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2015 emerge americas | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

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emergeamericas.org April 2015

Thousands expected for 5-day global event in Miami

THE EGOV GATHERING Government officials will talk about technology changing their communities. Pages 14-15

THE HIRING/JOB FAIR Event organizers seek to fill jobs across the tech sector.7

HITEC The Hispanic IT Executive Council will hold its annual conference, and then get out and mix.

Page 18

INVESTING IN TECH The funding picture for high tech has improved in the last few years.Page 19

WOMEN The rising voice in technology innovation is definitely female. Page 23

EDUCATION Showcasing the many innovative entrepreneurs launching impressive companies.Page 20

ABOUT THE EVENTWhat to expect at this year’s eMerge Americas Conference.Page 6

eMerge Americas Conference May 1-5

eMerge Americas founder Manny Medina speaks at the opening of last year’s conference.

emerge media hub...... Caption goes

here and here here and here.


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April 2015 emergeamericas.org

MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER

One year ago, Miami welcomed the first-of-its-kind technology conference with the mission of establishing this city as the technology hub of the Americas. The event itself represents something far more important though; that of a year-round movement meant to stimulate the clustering of technology-related industries that will have a lasting economic impact on the State of Florida. By the year 2023, the economic impact stemming from the eMerge Americas Conference is projected to generate more than 16,000 new high-wage jobs, approximately $2.4 billion in additional sales impact annually, and grow GDP to $1.6 billion yearly.

eMerge Americas is about harnessing the power of visionary innovation and technological advancements to create a thought exchange connecting people and creating business opportunities throughout North America, Europe and Latin America. Everything from revolutionary start-ups implementing cutting-edge ideas to IT decision-makers and innovative entrepreneurs encompass the five days of interactive sessions, networking events, and compelling presentations designed to spark conversation and unleash creativity.

Last year’s inaugural event exceeded our highest expectations, with over 6,000 attendees and 400 participating companies, drawing attendees from more than 31 countries, with approximately 60 percent visiting from outside Florida, demonstrating the global reach of the experience.

The success of the first event has set the bar high for the 2015 program - and this year will be bigger and better. Not only will we welcome an impressive roster of respected speakers including Deepak Chopra, Pitbull and Square co-founder Jim McKelvey, but with the unprecedented multi-year partnerships with NBCUniversal and the Knight Foundation, we will go above and beyond to put the global spotlight on South Florida, the US Hispanic market and the links between North America, Europe and Latin America. This year will also mark the inclusion of the first-ever WIT (Women, Innovation & Technology) Summit along with eGov, each meant to showcase how tech impacts various other markets and industries—from art and fashion to politics and policy.

In an era where every major industry across the globe feels the impact of technological advances, it is only made possible through the support of our community and partners. Your excitement and enthusiasm has helped put eMerge Americas on the map, making it the most important technology event for the Americas, significantly accelerating Miami’s ascent as the next great technology epicenter.

We are thankful for the unwavering support of national and global businesses alike, and look forward to welcoming you to the 2015 event.

Join the movement!

— Manny Medina


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A letter from Florida’s governor


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Tech, innovation conference eMerge Americas will grow Miami’s talent pool and attract new economic opportunities with $1.5 million from Knight FoundationPremier global conference returns to South Florida for its second year

eMerge Americas, the multi-day South Florida conference that connects entrepreneurs, business leaders and tech innovators from around the world, will receive $1.5 million in new support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Organized and led by the Technology Foundation of the Americas, the event aims to establish Miami as the technology hub for Latin America; it will take place in early May 2015.

The first eMerge Americas conference, hosted in May 2014, attracted 6,000 participants, 400 participating companies, over 150 high-level speakers, and 115 startups from Miami and across the globe. More than 60 percent of the inaugural year’s attendees came from outside Florida, with 31 countries and 28 U.S. states represented at the event. Among the speakers were: Peter Diamandis, founder of the XPRIZE Foundation and Zero Gravity Corp.; and Bernie Meyerson, vice president of innovation at IBM; as well as local entrepreneurs including Andres Moreno, founder of Open English; Juan Diego Calle founder of .CO; and Daniel Cane, CEO and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine.

The 2015 conference will build on this success by bringing leading technology companies to South Florida to engage in discussions, networking activities and hands-on workshops. Expert speakers, including Deepak Chopra, physician and best-selling author, and Jim McKelvey, co-founder of mobile payment company Square, will inspire attendees and share insights into the latest innovations disrupting industries and changing the way people around the world live, work and play.

The conference will also feature a Government Innovation Summit including government officials from throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Startup companies will have the chance to showcase their ideas in front of leading investors and potential customers through the eMerge Startup Showcase, while developers will come up with new solutions at an eMerge Hackathon. Additionally, a hiring fair will help connect top talent with more than 50 leading companies.

