities.
This is especially true for early stage founders who have the most difficulties knowing where to look for support and resources. For startups the most desired opportunity is the chance to get in front of investors. Those looking to fund innovative projects also face similar challenges of not knowing where to look. This leaves a lot of missed opportunities to connect.
Pitch Night MIA features four startups every month who pitch in front of an audience and judges. The participants pitch for 5 minutes each followed by Q&A with the judges after each pitch. The participants all walk away with prizes from partner sponsors such as HubSpot For Startups and SeedLawyers. By creating an experience where the participants, judges, and audience members are all able to collaborate everyone gains value from the community.
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SYNAPSE FLORIDA: CELEBRATING THE SUCCESS OF OUR INNOVATION COMMUNITIES SERENDIPITY DOESN’T SCALE. THAT’S WHY WE BUILT SYNAPSE.
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Synapse Florida, the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization connecting innovation communities across Florida, was founded on the premise that serendipity doesn’t scale. By building a state-wide movement, Synapse is enabling innovation partners throughout Florida to find each other and develop relationships in a way that hasn’t existed before.
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“If you want to accelerate success and build flourishing, sustainable economies, it needs to be done in an intentional, meaningful, and purposeful way,” says Marc Blumenthal, Co-founder of Synapse.
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Connections: Framework for Fueling Innovation corporation innovation enabler ESO
Synapse believes that connections are the key to accelerating thriving innovation communities and driving Florida’s economic growth, while attracting and retaining top talent—now and for generations to come.
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By creating a framework to connect entrepreneurs, talent, investors, corporations, educational institutions, and other business stakeholders, Synapse helps people find what they need and share what they have in three ways: •• Synapse Connect – An online, customized platform that allows innovators to easily and quickly connect with the resources they need anywhere across the state. Synapse Connect only shows you the 207
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opportunities, partners, news, companies, and events that are relevant to your changing needs and goals. •• Synapse Challenges – A crowdsourcing solution for organizations to solve real-world problems and create new opportunities for forward-thinking businesses and people—efficiently and cost-effectively. Challenges inspire our state’s most talented creators and makers to innovate and fuel the talent pipeline.
•• Synapse Events – Throughout the year, Synapse hosts purpose-driven programming online and in-person. The capstone event is the Synapse Summit—a live two-day celebration of innovation where visionaries, doers, and success-makers connect with the latest transformational innovations across all industries to educate and inspire. 208
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Providing value Synapse helps to break down the silos of industry, encouraging people to connect and engage easily with purpose and provide guidance to accelerate success. Lauren Prager, VP of Community Engagement, states, “We are a community of helping each other succeed by sharing resources, opportunities and ideas to promote innovation”. Furthermore, Andy Hafer, Synapse Co-founder, explains, “Members of our community are incredibly generous of their time and support to help talented people, entrepreneurs, and startups get to the next level. We celebrate each other’s successes. As the saying goes, the ‘rising tide lifts all boats.’” The impact Synapse has made on our state is palpable. “We are proud that Synapse has already made a positive impact on so many in our community,” says Lauren Prager, Vice President of Community Engagement. “Every week, we hear from another person who found an investor, a client, a new team member, a career opportunity, and important bit of inspiration, or valuable connection through Synapse. This is what we are built to do.” “We were built to enable better connections across the state,” added Marc. “An investor or entrepreneur should not be limited by time and space to find the partner they need to succeed. We’re proud that Synapse has a solution that is beginning to fix the problem.” 209
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Synapse is truly a community movement, led by an Impact Board representing Florida’s leading innovators and run day to day by unbelievably dedicated staff and volunteers. “It is truly remarkable to have such great leaders on one board, all with one common goal, to make Florida the best place to innovate, build a business, career, and life,” says Brian Kornfeld, President of Synapse. “We are grateful to the talented, resourceful Synapse staff and volunteers who are fostering the connections for innovation, helping to create the success stories that will let the world know that Innovation Lives Here.”
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Synapse Impact Board Synapse extends sincere appreciation and gratitude to its inaugural board, representing Florida’s leading entrepreneurs, investors, corporate executives, and principals of educational institutions, entrepreneur support organizations, and government, who are supporting the state’s thriving innovation communities. Chairman of the Board, Tim Schar, SunTrust Bank
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A-LIGN Ark Applications BNY Mellon Business Enhancement Strategies Cherry Bekaert Connectwise DCE Productions Deloitte Elevate, Inc Embarc Collective Florida Funders Florida Israel Business Accelerator Florida Polytechnic University Florida Rep. Jamie Grant Gerdau Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce Grow Financial Federal Credit Union Guidewell Innovation/Florida Blue Hillsborough County EDi2 Holland and Knight Hunter Business Law Jabil MainFrame McIntyre Thanasides
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Metropolitan Ministries Morgan Hill Partners Orlando Economic Partnership Palm Beach Tech Publix PWC Qualified Meetings Reliaquest Schifino Lee Straz Center for the Performing Arts
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DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES UNITES PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY.
ELEVATOR PITCH community best practices to other associations seeking to optimize value to their members.
We foster the development, growth and engagement of volunteer-driven user groups that provide communities for like-minded technology users and partners to exchange knowledge on how to best maximize product performance to achieve business success.
Today, the Dynamic Communities Groups represent over 280,000 members worldwide, representing 68,300 companies across many industries, disciplines, and software applications. By facilitating value exchange among members and providing business and event management, Dynamic Communities enables volunteer leaders to focus entirely on cultivating rich community engagement and authentic member value.
“Dynamic Communities creates vibrant communities where users can grow their knowledge, competency, and confidence with their technology systems and business applications,” said Janet Lampert, President and CEO Dynamic Communities. “Our focus is on growing the communities to reach additional technology users as the value of the community continues to expand as each new member brings unique knowledge to the table.”
Dynamic Communities is committed to growth and achieving this through enhance mobile experiences and by offering events worldwide. “We’re going into 2020 with a mobile-first strategy, so we can expand to new geographies and connect passionate technology users around the world,” said Lampert.
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The user group helps users gain a broader picture of the potential uses of the applications, increase their support network and allows for specific skill development.” – User Group Member
I began with the user group community hoping to quietly harvest as much information as possible while not being noticed…but I soon found that others saw value in my challenges, and I began to share them. I was shy about sharing my stories, but it turns out there’s a level of solace from knowing you’re not alone. The user group brings together knowledge and fuels collective growth. Because of this, I look forward to the next challenge and sharing it with my community.”
narrative emphasizes the ways we are bringing people together, both inperson and online, to build strong communities. Volunteers are the driving force of the Communities: delivering content, sharing their knowledge, and helping to shape the future direction of the community. There are over 1,500 volunteers dedicating their time and sharing their knowledge to grow the communities. Dynamic Communities founder, Andy Hafer cultivated a rich company culture of innovation and servanthood. Employees are encouraged to drive innovation and garner learning from failures. By focusing on innovation and learning, Dynamic Communities continues to drive new ideas and experiences for the user communities.
- User Group Member
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ELEVATOR PITCH Innovation City is a podcast featuring the innovators, disruptors, and creators behind the innovation movement.
OUR STORY Imagine a place where ordinary people do extraordinary things. A gathering of entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and activists who believe in innovation as a process to improve the human condition. These are people who are breaking through the status quo of business as usual. They’re changing the face of culture through diversity and inclusion, creativity, and stronger and better-connected businesses. This community is the inspiration for the Innovation City Podcast.
It’s only natural, then, that on Innovation City, their thoughtful questions distill their guests’ unique stories into an engaging 25 minutes. Listeners are entertained and inspired. Because Innovation City is powered by Venture Cafe, which has local operations in cities around the world, many of the podcast’s guests are drawn from that global pool. Venture Cafe hosts the largest weekly gathering of innovators in the world. Its local operations are found in Boston/Cambridge, Massachusetts; St. Louis, Missouri; Miami, Florida; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Rotterdam, Netherlands; Tokyo, Japan; and Sydney, Australia.
A collaboration of Venture Cafe St. Louis, Venture Cafe Miami, and SLAM! Agency, Innovation City tells the story of the people behind this innovation movement. Tyler Kelley and Michael Johnson, co-founders of SLAM! Agency, interview innovators from around the world, releasing a new 25-minute episode (in video and audio) every week. As SLAM!’s Chief Strategist and Chief Creative respectively, the duo are the ideal co-hosts for #InnovationCity.
Venture Cafe provides an opportunity for people to connect in order to make things happen.
Tyler and Michael started SLAM! as a different kind of digital storytelling agency. Their goal was to create purpose-driven content that connects people on an emotional level, and use that connection to build trust, create awareness, and ultimately drive business results.
Check out Innovation City’s 100+ episodes at innovationcity.co or subscribe on iTunes. 215
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Michael T. Johnson—Co-host Michael is co-founder and Chief Creative at SLAM! Agency. He’s a firm believer in creating powerful emotional connections through content and empowering people to tell stories from their own unique perspectives. Through his career, he has had the opportunity to work with clients ranging from Grammy award–winning producers to national nonprofits and major brands, including St. Jude Children’s research hospital, Post Cereals, American Cancer Society, MTV, and AB/Inbev.
Travis Sheridan—Co-host (occasionally) Travis Sheridan is President at CIC Venture Cafe Global Institute. He’s also an entrepreneur, consultant, professional speaker, writer, and actor/ comedian who is passionate about entrepreneurship as a driver for economic development and using data to make informed business decisions. He frequently speaks on topics such as business growth, communication, leadership, creativity, branding, and social media.
Tyler Kelley—Co-host Tyler Kelley is Co-Founder & Chief Strategist at SLAM! Agency. He’s also a professional speaker, tennis player, and conscious business advocate. With 18+ years in the results-driven marketing space, Tyler has earned a reputation for anticipating user trends and developing proactive strategies to drive brands forward. As a speaker, he has shared the stage with digital brands like Google, Facebook, Snapchat, Pinterest, and Buzzfeed.
create@slamagency.com 786-437-7937 @weareslam slamagency.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Too many potential client calls? Don’t want to grow your business? If you want to stay in the same position you are in right now, don’t hire our Miami Marketing® team. We are the local marketing machine that never sleeps, always in action, to double your revenue and bring you customers! Miami Marketing® delivers cohesive branding and result-driven campaigns for businesses in the areas of real estate, law, medical, retail, finance, hospitality and foodservice industries.
Today, your online and offline buyers live in an age of information abundance. They’re more inundated by marketing messages than ever – we are now exposed to more than 5,000 ads per day, by current estimations, and it’s getting worse. As a result, the marketing experts are challenged by attention scarcity – the concept that the more messages your audience is forced to filter out, the harder they become to reach. The marketing techniques we have developed elevate your brand above the thousands of marketing messages with great design and intelligence, that becomes the fuel for engagement with your customers. It’s the offer in your email campaigns, the link you share on your multiple social media channels, the marketing collateral and visual designs you hand out at events, the case study you showcase on your website and the final green button your sales team uses to close a deal.
ABOUT ORGANIZATION Miami Marketing® is a high-intensity agency with high-end, quality visual connection builders, and brand enhancers that reach the creation, localization and high-performance metrics for businesses with less than $500M annual revenue. As the founder and CEO of Miami Marketing®, I have been blessed to lead an amazing team of marketing professionals, with an ambition for coding, branding and client success. We have grown our agency to an advanced multi-functional, full-service marketing platform, based on artificial intelligence to find, engage and nurture the right customers for your business.
YOU BUILD AWARENESS FOR YOUR BRAND A potential customer can’t buy from you if they are unable to find you – about 95% of the purchase cycle starts with a simple search online. Traditional advertising and outbound marketing can be an effective approach to creating awareness, but Miami Marketing® allows you to build organic awareness without paying thousands of dollars in Pay per Click (PPC) campaigns. When your valuable content ranks highly on search engines or is shared widely on social networks, this is the “free and organic” brand awareness. And because of the highly ranked results, your potential audience is receiving the message at their convenient time of the search, your message will be relevant, and your audience is going to be less inclined to tune it out.
WHY DO YOU NEED AN EXPERIENCED MARKETING AGENCY? Our marketing team has designed a method of creating value with relevant content to work as a magnet for acquiring and engaging your audience. We share an enormous amount of information to tell our clients’ stories and aim to drive profitable customer action.
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MIAMI MARKETING® CREATES PREFERENCE AND LOYALTY FOR YOUR BRAND Once you have established awareness for the service, product of the business, you need to establish a preference. This is the hardest part of our job, to compete with other brands and find a competitive advantage. Engaging Miami Marketing® creates preference through leadership – it makes you the trusted source of information and education. We create preference through building long-lasting relationships that are strengthened through continuous nurturing that helps your buyer make a choice. People are more likely to buy from companies with whom they have spoken before and have a relationship. Of course, this requires our team to create a story that people like, or even love.
WE REACH MORE BUYERS AND CUSTOMERS, AT A LOWER COST According to Forrester research, today’s customers distrust and resent promotions that interrupt or intercepts them. Effective marketing is part of a natural conversation with current and potential customers, is relevant to their interests and behaviors, and builds an impression over time. Unlike traditional marketing, Miami Marketing® campaigns pay dividends for as long as the internet, computers and other devices exist, and this effect multiplies as we go beyond our six-month target. Note that this means that our marketing initiative is not a short-term strategy – results will be small at first but will grow drastically over time. Teodora Thompson, Founder and CEO 1200 Brickell Avenue, Floor 18, Miami, FL, 33131 305-389-0566 teodora@miamimarketingco.com miamimarketingco miamimarketingco miamimarketingco.com 220
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Company
Elevator pitch
We are a data-driven creative agency focused on helping brands succeed across multi-cultural markets. From branding and web development to predictive marketing and digital strategy, our portfolio includes global brands such as Wendy’s, Zumba, Kraft, Armani Casa, and Disney.
Our story
Shortly after arriving to Miami from Argentina in 2005 and while still in high school, Pia began creating complex e-commerce solutions for the pharmaceutical industry. Shortly after, word of mouth kept bringing more and more referrals, Paula joined and Crea7ive was born. We are certified as minority-owned and part of the .1% of creative agencies founded by women. With 85% of total purchase decisions made by females in the US, our diverse leadership gives us a unique edge to help our clients thrive. Currently working with AI, we are using data to predict user behavior and optimize creativity.
How we are different
We are not just creatives, designers or programmers. We are entrepreneurs, strategists and consultants using real-world experience to help our clients.
Why Miami?
Miami is a global intersection for cultures – not just Latin Americans, but people from all over the world who see opportunity in our fast-moving economy. To be constantly stimulated by new cultures, people and ideas helps us motivated to keep creating and innovating.
Find us
Crea7ive.com hello@crea7ive.com IG: @crea7ivead
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Pia Celestino (left) and Paula Celestino (right).
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20 Addy Awards by the American Advertising Federation
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Women in Entrepreneurship and Leadership Award by USHCC - U.S. largest Hispanic business organization.
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Startup Weekend IBM Hosted a special-edition event at
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Eye-Talker – a project co-founded by Pia Celestino which developed a wearable device to help the visually impaired
Innovative Woman Series – a series of events focused on
“hear” text. Featured in TEDx.
supporting local female entrepreneurs.
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Keynote Speakers Web Congress Puerto Rico & Colombia.
Love Lost Miami – an annual exhibit shining a spotlight on
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Other speaking: Dell, Mercedes Benz, Adobe Creative Jam,
the stories of loss that live in our city. •
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IBM Watson HQ in NYC.
Startup Grind, IBM, IDDBM, Girls Who Code, USHCC.
Kloset Karma – The creation of an app to swap clothes and reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion.
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ELEVATOR PITCH We are a data-driven Influencer Marketing agency with expertise in TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. We manage Influencer Marketing campaigns from A to Z: starting from selecting the right KPIs for the client, identifying the best influencers, making all the creatives and, finally, managing the overall campaign, and creating an in-depth report.
R THE INFLUENCER MARKETING FACTORY
OUR STORY The Influencer Marketing Factory started its activity in 2018 when co-founders Alessandro Bogliari and Nicla Bartoli decided to create their first Influence Marketing agency after years of experience in the field, as well as B2B and B2C growth marketing, corporate and reputation management. They combine together a creative and data-oriented approach, in order to provide to each client a great integration of both the creative aspects and the importance of insights to track the effective digital ROI and earned media value for each campaign. Completely bootstrapped, the duo started fostering strong relationships with niche lead generation websites and invested heavily in SEO. This strategy brought the agency – in only a few months – to successfully acquiring 70+ clients including major brands such as Sony Music, Universal Music, Snapchat, and Google.
Photo by Pretty Instant, at Forbes New York Business Council Executive Escapade event since it was requested by Forbes
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Alessandro Bogliari,CEO
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Nicla Bartoli, VP of Sales
With a lean management strategy and mostly remote independent contractors, the agency has been able to run faster compared to competitors and offering better deals. With a simple structure in place, The Influencer Marketing Factory is able to quickly identify blue ocean markets such as TikTok, and becoming one of the top TikTok Influencer Marketing agencies in the world, helping music labels, apps, and beauty companies to increase awareness thanks to viral hashtag challenges and catchy videos. A lot of marketers find it challenging to calculate the accurate ROI of an influencer marketing campaign. Thanks to our expertise and tools, we are not only able to calculate it, but also to provide to our clients extensive reporting, analytics and metrics for any of our activities. For example, if our client’s main goal is to drive users to an eCommerce website, we will track all visits, clicks and custom promo codes used during the campaign. In this way, our clients have a clear funnel that showcases how many users we have reached, how many we engaged, how many became leads and – ultimately – how many bought the products. In terms of process and approach, firstly we need to understand our client’s goals and KPIs and what would they like the outcome to be for their Influencer Marketing campaign. Secondly, we focus on the company’s target audience asking who are the current and potential customers. Only after that, are we able to match the brand’s audience with the relevant influencer. Our clients have full access to the Influencers’ target demographics and can see which ones are the perfect ones for their campaigns. Finally, we manage the campaign and we report on the results, earned media and any other important metric. Started in Miami, FL, the agency is opening now a new office in New York, NY and already has satellite offices in Milan, Italy and Copenhagen, Denmark. The team works primarily on Trello to manage daily tasks, Slack to communicate internally and all the Google Docs suite to organize work.
