By Krysten Brenlla
Picture this:
You’re a student studying cybersecurity, engineering, or Internet of Things (IoT).
You’re a small business owner looking to break into crypto and tech.
You’re a coder looking to launch something epic.
Does this sound like you? If it does, you’ve come to the right place – Miami is here to help.
For years, Miami has worked to establish itself as a city built on technology and innovation. Top academic institutions, big-name partners, startups, and tech companies moving to Miami is cause enough for local, national, and international talent to ditch that long-lost dream of Silicon Valley and find what they’re looking for right here in the 305.
From conferences, local tech happy hours, academic programs, local investors, and tech groups, Miami is filled with opportunity for those looking to make it.
So, if you’re:
- A student looking to stay and grow in the #MiamiTech scene
- A startup looking to launch in tech
- A Miamian thinking “what’s going on, and how can I stay here”
- A business owner looking to launch your enterprise to the next level
Keep reading – Refresh Miami has compiled the top things you need to know to make it in #MiamiTech.
- Miami is the hub for tech events, conferences, workshops, and even happy hours (literally).
If you’re looking to learn more about the future of tech, or what crypto, NFTs and Web 3.0 even are, Miami is the place to be.
April has been dubbed #MiamiTechMonth, and the nation’s top entrepreneurs, technology influences, and innovators are coming together throughout the year to discuss tech, innovation, digital financial literacy, web 3.0, the gender gap and more at some of the nation’s biggest tech events – eMerge Americas, Miami NFT Week and the Bitcoin Conference.
Miami Hack Week returns in August and you won’t want to miss it. In January, the weeklong hackathon added a track just for students called Hack@Campus. About 100 Miami Dade College and Florida International University students got a chance to show off their tech skills (we had winners!) but beyond the competition were events, parties and fireside chats presenting numerous opportunities to make new friends, collaborate and learn with the tech community at all Miami Hack Week activities.
Looking to meet local entrepreneurs or investors making waves in our Magic City? Don’t miss out on The Miami Tech Happy Hour, a bi-weekly meetup for students, business owners, techies and Miamians looking to network, learn, and drink; ShellHacks, Hack@Campus – and so much more.
Check out Refresh Miami’s upcoming events tab to stay updated.
- Miami is home to top academic institutions who are leading the next generation of students in tech and innovation
Both private and public institutions in Miami, including Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, Miami Dade College, and the University of Miami, are working on launching the next generation of students toward successful careers in technology and innovation through partnerships, programming, and new majors.
AT FIU:
FIU, Miami’s only public research university and the country’s top producer of minority graduates in STEM, received a $10 million donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to help FIU break into tech.
FIU is also partnering with tech companies like Kaseya, a security software company, and Ultimate Kronos Group, a human resources software company, to create a workforce pipeline to train students for jobs in technology and help Kaseya and Ultimate Kronos Group fill open roles.
An additional $2.25 million investment from the Knight Foundation will also allow expansion with CodePath and FIU to increase diversity in computer science and engineering.
And FIU’s most recent partnership with GET Cities and Break Through Tech will propel women and members of other underrepresented communities into tech careers.
Stay updated with FIU tech news here.
AT FLORIDA MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY (FMU)
In December of 2021, George Torsely III and the Jungle Freaks team donated $100,000 to FMU, South Florida’s only Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to create the ITE FinTech Center to launch a collaborative space that engages faculty, staff, and students in cryptocurrency, blockchains and NFTs.
As a result, just two months later, FMU partnered with music executive, philanthropist, and co-creator of Miami NFT Week Ted Lucas to create a “Cyber Innovation Hub” with a goal of educating students on tech for jobs in the industry. To kick-start the program, the City of Miami donated $50,000 to FMU.
Part of this initiative was to launch the university’s first-ever Black Innovation Technology & Entertainment Conference (BITE-CON) to engage students on the future of tech. The conference brought together 30+ global leaders in tech and innovation, like Tiffany Norwood, founder of Tribetan & Co-Founder of SimWin Sports, and Caron Butler, assistant coach at the Miami Heat, to discuss the opportunities available for Black communities to scale in tech, cybersecurity, crypto, NFTs, and web 3.0.
As part of the inaugural BITE-CON, the Lions eSports and Gaming Center was unveiled, an on-campus innovation hub for students and alumni to come together and experience virtual reality, gaming, and community.
Stay updated with FMU tech news here.
AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE:
For years, Miami Dade College has prepared students for jobs in the future. But now, the future is here.