“eMerge Americas had an incredible first year, but this is just the beginning of what we will be a transformative experience for Miami. We are committed to establishing South Florida as a key hub in the global tech community,” said Manuel D. Medina, the key organizer behind the event.

“The first eMerge Americas conference drew a tremendous following, showcasing its assets as a center for high-impact entrepreneurship and innovation across the Americas and beyond,” said Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director for Miami. “Using these successes as a springboard, the conference is primed once again to create new opportunities for economic growth and talent attraction within our community, while making Miami more of a place where ideas are built.”

eMerge Americas is led by Manuel D. Medina, managing partner of Medina Capital, and founder and former chairman of the board and CEO of Terremark Worldwide, which Verizon acquired in 2011. Medina launched eMerge Americas to establish Miami as the technology hub of the Americas.

Support for eMerge Americas forms one part of Knight Foundation’s efforts to invest in Miami’s emerging innovators and entrepreneurs as a tool to build community, while fostering talent and expanding opportunity. Over the past two years Knight has made more than 90 investments in entrepreneurship in South Florida. — From the Knight Foundation blog


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2015 sponsorsTHE KNIGHT FOUNDATION • MIAMI DADE COUNTY • MEDINA CAPITAL • GREENBERG TRAURIG • NBC UNIVERSAL NEWS GROUP • TELEMUNDO • CNBC • MSNBC • NBC NEWS • AMERICAN AIRLINES • CISCO • FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY • HEWLITT-PACKARD • SIMKINS MONSTER MEDIA • IBM • UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI • CITRIX • NOBOX • HERMAN MILLER • BAPTIST HEALTH SOUTH FLORIDA • MICROSOFT • MIAMI HEAT • WORKSCAPES • LYNN UNIVERSITY • ANSWER QUEST • CITIBANK • 3A WORLDWIDE • FISH • FPL • FPL FIBERNET • FROST & SULLIVAN • INDRA • THE MIAMI HERALD • THE NEW YORK TIMES • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY • PEOPLE EN ESPANOL • ICEX • FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY • MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT • WHITE OWL • MIAMI DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY • MBAF MIAMI DADE COLLEGE • SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS JOURNAL • ESRI • BALSERA COMMUNICATIONS • GUIDEWELL • INTERMEDIA TOUCH • LENNAR INTERNATIONAL • MIAMI ASSOCATION OF REALTORS • HOLLAND • CAPITAL ANALYTICS • ORACLE • IRON HACK • TAITRA • GOLDMAN SACHS • THE BEACON COUNCIL • ALIVE • THE STATE OF ISRAEL • THINK-TECH ITALIA • CHECK POINT • BANK OF AMERICA • CBRE • BILZIN SUMBERG • CHOOZLE • BLANCA COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE • CASSEL SALPETER & CO • BRIT WEEK • DASZKAL BOLTON • EWM • EXPRESS TRAVEL • SIMKINS • SIMPLESHOW • SISTER CITIES INTERNATIONAL • DIMENSION DATA • BLUVISION • ULTIMATE SOFTWARE • GRANT THORNTON • GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • VERIZON • SEGRERA ASSOCIATES • KAIROS



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ESS THAN A DECADE AGO, Miami and South Florida were rarely mentioned in the same sentence as “technology and innovation” in IT and business circles. Yet, with the second

annual conference scheduled for May 1-5 in Miami Beach, the conversation has changed drastically.

Founded by technology visionary Manuel D. “Manny” Medina and supported by the Knight Foundation, NBCUniversal and a strong group of local and international partners, eMerge Americas now enters its sophomore year. The event is changing how outsiders view everything from technology and innovation to

startups, funding opportunities, IT job prospects and even the role of women in technology.

This isn’t the first time Medina has helped place South Florida center stage in the global tech environment. The South Florida developer and technology pioneer built – and later sold to Verizon Communications – the Network Access Point of the Americas. The data center and Internet exchange point hosts servers for some of the largest private industry and governmental organizations, and handles Internet traffic from the U.S. to Latin America and Europe.

His brainchild, eMerge Americas and the Technology Foundation of the Americas, solidified Miami’s and South Florida’s place on the world stage. His private equity fund helps

eMerge puts spotlight on Miami tech and innovation

What a difference a few years can make.The eMerge media

hub from last year’s event.

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drive business creation in the local market.“This year, eMerge will have key industry

focus areas, including: Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Mega (media, entertainment and gaming), EdTech (education), Health Care, Finance and Smart Cities. Industry and governmental leaders from across the hemisphere and around the world will converge in Miami to take part in the event,” eMerge Americas COO Giraldo Gutierrez said.

Along with 175 booths on the expo floor, the event will also stage such programs as:

• ECITY. A re-created city center on the expo floor, where exhibitors can showcase the latest digitized Smart City projects related to environment, mobility, renewable energies and other lifestyle innovations, including a Tech Park.