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“At Gallardo Labs, we are not just an agency, and you are not just a client. We are partners. We recognize that experts in innovation and leadership need teams with an equal level of expertise to craft their brand story and build a digital experience that their audience will love,” states Nicole Gallardo, CoFounder and Chief Creative Officer at Gallardo Labs
Gallardo Labs is a new kind of digital experience agency that is redefining what is possible with design, technology, and heart. They provide strategy, storytelling, design and critical thinking for niche brands and complex products, and are on a mission to help forward-thinking organizations discover their true potential.
Nicole and Beto are focused on working with like-minded leaders, decisionmakers, and industry disruptors who are interested in partnering up to build a better tomorrow for generations to come. Committed to their vision, Gallardo Labs has cut out the “fluff” that’s synonymous with big agencies, streamlined the creative process, and eliminated traditional business operating expenses to deliver the highest level of expertise at a fraction of the cost of competitors. They are also revolutionizing the industry by being the first agency to use technology as their core.
OUR STORY Conscious that the current agency-client model was broken and needed a radical face-lift, Co-Founders and Partners, Nicole and Adalberto (Beto) Gallardo set out to create a new kind of digital agency built for the digital world. Today, Gallardo Labs is a digital partner that actually exists digitally; and is comprised of a global team of subject-matter experts and awardwinning strategists, storytellers, designers, and UX specialists, hailing from the world’s most iconic brands including Chrysler, Target, Royal Caribbean, Unilever, Walt Disney, Rolling Stone, etc. Centered around the latest technology, Gallardo Labs is 100% remote, sparing overhead, increasing efficiency and leveraging the world as their pool of talent. Designed to deliver maximum value, Gallardo’s crew works in lean, multi-disciplinary teams that can be easily integrated into an existing in-house team or scaled to fit a partner’s unique business needs.
“We use the same tools and technology that many other large agencies and companies are using, but we use them as the true center of our organization in order to eliminate all potential gaps in communication and create a 100% aligned and virtual office. While other companies use technology to support their operations, collaboration tools are never considered ‘essential’, so a perfect adoption rate is never fully achieved. This leads to communication gaps and longer timelines. Some people on a team might use one particular tool, while others may prefer another. At Gallardo Labs, we are constantly evolving our suite and we each use the same set of tools all day, every day. Having a perfect adoption rate of our tool kit is essential to our method for success. We truly revolve around technology and because of that, work quicker and more seamlessly than ever possible in a traditional work environment,” says Nicole.
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Packing a powerful punch, Gallardo Labs leverages the power of creativity and data to build compelling digital experiences; and uses agility, precision and efficiency to implement them.
Want to learn more? gallardolabs.com | @gallardolabs
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ELEVATOR PITCH At Outsmart Labs, we’re a boutique digital agency made of creative professionals, leaders and strategists with a proven track record in creating powerful and profitable campaigns within multi-regional digital marketing ecosystems. Our team specializes in helping enterprise level businesses take control of their digital presence by growing their visibility, traffic, sales and conversions.
OUR STORY At the young age of 16, founder David Azar got hooked by the world of digital marketing when he created the first professional sports team e-commerce website in the world for the Paris Basketball team. From these early beginnings, David and co-founder Kouros Armandeh became insatiably fascinated by the limitless potential of digital, and sought out to uncover the secrets of Internet Marketing and the many gaps in traditional marketing it could fill.
In 2013, the first Outsmart Labs office opened in Miami, with a second location in Paris. In the years since, our team has witnessed firsthand the immense power of storytelling and thoughtful digital strategies as the ultimate driving force for fostering meaningful engagement and driving conversions. It’s no longer enough to merely sell products or services alone brands must harness the minds and imaginations of their consumers at the various touch-points along the path to conversion to create a robust brand and furthermore, a loyal community of brand ambassadors.
After moving to the United States to attend the University of Miami, David quickly recognized that with tactical strategies and a keen understanding of how to navigate this new digital world, small to medium sized businesses could effectively compete with larger scale businesses in their respective fields. Through a passion for bringing big ideas to life, Outsmart Labs was born. 227
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David Azar, Founder
Fast forward to 2019 and Outsmart Labs caters to an esteemed roster of international and domestic clients including LVMH, Hilton and Corsair Airlines but also some of Miami’s local gems such as the Miami Design District, Coyo Taco and 1-800-Lucky. Our team works diligently to help expand client visibility, traffic, and conversions using targeted digital strategies and cutting edge technologies. Each day at Outsmart Labs opens a new door for innovation. Every client calls for fresh, ground-breaking tactics specifically designed to fit their personal goals and expectations, so there is no place for the ordinary or cliche. For this reason, innovation, creativity, and experimentation serve as foundation for Outsmart Labs’ mission. Radical solutions call for specialized talent, and our boutique agency of digital architects, strategists, designers, and futurists are ready to tackle any challenge, no matter the size. 228
Outsmart Labs 250 NW 24th St Miami, FL, 33127 786-351-7154 needhelp@outsmartlabs.com Outsmart Labs Outsmartlabs outsmartlabs.com
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ORANGE UMBRELLA S T U D E N T C O N S U LTA N C Y UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI Orange Umbrella is the nation’s only full-service, student-run communication consultancy. Operating out of the School of Communication at the University of Miami, Orange Umbrella utilizes an experiential-based learning model, in which students put their skills to use for local and national clients. Orange Umbrella gives students a unique opportunity to take their abilities far beyond the classroom and right into the industry.
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Orange Umbrella was founded in January 2017 as the vision of Gregory Shepherd, Dean of the School of Communication at the University of Miami. The name Orange Umbrella references the wide-ranging services the consultancy provides, while drawing inspiration from the many orange umbrellas found across campus.
Under the guidance of Managing Director, Melissa Jane (MJ) Barnes, advisory boards and seasoned alumni, staff members infuse industry-based best practices into all of the work they do. While Orange Umbrella is staffed by students, the level of service and forward-thinking ideas reach far beyond traditional student output. All work is reviewed by professionals before being shared with clients, ensuring the highest standard of excellence.
Since its founding, Orange Umbrella has employed over 150 students and completed projects for over 80 different clients across a variety of industries, including non-profit, media and entertainment, healthcare, retail, food and beverage. Orange Umbrella provides a variety of services, including advertising, strategy, web development, social media consulting, design, branding, videography, public relations, event planning, and much more.
Additionally, Orange Umbrella takes pride in its truly collaborative company culture and strong client relationships. Staff members are expected and encouraged to work across departments to solve problems and solicit the best possible ideas and solutions from their peers.
Staff members meet for class on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week at their on-campus headquarters, the Koenigsberg & Nadal Interactive Media Center (IMC) in the School of Communication. Here, students collaborate with their peers, meet face-to-face with clients and take the necessary steps to fulfill project deadlines. The staff is separated into five departments: account management, business development, creative, public relations, and strategy.
Orange Umbrella developed proprietary workflow models and standard operating procedures, ensuring client expectations are fully met. This ever-improving, fully-flexible structure helps the business to create the ideal educational and professional environment for both staff members and clients. By doing this, Orange Umbrella bridges the gap between the traditional classroom and the workplace.
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OUR VALUES Orange Umbrella operates on the pillars of education, business, and professional development. Although Orange Umbrella is a fully-functioning business, it’s also the most unique class at the University of Miami. Staff members reach their full potential as students through the experience they gain and the network of professionals guiding them. Each small success sprouts an opportunity for students to learn and grow. Additionally, Orange Umbrella invests heavily in the professional development of its staff through initiatives such as resume workshops, job shadowing, networking events, and guest lecture series. By building up and equipping each of our staff members to be the best professional they can be, Orange Umbrella is ensuring the future success of our team members and the business as a whole. Every day, Orange Umbrella is setting the bar for what education, collaboration, and young, dedicated minds are capable of achieving.
Orange Umbrella Consultancy 5100 Brunson Drive Coral Gables, FL, 33146 hello@orangeumbrella.com orangeumbrellamiami.com
orangeumbrellamiami orangeumbrellamiami orangeumbrellamiami OUmiami
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ELEVATOR PITCH SnapLeads helps businesses unlock marketing opportunities with big data. The company specializes in building data-driven direct mail and client retention platforms for enterprises in various industries including, automotive, legal, medical, and real estate.
“Junkmail” because of the innovative targeting, tailoring, and tracking baked into every deployment. All SnapLeads campaigns come with an integrated performance dashboard and call tracking tools to help clients understand attribution. The company also builds custom client retention tools for law firm clients. These automated systems monitor SnapLeads’ first-party data for “triggering events” such as traffic tickets, divorces, criminal arrests, and trademark actions. These platforms have sent over one million direct mail and email communications on behalf of clients.
OUR STORY SnapLeads began as a way for a group of attorneys to generate more business for their own firms. Taking cues from successful traffic ticket law firms, the company started building a datalake fed by public records and filings from county court systems in Florida. Today, SnapLeads powers national campaigns for Fortune 200 companies and hyper-local campaigns for 2 person law firms. SnapLeads’ mindset is “no company is too big or too small to benefit from their expertise and welcomes all challenges.”
SnapLeads has a partnership program for marketing agencies that would like to provide direct mail services to their clients. Agencies can whitelabel data-driven direct mail while SnapLeads does all the heavy lifting behind the scenes. In essence, digital marketing companies can now add a new suite of services to their offering overnight.
SnapLeads’ core product is “Data-Driven Direct Mail” which enables businesses to identify a “triggering event” that indicates a need for a product or service and seamlessly sends those targets personalized marketing and communications. SnapLeads stresses this is not your run-of-the-mill
SnapLeads is actively managed by its founders, including - David Salmon (CEO) an accomplished Miami-area startup attorney, Peter Martinez (CTO) a founder of Refresh Miami and Director of Learning at The University of
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Miami, and Ryan C. Lavernia (CSO) a career entrepreneur with a history of success and exits, and Hoyt Hill (COO) another attorney by trade who manages day to day operations. While SnapLeads main focus is helping clients leverage big data to power their marketing, the company also boasts a creative and legal compliance department to ensure campaigns run smoothly and clients are set up for success. SnapLeads 1395 Brickell Ave, #800 Miami, FL, 33131 877-762-7532 Info@mysnapleads.Com mysnapleads.com Ryan Lavernia
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ELEVATOR PITCH ARVISL Future is a technology company that focuses on creating future AR and VR real life gamification experiences. With strong location-based service apps, ARVISL Future will provide Cost Per Traffic™ marketing metrics for real physical foot traffic. Think of Pokemon Go, but with exclusive deals and perks at local businesses. Noticing a problem between traditional digital marketing, and brick and mortar stores, Krystal Zheng saw an opportunity to increase foot traffic and real-life engagements digitally with emerging technologies. With an interest in augmented reality and location-based technology, she created SAVR App; a gamified augmented reality mobile platform with real-life content and incentives offered by local businesses and community. While working at Synkt Games, Krystal realized there is a solution to bridge the gap between the online world and the offline world, so she decided to create a tool to help drive foot traffic. Krystal saw the route of augmented reality as an engaging way to show incentives other than images on websites. She says: “Augmented reality is the perfect technology to demonstrate what I want to display and it is also easy and convenient to work with on a mobile device.” SAVR is a fun virtual scavenger-hunt style mobile platform using real-life locations with augmented reality features, and virtually collected items can be redeemed in real life at local businesses and locations. Think of Pokemon Go but with incentives.
Krystal Kunyue Zheng, Founder & CEO
The app is available on IOS and Android. Babson WIN top 3 startups finalist; HYPE Miami Entrepreneur Nominee; 3rd place start up at Spark. SAVR app has been featured in ChatBot Journal, Profile Miami, VoyageMIA, Medium. com, Midtown Miami Magazine, and Market Watch. SAVR App has been featured in ChatBot Journal, Profile Miami, VoyageMIA, Medium.com, Midtown Miami Magazine, and Market Watch.
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ARVISL FUTURE 1951 NW 7th Ave, #600 Miami, FL, 33136 305-7816-274 ARVISL FUTURE, INC kzheng@arvislfuture.com savrfuture.com
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“If you look at history, innovation doesn’t come just from giving people incentives; it comes from creating environments where their ideas can connect.” ~ STEVEN JOHNSON
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ELEVATOR PITCH Based in Miami, Pipeline Workspaces is a shared workspace concept that caters to a diverse community of entrepreneurs, startups, corporate teams and international business executives. With seven locations, our members range from local innovators to large companies such as Uber, Google and Postmates.
OUR STORY Our growth has been deeply intertwined with Miami’s own transformation, as the city has become a launchpad for innovative startups and successful companies. While Miami has emerged as a center of creative thought and culture, Pipeline has always attempted to contribute to the spark of ingenuity at the core of this change. We feed into this culture by pulling the most dynamic companies and innovative people into our spaces and creating an environment that promotes a fluid exchange of ideas. At this point, any dynamic company must be asking the same questions: What is our future? How do I push ahead in this ultra-competitive world? How do we continue to innovate? Where do I go to seek out differentiation – the newest, most innovative, most disruptive ideas? These are the same questions we asked ourselves. The motivation for creating Pipeline was born out of our own frustrations in trying to find an inspiring place to work. After working from home offices, coffee houses, dull corporate offices, and even traditional executive suites, we became consumed with the idea of creating the optimal workplace experience where stagnation and conformity is kept at bay. A place we would want to work in ourselves, surrounded by people we find to be a source of inspiration. Since that idea’s inception, it’s fair to say we have become obsessed with creating a community that is based on imagination, connectivity, and collaboration. During the early days of coworking, it was common for people to believe shared workspaces were uniquely for startups. But when we opened our first location on Brickell in 2012, we anticipated the demand to come from all size companies and all sectors, and this is in fact what has transpired in the market. Working alongside startups at Pipeline, we have many mid-sized companies and established corporations keen on engaging with others outside of their traditional realm. We have found that it is the blend of conventional and unconventional that fosters optimal creativity and growth. We believe that the answers to the questions being asked by companies may be found at Pipeline. With the extraordinary blend of cultures and perspectives swirling around our spaces, there is a wealth of fresh thought and new idea generation. This is specifically what our times call for, and we’re happy to help those pushing into a new frontier during these exciting times. 237
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Philippe Houdard, Co-Founder
Philippe Houdard Pipeline Workspaces info@pipelineworkspaces.com Pipeline Workspaces pipelineworkspaces.com
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CIC is an established platform that enhances a location’s innovation infrastructure and creates a physical center of gravity. As a vehicle that transforms an economic development opportunity into a mature innovation hub, CIC’s mission is to fix the world through innovation by creating and managing developing multifaceted communities that support changemakers on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Since then, CIC Miami and its community of innovators and creators have helped shape the way Miami does business. We’ve expanded beyond the traditional tourism and real estate initiatives that branded the home of South Beach and have made leaps in the life sciences, education, policy, resilience, impact, and technology sectors. We launched Venture Cafe; established Operation launch, a grant program supporting early-stage entrepreneurs; signed soft-landing partnership agreements with Chile and Argentina, and then a pan-Caribbean agreement; expanded Converge Labs to double the number of shared benches; and we launched the “C the Future” series to bring industry vertical working groups together. We even made our kitchens 98% plastic-free.
OUR STORY CIC is not an incubator, accelerator, or just a landlord. CIC is an established platform that enhances a location’s innovation infrastructure and creates a physical center of gravity. Founded in 1999 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, CIC houses approximately 2,000 companies in seven locations in the US and Europe. CIC expanded to Miami in 2016, leasing 80,000 square feet in Converge Miami (formerly the University of Miami’s Life Sciences & Technology Park).
Our mission at CIC Miami is to actively create the kinds of intersections and dynamic nodes that will help stakeholders across Miami, the US, and Latin America find common ground, engage meaningfully, and ultimately collaborate. These have been the underpinning objectives behind every strategy, project, and principle at CIC Miami, and we firmly believe that our impact thus far has been due to the fact that our goals are 239
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TESTIMONIALS
intricately joined with the city’s appetite for maturity and the region’s hunger for connectivity.
“Thank you for fostering such a wonderful place for our team to grow and work on stuff. The level of things that have felt achievable since moving to CIC is leagues beyond what we considered when we were trying to forge it on our own and spent the mornings vacuuming termite wings. Looking forward to continuing to build things together!”
Our focus has been, since the start, to break down silos, build porous walls, redefine inclusive innovation, and always lead by supporting co-leadership with other stakeholders. Our aim remains the creation of a community, not an institution, to engender an inclusive ecosystem, not just build a company. It’s why we were so honored to receive the Beacon Council’s 2019 Entrepreneurship Innovation Award.
—Chris Sopher, WhereBy.Us
CIC’s milestones are our clients’ successes. Together, our clients have raised $162.6M+ in funds and generated 900+ local and global jobs. Our community is 28% female-founded, 37% minority-founded and 27% immigrant-founded. We have also become home to South Florida’s first and only shared wet laboratory. In addition, CIC orchestrates hundreds of meetings, events, classes, and seminars annually, but most importantly, we create a community of like-minded entrepreneurs of all sizes, stages, and industries who can connect with one another across a broad range of topics.
“We would not be able to make this next step without the growth that came from team CIC. Thank you for making us feel like hip innovation nerds even though we are a bunch of logistics geeks. Thanks for the facelift on a 50-year-old business. Thanks to each and every one of you for the gifts you have bestowed on us. I’m not going get all Dorothy (The Wiz version) on you all, but as my daughter just told me, CIC will always be home for RFC. And we know there is no other coworking community like it.”
