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From 200+ entries, 40 startups advance in SPARC South Florida pitch competition – and they are …

Nancy Dahlberg
Nancy Dahlberg
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Forty startups were selected as semifinalists in the SPARC South Florida pitch competition now underway. They were selected from a pool of more than 200 startups that entered the local contest, where the big prize is the opportunity to compete in the Startup World Cup for the $1 million grand prize in San Francisco this October.

Last Friday, the 40 were welcomed at Orientation Day, where in addition to a networking mixer each founder delivered a 30-second elevator pitch to introduce themselves and their venture. The session was designed to align expectations, build community, and map out the road ahead, SPARC’s leaders said. At the Orientation Day, founders were briefed on the next steps in the competition ahead, including pitch coaching in the lead-up to their Demo Day.

“This is just the beginning. We’re thrilled about this year’s diverse lineup and the level of competition. We’re confident it will spotlight the strength of Miami’s startup scene and help deepen the city’s connection to the broader tech ecosystem,” said Hilmon Sorey, co-founder of The Source Groups, a Miami-based organization that helps build Black wealth through programs in tech, business, media, and real estate. The Source Groups is organizing the SPARC South Florida regional competition.

Who are the 40 semifinalists advancing in the competition? The are …

Taylor McGhee, founder & CEO of The Patent Oath, the first AI powered platform helping underrepresented and first-time inventors navigate the patent lifecycle, said she’s proud to be part of such a strong group of founders representing South Florida.

“Just being here isn’t enough – I have to be present, engaged, and intentional. It was inspiring to learn about everyone’s business, and I pushed myself outside of my comfort zone,” McGhee added.

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Founders pictured here and above participated in SPARC South Florida’s Orientation Day last week. Photos by @Keijonmillz

Now that the semifinalists have been selected, SPARC South Florida will be providing advice and coaching on their pitch deck and presentation virtually and in Source’s downtown Miami office. The semifinalists will then take part in a Demo Day on Aug. 22, where judges and the public can cast their votes on who should move on to Regional Final Aug. 23, where the top 10 will pitch on stage to the judges in downtown Miami and one will be crowned the South Florida winner and go to San Francisco, all expenses paid.

Last year’s South Florida winner was Raquel de Antonio Crespo, co-founder of Sargassum Eco Lumber, a Miami startup aiming to solve the environmental challenges of deforestation, the Sargassum seaweed invasion and the plastic crisis with a sustainable alternative for lumber. She is raising a seed round and is planning to build a manufacturing facility for the startup.

What’s de Antonio’s advice for this year’s competitors? Present your compelling story in a way that’s understandable to everyone and back that up with your numbers. Then focus on pitch timing. “Practice, practice, practice,” she told Refresh Miami. “Don’t forget that you’re competing for a million dollars.”

Help choose who goes to the finals. Register attend the Demo Day here.

Music entrepreneur Ted Lucas (far left) and Hilmon Sorey (far right) are the founders of the Source Groups and organizers of the SPARC South Florida competition. Pictured with them at Orientation Day are Michaeljohn Green, Chief of Economic Development and Strategy at Miami DDA, and Dr. Paula Hopkins, Executive Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Funding Development at Miami-Dade Beacon Council.

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Nancy Dahlberg
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