• EP2. The eMerge Americas team traveled the world for the Emerging Project Program to discover the powerful new frontier for innovation. EP2 will reveal how advances in transformational ideas, products and services are impacting major global industries.

• STARTUP SHOWCASE. University students, early-stage companies and later-stage companies will take to the expo floor in front of hundreds of investors and industry innovators with their technologies – and vie for $150,000 in cash and prizes.

• HACKATHON. Hundreds of adrenaline-fueled coders from the U.S. and Latin America will tackle complex challenges over the course of 24 hours in pursuit of more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.

• WIT. Women, Innovation & Technology and Fashion Show is a one-day summit featuring the creative industries, fashion, experiential programming, and networking opportunities for top female professionals from across technology and innovation.

• EGOV. The eGov/Smart Cities program will show how progressive leaders are transforming and unlocking their communities’ potential. At the invitation-only Government Innovation Summit, mayors, ministers and other government officials from around the globe will address the challenges faced by accelerated urbanization and discuss sustainable strategies.

eMerge is not just about Miami. The more than 400 partners include titans of the tech industry,such as IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Citi, and a host of other local and multinational firms – some of which started here.

“Citrix is very excited to be an active participant in the eMerge experience and the broader mission of building a technology community in South Florida,” said Fernando Campo, VP of sales and services, Americas for

Fort Lauderdale-based Citrix Systems. “As a technology company that was born in the South Florida market, we are dedicated to helping to create an environment that nourishes local innovation and spurs more success stories in our region.”

Keynote speakers (Page 9) are world renowned, and the event will receive global media coverage. In January, eMerge announced a multi-year partnership with NBCUniversal News Group and Telemundo for extensive coverage by its various media brands. Select programs from the networks of the NBC News Group and Telemundo will broadcast live from eMerge Americas and exclusively interview the high-profile conference speakers and attendees, cover emerging topics and trends, and report the many events and happenings throughout the five-day event.

“All of the NBCUniversal News Group

“ This year, eMerge will have key industry focus areas, including: Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Mega (media, entertainment and gaming), EdTech (education), Health Care, Finance and

Smart Cities. Industry and governmental leaders from across the hemisphere and around the world will converge in Miami to take part in the event.”

GIRALDO GUTIERREZ, eMerge Americas COO, below

Courtesy of DAVID SUTTA PHOTOGRAPHY



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properties are constantly seeking new ways to deepen our engagement with news consumers,” NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Pat Fili-Krushel said. “In aligning with eMerge Americas, we have a chance to focus intensively on a compelling, yet underreported story: the transformation and innovation happening all across the Americas.”

“The thousands of attendees expected this year will surpass the 6,000 in 2014, including engineers, entrepreneurs, bankers and venture capitalists who now see Miami as an additional market to operations in New York or Silicon Valley. eMerge’s scale of growth is unheard of among event coordinators. It’s a testament to the vision behind the event and how far it has come,” eMerge Americas Executive Director Xavier Gonzalez said.

eMerge is not unlike the NAP itself – existing at the crossroads of the U.S., Latin America and Europe.

“This is a truly transformative evolution of an event that is going to help us establish technology as the key industry in Miami and put us on the map as a tech hub focused not only on the Americas, but the world,” Gonzalez said. “If you’d said that two years ago, they would have laughed you out of the room. We believe in five years, tech will be our biggest industry. That’s really exciting.”

The 10,000 attendees expected this year will surpass the 6,000 in 2014, including engineers, entrepreneurs, bankers and venture capitalists who now see Miami as an additional market to operations in New York or Silicon Valley. eMerge’s scale of growth is unheard of among event

coordinators. “It’s a testament to the vision behind the event and how far it has come.”XAVIER GONZALEZ, eMerge Americas Executive Director, right

The more than 6,000 people who attended last year included engineers, entrepreneurs, bankers and venture capitalists.

Manuel D. “Manny” Medina chats with singer Pitbull at the 2014 conference.


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Deepak Chopra, author and public speaker

KEYNOTE SPEAKERSeMerge americas conference: May 1-5

Dr. Chopra is an Indian-born American author and public speaker who has written more than 75 books translated into over 35 languages, including 23 New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and nonfiction categories.

His medical training is in internal medicine and endocrinology and he is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

He serves as co-founder and chairman of The Chopra Center for Wellbeing, is the founder of the Chopra Well on YouTube, is adjunct professor of executive programs at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, adjunct professor at Columbia Business School at Columbia University, assistant clinical professor in the Family and Preventive Medicine Department at the University of California, San Diego, Health Science Faculty at Walt Disney Imagineering and is senior scientist with the Gallup Organization,

GlobeIn acknowledges Chopra as “ one of the top 10 most influtential spirtual leaders in the world.” Time magazine has described him as”one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century” and credit him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.”