But these aren’t just milestones for CIC Miami, either; each is a thank-you to our many clients and partners for being a part of the journey and being hellbent on changing our world for the better. Together, we represent the new direction for a thriving, inclusive, innovative Miami.
—Jennifer Robertson, Robertson Forwarding Company
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ELEVATOR PITCH Located in the heart of the vibrant Wynwood Arts District, the LAB is Miami’s original coworking community. In 2012, the founding members of the LAB teamed up with the Knight Foundation and a group of angel investors to convert a 10,000 square foot warehouse into a shared office space and event venue.
OUR STORY Since then, a growing number of Miami’s brightest and most forward-thinking entrepreneurial minds have converged at the facility to share their ideas, learn from one another, and build amazing companies and projects–all with the common goal to enrich the emerging neighborhood and contribute to the growth of the startup, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystem in Miami. In addition to co-working membership and office space, The LAB also offers its space to be utilized as an event venue, offering multiple spaces with countless configurations. The LAB also owns and operates multiple recurring events including Brainfood, a monthly speaker series organized in partnership with Endeavor Miami and most recently has launched a podcast called The Big Idea Box which includes archives of past Brainfood events alongside many other entrepreneurial, social, and relevant stories. The LAB’s current member base of over 70 companies and about 150 members, consists of developers, freelancers, early-stage startups, creatives, and corporations. The LAB’s executive team is comprised of a local group of entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors, hyper focused on building the South Florida tech ecosystem. More than 400 startups were created at The LAB since its inception, many of which are now leasing their own space in Wynwood and actively participating in our events and community engagement. The true testament of success is demonstrated when a member utilizes The LAB’s resources to launch their company, grows their network and team, and then scales beyond the walls to further their impact on the greater community.
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“Once you have an innovation culture, even those who are not scientists or engineers - poets, actors, journalists - they, as communities, embrace the meaning of what it is to be scientifically literate. They embrace the concept of an innovation culture. They vote in ways that promote it. They don’t fight science and they don’t fight technology.” ~ NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
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ENABLING HIGH-IMPACT ENTREPRENEURS FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS FUTURE FOR ALL
Endeavor also serves as a global thought leader, demonstrating why highimpact entrepreneurship matters and how important innovations can come from anywhere in the world.
ELEVATOR PITCH Endeavor is a mission-driven, global organization present in 37 markets leading the high-impact entrepreneurship movement. Its ultimate aim is a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone.
Successful high-impact entrepreneurs generate a multiplier effect: Young people everywhere, regardless of birthplace or background, hear their stories and begin to believe that they too can dream big, scale-up, and pay their success forward.
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Endeavor’s ultimate aim is a more equitable and prosperous future for everyone.
Endeavor, launched in 1997, was founded on the belief that job creation, innovation, and overall prosperity flourish where there is robust support for high-impact entrepreneurs, and Endeavor Miami launched in September 2013 with the support of Knight Foundation.
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Endeavor Miami’s active local board of business leaders believe high-impact entrepreneurship can transform the local economy. We define high-impact entrepreneurs as those with the biggest ideas; the greatest potential to achieve meaningful scale; and the ability to inspire, mentor, and reinvest in the next generation.
We currently support 37 high-impact entrepreneurs selected from 21 South Florida companies 3,000+ jobs created by Endeavor Miami companies $250M in revenues generated by Endeavor Miami Entrepreneurs in 2019
OUR COMPANIES INCLUDE 1. Nearpod: Edtech platform that allows teachers to create, download, and teach interactive lesson plans 2. Boatsetter: Boat rental marketplace delivering hassle-free boat rental experience 3. Novopayment: Fintech facilitating cashless transactions 4. EcoSystems: Multifamily water efficiency services
For a carefully curated group of these entrepreneurs (“Endeavor Entrepreneurs”), Endeavor offers a best-in-class seal of approval, an unrivaled personal and professional network, frictionless co-investment capital, and peer-to-peer idea exchange in a truly global setting.
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OUR MODEL Endeavor’s model is designed to search for, select, and scale-up entrepreneurs with the greatest potential for large-scale success, then spread their stories and resources to sustain lasting economic and social transformation in their home markets and beyond. SEARCH: Endeavor’s 500+ team members and worldwide network painstakingly probe all our markets to identify qualified entrepreneurs for Endeavor’s selection process.
SPREAD: We achieve broader ecosystem impact by sharing the aspirational stories, innovation strategies, and disruptive techniques of Endeavor Entrepreneurs.
SELECT: Endeavor views its selection process as a service, where transformational conversations with preeminent business leaders push candidates to reflect and answer tough questions about their business models, team strength, and future growth plans.
SUSTAIN: Endeavor Entrepreneurs use our platform to give back and ensure that future generations have access to opportunities for self-fulfillment and community advancement.
Our selection process begins in each local market and culminates in our world-renowned International Selection Panels (ISPs)—dynamic, invitationonly events held throughout the year in different cities around the world. 396 Alhambra Circle, Suite 202 Coral Gables, FL, 33134 786-953-7541 miami@endeavor.org
SCALE-UP: Endeavor delivers demand-driven services locally, regionally, and globally; we further customize these to turbocharge our entrepreneurs’ individual scale-up journeys.
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Dr. Susan Amat, CEO & Founder
ELEVATOR PITCH Based in Miami, Venture Hive was Florida’s first accelerator. VH has been running live in-person, live virtual, self-paced virtual, and customizable hybrid versions for entrepreneur education and support for more than six years. In Florida alone, VH has supported more than 500 companies across four levels of programs: Idea to Minimum Viable Product (MVP), Piloting to Business (pre-revenue to $1M in revenue), Scalable Business Foundations ($1M to $10M), and International Growth ($10M+). Approximately 100 companies complete VH-led programs each year, and including those served through enterprise clients, that number increases to more than 100,000 entrepreneurs and innovators served in 2019 alone.
OUR STORY Our education and training experience is intensive: For Florida cohorts, to date, we have provided 23,000+ coaching hours and 2,600+ workshop and training hours since January, 2013. Internationally, VH has worked directly with companies from over 70 countries, supporting their international scaling efforts, import/export needs, and innovate new products, services through team development or joint venture partners. Many program graduates have opted not to raise equity investment, choosing instead to retain ownership and focus on organic growth through sales. That said, two of our graduated companies have been acquired, and among those who seek equity investment, more than $350M was raised. More importantly, on average our program graduates double their revenues, increase their margins by 18 percent, and secure new customers at a more accelerated pace within the first year of program completion. 247
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Among our idea-stage companies, 94 percent launch companies within six months of program completion. Our later-stage business clients ($10M+ in revenue) typically require localization and partnership support, either in launching an existing product/service or in developing new revenue streams. We average 98% in “Completely Satisfied” and 100% in “Our company would do this program again,” with revenues growing an average 21% within six months of program completion and some experiencing 200%+ revenue growth in the US.
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Venture Bridge Florida (VBFL)
Venture Bridge Florida is a “soft landing” program that offers a first-ever virtual training program to prepare foreign companies for U.S. market entry through Florida. No other state provides virtual training for successful market entry for foreign companies. Soft landing offices are available in major cities all over the world – usually within universities, incubators or government programs. Typically, these spaces offer only basic office space with limited additional services or support. The VBFL program stands alone as a world-class support service ecosystem unto itself. The program will be promoted through Global Entrepreneurship Network, Enterprise Florida, foreign trade offices, nearly 90 Consul General Offices, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, more than 75 international chambers of commerce, and other major international outreach organizations.
Venture Hive Programming
VH develops two types of entrepreneurship and innovation education & support programs – those we deliver ourselves directly to the end-user, and those we develop for our enterprise clients to deliver with our ongoing support. VH has also developed and managed a variety of workshops, meetups, and other programming designed to enrich the South Florida ecosystem.
Flitepath
VH is also a successful education technology company that utilizes our proprietary software platform – including online educational content and tactical resources, as well as project management and measurement capabilities – to help corporations, universities, accelerators, and government agencies develop and manage internal innovation and external entrepreneurship programs effectively. With our proprietary Flitepath platform, VH has provided content, program management and measurement backbone to the innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives at an impressive roster of enterprise clients, including Visa, the U.S. Department of State, Microsoft, Walmart, FIS Global and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Biltmore Hotel - Corporate 1200 Anastasia Ave #216 Coral Gables, FL, 33134 info@VentureHive.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH TheVentureCity is a new growth and acceleration model, helping diverse startups in the tech ecosystem scale-up to achieve global impact. Our mission is to democratize opportunities for high-potential founders around the world. Backed by an international Dream Team, we offer a unique skillset and a mindset approach that are rarely found outside of Silicon Valley.
OUR STORY TheVentureCity’s innovative structure can be best understood as a “city” representing a multi-stage growth journey for companies; whether they are a promising early-stage startup in need of advice, a high-growth company raising capital, or an established company trying to shift gears towards a more innovative mindset. Our strong point is the people that make up our team: engineers, product and growth managers and early employees from Facebook, WhatsApp, eBay, Vodafone, Millicom, Paypal, Merryl Lynch, among many others with a proven track record in the growth of disruptive, billion-dollar technology companies across the world. Another differentiator of our ecosystem accelerator is that every entrepreneur and traditional company who joins TheVentureCity is treated like family. Our “founders first” mentality and hands-on approach mean that our products are targeted to each of the companies’ specific needs. We have invested in entrepreneurs across Europe, such as EnjoyHQ, GlampingHub, Cabify and Spotahome. We have also helped scale up startups with high-growth potential such as Jobartis, Woom Fertility, Peoople, FastMind, and 1Doc3. At TheVentureCity, we believe in knowledge sharing and the democratization of opportunities. This is the reason why we are proud organizers of workshops, conferences, mentoring sessions on data, product, growth, and engineering. We have also led successful partnership agreements with Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Amazon. Because of our unique mindset and innovative model, we offer unparalleled hyper-growth for entrepreneurs who share our ambition and goals. spearheaded the companies’ partnerships in LATAM. In the past, Laura led management roles at eBay, Siemens and Ogilvy Group. In June 2019, Laura was appointed to the European Innovation Council Advisory Board, which will provide strategic leadership to the EU in global markets and new technologies.
MEET OUR TEAM Laura González-Estéfani, CEO and Founder An early employee at Facebook, where she opened the delegation in Spain and went on to join the legendary Growth Team at Menlo Park. Later, she 249
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Clara Bullrich, Co-Founder Managing partner for Guggenheim Partners Latin America/LJ Partnerships, a leading independent, privately-held multi-family office with assets under management of $5 billion dollars. Her passion for technology drove her to co-found TheVentureCity. • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Santiago Canalejo, Chief Operations Officer Ekaterina Skorobogatova, VP of Growth Andrés Dancausa, VP Growth Accelerator EMEA Victor Servin, Chief Technology Officer Patricia de Loro, Chief Product Officer Daniel Yuste, VP Business Mindset Carlos Montes, VP University EMEA Jimena Zubiria, VP University Americas David Smith, Data Scientist Rosa Jiménez Cano, Chief Ecosystem Relations Ricardo Sangion, VP Growth Accelerator Americas Andrés Areitio, Found Partner TheVentureCity Maria Derchi Russo, Miami Campus Director Edgard Duque, Program Manager Growth Accelerator Americas
Clara Bullrich, Co-founder
Rosa Jiménez Cano, rosa@theventure.city MIAMI OFFICE 2234 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL, 33135 MADRID OFFICE C/Almagro 21, Planta 2. 28010 – Madrid, Spain 250
Laura González-Estéfani, CEO and Founder
cuonda.com/citizen TheVentureCity theventure.city/en
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Leiva
Andreina Weichselbaumer, Alia Mahmoud, Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, Sarah Emmons, Joan M. Godoy
Olga Granda, Vanessa Tinsley, Shekeria Brown, Alia Mahmoud
ELEVATOR PITCH We’re an accelerator for social impact. We scout for people solving the issues that matter most to the future of our region and help them scale their impact. We mobilize locals to get engaged in strengthening our region, and we connect organizations and leaders to increase greater change together.
From housing affordability and poverty alleviation to education equity and arts & culture, Radical Partners supports startups and founders tackling issues that will shape the future of the region. Over the last six years, the accelerator has helped scale nearly 100 social impact startups, solving issues ranging from sea level rise and housing affordability to arts access and food deserts. Reflecting Miami’s exceptional diversity, more than 80% of Radical Partners’ accelerator participants self identify as women and/or minority leaders. And as their ventures scale, they are having a tremendous impact on the region.
OUR STORY Miami is the perfect storm for social innovation: the region is exploding in entrepreneurial activity, while also being a hotbed for serious societal challenges. The question is, will Miami wield its innovation to solve some of the most pressing issues of this generation? That’s the question Radical Partners seeks to answer.
As the region’s entrepreneurial environment takes shape, Radical Partners has focused on creating healthy communities of founders who work with each other to scale their impact in collaboration. In 2019, in partnership with local philanthropist Daniel Lewis, they launched a $1,000,000 fellowship 251
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Leiva, Andreina Weichselbaumer, Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, Nicky Zarchen, Alia Mahmoud, Sarah Emmons, Joan M. Godoy
Front Row: Ana Paz, Beatriz Hentschel, Joan M. Godoy, Rebecca Fishman Lipsey, Candice Davenport, Kunya Rowley, Sandy Dorsainvil Back Row: Daniel Lewis, Sammy Gonzalez, Natalie Bruner, Trevor Ditzler, Derek Negron, Ashley Extra, Sheila Womble, Chad Bernstein, Justin Trieger
focused on helping every child in the region get access to the power of music education. The fellowship united 17 different organizations all focused on that common goal to work with each other toward greater results instead of operating in competition or silos. They have also led innovation cohorts focused on climate resilience, grassroots leadership, and social innovation across a variety of topics.
Kayann, Agostinho Chambe, Diego Cancel, Barbara Martinez-Guerrero, Alexandra Ender
Radical Partners also leads The 10 Days of Connection, an annual 10-day regional challenge to get thousands of locals to build empathy, kindness, and connection across lines of difference. This initiative is cohosted by more than 200 local organizations and businesses, and helps to build a more united, inclusive region.
Radical Partners also works to mobilize locals to take collective ownership for the future of the region. Once a year they lead a massive community brainstorm called 100 Great Ideas, to generate solutions to a critical issue facing the future of the region. At the end of each 100 Great Ideas campaign, ideas are synthesized into a report shared with the public and the top ideas are sent to the decision-makers in the community who have the ability to implement them.
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ELEVATOR PITCH EcoTech Visions, established in 2015, is a smart manufacturing lab for smart cities with an on-demand marketplace. We have built this model through organic growth to launch and scale circular economy start-ups to use innovation as the means to meet Paris Agreement goals of climate neutrality by 2050. With our business to business white-label SAAS framework, we will leapfrog the supply chain. ETV is an end to end solution for our worlds largest problems. Think of us as a cross between a WeWork and Amway focused on high tech innovation within 4 verticals: Farmtech, GreenTech, EnergyTech, Space/Health tech. We accomplish this by providing access to leading laboratory and manufacturing facilities to those willing and ready to tackle climate change-- focused on the future of food, the consumer product market, and energy applications using: tech processes; IOT; Blockchain; AI; AR/VR; and, battery innovation.
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AREAS OF FOCUS 1. FarmTech: Food produced via Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Aquaculture, Aeroponics, Aquaponics, and Blue Tech as well as innovative recipes for large-scale use in zero waste and zero GHG emission communities 2. GreenTech: “Trash to Treasure” for mass distribution using biopolymers, upcycling, material science innovation, pigments, and Blue Tech for consumer products and the necessities of modern life 3. EnergyTech: Renewable energy generated for a microelectromechanical system or for transmission to user via a resilient microgrid with a focus on battery innovation, solar, biomass, hydraulic, nuclear, and Blue Tech for large-scale use in zero waste and zero GHG emissions communities 4. SpaceTech: Technologies necessary for terraforming with a focus on building materials, conservation innovation, communications tech, and Blue Tech
1020 NW 163rd Dr. Miami, FL, 33169 305-399-5556 info@ecotechvisions.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH The Founder Institute is the world’s largest pre-seed accelerator program helping talented people build impactful technology companies worldwide.
OUR STORY The Founder Institute brings together seasoned Founders, aspiring entrepreneurs, investors and community groups to launch meaningful and enduring technology companies. With chapters across 180+ cities and Alumni that have built companies exceeding $20B in estimated value. We help pre-seed Founders get to traction and funding with a support network of 12,000+ mentors who are invested in their success through a structured business-building process. Since 2009, FI has helped over 3,500 startups raise over $800M funding, get into seed-accelerators, generate traction, recruit a team, build a product, transition from employee to entrepreneur, and more. James Irvine and Roxette Miranda are the current Directors of the South Florida Chapter in Miami. They decided on launching a Founder Institute Chapter as an exciting way to take a leading role in the local startup ecosystem. After a couple of semesters, a large portion of the new startups in the Miami local ecosystem will be Alumni of FI’s pre-seed accelerator program. The program offers a challenging and comprehensive 3.5 month curriculum of company-building sessions designed to help entrepreneurs build every aspect of their business, from the core idea to the product, team, and revenue model. Each weekly session lasts about 3 hours, and is led by 3-5 startup C-Level Mentors who share their advice and provide participants with critical feedback. In addition, Founders are given challenging assignments to build key aspects of the business between the sessions, and receive group meetings and office hours to facilitate progress. 255
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ELEVATOR PITCH “We conduct a ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ approach, which we believe fills the most significant systematic gaps,” says Silvio Pupo, CEO of Logos Capital Group.
Logos Capital is a global business development, financial consulting, and private equity firm focused on impact investing that improves communities around the world.
From the bottom up, Logos creates and supports new companies to accelerate, work with local governments, and help individuals become angel investors by joining our investment syndicates. Eventually, Logos Capital helps them to manage and raise their own institutional investment fund(s).