After receiving a $15M donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the college launched MDC Tech, a new initiative that will bring together industry leaders to help the college expand technology programs in applied artificial intelligence, data analytics, and emerging technologies for students, faculty/staff, and community members.
Through affordable programming at MDC, students will prepare for careers in cybersecurity and cloud computing, data analytics, artificial intelligence, computer programming, and Internet of Things (IoT).
Stay updated with MDC Tech news here.
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI:
UM is at the forefront of tech and innovation – from goggles that diagnose eye diseases (thank you Heru Inc.) to a drone that can map thousands of acres in only days, UM is working to accelerate innovation and technology along the #MiamiTech boom – and students are reaping the benefits.
UM has launched a new, discussion-based course that explores learning in the metaverse. “Religion and Sacred Spaces in the Era of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence” is a collaboration among UM faculty members that explores how spiritual practices and spaces will exist in the metaverse. Each class was held in virtual reality – the students and professors attended the class as their self-designed avatar, and every week, the class would meet in a different virtual setting.
SEAHIVE, designed by an interdisciplinary group of faculty members, focuses on protecting coastal cities, such as Miami, from the effects of climate change. The system is made of hexagonal concrete units to mitigate wave energy better than a seawall while protecting marine life with a safe habitat.
And the José Milton Foundation has donated $500,000 to UM’s College of Engineering to support software engineering courses, fellowships, lectures, and a digital technology conference, which will be held at the University. The gift will also support fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students studying software engineering with a focus on those from underrepresented communities.
Stay updated with University of Miami tech news here.
- Looking to share your tech knowledge? Looking to learn more? Student groups and local community organizations can help with that.
Upsilon Pi Epsilon, the largest tech-based student organization and community, provides interested students the opportunity to develop professionally and technically through coding workshops, guest lectures, and Hackathons.
Shrimp Society helps members succeed in their entrepreneurial journey through private masterminds, workshops, panels, and events. With the purchase of a Shrimp Society NFT, members work together to help companies, projects, and side hustlers build technical skills and community. As a member, you’ll gain access to the Shrimp Lab, which helps members create a new product or find developers, and the Shrimphelping, which provides access to an online group chat, exclusive podcasts, a mastermind group, a job board, service for intros to entrepreneurs and investors, pitch nights, co-working meetups, and an investor network.
Refresh Miami is our (FREE) hub to tell the stories that come out of South Florida’s startup community. Through shared events, in-depth educational workshops, the Refresh Job Board, The Miami Tech Pod, and our weekly newsletter – you’ll always be in the know of the latest news and trends in #MiamiTech. Sign up here.
Bookmark our Latest News section to stay updated on community projects and groups, startup spotlights, and upcoming events.
- Top companies and startups are moving to Miami. Check out who’s hiring:
South Florida raised $1.33 BILLION (yes, with a “B”), in the first quarter of 2022. According to a report published on Market Watch in January 2022, crypto job openings have surged 395% – and they’re not slowing down.
Some of the biggest startup deals (and YES, they’re hiring) include:
- Moonpay, a cryptocurrency payment startup, raised $87 million from more than 60 celebrity investors
- Bank Novo, founded by CEO Michael Rangel, secured $90 million Series B funding to hire and expand their headcount. They’re looking to expand their new positions across their three offices in Miami, New York, and Gugaon.
- OpenStore, co-founded by Keith Rabois of Founders Fund, Atomic’s Jack Abraham, Michael Rubenstein, Matt Lanter and Jeremy Wood, is tripling its Wynwood office to hire dozens of new talent
- NovoPayment raised a $19M series A financing round led by local investors Fuel Venture Capital and IDC Ventures. With the new funding, NovoPayment is looking to grow their network of partners and integrations, increase their employee headcount, and expand to international markets
VENTURE MIAMI TECH HIRING FAIR
The Venture Miami Tech Hiring Fair, first launching in December of 2021, launched its second fair in April 2022 and saw 1,300 job seekers, 74 local and national companies, and 2,000+ open roles. Taking place semi-annually on Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus, local talent can find their next dream opportunity during Miami Art Week in December and Miami Tech Month in April.
Miami is growing – and so can you. Make sure to stay tuned to Refresh Miami for the latest news and updates on job opportunities, startup spotlights, upcoming events, and why Miami is a great place to be for tech growth.
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- Get your calendars ready for all that #MiamiTechMonth has to offer - April 10, 2024
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