Daan Roosegaarde, founder of Studio Roosegaarde Mr. Roosegaarde, the creative director of the social design lab develops innovative, interactive landscapes by “pulling technology ‘out of the screen’ and integrating it into the real world.”

The key to accomplishing this task, believes Roosegaarde, is his Dutch attitude of artist-entrepreneur, which he considers equal parts “priest and entrepreneur” in order to perfectly merge technology and creativity. Through the creation of social designs that instinctively respond to sound and movement, he is able to pursue the widest possibilities of technological innovation.

Mr. Roosegaarde is best known for his internationally awarded projects such as ‘Dune’, ‘Intimacy 2.0’ and ‘Sustainable Dance Floor’. In 2008 he developed the ‘Sustainable Dance Floor’ which is the interactive dance floor that generates electricity through the motion of dancing. The interactive technology creates an

environment in which dancers are sensually engaged with sustainability. But Roosegaarde wants to go further. Together with the infrastructure company Heijmans, he is currently developing ‘Smart Highways’ which are interactive and sustainable roads.

Jim McKelvey, co-founder Square/LaunchCodeJim McKelvey is a successful entrepreneur, artist, author and inventor. Co-founder of the groundbreaking mobile payments company Square, Mr. McKelvey helped set the stage for a major e-commerce disruption. His latest project, LaunchCode, is aiming to solve the tech talent shortage and create pathways to economic opportunity through apprenticeships and job placements. In addition to his business ventures, Jim is a best-selling author and glassblowing artist.



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OTHER SPEAKERS: eMerge americas conference

ALBERTO PARDO, founder and CEO at Adsmovil: Digital entrepreneur, founder of Adsmovil and Bea Digital, leading advertisement companies in LATAM.

EDDY ARRIOLA, founder and chairman of the board of Apollo Bank: Based in Miami, he serves as chairman of the board of the Inter-American Foundation.

GEORGE GORDON, executive director of Healthbox Florida: Relocated to Tampa Bay from Silicon Valley in 2001 to become chairman and CEO of Enporion, a business to business electronic commerce company.

ALEXANDER KISCH, executive vice president at Vevo: A founding member, He has helped to grow Vevo into the world’s leading all-premium music and entertainment video platform.

CARMEN GONZÁLEZ-SANFELIU, regional vice president, Latin America & Caribbean Sales, Intelsat: Oversees sales teams in Miami, Brazil and Mexico.

ESTEBAN SOSNIK. executive director of co.lab: Co-founded this accelerator that works with startups “at the intersection of games and learning.”

GREG LINDSAY, writer: A contributer for Fast Company, author of the coming book Engineering Serendipity and co-author of Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next. Also a senior fellow of the World Policy Institute.

ANATOLY GEYFMAN, CEO, Carevoyance: He comes from a technical background, having delivered a number of large-scale commercial enterprise platforms.

DANIEL CANE, CEO and co-founder of Modernizing Medicine: Healthcare IT company is revolutionizing creation and consumption of medical information.

FRANCISCO JARDIM, co-founder SP Ventures: A venture capitalist from Latin America. Company among the five largest early stage tech investors in Brazil.

GREGG POLLACK, founder of Code School: This online coding school was recently acquired by Pluralsight for $36 million, and Envy, a web application development firm.

ANTHONY FRASIER, co-founder The Phat Startup: This integrated media company produces resources for aspiring entrepreneurs.

DIANE FANELLI, Senior VP and COO, Platform Solutions Group, SAP AG: Leads operations for unit that brings innovations to market.

FRED GELLI, co-founder and creative director of Tátil: Strategic consultancy uses design to create sustainable connections between people and brands.

GUSTAVO DIAMENT, managing director, Latin America, for Spotify: Diament directs the operation of Spotify in 17 countries, including major markets such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile and Colombia.

BOBBY PATRICK, chief marketing officer, HP Cloud: Over strategic messaging, awareness and demand generation, and community adoption and customer growth for HP Helion.

ED TORO, head instructor Wyncode Academy: A leading accelerated learning program in Florida.

GASTÓN TARATUTA, CEO, founder, IMS Internet Media Services: Veteran of digital in Latin America brings media, marketing and digital expertise to global clients.

IAN BALLON, shareholder, Greenberg-Traurig: Ballon is an intellectual property and Internet litigator.


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OTHER SPEAKERS: eMerge americas conference

JAYSON DUBIN, CEO, Intergi Entertainment: He has a track record of launching and building successful media properties that reach the worldwide gaming audience.

LARRY K. WILLIAMS, president,CEO of the Beacon Council: Leader in global branding, international trade and finance, public and industrial policy.

MICHAEL MCCORD, founder, LearnerNation: The cloud-based learning platform features technology focused on corporate training and onboarding.

SUSAN AMAT, founder, Venture Hive: Entrepreneurship education company helps schools, governments and municipalities develop innovation ecosystems through K-12, university, and incubator/accelerator programs.