OUR STORY Logos Capital Group is amongst the first globally focused IMPACT investment banks (IIB), with a hybrid Venture Capital and Private Equity approach focused on socially and environmentally conscious firms catalyzing solutions to society’s most pressing problems by financing innovative solutions and entrepreneurs.
From the top-down, Logos works with partners in Multilateral Development Agencies, Foundations, Family Offices, Funds of Funds, Endowments, and National Governments to educate and co-create systematic and regulatory solutions to allocate resources into fund managers. Thus, the local ecosystems are in alignment to catalyze the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
LCG was founded in 2011 after a trip to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sustainability Summit. The goal was to help fund and commercialize sustainable technologies for existing problems and to scale the highest-impact solutions in the greatest number of vulnerable communities globally.
Logos was among the first investment firms to track its investments’ contributions to the SDGs—even before the SDGs. Geographically, Logos 259
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Mr. Pupo with the prestigious “40 Under 40” award
Logos holds environmental, social, and governance standards in the highest regard and seeks to invest in companies at, or close to, bankable stage, with EBITDA between $2–25M, assets that can be pledged, recurring medium-to-long-term cash flows and, above all else, a positive impact on local communities. Particular interests for companies in the supply chain of energy, water, telecom or healthcare utilities with international expansion potential. Logos will make exceptions and work with social and environmental startups to catalyze their work.
Capital is focused on impact investing in the U.S., Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. The firm differentiates itself with high ethical standards that cater to underserved segments of the population, as well as deep technical knowledge in blockchain and government partnerships, to scale enterprises globally.
Today, LCG has over 55 investment bankers on its broker-dealer platform to handle all of LCG’s transactions in a fully compliant way. 1951 NW 7th Ave, 6th Floor Miami, FL, 33136 305-831-0366
“Our clients care that their money is funding projects that positively benefit the universe and their personal values,” says Pupo. “We are friends and global-community colleagues who share ideas and collaborate with one another to benefit the greater whole.” 260
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Miami Angels is the largest and most active angel network in Florida and backs promising seed stage, software-focused companies with early traction across a broad range of verticals throughout the state. Miami Angels co-invests with top-tier investors and offers its founders access to its vast network of investors.
Miami Angels looks for high-impact entrepreneurs with early indicators of product-market fit, and has a strong preference for Florida-based companies. Along with the investment, Miami Angels supports companies through hiring tech talent, raising further capital, and access to its network of investors throughout South Florida and Latin America. Miami Angels was founded in 2014 with the mission to build a venture ecosystem in Miami. With four founding members, the Knight Foundation gave Miami Angels a grant to hire its first Managing Director to grow the 261
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investor base and catalyze investment into startups. Five years later, Miami Angels has 120 investors throughout South Florida, has invested in over 32 companies, and deployed $11 million in capital. All members are accredited investors, however, not all members have invested in the venture capital arena, thus the group has brought many new investors into the asset class. Given this, Miami Angels also trains its investors through its annual angel investor education workshops, which are also open to the South Florida business community.
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Miami Angels. Rebecca Danta Managing Director rebecca@miamiangels.vc hello@miamiangels Miamiangelsvc Miami Angels miamiangels.vc
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500 Startups is a venture capital firm on a mission to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. It is one of the most active venture capital firms in the world.
Since its inception in Silicon Valley, 500 Startups has invested in over 2,300 companies via its 5 global funds and 15 thematic funds dedicated to either specific geographic markets or verticals. Its 100+ team members are located in 20 countries around the world in order to support the 500 Startups global portfolio of investments which spans more than 75 countries. Notable investments in the 500 portfolio include Credit Karma, Twilio, Canva, Grab, Bukalapak, The RealReal, Talkdesk, Knotel, Udemy, and Ipsy. Beyond providing seed capital, 500 supports startups via their Seed Accelerator Programs which emphasize digital marketing, customer acquisition, lean startup practices, and fundraising for pre-Seed companies. 500 Startups further contributes to the development of innovation ecosystems by supporting startups and investors through educational programs, events, conferences, and partnerships with corporations and governments around the world.
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Founder Bootcamps: Two-day intensive programs for early-stage tech founders. The purpose of this program is to dive deep on one particular topic such as fundraising, pitching, growth strategies, product development, marketing strategies and more. VC Unlocked Miami: Two-day executive education program for upand-coming VCs and angel investors who want to learn how Silicon Valley really works. and more… For more information on all of our programs please visit miami.500.co
Testimonials
Ana Paula Gonzalez, Innovation & Partnerships Director
Our mission for 500 Startups in Miami is to help it achieve its full potential of becoming a global hub for tech & innovation, connecting South East US and Latin American founders, investors and corporates to Silicon Valley and our global network” - Ana Paula Gonzalez, Innovation & Partnerships Director, 500 Startups
Our Vision for 500 Startups in Miami 500 Startups firmly believes that South Florida’s tech, innovation & entrepreneurial ecosystem is at an inflection point, with the real potential of becoming a global hub – and the best is yet to come. We believe the city is uniquely poised to become a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation that will hopefully connect South Florida with Silicon Valley, the East Coast, Latin America, Europe, Africa and beyond!
We believe that today more than ever it is imperative that we show the world what an authentically diverse and thriving tech ecosystem looks like. 500’s mission is to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. We believe Miami is a key market for us to double down on and continue to serve all three parts of that mission” - Christine Tsai, CEO and Founding Partner, 500 Startups
Our anchor partners Visa, Knight Foundation and the Miami Downtown Development Authority enable us to bring our global network, resources and expertise to help accelerate the local ecosystem.
500 Startups - Miami Programming Miami Growth Program: An eight-week program delivered by 500’s worldclass mentors designed to help high-growth tech startups reach the next level of scalable and repeatable growth.
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Esteban Reyes - Founding Partner, Dean Hatton - Founding Partner, Nate Vasel - Principal , Paul Tanner - Founding Partner, Mark Volchek - Founding Partner
OUR STORY ELEVATOR PITCH
LOVC was founded in late 2015 by Mark Volchek, Dean Hatton, Esteban Reyes, and Paul Tanner, with the vision of being able to address gaps they saw in the South Florida VC ecosystem. At the time, many great companies were struggling to stay in Florida and successfully grow due to a lack of local investors at the Seed and Series A stages. Given our background as B2B founders ourselves, we felt that we were in a unique position to be the investor-of-choice for these entrepreneurs. Our first fund launched at the beginning of 2017 and ultimately raised just under $30 million, which we have now deployed into 13 portfolio companies to date. Today, we actively support the early stage ecosystem here in South Florida through our
Las Olas VC (“LOVC�) is a seed-stage fund based in South Florida focused exclusively on B2B tech. Our strategy is low-frequency and high conviction, investing $1-3M into less than 20 companies. We lead rounds, take board seats, and work closely with our portfolio company founders.
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Our Approach
LOVC has experience founding, running, and growing B2B technology businesses successfully.
Operating Model With over 70 years of combined experience operating and investing in startups across all stages, LOVC focuses on B2B focus investments, and implements a hands-on approach.
B2B, Early Stage Companies We focus exclusively on early-stage B2B companies because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what we know, and we believe there is unique opportunity within our given thesis of the Intelligent Enterprise. Our strategy is low-frequency and high conviction, investing $1-3M into <20 companies.
Hands-on Support with Founders
We lead rounds, take board seats, and work closely with founders. Our value-add comes from supporting founders through the key activites that lead to scaling product-market fit.
High Convinction Approach
We invest behind asymmetrical insight industry problem, roles in each of our and every company partner attention.
teams with in a specific take action investments, receives full
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investments in several Broward and Miami based startups, with whom we closely work with as board members and strategic advisors.
Industries are being pressured to modernize. Consumer expectations have shifted to everything being digital, anywhere, anytime. Enterprises deeply understand these challenges and opportunities, have budget, but lack the ability to do so. Similarly, knowledge workers need before ways to do their work and keep the pace to meet objectives. The only answer for a step function change in their productivity is better tools and automation, leading us to our core investment areas:
LOVC focuses on a theme we call â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Intelligent Enterprise.â&#x20AC;? We believe productivity concerns are driving enterprise technology adoption in legacy industries, and a new generation of startups are creating tools to meet these challenges outside of Silicon Valley. Further, the lack of lead VCs at the seed stage in these markets creates an opportunity for us to aggressively pursue the best B2B technology. Through our values of focus, courage, humility, conviction, and friendliness paired along with our deep operating experience in B2B technology companies, Las Olas VC has built a reputation as a trusted early-stage VC partner for the best B2B tech entrepreneurs in these emerging ecosystems. We strive to see every B2B deal in our target markets and select the very best opportunities. The diligence process is highly selective, reviewing over 1,000 new deals per year and approving less than 1% of the opportunities that we review for potential investment. Our systematic approach to understanding market opportunities, product differentiation, and team execution capabilities allow us to get to a position of high conviction within a short amount time. We win deals by making quick decisions with certainty, leading rounds, and building trust with founders through adding value as a partner, not just an investor.
1st Avenue, Suite 155 Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33301 Fbuildthefuture@lasolasvc.com 954-667-7159 266
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Entrepreneur Focused Legal Counsel at the Center of Miami’s Innovation Ecosystem
ELEVATOR PITCH and society is reinventing innovation. He also led a team of Greenberg Traurig attorneys representing Medina Capital in its $3 billion joint venture with global private equity fund BC Partners. This comprised the acquisition of a portfolio of 57 data centers across the globe and suite of cybersecurity and data analytics companies to create Cyxtera Technologies, a global provider of secured IT infrastructure.
At Greenberg Traurig, innovation is more than just talk. It’s in our DNA. Our global law firm utilizes a systemic, holistic approach to innovation, helping clients cut through the noise and pursue their most business-critical goals and growth objectives.
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Locally, nationally, and internationally, Greenberg Traurig guides emerging technology companies through all the stages of development: from business formation, through angel or venture capital financing, to initial public offerings and mergers and acquisitions. We understand the needs of entrepreneurs and their investors, as well as the challenges they face.
Greenberg Traurig’s Emerging Technology Practice is a multidisciplinary legal team representing entrepreneurs and investors. Our LEEP Program (Launch, Emerge, Expand, Propel) provides start-ups and early-stage companies with legal guidance on a range of topics, as well as education, mentorship, and connections designed to help them succeed.
Our areas of focus include: “It is particularly rewarding to partner with emerging technology companies and investors because very often we see how they benefit from Greenberg Traurig’s global reach and depth of experience in the technology sector,” said Jaret L. Davis, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Miami office and co-founder of the eMerge Americas technology conference. “Due to GT’s global platform, we regularly advise technology clients on a host of pressing legal issues, from corporate and financing transactions, intellectual property protection and software/IT matters, to labor and employment, compensation, immigration, and tax issues.”
Artificial Intelligence, Big Data & Internet of Things Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality Nanotechnology The Cloud Data center leases and services agreements Data center development, design, and construction Terrestrial network transactions Submarine cable transactions Enterprise customer transactions Telecommunications and Privacy Regulation Cybersecurity M&A and financing
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Greenberg Traurig’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Task Force comprises 75 attorneys across multiple legal disciplines in key financial hubs worldwide. The highly coordinated team advises on matters including token generation events; fund formation; smart contracts; private placements; tax issues; regulatory matters (including registration and licensing); initial coin offerings and cryptocurrency exchanges, custody and asset management; and development and licensing of blockchain-as-a-service. “Our multidisciplinary approach enables us to anticipate, recognize, and address challenges clients may face in blockchain development or utilization,” said Carl Fornaris, co-chair of the firm’s Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Task Force. “Our team comprises attorneys with significant experience in money services business licensing and regulation; securities and broker-dealer regulation; entity and fund formation and financing; exchange formation; anti-money laundering; technology and intellectual property licensing; and taxation. We also utilize resources from GT’s Government Law and Policy Practice.” Greenberg Traurig’s commitment to innovation includes a focus on innovation for the legal profession. The firm has launched Recurve, a separate entity offering a new concept and platform for global sharedservices to facilitate collaboration among clients, legal advisors and tech, staffing, space, and others to foster innovation, efficiency, and value in the delivery of such ancillary services.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.* GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100.
Recurve, which operates separately from Greenberg Traurig, does not render legal services, but rather works outside the traditional legal model to bring together diverse resources across the globe, in order to help attorneys and clients adapt to the rapidly-changing legal and business landscape.
Greenberg Traurig, LLP GT_Law gt_law gtlaw.com
Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2019 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Contact: Jaret Davis in Miami at 305.579.0500. Attorney Advertising. *These numbers are subject to fluctuation.
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IPS Legal Group, P.A. is a business and intellectual property law firm that caters to entrepreneurs, startups, and small to midsize businesses. From our personalized approach to our offices in Wynwood, IPS Legal Group is an open door to Miami’s innovation ecosystem.
Miami is at the center of the startup and innovation revolution. In such an environment, it will take more than typical legal services to ensure a client keeps their footing. It takes disruption, insight, and creativity—all of which are found at the heart of IPS Legal Group’s strategies. Whether the first venture or the twentieth, a new approach to an old concept, or a novel revelation that the world has yet to see, we match our clients’ passion and facilitate their dreams. 271
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In our areas of practice and in our approach to client service, IPS Legal Group has grown with the distinctive needs of the innovator in mind. Our legal servicesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;including patents, trademarks, copyright, business consulting and growth strategies, contract drafting and negotiation, data privacy, licensing, and litigationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are robust. However, as traditional as they may sound, our approach is modern and as unique as the clients we work with. Navigating an ever-changing startup climate requires a certain agility, and that is what we offer our clients. We help them to develop disruptive business models because we are ourselves disruptive. We collaborate with them on intellectual property strategies that position them for success now and in the future. With our entrepreneurial spirit, we provide clients with high-quality and comprehensive representation that reduces risk and solves problems in a timely and cost-efficient manner. Regardless of where a clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business or innovative needs take them, IPS Legal Group is primed to help them reach their full potential. We assist innovators through the entire business life cycle, from idea conception to exit strategies and everything in between. As technology and society evolve, so do we. Our proactive approach is results-oriented, solutions-based, and it differentiates us from traditional law firms. With over 18 years of collective technical and legal knowledge and experience, we have a telescopic view of technology, its related laws, and the changes in both. We are proud to share such a perspective with our clients so that their way forward is always clear.
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CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MIAMI AND LATIN AMERICAN TECH ECOSYSTEMS
ELEVATOR PITCH
Jason Stark, who manages the firms’ VC practice together with Sofía Yagüe, says the NEXT Legal team loves to contribute to the Miami startup ecosystem and takes pride in being continuously involved in conferences and programs and collaborating with “Some the most well-known institutions in Miami (including 500 startups, CIC Miami, The Idea Center at Miami Dade College, and many others).”
NEXT Legal is a boutique Corporate and Real Estate law firm based in Miami with a focus on Startups and Venture Capital. The members of the team began their careers at top law firms in the United States, Latin America and Europe. The firm offers the experienced attorneys, with transparent pricing and nurtures close relationships with their clients.
STARTUP LAW & VENTURE CAPITAL CULTURE
Looking forward to the next five years, Yagüe believes that the Latin American VC space will be tremendously active, since there are huge opportunities in those markets that U.S. investors are just starting to learn about, especially since Softbank’s recent investment announcements. And NEXT Legal is perfectly positioned to work on many of those deals. “In several countries in Latin America we are already involved in most of the high-profile transactions in the VC area,” says Yagüe. “That puts us in an excellent position for the next wave of transactions that we expect to happen in the next few years.”
NEXT Legal has a very strong practice of venture capital and is well known for providing high-quality and efficient legal services to non-U.S. clients with legal needs in the United States. “We’ve been doing VC in Miami and Latin America for many years,” says Sofía Yagüe, Partner at NEXT. “Unlike other law firms, we specialize in transactions with a cross-border component.” A majority of the firm’s clients in the VC space are foreign startups, investors and funds, primarily from Latin America and Europe, raising funds or making investments in the United States.
CROSS-BORDER EXPERIENCE AND PERSONALIZED SERVICES
“We not only help our startup clients obtain private equity or financings in the United States,” says Pieter A. Weyts, Partner at NEXT, “but we also help them scale to a bigger level and make their business more international and with access to the U.S. markets.”
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team is very international with a group of attorneys from five different countries who can serve their clients in seven different languages. Four of the firm’s lawyers also hold non-U.S. law degrees from Chile, Colombia, Spain and Belgium. “We help clients bridge the gap between their home countries and the U.S.,” says Yagüe.
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Sofía Yagüe, Partner
Jason Stark, Partner
Pieter A. Weyts explains how they found their niche. In Miami, he says, there are basically two types of law firms handling corporate and real estate matters. On the one hand, you have the big law firms, which typically serve big corporations or financial institutions handling transactions that often require a team of at least a dozen people in different specialties. On the other hand, you have the solo practitioners and small law firms that may not always offer the same level of specialization or expertise. Our niche is precisely between these two categories, where individuals, small and midsize companies and family offices are seeking a more personalized service by a smaller but dedicated group of lawyers that have the capabilities and sophistication to handle a wide variety of matters, big and small.
“Our lawyers’ familiarity and knowledge of the legal systems in many other countries in Latin America and Europe, and the diverse background of our legal team, help us be more effective in advising our clients on complex cross-border transactions,” says Pieter A. Weyts. But what really defines our firm, says Jason Stark, is “our level of responsiveness and attention. Our clients know they can reach us quickly, and we will offer pragmatic solutions to their legal needs.”
“What sets us apart from the bigger firms are the close, dependable client relationships we pride ourselves on,” says Weyts. “Because of the close relationship with our clients, our small team of highly qualified and talented attorneys often fulfill a role similar to in-house counsel.”
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1395 Brickell Avenue Suite 950 Miami, FL, 33131 info@nextlegal.us NEXT Legal LLC nextlegal.us
Chris Castro, the firm’s Real Estate partner, Pieter A. Weyts, Jason Stark, and Sofía Yagüe, the firm’s three corporate partners, started the law firm last year, after working together as a team for almost five years. All of the partners practiced for several years at top U.S. law firms including Greenberg Traurig LP, Davis Polk & Wardwell and O’Melveny & Myers LLP, in Miami and New York. 274
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“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts.” ~ ALBERT EINSTEIN
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THE CARDINAL DIRECTION OF SUCCESS. ELEVATOR PITCH
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The ability to remain calm while holding his breath at depths over 160 feet is one that Rodrigo has translated to his nearly two decades in the corporate world. “It allows me to work well under pressure, to problem-solve more effectively and efficiently, to mitigate crises, and to keep the end goal in mind,” Rodrigo says. “I’ve cultivated these skills over the course of my career, and I pass their value—what they’ve helped me to achieve—onto my clients.”
NORDES Consulting is a boutique firm specializing in business management, divestitures, mergers & acquisitions, and project management. Its tailored solutions leverage proven best practices, and by keeping frameworks streamlined and lean, NORDES allows clients to focus on their core business, no matter the circumstances in which they find themselves.
Rodrigo worked at Citi across different functions and geographies for close to sixteen years, during which time Miami’s burgeoning startup culture drew Rodrigo’s attention and held it. While completing Wharton’s Mergers & Acquisitions Program in 2019 it was clear to him how small companies and large enterprises could learn from one another. Rodrigo had spent years helping Citi to become leaner in its processes—something that startups had no choice but to do. At the same time, he could also see what different organizations needed to scale in a way that they often could not. This led him to see that he could offer his clients a luxury typically reserved for established companies: time and space to think creatively and in broad terms.
OUR STORY Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás can tell you as much about freediving as he can about business; he’s an expert in both, and when you consider them closely, they’re not so different. Freediving requires intense focus and an ability to stay calm despite literal mounting pressure. The consequences of panicking are dire, but masters can reach depths the rest of us can only dream of.
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NORDES Consulting 305-600-2779 rodrigo@nordesconsulting.com nordesconsulting nordesconsulting.com
It’s important to Rodrigo that companies do not miss out on the information they need to scale. “It’s gratifying to me to reveal a new perspective to smaller companies,” Rodrigo says. “So often startups fail not for lack of a great idea but for lack of execution. I want to give all of my clients the chance to succeed on the merit of their idea and on the support I can offer them through my own experience.” But there is another aspect of Rodrigo’s experience that suits him especially to helping entrepreneurs: he is one himself. “I really have an intimate understanding of my clients’ concerns, and I’m happy to be able to help,” he says. “In starting my own business I was looking for a personal challenge—which I found—but more satisfying to me is to take everything I’ve learned from the corporate world and pass it on to others, beyond just tapping into it for myself.” NORDES comes from “North East” in Galician, the language of the Spanish region where his family comes from. The name demonstrates Rodrigo’s dedication to personal identity—key for any business or businessperson—but it also corresponds to what Rodrigo, being an economist, visualizes as success: the top-right quadrant of a graph. The cardinal direction to get there? NORDES. 278
Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás, Founder & CEO
I had the pleasure to work with Rodrigo on the launch of a fintech startup. Rodrigo is a focused, results-oriented, self-motivated executive. He is extremely well organized and detail-oriented with a strong ability to think strategically and outside the box. When working on the project, Rodrigo stood out by his problem-solving capabilities and his attention to detail. His organized approach to tasks and willingness to help other team members proved to be one of his greatest assets. He is a good listener who can also convey information clearly and effectively to individuals and groups and he stands out as a team leader by gathering tasks and responsibilities among team members to effectively achieve any given goal. It has been a pleasure working with Rodrigo and I look forward to continuing working with him on other projects.” - Benno Tross, Founder & CEO, Paysco
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Dr. Alma Kadragic joined Nperspective in March 2017. She has been a journalist, researcher, media specialist, and entrepreneur in the US, Europe, and the Middle East. In Miami since 2013, she is a past president of the Miami chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.
Nperspective provides fractional and interim Chief Financial Officer, Management, Advisory and Strategic services to its client companies in a broad range of industries. While many financial professionals provide executive services in their day-to-day jobs, it takes a certain level of passion to work with companies of many different sizes in multiple industries, where levels of internal expertise vary significantly and where learning is an everyday experience. The Nperspective team is a group of professionals who have a passion for learning new businesses, applying years of knowledge and expertise, and building companies. Each member of our team brings a portfolio of experience over a wide range of industries and companies, domestic and international from startups to some of the largest companies in the world. This diversity of experience fosters a “best practices” environment that is easily deployed throughout Nperspective’s client base.
Alma Kadragic, Ph.D. - Director of Business Development
She spent 16 years with ABC News in New York, Washington D.C., London, and Warsaw as writer, producer, and bureau chief before starting Alcat Communications International, a public relations agency with blue chip clients. She holds a Ph.D. in English literature from the City University of New York. Beginning in 1990, she worked with aspiring entrepreneurs through the Central Florida Innovation Corporation; the Disney/SBA Entrepreneurship Center in Orlando; created and taught a course on entrepreneurship at the University of Wollongong in Dubai; wrote articles on entrepreneurship in Poland and the UAE; and lectured with Tamakkan, an entrepreneur selfhelp organization in the UAE. Kadragic has served on many boards including American Women in Radio and Television (President, New York City, Orlando chapters), Polish PR Association (co-founder and first president), Middle East PR Association, American Chamber of Commerce in Poland, Fulbright Commission in Poland, and Entrepreneur Advisory Board of the Disney/SBA National Entrepreneur Center).
Seth Asofsky, MBA - Principal
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Management. He served on the Board of Directors for Island Harvest Food Bank in New York before assuming his current role as a member of the organization’s Monsignor Thomas Hartman President’s Council.
Gary Cuccia is an experienced business professional with expertise in finance developed over many years of work with banks and other firms in capital markets. Most of his work experience was in Wall Street.
Seth Asofsky offers a unique blend of banking and business experience with emerging, technology-oriented companies. He was a corporate and investment banker for more than 18 years before joining his client, Planet Payment, to build an emerging business into a global, NASDAQlisted company, serving first as CFO for 6 years and then as SVP, acting in COO and sales functions, for 7 more years.
From 1985-1999 when he directed financial reporting for an NYSE broker/dealer with more than $19 billion in customer assets and Gary Cuccia, CPA, CMA - Principal then became senior vice-president and controller, Cuccia was deeply involved in developing financial strategy and ensuring execution of finance functions for all businesses, managing a staff of 50.
During Asofsky’s tenure as CFO, he was responsible for accounting and corporate finance functions, raising more than $40 million in private equity and convertible debt placements, and completing a $10 million IPO placement and admission to the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market. He directed, coordinated, and approved all aspects of the accounting lifecycle, including cash flow management, financial projections and statements preparation and Board presentations. He also managed investor relations and investment banker and research analyst relationships.
His first position as CFO came in 2005 with an e-commerce venture-backed startup. The next was in the wealth management affiliate of a major American bank. In 2015 Cuccia arrived in Miami as CFO and COO for the private banking division of an international bank, responsible for finance functions of wealth management, investment advisory, and life insurance companies. With professional licenses as a CPA from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (license being updated in 2019) and CMA from the Institute of Management Accountants, and years of corporate experience, Cuccia brings expertise in financial analysis & reporting,
Asofsky holds an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and graduated cum laude with a BS dual degree from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication and Whitman School of 279
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strategic planning, capital raising, investor relations, mergers & acquisitions, project management, and systems integrations. His Bachelor of Business Administration is from Pace University, New York City.
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Completing post-secondary education at the University of Ottawa (Bachelor of Economics) in 1992, at the age of 25, Foscolos joined the Canada Revenue Agency and served as Albertaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngest corporate tax compliance auditor. In 2001 he became a Registered Public Accountant (R.P.A.) in Alberta and opened a public accounting and tax firm in Calgary. Over the past 17 years, he has served on the board of directors of six private companies and also as treasurer at his local church.
Carmen G. Diaz is a seasoned executive with three decades of experience in strategic finance, accounting, consulting and management. She has particular strengths in financial reporting systems, investment banking, profit and loss reporting (P&L), financial planning, and long term budgetary oversight. With broad international experience, she has a strong understanding of various Carmen Diaz, MBA - Principal markets throughout North America, South America, Caribbean and Europe.Diaz has extensive experience in leadership management roles in the banking, luxury retail, duty-free shops and technology industries. At her first position after college at the New York Federal Reserve Bank, she analyzed statistics that supported the Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decisions. As Finance Director for several companies, she provided the executive team with timely financial statements, ongoing cash flow projections, analysis of accounting and finance operations, and designed and maintained financial reporting structures.
Anthony Foscolos now proudly calls Florida his home and lives here with his wife. He continues to follow his passion in helping successful small businesses grow into the mid-market range.
Joe Pivinski is an operations and financial executive with 30 years of successful experience serving as CFO of domestic and international private and public companies in real estate, energy/ biofuels, construction, consulting, e-commerce and professional services. At organizations from development stage to $300M in revenue, his Joe Pivinski, CPA - Principal extensive knowledge of U.S. GAAP and SEC regulatory reporting and compliance requirements and his ability to efficiently manage public company financial reporting have resulted in increased shareholder value in the five OTC- and NASDAQ-listed companies he has served as CFO.
Her proficiency with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 benefits companies by evaluating all aspects of their internal control systems. She typically assists with the identification of key risks and the design of mitigating controls, documentation of procedures and pre-audit testing to evaluate compliance.
Pivinski has managed, structured, negotiated and executed fund-raising initiatives and liquidity events in capital markets including an international IPO, Private Placement debt offering, project-based ADC financing, Shareholdersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rights Offering, cross-border Syndicated Debt Offering, Minority Interest Buyout and a management buyout in a Going Private transaction. He was U.S. task force leader in the worldwide merger of two public $4B companies and has served as a Board or Advisory Board Member of several organizations.
Diaz earned an MBA from Simmons University in Boston and a Bachelor of Science in Finance/Business Management from Long Island University in Brooklyn. Anthony Foscolos offers clients extensive financial leadership support. Over a 25-year career, he has served as CFO, COO, and CEO, giving him a unique perspective in analyzing financial information and the ability to work with leadership teams to synergize meaningful action plans, contributing significantly to the growth of several businesses. Results have been impressive and consistent, Anthony Foscolos, with year over year growth of +30% RPA (Canada) - Principal over periods in excess of 10 years. Once he increased revenues in seven years from zero to $30 million.
Pivinski holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from Fordham University, New York City, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Brooklyn College, City University of New York.
Nperspective info@Nperspective.com 305-515-3885 Nperspective Nperspective Nperspective.com
As a professional public accountant and a compliance auditor, he became well rounded in several industries, including retail, professional services, health services, manufacturing, production, engineering and construction. He also developed technology and research-based businesses within these sectors and has a track record of success in creating and growing foreign subsidiaries in international markets including Canada, South America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. 280
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50 YEARS OF GIVING BACK
Principal Summit, MBAF
ELEVATOR PITCH MBAF is ranked nationally as a Top 40 accounting and advisory firm and is the largest Florida-based firm in the state. Founded in 1969, it celebrates over 50 years of professional success and community commitment, and now boasts over 650 employees serving clients in all 50 states and more than 55 countries.
“For half a century, MBAF has lived through so many changes, including technology booms, economy busts, new administrations and regulations, and much more,” says Argiz. “We have survived by staying true to our founding principles while evolving with the times.” MBAF’s principles are building long-lasting, trusting relationships with clients, taking their mission on as the firm’s own; treating all employees with respect, trust, and fairness, in the knowledge that the success of the firm depends on the strength of its team; and in creating a company culture based on diversity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to the community.
OUR STORY Since Tony Argiz became MBAF’s chairman and CEO in 1997, the firm has received 21 nods from INSIDE Public Accounting as a top 50 best-managed firm, and Accounting Today has recognized MBAF as one of the 40 best accounting and advisory firms in the country. Its survival of the tides of time is a testament to the firm’s ongoing innovation.
MBAF’s full suite of services is carried out with these principles in mind, and the firm attributes its success to its employees’ hard work and talent. 281
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Principal Summit - Miguel G. Farra, Tony Argiz and Stuart C. Rosenberg.
By focusing on cultivating the best workplace culture possible—a success recognized by both the South Florida Business Journal for three consecutive years (“Best Places to Work” finalist) and by Accounting Today for two (“Best Accounting Firm to Work For”)—MBAF ensures that its employees are as satisfied as its clients. A few of the many benefits employees are provided include MBAF University, which has a broad curriculum focused on developing team members across all practice areas from new hire to partner level. Employees are also invited to take advantage of the firm’s wellness offerings like massage days, yoga, and rooftop fitness classes. The firm’s foundations are also built upon the success of the many communities it calls home, and so MBAF gives back to the local nonprofit organizations and educational institutions that are in turn making the world a better place. MBAF is the seventh-largest corporate philanthropist in South Florida, where it supports over 100 charities. MBAF encourages its employees to volunteer because philanthropy and the act of giving can have a life-changing effect on those employees and the world around them. MBAF’s commitment to service extends beyond the community, to its employee-driven culture, role as an industry leader, client relationships and everything in between. Service is MBAF’s corporate philosophy, it is a purpose that guides the firm in everything it does and will guide it for 50 years to come.
MBAF 1450 Brickell Avenue 18th Floor Miami, FL, 33131 305-373-5500 MBAF mbafcpa.com
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Albert Santalo, Founder
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In 2016, Albert left the day-to-day at CareCloud to pursue an idea he had been thinking about for at least a decade. Up to that time, he had been a part of so many software development efforts. Each had felt fractured, variable, and frustratingly expensive. He knew there had to exist a way to make software efforts happen faster, better, and cheaper. Albert understood that 50-80% of the code developers write doesn’t directly support business-specific use cases; it goes into non-unique systems and infrastructure management. There had to be a way to shift developer focus to real innovation.
8base is a next-generation backend-as-a-service for building SaaS and other go-to-market applications. The 8base Platform includes computing infrastructure, application core services and integrations delivered through a single API endpoint. 8base also offers 8base Labs, a team of SaaS architects, designers and engineers that help companies build on the 8base Platform.
He was especially passionate about making a non-technical founder’s journey an easier one. Today, tech ventures are springing up more than ever, and non-technical founders start most of these. These people need help, absent a technical co-founder, in constructing their products correctly the first time around.
OUR STORY Albert Santalo started his professional career as a working software engineer in a bank processing company at the age of 18, while also attending the University of Miami’s College of Engineering. After 11 years as a developer and technical manager, he joined the early team at AnswerThink Consulting Group in 1997 (now, The Hackett Group). AnswerThink went public in 1998, and Albert spent four years as a management consultant, assisting large US companies with their IT strategy and IT transformation initiatives. He later co-founded Avisena and founded CareCloud in Miami. Both companies provide healthcare IT solutions to U.S.-based medical practices and are backed by over $10 million of Miami-based angel investment and over $100 million of Silicon Valley venture capital.
Beyond helping entrepreneurs, Albert realized that trillions would be spent in the coming years as companies confronted digital transformation. Given this enormous need, however, there were not enough developers in the world to accommodate all the necessities. This vision led to the formation of 8base on March 15th, 2017. Albert worked to bring on the founding team and raised $1 million of angel investment. At this time, 8base also established an offshore office in Saint Petersburg, Russia. 285
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The team broke ground on the software development effort in August 2017 and entered beta release in October 2018. Around that time, the 8base Labs team secured its first engagement and began building on behalf of a startup, collabtogrow, on the 8base Platform. In April 2019, 8base secured IBM Global Services as a customer. IBM has been using 8base to build software for a sizeable quasi-government organization in Europe. In late June 2019, 8base entered general availability. Today, developers around the world are signing up at www.8base.com and utilizing the platform for hundreds of different projects in various industries.
Albert Santalo
The 8base Labs Team is also hard at work building applications on behalf of customers – both entrepreneurs and established companies.
Oscar Perez 2222 Ponce De Leon Blvd. Coral Gables, FL, 33134 415-842-2731 8base.com
The 8base name comes from 8’s significance in computer science (8 bits in a byte), the fact that 8 is infinity turned sideways, and that 8base is a data”base”-first platform. 286
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ELEVATOR PITCH Over the last decade, KiwiTech has led innovation across multiple verticals scaling businesses in the tech space. We intimately understand the challenges faced by new founders, aspiring unicorns and established leaders and work closely with them to realize their passion and purpose. Through our extensive relationships and expertise, we bring a perspective that helps strategically connect technology creators with technology consumers. We have created an ecosystem of proactive investors and advisors who are passionate about building technology, supporting entrepreneurship, and helping companies realize their maximum potential.
Tech Team
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KiwiTech was founded in 2009 by Rakesh Gupta, Neal Gupta, Anita Gupta, and Gurvinder Batra. Prior to KiwiTech, our founding team started a publishing services company, Aptara, in the late 1980s, scaled it to 5000+ employees and exited in 2012 for $144 million.
Countries Minority Founded Startups
KiwiTech began as a mobile and web development firm focusing on enterprises. Leveraging our deep experience and entrepreneurial history, we launched a unique startup program a few years later to help early to late-stage startups build viable products, drive traction, raise capital and scale their businesses.
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Our portfolio startups get access to our 500-strong tech team across multiple offices in the U.S. and India. They also gain exposure through our Demo Days, which are held 2-3 times every month across the country and are attended by our strong network of HNWIs, venture capital firms as well as family offices. Over 200 startups across a dozen industries have taken advantage of our startup program so far.