JESUS RODRIGUEZ, co-founder, CEO, KidoZen: Company has earned Inc. 500 and Stevie Awards for American and International Business.

LOURENÇO BUSTANI, Mandalah: Brand consulting, in New York, São Paulo. Seeks to help bridge profit and purpose by reintegrating human element in market relations.

PAT BASU, chief medical officer, Doctor on Demand: Web based service allows patients to video consult with a doctor over any mobile device.

SUSANNA BROWN, managing director, Operations Technology, American Airlines: She is in charge of facilitating the delivery of technology solutions that keep the airline operations running smoothly.

JON STEIN, CEO and founder of Betterment: Passionate about making life better, and experienced at advising banks and brokers on risk and products, he founded Betterment in 2008.

MARTIN MIGOYA, co-founder, CEO, Globant: Formed company to become a leader in innovative software solutions for global clients.

ROMERO RODRIGUES, co-founder Buscapé: His shopping website sold to Naspers for $374 million. Responsible for 1,200+ employees in 20+ markets.

ZACHARY CHAPMAN, vice president, digital and publishing sales: He oversees all strategic initiatives related to ESPN The Magazine as well as all digital properties.

KIRK LAUGHLIN, managing director, founder of Nearshore Americas: Online publication, examines emergence of Latin America as a leader for global business, IT and software services and tech.

MARTIN PARLATO, CEO/ founder of Posibl: Media company dedicated to inspire social good and promote change makers all around the world.

SETH SCHACHNER, managing director, Strat Americas : Digital executive with experience in entertainment, digital media and technology.

KURT A. MUEFFELMANN, president and CEO, HiSoftware: He draws on over 20 years of experiences in helping high-tech companies reach their growth potential.

MATT HAGGMAN, Miami program, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation: Haggman leads Knight’s communities program in South Florida.

STAN WISSEMAN, security strategist, ESP, Hewlett-Packard: Drives initiatives, provides thought leadership and insight regarding the global threat landscape.

R For additional speakers, go to our website: www.emergeamericas.org

eMerge Americas is a global idea exchange focusing on how technology and innovation are disrupting industries. The conference serves as a platform con-necting revolutionary startups, cutting-edge ideas, and global industry leaders & investors across North America, Europe, and Latin America.

It’s five intensive, exhilarating days of interactive sessions, networking events in Miami’s most iconic venues, and compelling presentations designed to spark conversation & unleash creativity. It’s eMerge Americas, and it’s back this May.

This is not your typical conference!

REGISTER TODAY @ emerge americas.org

JOIN THEM VEMENT

NOT YOURCOMMON

NOT YOURCLASSIC

NOT YOURTYPICAL

NOT YOURBASIC

NOT YOUR TYPICAL NOT YOUR CLASSIC NOT YOUR COMMON NOT YOUR BASIC

YOURCLASSIC

IT’S ABOUTINNOVATION

Spread + BackCover.indd 3 16/03/2015 6:59 PM



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HERE’S A GLOBAL MIGRATION afoot. People are moving from rural markets to cities’ urban cores at a pace that will find 60 percent of world’s populations living there by

2050. They’re moving to places where technology will transform their lives and create sustainable environments.

“At the eMerge eGov Government Innovation Summit, mayors, ministers and other government officials will reveal how technology is changing their communities and unlocking potential amid challenges faced by accelerated urbanization,” said Beth Morgan, VP of Public Sector Engagement with eMerge Americas’ eGov — Government Innovation Summit.

“With populations moving more toward urban centers, technologies are available to help the public sector offer services to constituents,” she said. “These leaders will discuss how to use those new technologies to enhance the civic environment at the local, state, regional and federal levels.

This invitation-only event will start with a reception at the new Pérez Art Museum Miami and convene at the Miami Beach Convention Center, with auxiliary events in other areas around Miami.

How to become a leading-edge city that embraces the digital age is “probably the hottest subject in cities,” said Richard Sear, Global VP of Visionary Innovation at Frost & Sullivan, who will emcee the event. From transforming the role of chief technology

eGov shows how smart leaders will shape their cities’ futures

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“At the eMerge eGov — Government Innovation Summit, mayors, ministers and other government officials will reveal how technology is changing their communities

and unlocking potential amid challenges faced by accelerated urbanization.”

BETH MORGAN, VP of Public Sector Engagement with eMerge Americas’ eGov — Government Innovation Summit, below

How to become a leading-edge city that embraces the digital age is “probably the hottest subject in cities.”

RICHARD SEAR, at left, Global VP of Visionary Innovation at Frost & Sullivan and emcee for the event


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eMerge mayoral summit from

2014

“Municipalities need to take the proactive role of enablers. They

need to support accelerators and incubators, our colleges and universities, and all the groups that serve as creation centers for innovation.” CARLOS GIMENEZ, at left, Miami-Dade County Mayor and host for the event

officers to partnering with tech innovators around the globe, attendees stand to gain a better understanding of the potential ROI they can attain.