“For the last year, KiwiTech and Lifekee have worked together to develop a state-of-the-art contact and identity management solution. The Lifekee platform now includes three beautiful native apps on Android, iOS, and Web for enterprise-level clients and personal uses. Lifekee ID is being leveraged by USAC, Miami Dade College, Aseguradora General, and Rojos del Municipal among other organizations as well as large scale events/conferences such as Volcano Summit in Guatemala. We have now launched our latest feature, a QR based digital business cards and ‘Smart Connect,’ where you can become discoverable to nearby Lifekee users during a meeting or an event. Thanks to the KiwiTech team for being a great partner in this adventure!” —Daniel Ghelman, Co-Founder, Lifekee
8000 Towers Crescent Dr., #1110 Vienna, VA, 22182 info@kiwitech.com kiwitech KiwiTechCorp kiwitech.com
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S y n e rTe c h cloud solutions
Accelerate and Secure Your Business with Hybrid Cloudâ&#x20AC;?
ELEVATOR PITCH The hybrid cloud is a powerful combination of public and private clouds, has revolutionized the way enterprises do business. It enables employees and customers to realize an unparalleled user experience, new business models and substantially enhanced productivity.
OUR STORY SynerTechCloud gives you all the benefits of using the Hybrid Cloud by identifying the best way to create a global architecture by implementing a combination of cloud services in your business!
benefits of the cloud, without security concerns or internet performance bottlenecks! SynerTechCloud offers flexible choices in building the perfect hybrid cloud system to fulfill and stay up to date with the unique needs of your business. Get digital-ready, virtualize your entire business with SynerTechCloud and place everything within reach.
Cloud is an accelerator for businesses, being as it allows organizations to quickly and effectively respond to both internal and external growth demands. Strategically headquartered in Miami, FL, USA, a multicultural city and the 2nd point of submarine cable landing on the east coast, Miami is TOP 5 cities most connected in the world, especially 95% for Latin American market to satisfy customers needs in USA, Central America, Caribbean, and South America for worldwide businesses.
This technology is extremely useful for protecting and recovering from cyberattacks, & natural disasters. At SynerTechCloud, we believe in the power of interconnection. The rise of digital business is inspiring innovative commerce and collaboration models and whole new ways of competing. Interconnection makes it all happen.
With SynerTechCloud, connect your business directly to AWS, Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud, and many other cloud service providers to enjoy all the
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Continuity and Disaster Recovery solutions for Companies worldwide. Data and Application protection recovery with high availability capabilities, migration and cross-platform data sharing solutions. When you need help with organizing your business and want to protect your business from outside threats but you’re on a strict budget, SynerTech Cloud Solutions’ cloud computing solutions can help. We enable businesses and partners to realize an unparalleled user experience, new business models, and substantially enhanced productivity. Yet the path to the hybrid cloud can be a confusing and stressful one, with an endless variety of vendors promising an endless number of migration solutions.
Andres Hurtado Rangel, Founder CEO
We’ll work with you to develop your unique solution that adapts to the ever-growing, ever-changing requirements of your business.
We offer Professional Services as practical guidance of proven solutions to help you optimize and future-proof your business with the right and appropriate Information Technology architecture.
Which one is right for your company’s unique requirements? That’s where SynerTechCloud comes in.
Our Professional Services experts have decades of specialized Complex IT environments, Multisite data centers and private cloud solutions with hands-on experience in assessing, enabling, migrating, optimizing, planning, designing, testing and deploying IT infrastructure, networks, and cloud architectures.
50 NE 9th St Miami, FL, 33132
SynerTechCloud info@synertechsolutions.com
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We offer technology & CRM consulting, implementation services, training & adoption strategy services, managed services, optimizations & support, and business intelligence. We also offer tailored technology solutions for specific industries including finance, healthcare, travel & hospitality, food & beverage, non-profit, and e-commerce. With more than 430 clients ranging from different industries all around the globe including Discovery, Sony, DHL, Bacardi, Norwegian Cruise Line and more, 67+ Salesforce certifications, 600+ projects completed to date and more than 20+ years of combined IT experience, it is no wonder that we have a 5/5 star rating across our services, customer satisfaction and our app listings on Salesforce’s app marketplace, the AppExchange.
SkyPlanner is a 5-star-rated, Silver Salesforce Consulting & AppExchange Partner based in Miami, FL with offices in Bogota, Colombia, and Vitoria, Brazil specialized in helping companies of all shapes and sizes leverage the power of Salesforce to do more with their businesses.
OUR STORY At SkyPlanner, we believe in fully integrating ourselves within our clients’ businesses, developing a true partnership with their entire organization. Our extensive knowledge and expertise in the software development arena have enabled us to help our clients find the best solutions and leverage the latest Salesforce technology to grow their companies. Whether you’re a grassroots startup looking to leave your mark on the world or a well-established enterprise looking to streamline your operations, SkyPlanner can help you get the most out of your Salesforce experience.
Founded in 2011 as a joint venture between three friends – Rene.... Rodriguez – we set out to help entrepreneurs like ourselves, streamline their business operations. Our first initiative was to improve the travel experience to Cuba by creating a software system that would enable travel agencies to quickly and easily book client travel. Shortly after, we realized that cloud software could help companies beyond the travel industry and thus, began our journey with Salesforce. We chose this partnership because we were 291
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It allows companies to streamline their business processes and manage customer relationships by focusing on sales, service, marketing, and commerce. It keeps your data organized and secure while also presenting reports with effective analytics. Its automation features include tracking leads, managing emails, assigning tasks, notifications, approvals, and much more. It also handles all of the customer interactions of an organization through different forms of communication including phone calls, site email inquiries, communities, and social media. Salesforce also helps companies accelerate efficiency and productivity, and ultimately increase revenue and growth by organizing data and automating business processes. Here are several of the reasons why our clients love Salesforce:
passionate about using technology to improve business efficiency and felt aligned with Salesforce’s mission–that together, we could create a future of opportunities. Fast forward eight years later, and we have become a 5-Star rated, full-service Silver Salesforce Consulting & AppExchange Partner with three global offices across the United States and Latin America. We have grown into a multilingual, multi-disciplinary team of system architects, UI/UX designers, business analysts, data scientists, QA specialists and South Florida’s largest group of Salesforce certified developers and administrators. We have also been listed on the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America. Today, we specialize in helping companies of all shapes and sizes, across the Americas leverage the power of Salesforce to do more with their business -- whether that means scaling globally, streamlining operations, implementing a new Salesforce solution or empowering employees to feel confident using Salesforce technology.
Close more deals Get more leads Better data management Efficiencies through automation Ability to strategically up-sell and cross-sell More effective marketing Better customer experience Improved team collaboration Improved visibility Gain key insight for better decision making
With Salesforce, one size does not fit all. Each business is different so it’s necessary to tailor the technology to your business goals. The right Salesforce partner is extremely knowledgeable and experienced on the ins-and-outs of Salesforce. They will outperform an internal team and customize the platform to suit your needs so that you can get the most ROI from Salesforce. Working with a certified consulting partner like SkyPlanner will guarantee that your implementation is a stress-free and smooth process. When a company approaches us, we analyze its business processes and develop a plan to optimize Salesforce to fulfill the company’s needs. This can include the adaptation of existing Salesforce apps, custom development and integration with third-party software, as well as training employees on how to use the system. We also develop custom applications for both Salesforce and mobile. With the largest team of certified Salesforce professionals in South Florida, all of our development is done in-house, ensuring full transparency.
More on SkyPlanner Our specialty is Salesforce customization and consulting. Salesforce is a customer relationship management solution that brings companies and customers together. It is one integrated CRM platform that gives all of your departments — including marketing, sales, commerce, and service — a single, shared view of every customer. The software lives on the cloud making it easily accessible through your web browser or mobile device.
SkyPlanner 2175 SW 78 Place Miami, FL, 33155 305-814-7597 hello@theskyplanner.com @skyplanner theskyplanner.com
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success staffing for a client with whom he eventually would partner to open Benjamin Douglas in 2015.
ELEVATOR PITCH
Ultimately, Doug bought out the original partner in 2018, taking the reins fully on his own.
Benjamin Douglas is a boutique recruitment agency serving domestic and international clients across a myriad of business sectors with a deep specialization in technology and sales roles.
In April 2019, South Florida Business Journal named Benjamin Douglas a “Top 25 Temporary Personnel & Staffing Agency” with Viney heralded as a “Person on the move”.
OUR STORY
As Doug can attest to; “the lifeblood of any company in any industry is its human capital. It’s placing the most impressive candidates into the most appropriate roles that’s going to equate for the growth and success of a company’s product or service. My team knows there are no shortcuts to successful staffing – we have gathered our insight, contacts, and resources by digging, scratching, and clawing to connect with South Florida’s finest”.
The firm was founded in Miami, Florida by Doug Viney in 2014 and has been recognized as one of the Top Staffing Agencies and Fastest Growing by the South Florida Business Journal. Doug’s passion for recruitment took root in the United Kingdom in 2004. In 2009, he took a leave to explore parts unknown (Asia, Australia, South America, Canada), which included a final stop in Miami.
As a small firm developing its brand, Benjamin Douglas is committed to using the best practices Doug has gleaned from his 15 years of experience finding and placing talent all over the globe. Key to this is avoiding the tactics that
He immediately fell in love (and found love in) the Magic City. He went on to launch a global franchise in South Florida in 2013 and found immediate 295
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create a bad reputation for many recruitment firms. This is accomplished by always operating transparently, making the engagement experience as frictionless as possible, approaching each deal from a consultative v. transactional approach, and instilling a hustle mentality in his team. The result: South Florida’s No. 12 fastest-growing company (under $25 million). “To rank as the 12th fastest-growing private company in the competitive marketplace that is South Florida is all the more prideful when you realize we are a six-person outfit – the leanest of all of our ‘Fast 50’honored siblings.” At Benjamin Douglas, we are passionate about finding the right talent and fit for positions within organizations ranging from startups to FTSE 100. We offer expert consultancy in permanent and contract recruitment and help our client partners achieve their business goals by finding highly qualified candidates to fill their priority needs.
Benjamin Douglas 7800 SW 57th Ave., Suite 211 Miami, FL, 33143 Benjamin-douglas benjamindouglas.com 296
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ELEVATOR PITCH SheWorks!, is an AI/data driven, cloud-based platform that helps companies drive diversity and inclusion by allowing them to hire women with flexible and remote work models and to implement work from home programs that work for women and fit their lifestyles.
As a professional Mom, I found it extremely challenging to balance caring for my young children and working full time and ended up quitting my job. SheWorks! gave me the opportunity to find a rewarding and exciting job in the US from my home in Caracas, Venezuela while being close to the people I love the most. With the power of technology, I can take care of my family, work a flexible schedule, and have financial independence!â&#x20AC;? ANTONELLA MARTI | SheWorks! Talent
At PepsiCo we are taking full advantage of SheWorks!. I find it very fast and extremely easy to use. I love, personally, the accountability and transparency that SheWorks! provides, which gives us the confidence, that we are paying for the time dedicated to our projects. The most important thing is the talent we have found in SheWorks!, the level of professionalism and array of expertise these women have. That alongside with the support that SheWorks! provides in work processes and communications, is spectacular and at a very competitive cost.â&#x20AC;? MONICA BAUER | Vice President, Corporate Affairs | PepsiCo 297
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Technology is the key to the real transformation of economic conditions and the empowerment of women.”
Founded in 2017, SheWorks! was created from seeing the frustration of so many women forced to leave the workforce, the tremendous loss of talent worldwide, and the opportunity to deliver a solution using technology, transparency, and the principles of the on-demand economy to address the issue of gender unemployment. The SheWorks! Platform allows companies to connect with an international pool of certified professional women, while allowing them to effectively verify the hours and projects completed by providing tools and resources to monitor, manage, collaborate, and pay their distributed teams all in one place. SheWorks! also recognizes that women need to manage their career on their own terms while learning new skills and continuing their education to stay competitive in the Gig economy. Via the SheWorks! Academy, we’re able to provide free training for women to earn credentials and be fully certified online to distinguish themselves in the digital marketing world. This includes women who are looking to reenter the workforce, women who want to upgrade their current skills, and women who are just starting out and learning basic skills.
Silvina Moschini Founder & CEO, SheWorks!
We’re extremely passionate about empowering women to join the workforce; this is a worldwide movement; we see a global trend and an opportunity to make a difference. Today, SheWorks! represents women from 75 countries, helping them become financially independent and aligning our strengths: technology for transparency; equipping women with free education and skills while connecting them with remote and flexible jobs that allow them to work on their own terms wherever they are in the world!
By partnering with leading companies such as Facebook, SAP, Microsoft, Cisco Systems and Google, we’re able to offer 120+ available courses online. These courses can be completed any time, any place, and at whatever pace suits the woman enrolled. All courses that are completed and exams that are passed earn a digital badge which can be displayed on their SheWorks! profile and shared with any future employers as a reference on their resume. In 2018, SheWorks! and EY announced a global partnership at the Labor Inclusion session at the W20 in NYC to join forces and attract more women into the workforce by creating 100,000 job opportunities for women by 2020. In addition, SheWorks! is proud of our accomplishments thus far being the only feature case study at the W20, recognized as the top initiative to address gender unemployment at a global scale.
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WHAT GOT US HERE?
“My drive is assisting our talent in finding their passion within their craft, while matching our clients with the best candidates the job market has to offer. My success in the hospitality industry is not a stroke of luck! It is a direct reflection of hard work, dedication, persistency and awareness of the importance of offering outstanding services and learning intricate details of each client, candidates and our dedicated team members.”
Not only the dedication and experience in the industry but most importantly, understanding our clients’ brand and vision. This has helped us stay focused on delivering what our clients’ wants, and needs are.
BUSINESS RESPONSIBILITY?
By understanding the employment trends and how the market is moving we are able to not only assist our clients but our community and candidates by sharing valuable information through our media, events, and meetings so we can help them make better decisions when choosing their next career opportunity.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO?
We are currently looking to finding new ways to impact our community by participating in hospitality universities and other entities that would help us help people seeking to start their career in the hospitality industry or help people that are currently unemployed and are looking for their next career move.
We are a leading staffing and recruiting firm that have been laser-focused to deliver the best talent for the Food and Beverage departments of the most luxurious and iconic brands in the hospitality industry (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering and Special Events) in the heart of Miami since 2008.
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Ricardo Michelangeli, President & CEO
OUR POTENTIAL As a business, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t only see the opportunity of growth as a personal benefit but also to promote and help others with more opportunities. We are currently working on our next strategy that will not only help more people in our current area but also to expand our services and support to the community in other cities and states. With the support of future new partners, our growth looks more promising than ever before.
WHAT OTHER AVENUES? As we continue an effort to grow our company, we are also committed to venture new avenues that would allow us to provide even a more diverse carrier opportunity for our community. A new sector we are reviewing is the administrative and clerical support for business through our staffing and placement services. 300
1200 Brickell Avenue Floor 18, Suite 800 Miami, FL, 33131 305-890-1562 info@rmgstaffing.com RMG Staffing rmgstaffing rmgstaffing.com
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SmartBarrel is the Ultimate Construction Workforce Management Solution ELEVATOR PITCH application. This sounded great, every worker could report his or her hours, it was Geofenced using the phones GPS to make sure the worker was onsite and much more. The major problem was that many workers didn’t own smartphones, or simply refused to accept a tracking application on their personal phones. Within the first few weeks the list of excuses for not clocking in grew, ranging from worries about privacy all the way to the classic “My battery is dead” up until the trigger was pulled and time keeping went back to the good old paper timesheet.
SmartBarrel is the ultimate construction workforce management solution. Solar powered, self connected and loaded with the latest computer vision technologies, it’s able to manage labor workforces from anywhere.
OUR STORY SmartBarrel was founded by Albert Bou Fadel, a glazing (glass) project manager with years of experience in construction. The concept sprouted from being tired and exhausted from the agonizing weekly payroll process that required a lot of paper timesheet processing, data entry and significant amounts of guess work to make sure workers got their pay on time. Not only was the process incredibly outdated, it was also clear that the existing systems did little to combat fraud, it depended on an honor system that many workers found ways to abuse, rendering the worksite an uneven playing field, which upset and demoralized team members.
After months of extensive research another breakthrough tool came in the form of keyfobs/tags. Workers could simply tap a device with the tag to clock into the site and tap it again to clock out. This solution seemed to work well since it mitigated the barrage of excuses generated by using a smartphone app and it seemed workers were diligently clocking in using the tags. Upon further review of the newly implemented solution it was noticed that within 3 weeks of deployment, a worker was discovered clocking out 25 teammates tags, highlighting the “Buddy Punch” phenomonon.
Albert started by procuring commercially available technology solutions with the thought that “there must be something out there to help with these pain points! It must exist!” He started by deploying a smartphone
This is when Albert decided that commercially available products weren’t good enough and he would make one that was. SmartBarrel was born as 301
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a facial verification device that was able to eliminate 100% of all excuses against adoption while taking into consideration all the challenges that a construction environment has to offer such as ruggedness, weather exposure, lack of power and lack of connectivity. The SmartBarrel device is a stand alone, self sustaining panel with an extremely simple clock in and clock out process powered by the latest computer vision and machine learning technologies and it vows to revolutionize the way timekeeping is kept, shared and processed. SmartBarrelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services begin at the jobsite where it accurately collects workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; data daily, digested in the cloud for time and other requirements and then is seamlessly processed by payroll software. SmartBarrel not only helps to eliminate timekeeping fraud at close to 100%, it also helps streamline and consolidate the entire labor workforce payroll process with a simple click.
7390 NE 4th Ct, Miami, FL, 33138 877-727-5565 info@smartbarrel.io SmartBarrel.io
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ELEVATOR PITCH Work2Live is an employee reward and perk technology platform built with work-life satisfaction and talent retention in mind. The platform delivers its product in 3 major areas: Experiences, Members-only hotel rates, and wellbeing resources. All of these perks can be further enhanced by Work2Live’s cutting edge “Lifestyle Spending Account” product which gives employers a way to reward and incentivize while giving employees the flexibility to spend how they choose.
are handed so many “tools” to help retain and improve the company culture, reduce burnout etc... that they, themselves, become burnt-out. We made up our minds to change all of that ...!
THE SOLUTION Work2Live’s solution is experiential in nature, meaning that purchases are experiences rather than things you would typically buy at a store. This is important because it drives home the importance of getting out of the office and truly living life.
OUR STORY Founded in 2016, Work2Live has been a long time in the making and is the story of bringing together the very different yet complementary universes of our four founders: Travel & Leisure, Employee Benefits, Recruitment & Retention, and Logistics.
By offering our users access to products through the 3 core areas of:
LIVE - local & destination experience
From the start, one thing was always clear - we were setting out to change the employee experience in a positive way! We realized that employees really don’t see the true value in the benefits they are offered, and employers
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BREATHE - access to exclusive wellbeing resource discounts And enhancing the product with our proprietary Lifestyle Spending Account, we are able to deliver something truly exceptional to both the employer and employee alike.
work2live 3150 SW 38th Ave. Suite 901 Coral Gables, FL, 33146 info@work2live.com 786-514-8761
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INNOVATIONS OF THE WORLD
“We are a global market place for ideas, creativity and collaboration.” ~ SVEN BOERMEESTER, CEO GLOBAL VILLAGE PUBLISHING 3 0 5
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www.InnovationsoftheWorld.com Connecting Minds - Building Communities
“The secret to innovation is the collective mind.” ~ CALLIE VAN GRAAN, COO GLOBAL VILLAGE VENTURES 3 0 6
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MAKING ACCESS TO SPACE AFFORDABLE “I BELIEVE THAT SPACE IS A GREAT ENABLER THAT TRANSFORMS OUR LIVES BACK ON EARTH. IN A FEW YEARS, WE WILL SEE PLANETS BEING COLONISED AND ASTEROIDS BEING MINED. SPACE TRAVEL WILL BECOME AS COMMON AND AS AFFORDABLE AS AIR TRAVEL.” ROHAN M GANAPATHY, DIRECTOR & CEO, BELLATRIX AEROSPACE
When humans make Space their habitat in the not-so-distant future, a Bengaluru company would have been part of conquering the final frontier. A new Space company incubated at Indian Institute of Science, Bellatrix Aerospace is developing advanced in-Space propulsion systems that can bring down the cost of access to Space, and aims to be the first private company to launch a rocket from Indian soil.
systems. The major disadvantage with chemical propulsion is that they require a large mass of propellant.” Electric propulsion is an emerging technology that is quickly replacing chemical propulsion technology. Using an electric propulsion system, a satellite can carry 3 times more payload compared to a satellite that uses chemical propulsion. This results in reduced mission costs and increased Return on Investment (RoI) per satellite. Bellatrix aims to be a global leader in the field of propulsion by offering advanced technology at competitive prices.
Bellatrix Aerospace is led by a team of engineers with Rohan M Ganapathy (CEO), Yashas Karanam (COO) and Narendra Narayanan (MD) for whom creating technologies through internal R&D is an exciting challenge. This is due to the fact that propulsion technology is a restricted technology; technical information is not easily available and is constricted by export control/tech transfer into India.
“Our proprietary electric thrusters can also accommodate water as propellant. This is a scalable technology and offers a high thrust-to-power ratio compared to competitors in this segment. Bellatrix is working towards becoming a provider of combined solutions for all propulsion requirements and is currently developing different varieties of chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites ranging from nano satellites to heavy satellites.”
Talking about the unique features of Bellatrix’s work, Ganapathy explains, “Just as cars need engines to move, satellites need propulsion systems for orbit raising and station keeping (maintaining proper orientation) applications. Most of the current satellites today use chemical propulsion
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Given the high cost of sending satellites to Space, the proposition of reducing the satellite mass even by a small amount is very attractive. Traditional satellites employ chemical propulsion systems which considerably reduce the on-board space available for payload. This makes the satellites very inefficient and expensive to launch. Electric propulsion systems negate this as they require much less fuel in comparison with traditional systems. This results in a dramatic downsizing of the propulsion system allowing for a satellite to carry much greater payload and enhance the orbital endurance. This allows for greater profitability and a competitive advantage among satellite operators adopting electric propulsion systems.
Bengaluru is also the hub for Space companies in India. With ISRO, HAL and BEL headquartered in Bengaluru, a complete ecosystem for aerospace manufacturing has come up in the city. The Public Private Partnership model is the key to building a better world with affordable access to Space based services.
Bellatrix is aiming to also diversify into ground to Space propulsion (rocket propulsion) after getting a good foothold in the in-Space propulsion area. It is working on newer ways of making access to Space more affordable through ‘Chetak’, a reusable micro launch vehicle that can carry a 200 kg payload to Low Earth Orbit. When this happens, Bellatrix would be the first private company to launch a rocket from Indian soil. The highs for Bellatrix have been getting a developmental contract from ISRO, receiving the TDB National Award 2017 from the President of India for development of technology with potential for commercialisation. Ganapathy was also featured on Forbes India and Forbes Asia’s ‘30 under 30’ list for the year 2018.
Bellatrix team receiving Technology Development Board National Award – 2017 from President of India.
www.bellatrixaerospace.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Open Bionics was founded in 2014 by Joel Gibbard and Samantha Payne with the goal of developing affordable, assistive devices that enhance the human body. In other words, Open Bionics turns disabilities into superpowers. The Bristol-based bionics company is known globally for using 3D printing and 3D scanning, along with some clever software and design, to make advanced, affordable and accessible bionic limbs.
OUR STORY In May 2018, following four years of research and development, the company released its first product, the Hero Arm. The Hero Arm is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first medically certified 3D-printed bionic arm, and the very first multi-grip bionic arm for children as young as eight years old. Engineered and manufactured in Bristol, the Hero Arm is a lightweight and affordable myoelectric prosthesis, available now through prosthetics clinics in the UK, USA, France, Spain and Ireland. The company have ambitious plans to launch the prosthesis in new international regions throughout 2019 and 2020. The Hero Arm has market-leading functionality, weighs less than 1kg, has a breathable and adjustable socket, and can be fitted with customised covers; including Star Wars and Marvel superhero designs. Each Hero Arm is custom-built to ensure a perfect fit. The Hero Arm works by picking up signals from a userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s muscles. When an amputee puts on their bionic arm and flexes muscles in their residual limb just below their elbow; special sensors detect tiny naturally generated electric signals and convert these into intuitive and proportional bionic hand movement. The bionic hand is 309
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controlled by tensing the same muscles which are used to open and close a biological hand. Wearers of the Hero Arm can choose between different finger speeds and grips to allow them to pick up objects ranging from a small marble, to an entire shopping basket. Other multi-grip bionic hands, such as the bebionic and ilimb, are prohibitively expensive and too large or heavy for children (and some adults, too). The Hero Arm is less than half the price of these competitors, and because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s manufactured using 3D printing, it is also the lightest bionic hand on the market. 3D printing is an extremely efficient and suitable manufacturing method for prostheses which are always â&#x20AC;&#x153;one-offsâ&#x20AC;?. Almost all of the 3D printed parts are manufactured using an additive technique called Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), which uses a laser as the power source to sinter powdered nylon. Open Bionics believes that the most advanced prosthetic and orthopaedic technology should be available for everyone that needs it. Open Bionics have a development contract with NHS England, with the aim of offering the Hero Arm on the NHS in the UK. In June 2017, they worked with NHS England and the Bristol Centre for Enablement on a world-first clinical trial 310
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of a 3D-printed multi-grip bionic arm. Following a successful first stage of the trial, the company have now begun a second stage of the trial with multiple NHS clinics around the UK. Open Bionics also have royalty-free licensing agreements with Disney, Marvel, Lucasfilm, Eidos Montreal and Twentieth Century Fox, to offer superhero cover designs such as BB-8, Iron Man and Alita: Battle Angel. They are making science fiction a reality. Their work has received praise from the likes of Mark Hamill and the Dalai Lama, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve won a whole host of coveted awards, and their users have featured in media all around the world.
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Open Bionics’ lab space is currently located next to the Bristol Robotics Lab, but the rapidly expanding company will soon move to a custom-built production space in the centre of Bristol following a £4.6 million investment round in January 2019 from high profile firms such as F1’s Williams Advanced Engineering. Open Bionics are proud of their Bristol roots, and it’s easy to see Bristol’s punk creativity pumping through the veins of this innovate bionics company. In the near future, Open Bionics look forward to offering the Hero Arm in multiple international markets and continuing the development of great products that solve challenges within mobility and independence.
OpenBionics OpenBionics openbionicsltd openbionics.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH Klymit makes ultra-lightweight sleep gear for when you’re away from your bed, focusing on solutions that are comfortable, reliable, and affordable. With a range of products designed and precision-engineered in-house, Klymit has been operating out of Utah for over 10 years, and is now based in Kaysville.
OUR STORY “We’ve chosen to solve what we view as the one main problem to being outside—sleeping,” says Cory Tholl, CEO of Klymit, who describes himself as an avid problem-solver who loves the outdoors. “People love to go camping, but many people hate to sleep away from their bed,” says Tholl. “And we recognize that, so we’re trying to solve this one obstacle that’s restricting people from enjoying the outdoors more.” Klymit specializes in portable mattresses for sleeping outside or away from your bed. “Many people carry a big bulky pad that’s not even comfortable,” says Tholl. “No wonder they don’t love sleeping outdoors. We saw that as an opportunity.” So Klymit set out to produce something that’s ultralightweight. “Something that can fit in your back pocket,” says Tholl, “while not sacrificing comfort.” Why focus on this problem? Tholl says it feels good to assist others in enjoying the outdoors. “Being outdoors is good for the soul,” he says. “It gets you away from the world of electronics, from the hustle and bustle of life.” Klymit works with all facets of the outdoor experience—boating, camping, hiking, hunting, 313
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and more, and aims to solve the problem of outdoor sleeping for everyone. Tholl cites first time campers as a group he particularly wants to help. “It pains me when first time campers go out and take really poor equipment, hate camping because their equipment was poor, and then never want to go camping again.” “It’s such a missed opportunity.” Klymit wants to change the mindsets of as many people as they can, so they make every effort to set their products at price points that make that possible. “A family with five kids can now actually afford to go out camping with real equipment and have a good experience outdoors.” Though sleeping mats are where Klymit first found success, they now offer a wide range of other outdoor products, from sleeping bags, pillows, and tents, to backpacks, dinghies, blankets, and beds for your dog.
What all these products have in common is that they’re custom designed and precisionmade using a CNC welding machine invented by the engineers at Klymit itself. “We needed a process that allowed us to prototype inflatable products with accuracy and quality,” says Tholl. They now use this CNC welding machine to create computerdesigned prototypes “really quickly, inhouse.” According to Tholl, this allows Klymit to think outside the box in terms of the products they can imagine.
“Utah is just a really great place to do business,” says Tholl. “So many organizations and local governments have tools in place to help you be successful, and it feels like—on an individual level—people want to see you succeed.”
Utah, says Tholl, has also been instrumental in Klymit’s success. Fifteen minutes away from the mountains and with outdoor venues for skiing, camping, boating, hiking and hunting literally in their back yard, Tholl says at Klymit they’re inspired by their surroundings. Utah natives started the company, and most employees grew up there as well. “The outdoors are in our blood,” says Tholl. But it’s not just the physical climate that has aided Klymit. Especially in the early days, they received much-appreciated support from the angel investing network in Utah, and have been welcomed by every city they’ve operated out of, from Ogden to Clearfield, and now Kaysville.
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For more information on Klymit, visit klymit.com 457 Deseret Dr., Kaysville,UT, 84037 801-310-7235
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WE MAKE NUTRIENT-DENSE BARS AND PROTEIN POWDERS WITH THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL SUPERFOODS TO HELP YOU “FILL THE NUTRIENT VOID” IN YOUR HECTIC DAY.
The Problem As a big believer in the importance of healthy eating, Daniel had one frustration while working in banking in Montreal : the lack of nutrientdense, low-sugar snacks that could keep him sustained and focused during some long work hours.
then boosting them with the world’s most powerful superfoods. Many brands use the word “superfoods”—Landish really means it.
What’s wrong with protein or energy bars? One or often many of the following: • Too much sugar • Not nearly enough nutrient density • Don’t satisfy your hunger • Don’t taste good (sweet and fake or just chalky and bland) • Offer no functional benefits
CRICKET POWDER
The Superfoods
For the same weight crickets contain twice the protein in beef and chicken, over fives times the vitamin B12 in salmon and they’re also full of iron, calcium, potassium and a prebiotic fibre called chitin beneficial to gut health. SPIRULINA
Spirulina is a blue-green spiral-shaped microalgae and a form of a cyanobacteria. It’s extremely nutrient-rich with up to 70% protein, lots of beta-carotene, iron, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, chlorophyll, and phycocyanin, a powerful antioxidant. It also contains prebiotic polysaccharides responsible for probiotic growth.
Daniel felt that more and more nutrition-focused consumers like him would continue to demand better.
The Solution This led to the kick-off of Crickstart in 2016, which became Landish in the spring of 2019.
FUNCTIONAL MUSHROOMS
The Landish team made it its mission to create the most nutrient-dense natural bars EVER for people experiencing what they call “the daily grind”.
Among other benefits, functional mushrooms such as reishi and turkey tail, contain high levels of beta-glucans, which are proven to contribute to probiotic growth, reduce LDL cholesterol levels, and boost the body’s immune system.
How? By creating healthy, macronutrient-balanced plant-based bars and
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How Landish Thinks About Nutrition The Landish team doesn’t believe in fad diets. The brand is all about macronutrient balance, micronutrient density and gut health, which are understood to be the fundamentals of good nutrition.
How Landish Thinks About Life Commit to your health so that you can commit to something greater than yourself.
How Landish Thinks About Work Don’t sacrifice happiness today to pursue it in the long term. Work hard, but remember what matters most now and always: health and happiness.
3 of Landish’s Sustainability Initiatives 1. Sourcing sustainable ingredients. 2. Reducing the impact of its bar packaging by implementing its own private recycling program with TerraCycle. 3. Planting a tree in an area of BC or California devastated by wildfires for every online order received. The Landish team (from left to right): Adrian Loffredo, Director of Operations; Erin Little, Community Manager; Daniel Novak, CEO; Gabrielle Faraggi, VP Sales and Michael Badea, COO hello@landish.ca | 1-888-997-3629
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ELEVATOR PITCH Urban SDK streamlines government and IoT data to automate performance measures and discover insights in real-time, helping to transform cities’ mobility, transportation, and safety operations.
Urban SDK additionally provides a data exchange to connect transportation systems with a collaborative data platform of 140+ real-time datasets for end-to-end integration and advanced analytics.
OUR STORY Established in 2018 by Justin Dennis and Drew Messer, Urban SDK is a digital government intelligence platform combining real-time location data with predictive analytics. It provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) to combine real-time location data, predictive analytics, and a data marketplace to automate performance indicator dashboards to track performance, predict needs, and visualize big data at the street level to increase productivity and decision-making. Transportation, transit, law enforcement, and government organizations gain intelligence and data management to predict mobility and safety patterns such as traffic, parking, pedestrian movement, and safety incidents.
“Public officials and transportation engineers struggle with manual research, data requests, and inconsistent data to measure and plan their mobility system,” Partner Justin Dennis said in a statement. “Urban SDK provides data management and predictive intelligence software for transportation engineers and transit engineers much like navigation apps for drivers of connected vehicles. ” By collecting disparate data, connecting devices and systems, and then analyzing and interpreting that data, Urban SDK can automate responses
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and also predict outcomes, making an asset of IoT data. Streamlining data streams in this way gives cities the tools they need to improve all facets of transportation. In Jacksonville, Urban SDK’s platform is being used to develop a Congestion and Transportation Data Dashboard, enabling the North Florida TPO to manage congestion and transportation planning more effectively and to report on its commitment to improving the region’s services.
Finally, their solutions help cities to track and ultimately meet their climate goals by predicting impacts on emissions, fuel consumption, and air quality. “Urban SDK provides us visibility, analytics, and predictive intelligence on our local and regional roadways through sensors, traffic systems, and vendor technology deployments,” says Jeff Sheffield, Executive Director of North Florida TPO. “This allows us to configure and analyze disparate data for road safety and better transportation services.”
Urban SDK’s systems help reduce congestion by going beyond data gathered from sensors and cameras and incorporating emerging mobility technology and data from connected vehicles. They improve safety by using location intelligence to analyze traffic incidents and response times, in addition to pedestrian walking patterns, in order to enable better routing and safety technology deployment. And by connecting public and third-party consumer transportation data, Urban SDK can analyze and plan equitable access to sustainable transportation.
Urban SDK’s efforts and solutions have garnered significant and muchdeserved support and attention. The company was a finalist in the California Technology Council “Smart Cities Week” Pitch Fest and helped North Florida to be named a finalist in an exclusive Smart Regions competition. Urban SDK is also part of the 2019 Startup in Residence (STIR) cohort, which pairs startups with cities across the country to solve civic challenges. Urban SDK collaborated with other innovators to foster innovation in IoT and smart city Technologies, and the company has partnered with the City of Memphis and MATA to build a data management platform for transit planners.
“We believe the future city is connected digitally and physically,” Justin Dennis said. “Our mission is to connect community assets, services, and systems with digital intelligence to impact quality of life.”
25 North Market St. Jacksonville, FL, 32202 | 904-859-7896 @UrbanSDK | Urban SDK | UrbanSDK.com
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ELEVATOR PITCH In June 2016, the Academy began providing direct services to individuals in three Missouri state prisons. Today, the innovative organization offers 12 completely integrated services at no cost to participants that begin six months pre-release and continue 12 months post-release. Concordance programming covers substance use, mental health, education, job readiness, workplace simulation, employment, housing resources, health services, legal support, 12-step programming, spirituality, and family support.