“Cities are showing a massive amount of interest, but there still remains today a general hesitancy to invest in a full-flung smart cities/eGov approach,” he said.

“The leaders that will come to the experience this year will really see more positivity, more proof, more mind-blowing illustrations of success that you can’t help but walk away and want to partner and work with Miami, and go to your own business and city and integrate some of the thought leadership. That is what we must succeed in.”

It’s important for any municipality to consider its role as a “smart city,” event host Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said. Becoming a smarter government that uses new technologies to deliver critical services to residents much more efficiently and effectively and makes it “smarter, better, faster and cheaper” is important, he said.

“Municipalities need to take the proactive role of enablers. They need to support accelerators and incubators, our colleges and universities, and all the groups that serve as creation centers for innovation,” Gimenez said. “The takeaway for leaders from an event like eMerge should be the critical need for collaboration …. Technology enables open data and a more accessible and accountable government.”



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here was a time when “open data” was just the latest buzzword among academics, techies and political activists. Nowadays, open data is being leveraged as a practical means for increasing

transparency and collaboration between governments and the residents they serve. In Miami-Dade County, open data and the collaboration it fosters helps provide economic and informational benefits to our entire community of 2.6 million.

Unless you’re one of the aforementioned academics, techies or political activists, you’re probably wondering, “Just what is open data, anyway?”

Open data refers to government data that is freely available to be used, shared and reused. It is also available in digital, machine-readable formats so that it can be used in combination with other data and applications. Open data initiatives assume that unused value is simply wasted value. With an intense focus on access, “free” open data actually empowers people like technologists, entrepreneurs, researchers and citizens to mobilize resources that would otherwise sit idle.

By definition, this data includes absolutely no personally identifiable information, yet its value is astonishing. In the right hands, data as diverse as neighborhood demographics, crop reports, product recalls and more are being used as the basis for better decision-making.

“These days, businesses and governments alike are finding advantages to sharing their best information and activating community resources to produce higher quality insights,” said Mike Sarasti, Program Manager with the Miami-Dade County Community Information and Outreach Department. “A bold move toward this end was the recent release of Miami-Dade County’s open data portal, opendata.miamidade.gov.” The open data portal is a platform where governments and public

Code for America builds open source technology dedicated to making government services simpler, more effective and easy to use.”

Carlos A. Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Mayor

Open data is improving quality of lifein Miami-Dade County

agencies can share and visualize data for the purpose of creating transparency, driving civic engagement and making information easily accessible to the community.

Due to its innovative vision and commitment to open data principles, Miami-Dade County was the first government in Florida history to be awarded a fellowship from Code for America.

“Code for America builds open source technology dedicated to making government services simpler, more effective and easy to use,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez. “The one-year collaboration will help County staff identify opportunities and foster new approaches to problem-solving throughout our organization of more than 25,000 employees.”

During a recent month-long visit, Code for America Fellows Ernie Hsiung, Sophia Dengo and Mathias Gibson provided outcome recommendations that included using open data to mobilize community resources to help boost economic development in Miami-Dade County.

What does this means for our community? Open data can help us find the best locations for our businesses, eliminate bureaucratic barriers during our home renovations, and even help us match real-time flood data with the location of emergency services during a storm.

In simplest terms, open data shifts the power to you.

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Mike Sarasti, Mathias Gibson, Ernie Hsiung and Sophia Dengo present Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez (center) with an official Code for America jacket.

Sponsored by Miami-Dade County.


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Merge promises to showcase the latest technology, innovative ideas and collaborative solutions.

But at its core, organizers hope to create jobs across the tech sector. To facilitate introductions and

networking eMerge Americas will again this year stage a

Hiring Fair. The event will invite more than 40 companies to take tables near center stage on the eMerge conference floor. Over two days, employers will meet with job

candidates from across the tech disciplines. The tables are free to the employers, who pay a refundable deposit to ensure their two-day attendance. Job seekers only need to pay for entry to eMerge. “Employers will see that there’s a critical mass of tech talent in the region,” said organizer Alex Funkhouser, CEO of Miami Beach tech placement firm SherlockTalent, which landed two employees at last year’s event. “For us, it was an excellent return on investment. From a labor market perspective, the highest-paying opportunities will attract the greatest talent available.”

JOBS: eMerge’s core measure of success

“Employers will see that there’s a critical mass of

tech talent in the region.” - Alex Funkhouser

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Job fair participants at last year’s conference



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OME EMERGE ATTENDEES will be tech workers in search of a job. Others will be senior executives who drive IT at

major multinational companies. This year, the Hispanic IT Executive Council will hold its private annual conference on-site, and then venture into the conference to scout startups and mingle with tech talent.

The synergies were obvious, said Andre Arbelaez,

President of HITEC and Chief Strategy Officer with Softtek, the global IT solutions provider that opened an office on Brickell Avenue in February. Many of the

exclusive organization’s

board and membership, which include senior executives of Hispanic descent from dozens of companies including Comcast, Hershey, AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, Facebook, DHL and Johnson & Johnson, spend time in or pass through Miami, he said. Besides, they never know who they’ll meet, Arbelaez said. Last year, they met with various venture capitalists, and several members ran into former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. “Miami brings business, executives and entertainment together,” he said. “We view Miami as that true hub for our members coming from across Europe and Latin America. We all view Miami as that center point.”

High-tech executives to converge at eMerge

OCTOBER 22KICK-OFF PARTY

MARCH 19COUNTDOWN PARTY

EMERGE AMERICAS

MARCH 19

COUNTDOWN PARTY

OCTOBER 22

KICK-OFFPARTY

eGOV SUMMITeGOV

RECEPTION

WITSUMMIT

HACKATHON

1111 PARTY

NWC PARTY

FASHION SHOW

eMERGE AMERICAS WITeGOV FASHION SHOW NWC PARTY

eGOV RECEPTION 1111 PARTY

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HACKATHON eMERGE AMERICAS eGOV

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Miami is among the strong lures for conference participants.

“Miami brings business,

executives and entertainment

together.”- Andre Arbelaez


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T’S LONG BEEN THE LAMENT that tech financing is hard to find in South Florida. eMerge Americas is on a mission to change that.

“Funding has been the weakest link,” said Melissa Medina, VP of Development for eMerge Americas. “But in the last two years, it’s changed dramatically.”

It’s a weak link no longer, and venture firms have been opening their doors. Among the best-known investors is Medina Capital. The private equity fund, started by eMerge Americas founder Manny Medina, is targeting high-growth infrastructure technology companies.

In January, Scout Ventures, a New York venture capital firm targeting startup media, technology and entertainment companies, announced the opening of a Miami office. In December, Richmond Global Ventures – which has offices in Silicon Valley and New York – added a Miami location. Other firms include Krillion Ventures and Thesis Ventures.

The venture firms and angel investors are joining longtime traditional bankers with eyes on the local market.

Manny Medina’s vision of establishing Miami as the Silicon Valley of Latin America was easy to embrace, said Luke Palacio, managing director and Southeast U.S. regional market manager with Citi Private Bank. The company, which develops

and uses tech advances to better serve its own clients, came on as an eMerge sponsor last year, and again this year.

Though not investing in area ventures, the bank knows a strong tech and innovation community is good for business. Citi even sees its global private banking clientele converging in Miami, he said.

“It was a natural fit in that we had clients who were interested in Miami and the evolution of technology,” he said.

Goldman Sachs, a sponsor of eMerge’s Women, Innovation and Technology conference, in 2013 partnered with Miami Dade College to launch its 10,000 Small Businesses program. More than 70 Miami entrepreneurs have completed the program to date.

The growing number of tech-focused IT companies and small businesses, and South Florida’s burgeoning immigrant population, create “really fertile ground to make a difference with small business owners in South Florida,” said Greg Ferrero, managing director and head of Goldman Sachs’ Florida Private Wealth Management business.

He hopes that program graduates succeed in reaching their long-term goals, and perhaps eventually become future customers of his division, whose minimum account size is $10 million.

“Our wish for you,” Ferrero told students recently, “is that one day we can call on you to ask for your business.”

Different agendas and one location

Investors, Bankers and Miami

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“ Funding has been the weakest link. But in the last two years, it’s changed dramatically.”

MELISSA MEDINA, VP of Development for eMerge Americas, below

Melissa Medina addresses participants at last year’s opening ceremony.



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AST YEAR, BOCA RATON HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY firm Modernizing Medicine won the inaugural eMerge Launch Competition. Though the company was in its fourth year with three rounds of financing under its belt,

the win served as both an introduction and validation for a company whose success already was well known in South Florida circles.

It also helped highlight the role the region is playing in health care innovation, Modernizing Medicine CEO Dan Cane said.

Such events are “vital to the growth of South Florida’s burgeoning tech scene,” he said. “The whole experience and event were of tremendous value, and showcased the many innovative entrepreneurs launching impressive companies in South Florida.”

For health care company GuideWell, a sister company to health insurance provider Florida Blue, the opportunity to partner in a tech conference will help elevate the importance of improved health care across the community, said Renee Finley, VP of enterprise innovation. Whether in Florida, the U.S. or internationally, participation in the event reveals “culturally relevant solutions” and technology from around the world, said Finley, whose company runs a health care accelerator.

“We saw eMerge as a way to connect with these emerging capabilities and new market solutions to deliver this broader solution set,” she said. “eMerge gives us the access to form relations with top-tier thought

leaders in tech, health care, innovation and venture development, and explore those relationships for new value to bring to the Florida market.”