In the fall of 2013, Danny Ludeman, former President and CEO of Wells Fargo Advisors, announced his retirement and decided to dedicate his life to helping others. After receiving a letter from Project COPE, a nonprofit in St. Louis that had been providing limited re-entry services to individuals leaving prison since 1985, Ludeman learned of the ripple effect reincarceration has on increased unemployment, homelessness, mental health and substance-use disorders, child support services, crime, and more.
OUR STORY
Most re-entry service providers focus on one or two of the many factors and issues that contribute to recidivism. Through careful research, ongoing measurement, and a commitment to re-thinking re-entry, Concordance provides thoughtful, effective support to heal participants holistically so that they are better equipped to re-enter society and live joyful, abundant, purposeful lives. As of June 2019, Concordance has served more than 400 participants, who represent a cross-section of the entire Missouri prison population, ensuring a statistically significant sample and protecting against bias in the selection process. Through its proven evidence-driven approach, Concordance has reduced reincarceration rates among its participants by more than 40 percent, exceeding its initial stated goal of 33 percent.
In most regions of the country, the majority of crime is committed by the formerly incarcerated. Finding a job and—more importantly—keeping a job is no easy task for this population. In fact, of the approximately 30 million felons residing in the U.S., most are not in the labor force due to behavioral health or substance-use issues. Taxpayer costs related to corrections are one of the fastest-growing expenses in most states, and formerly incarcerated adults also make up the largest percentage of the homeless population in the U.S. These individuals and their families are among the largest users of public housing, health, and food stamps.
The Academy is currently focused on scaling, so that it can expand programming to thousands more justice-involved individuals in more states and ultimately nationwide.
With these staggering statistics in hand, Ludeman joined the board of Project COPE and led a committee to more broadly research the problem of recidivism. Washington University’s Brown School, the country’s top school of social work, was hired to conduct research to inform conceptual models for the Academy. Ludeman then took over as President and CEO, and Concordance Academy of Leadership was established in 2015. 319
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CONCORDANCE ACADEMY of LEADERSHIP 1845 Borman Court, St. Louis, MO, 63146 ConcordanceAcademy ConcordanceAcad Concordance Academy Concordance Academy of Leadership concordanceacademy.org
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PIKMYKID WAS FOUNDED WITH THE VISION TO SIMPLIFY THE STUDENT DISMISSAL PROCESS, INCREASE SAFETY AND SECURITY, EASE TRAFFIC, AND REDUCE THE CHAOS IN SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS. PikMyKid is the only company in the United States that provides a comprehensive dismissal solution that addresses all of the dismissal needs of a school without the need to purchase, install, or support ANY additional hardware. As a true “Software as a Service” platform, teachers and staff are able to use their existing devices to manage PikMyKid. PikMyKid has partnered with Florida Department of Transportation to use predictive congestion planning to ease traffic around schools with traffic bottleneck around dismissal times. PikMyKid also uses machine learning to influence driver behavior in order to lower peak traffic loads in a very cost effective manner. With PikMyKid’s rapid adoption among schools, we are increasingly being used as the de facto channel for communication by schools for reaching out to their parent community through push notifications. We are quickly evolving from being a standalone solution for a single problem to becoming a platform where other products and services are offered to our impassioned community. This is possible due to rapid adoption from the parent community averaging over 85% in every school with a very high end user engagement on our platform on a daily basis. 321
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PikMyKid system is sold as an Annual Site License to single schools, school districts, after school programs, YMCAs, etc. Our highly qualified in-house development team is constantly working to improve the PikMyKid program using cutting edge innovations regularly. As a part of the Annual Site License, each client also receives all of the future product enhancements and innovation.
for administrators
PikMyKid Schools regularly see 85% to 95% parent adoption within four weeks of launch. PikMyKid also includes an integrated Parent Notification System. Every successful student dismissal prompts a push notification automatically to each parent. Schools are also able to send custom notifications for any reason; late bus, emergencies, cancellations and any other reason.
Set-up, Training and Support is included in the Annual Site License for Staff & Parents. PikMyKid has a team of 100% USA based support reps ready to help. Support is 24 hours a day, seven days a week 365 days a year for our schools and families. PikMyKid Platform was designed with a simple idea: provide a safer dismissal process using the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing devices and infrastructure, eliminating any need for costly expenditures on hardware, scanners, servers, ID cards and other consumables. PikMyKid is able to effectively manage all the above without tracking students using biometrics, scanning cards/codes or any form of additional hardware requirements. 322
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PENPAL SCHOOLS
HELPING TEACHERS CONNECT THEIR STUDENTS TO LEARN WITH PENPALS AROUND THE WORLD AND FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.
PenPal Schools is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest projectbased learning community, with over a quarter million students in 150 countries. Students collaborate through online projects ranging from human rights and the environment to fake news and robotics, all while practicing literacy, technology and social-emotional skills. PenPal Schools was recognized by President Obama and selected by Common Sense Education for the Best Edtech of 2017. PenPal Schools projects are designed for students ages 8-18 and are aligned to a wide variety of academic standards. All projects are inquirybased and are offered at multiple difficulty levels, which can be differentiated based on student ability. Some projects are designed specifically to accommodate English-language learners. 323
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Students work in groups with classmates to create original videos, presentations, service projects, art, poems, and more. Students then share their creations with peers, teachers, and parents from around the world in the PenPal Schools Showcase. As students collaborate with their classmates to create projects they practice a variety of social and emotional skills. Students must work together to combine their various talents, accommodate multiple opinions, and combine their efforts into one cohesive project. To help students create their projects, they log in to complete a series of lessons. Each lesson includes a video, non-fiction text, and discussion question. Once students answer the discussion question they gain access to a forum of thousands of students from around the world who have answered the same question. Students must then interact with peers from around the world to gather diverse perspectives to include in their projects. Students must develop empathy and respect for other cultures and perspectives, while learning how to collaborate productively with peers with different working and communication styles. PenPal Schools makes global project-based learning easy for teachers by providing premade, self-guided projects. However, teachers still play an active role. Teachers can review student projects in the Showcase, and can review every message that students send and receive in the lesson forums. Teachers can provide students with private written feedback and can grade student work across a wide
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variety of reading comprehension, writing, digital citizenship, and social & emotional skills. Assessment criteria are customizable and are aligned to Common Core standards. In addition to teacher assessment, students must reflect on their own performance and learning, and are encouraged to provide feedback to classmates and peers around the world. In addition to reviewing and grading student work, teachers can access supplemental offline class activities as well as a wide variety of professional development resources related to social-emotional learning, project-based and inquiry-based learning. Teachers can also connect with teachers worldwide through educator forums, and can invite teachers from the PenPal Schools community to join them in projects. Teachers can search by country, subject, student age, and other factors to find classrooms around the world to invite to projects. As part of our professional development opportunities, PenPal Schools provides educators with opportunities to discuss concepts related to project-based learning with colleagues around the world. Our teacher forums are very active with educators and experts who share tips, resources, and examples of success from their classrooms. Today, parents are able to log in to view their studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work in the Showcase. There is also a parent mobile app, and parents and administrators can analyze extremely details and holistic student-learning data and access recommendations to address learning gaps. 324
Joe Troyen Founder of PenPal Schools
Join the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest collaborative learning community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PenPals Schools makes projectbased learning easy, loved by students and teachers in 150 countries! penpalschools.com
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P H O E N I X
CRADL Brad Snyder & Brandon Clarke: Co-Founders
The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have. – Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture
Introduction
Innovation Story
Formed in 2016, CRADL is a partnership between Brad Snyder and Brandon Clarke focused on putting Phoenix at the forefront of exploration and innovation in technologies, media, products, and services that help delight, and even save children and families. CRADL’s mission is to help professionals and entrepreneurs recognize that children are students and athletes and brothers and sisters and gamers and much more—at the same time. Programming, educating and creating with the whole child in mind will result in better products and services that will move society from reaction and symptom-treating towards solutions, more supportive communities, and a stronger economy.
As proud fathers, our children are at the center of our worlds and, along with our wives, we are incredibly grateful to have the means to provide them a life of comfort and adventure. As entrepreneurs with several ventures between us, we’ve aligned our passion for what inspires the life and learning of kids with our individual skill sets. Brad as a child-life specialist, author, researcher, and founder of New Amsterdam Consulting, and Brandon as an avid youth sports coach, startup mentor, and co-founder of the StartupAZ Foundation. CRADL is poised to tackle big challenges facing today’s youth. Starting with mental health therapy in schools and the factors that affect school climate, we are in the early stages of developing WEXLER; a platform that will help millions of troubled students that lack access to resources to help cope with incidents of bullying, abuse, neglect, and other childhood traumas. Only 4.2% of school districts in the U.S. provide adequate access to counselors, yet nearly 45 million children have survived an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). WEXLER is designed to triage and deescalate common and even not-so-common situations which in turn, will help make classrooms more productive, campuses safer, and improve the overall learning environment. The goal is to provide students with actionable tools and situational-relevant resources based on their needs while beginning to develop a circle-of-care with parents/guardians, teachers, and mental health professionals. Where possible, CRADL leverages the talent within the local startup community, partnering with innovative entrepreneurs who have the market-defining technologies that help move WEXLER forward. CRADL is also evaluating a connectivity platform designed to reduce the unacceptably high turnover rate of foster parents and the multiple placements that plague children in the foster care system. The objective is to create a community which centers on better resourcing caregivers
Website: cradl.co
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Why Phoenix?
and providing actionable techniques and trainings based on the needs of the youth in their care. In partnership with Foster Arizona—a young and ambitious non-profit that works tirelessly in the foster care community— we aim to reduce the current 80% turnover rate of foster care parents by 30% in two years. Better resourced caregivers create a more sustainable environment and less disruption for our nearly 18,000 displaced youth in the state of Arizona. And finally, CRADL’s signature event, the Cross-Border Youth Summit, was our way of reacting and responding to the increasingly louder and more vitriolic rhetoric, targeting the heritage of children and youth ins the Southwest. CBYS was designed to be an opportunity to convene middle school students from Mexico and the United States to share experiences and propose solutions on topics ranging from prejudice and bullying to commerce, education, and media. CBYS 2018 hosted over 250 students from both countries who collectively made impactful statements about how they wish to be portrayed in the media, educated in their schools, engage positively with their peers in person and over social media, and generally treated by the companies making the products they consume. The plan for CBYS 2019 is nearly 800 students with an expanded agenda, a higher-level of engagement, and even higher quality connectivity.
Greater Phoenix is well positioned to become the place to develop products and services for a more culturally diverse population. The demographics of Arizona now match what the demographics of the overall U.S. population are predicted to be in the coming decades, making this region the perfect lab to develop and test products, strategies, and business models in education, healthcare, transportation, and media.
Advice & Best Practices Find a big problem that you’re passionate about that needs solving in a large enough market to make a sustainable and growing business out of it. If you lack experience in the industry or sector, find a job that allows you to build your expertise and become the most qualified person to solve the problem. 90% of startups fail. Avoid being in the majority by overpreparing. Ideas are easy, execution is hard. Find your tribe! “Surround yourself with people that push you to do and be better. No drama or negativity. Just higher goals and higher motivation. Good times and positive energy. No jealousy or hate. Simply bringing out the absolute best in each other.” - Warren Buffett
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message to everyone else in an organization that they don’t have to innovate. Option 3. Create a series of accelerator programs that can indeed help drive products and services to market much quicker than established processes.
ELEVATOR PITCH Having worked for the Walt Disney Company for 25+ years, most recently as Head of Innovation & Creativity, I have just created a startup, iD8 & innov8, to help organizations embed innovation into everyone’s DNA, by making creativity tangible, innovation easy, and the process fun.
From experience, however, I have learned that the challenge with all of these approaches is that they don’t really help organizations truly change their culture to be more innovative and creative. And that is where I believe there is a huge gap in the market. The traditional ways of doing business are getting completely upended, and no one is giving businesses a tangible toolkit that they can utilize throughout their organization to embed innovation into everyone’s DNA.
OUR STORY The next decade will be the most disruptive of our lives. Artificial Intelligence estimated to think thousands of times faster than a human—in under a decade. 3D printing that will disrupt every single industry. Legacy brands trying to move from a product-centric, we-build-it-they-will-come culture, to a consumer-centric one, and Generation Z, who believe more in purpose than profit who will re-write all the rules of doing business.
So I decided to create my own startup, iD8 & innov8, and create a very unique Innovation toolkit that is both simple and straightforward for absolutely everyone in every industry to use. It includes both a set of Creative Behaviors to drive motivation and inspiration to innovate, and a series of tangible, actionable Design Thinking, Innovation Tools, that people can use to Think Different, and disrupt their established business practices and truly innovate.
So how will we survive if we just keep iterating in order to make quarterly results, versus actually innovating to not only survive but to thrive in this brave new world?
I am very excited to leverage all my experience as Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney, to now support other organizations around the globe to harness the inspiration that their own teams have, and to give them the practical tools they so desperately need to compete in a time of unprecedented disruption.
Option 1. Invite a leading innovation consultant to come in and run an innovation project for you. Option 2. Establish an Innovation department, which while it acts as a catalyst for change, also subliminally sends the 327
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duncanwardle@gmail.com @duncanjwardle id8innov8.com
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INDEX 500 Startups
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M I A M I
Guru Financial
129
Outsmart Labs
227
HealthSnap 137
PADL 165
iD8 & innov8
327
Papa 65
Innovation City (SLAM! Agency)
215
Pathwaves 141
Innovation Senior Management
67
PenPal Schools
323
In the Kitchen Miami (Southbound Hospitality) 179
PikMyKid 321
IPS Legal Group
Pipeline Workspaces
237
15
Pitch Night MIA
205 251
271
Jaret Davis (Greenberg Traurig)
8base 285
Jim Murley (Resilient305)
11
Radical Partners
Alberto Carvalho (Miami-Dade County Public
Johanna Mikkola (Wyncode)
17
Raul Moas (Knight Foundation)
19
Schools) 10
Jorge Ruiz (FinConecta)
18
Recipes for Change
69
AMR Healthcare
Kate Black (Greenberg Traurig)
16
Refresh Miami
55
143 77
KiwiTech 287
Resilient305 29
233
Klymit 313
Riposte 71
Barxie 161
Knight Foundation
49
RMG Staffing
Bellatrix Aerospace
307
Lady Green Miami
111
SEND™ 159
Benjamin Douglas
295
Arts & Business Council of Miami ARVISL Future
299
Landish 315
SheWorks! 297
Boatrax 153
Las Olas
265
SkyPlanner 291
Brazil Society
LaunchCode 87
SmartBarrel 301
191
Lean Orb
113
SnapLeads 231
Caribu 63
Liquid Carrot
119
Social Impact Movement
Chargello 151
Logos Capital
259
Startup SAFARI Miami
Brian Kornfeld (Synapse Florida)
CIC Miami Code Explorers
24
239 89
61 203
Magic City Innovation District
43
SunVessel 45
Mais Music
79
Susan Amat (Venture Hive)
12
MakingTheShift.org 73
Sustainable Analytics
Marc Blumenthal (Synapse Florida)
23
Sven Boermeester (Global Village)
CRADL 325
Max Tuchman (Caribu)
21
Synapse Florida
Crea7ive 221
MBAF 281
SynerTechCloud 289
Creator Connect
Meaningful Travel Experiences
171
TechLauderdale 57
Miami Angels
261
The Doral Yard
183 167
Concordance Academy of Leadership Coral Gables
Crowd Capital
319 37
81 127
117 26 207
Dalent Medical
139
Miami Bayside Foundation
51
The Grint
DCE Productions
197
Miami DDA
33
The Influencer Marketing Factory
223
93
The LAB
241
Dynamic Communities
213
Miami EdTech
EcoTech Visions
253
Miami Marketing®
219
TheVentureCity 249
Ecovie 99
Miami Waterkeeper
105
Three Restaurant & No.3 Social (Southbound
eMerge Americas
Miami Worldcenter
41
Hospitality) 181
Endeavor 245
Misstudy 95
Touchland 147
EveryMundo 173
Mitchell Kaplan (Books & Books)
Urban SDK
189
14
317
My-Cierge 175
Vendy 157
FillABag 109
NEXT Legal
Venture Café Miami
201
FinConecta 125
Nitin Motwani (Miami Worldcenter)
Founder Institute
NORDES Consulting
Felecia Hatcher-Pearson (Code Fever)
Francis X. Suarez, Mayor of Miami
22
255 9
273 13 277
Nperspective 279
Venture Hive
247
VITAS® Healthcare
133
Welwaze Medical
135 155
Gallardo Labs
225
Nuage Designs
195
Wise Mobility
Gaming Frog
121
Obra Miami
185
Work2Live 303
Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Greenberg Traurig Greg Ross-Munro (Herding Cats & Coders)
53 269 25
ON Energy Storage
149
World Happiness Summit
Open Bionics
309
Wyncode 85
Orange Umbrella
229
Xennial Digital
331
193
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InnovationsoftheWorld.com SHOWCASING THE BEST OF THE WORLD - CONNECTING MINDS - BUILDING COMMUNITIES
The Innovate series is a 300+ page in-depth study and AR video series that showcases the people and companies that are leading the race within the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems of each city and industry. A book with augmented reality videos, an online platform and a global network with a common goal of ensuring the brightest minds of the world connect and succeed.
IT’S A KIND OF MAGIC...
DOWNLOAD THE GLOBAL VILLAGE AR APP TO VIEW 100 AUGMENTED REALITY VIDEOS IN THIS BOOK! To experience the future of print, download the Global Village AR App from the IOS or Android App stores. Open the App and hold it about 30cm above any page that contains an image with the “play” Icon.
Make sure your back camera is pointing at the page. Click the Play button that appears onscreen and immerse yourself in the latest updated content with reference to that page. 332
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â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is only one thing stronger than all the armies of the world: and that is an idea whose time has come.â&#x20AC;? ~ VICTOR HUGO
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Copyright © GlobalVillage Partnerships ISBN: 978-1-949677-09-6
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