From health care to business to technology and education, eMerge is revealing the breadth of the regional market. For example, educators at Florida International University realized early on the opportunity to take a role at the eMerge Americas conference.

After all, tech, business and innovation all are key programs at the university, said Sandra Gonzalez-Levy, Senior VP of External Relations with the school. Whether as a sponsor, a promoter or a showcase for its own programs, the school has encouraged faculty and students to participate and volunteer at the event.

They’ve collaborated on the Startup Showcase, and FIU President Mark Rosenberg will sit on a panel discussion. The week before eMerge, the school will host a cyber-security conference, at which eMerge founder Manny Medina will speak, and the school will hold lectures around the community. Just as the school did with Art Basel Miami Beach, FIU will benefit from a symbiotic relationship.

“This is a technology Art Basel for our community,” Gonzalez-Levy said, adding that the event is as much a lure for students as it is for tech executives, investors and others. “This will help keep our talent here in Miami. For us, it’s very important because it creates jobs – and that’s what we’re all about.”

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Education, health care sectors join tech at eMerge

Modernizing Medicine CEO Dan Cane and

members of his team with a trophy that celebrates the company’s eMerge

Launch win.


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OR YEARS, SUSAN AMAT has worked to establish Venture Hive as a leading regional entrepreneurial organization. Three years ago, she got her chance to take it to an even greater stage: the world.

Manny Medina asked Amat, founder of the Miami organization, to be part of the eMerge conference. This year, she is on the Innovation Advisory Board, and Venture Hive will help run both a virtual mentoring program and on-site boot camp for the startups participating in the Startup Showcase pitch competition.

“That’s just one aspect of what will be scores of events to showcase what the buzz is all about,” she said.

Venture Hive is not alone in the mission to heighten the entrepreneurial and business community.

The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s economic development partnership, has collaborated with eMerge to “build momentum so that greater Miami continues to be regarded as a tech gateway and innovation center,” President and CEO Larry K. Williams said. Council representatives will capitalize on the chance to meet executives from across the tech landscape and “who are encouraged about Miami-Dade’s business assets,” he said.

The Miami Downtown Development Authority, a neighboring economic development group, has renewed its partnership with eMerge as a way to cultivate Miami’s growing tech presence, Deputy Director Javier Betancourt said. With financial investment, startups, relocation and incubator support, the pieces are falling in place.

“eMerge is playing a major role to bring these pieces together and propel Miami forward as a global magnet for technology and innovation,” he said.

Area entrepreneurial, business groups join forces in eMerge push

F

Courtesy of DAVID SUTTA PHOTOGRAPHY

Susan Amat of Venture Hive during her talk at last year’s eMerge Americas Conference

The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade County’s economic development partnership, has collaborated with eMerge to “build momentum so that greater Miami continues to be regarded as a tech gateway and innovation center.” LARRY K. WILLIAMS, President and CEO, below

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SK ANY EXECUTIVE in technology, and they’ll likely admit that female faces are few in the industry.

Rosario Chozas hopes to change the metrics.

As special events manager with eMerge Americas, Chozas is helping oversee the event’s Women, Innovation & Technology – or WIT – summit. WIT will create a platform to highlight the accomplishments of women in technology.

This one-day summit will include experiential programming, networking opportunities and the Technology & Innovation Fashion Show. There, leading female professionals from various industries will discuss how they are transforming the business landscape.

eMerge will also host its second annual fashion show, featuring the work of female and male designers who are

taking fashion beyond uses for recycled material, 3-D printing and wearable technology. Designers include Jorge Duque, winner of “Project Runway Latin America,” from Colombia; Tregua clothing designers from Argentina; and Miami’s own Lisu Vega, a Venezuelan-American fashion-art designer. eMerge also created the Womenit.org website to help extend the conversation beyond the conference.

“We’ll show how designers are leveraging technology to create new and sustainable designs, textures and fabrics,” said Chozas, a former fashion editor and show producer from Buenos Aires.

“When you think of tech, you don’t generally think of fashion,” said Marianna Lopez, Content Director at eMerge Americas. “But there are so many amazing things happening with these two industries coming together in Latin American and here in South Florida.”

WOMEN: The rising voice in tech innovation

A

“ There are so many amazing

things happening with these two industries

(technology and fashion) coming together in Latin

American and here in South Florida.”

MARIANNA LOPEZ, eMerge Americas Content

Director, pictured at left, with Rosario Chozas, right,

Special Events Manager for eMerge.

NOT YOURCOMMON

NOT YOURCLASSIC

NOT YOURTYPICAL

NOT YOURBASIC

NOT YOUR TYPICAL NOT YOUR CLASSIC NOT YOUR COMMON NOT YOUR BASIC

YOURCLASSIC



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