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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250909T183000
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UID:10003528-1757442600-1757449800@refreshmiami.com
SUMMARY:UGLY TALK: BUILDING AND SCALING TECH COMPANIES IN MIAMI
DESCRIPTION:Miami isn’t just about sun and sand. It’s becoming one of the most exciting launchpads for tech. And while the energy is real\, growing a startup here requires a different kind of playbook. \nAt Ugly Talk: Launching and Scaling Startups in Miami\, you’ll hear from founders who’ve built high-growth companies in the Magic City—or moved their operations here to go bigger. They’ll share how they navigated the landscape\, built momentum\, and turned local dynamics into global opportunities. \n🎯 Why You Should Attend\nHear battle-tested insights from founders who’ve actually built and scaled\nLearn practical strategies you can use right away\nUnderstand the unique factors shaping Miami’s startup ecosystem\nMake valuable connections with early-stage founders and active investors\nJoin candid conversations you won’t find on LinkedIn or podcasts \n🙋 Who You’ll Meet\nEarly-stage founders shaping the next wave of tech in South Florida\nAngel investors and startup ecosystem leaders\nBuilders seeking co-founders and collaborators\nOrganizations fueling innovation in the Miami tech community \n🎤 Who’s on the Panel \nNafis Azad – Co-Founder of Lucky (Acquired) \nNafis Azad is an entrepreneur and product leader building data-driven infrastructure for the future of AI. He co-founded Lucky\, a commerce data platform bridging brands\, retailers\, and customers\, which was acquired by SPINS (backed by Warburg Pincus & General Atlantic) in 2025. With experience spanning Fortune 500 enterprises to tech startups\, Nafis thrives at the intersection of zero-to-one innovation and scalable product operations. Beyond his ventures\, he mentors startups and serves nonprofit organizations\, driven by a passion for empowering others to succeed. \nBogdan Savonea – Co-Founder & CEO of Blindspot \nGuillermo Gonzalez Aleman – Founder & CEO of Litebox \nGuillermo Gonzalez is the founder of Litebox.ai\, a growth agency helping startups—especially in dev tools and high-tech—scale through branding\, websites\, and advanced growth strategies. Originally from Argentina and now based in Miami\, he has over a decade of experience building products and guiding startups through fast-paced environments. \nModerator: \nAnson Wu – Chief Strategy Officer at Ugly Talk \n💬 What We’ll Talk About\nHow growing a startup in Miami compares to NYC or Silicon Valley\nThe challenges founders have navigated while scaling from this region\nStrategic advantages unique to Miami-based companies\nHow to build teams\, raise capital\, and grow strong networks here\nAnd yes—the real stories behind the scenes: pivots\, pressure points\, and the lessons that shaped the journey \n🤝 Partner Brands \nBlindspot – We’re the industry oddballs. We’re also the guys who turned a billboard into the #1 most popular Reddit post of all time. \n🤝 Co-Hosted With \nMana Tech – At Mana Tech\, our mission is to transform Miami into the ultimate hub for entrepreneurship across the Americas. From the heart of Downtown\, Mana Tech is building the infrastructure of innovation that fuels this vision — connecting world-class entrepreneurs with capital\, mentorship\, and market access in a city positioned to lead the next era of hemispheric growth. \nMiami Downtown Development Authority – Enhancing downtown Miami’s economic vitality through strategic initiatives. \n🤝 Supported By: \nGREY Journal – Media partner spotlighting modern entrepreneurs (Apple News + Google News) \n🤝 Venue Partner \nMana Tech – At Mana Tech\, our mission is to transform Miami into the ultimate hub for entrepreneurship across the Americas. From the heart of Downtown\, Mana Tech is building the infrastructure of innovation that fuels this vision — connecting world-class entrepreneurs with capital\, mentorship\, and market access in a city positioned to lead the next era of hemispheric growth. \n⭐ About Ugly Talk:\nStarted in 2019\, Ugly Talk has been transforming business setbacks into breakthrough “aha!” moments by hosting unfiltered\, no-nonsense events where battle-tested entrepreneurs share their raw lessons and insights. \nWith a growing presence in cities like New York\, Chicago\, San Francisco\, and Miami\, we’ve built a vibrant community of thousands of founders and industry leaders making a profound impact on the entrepreneurial landscape. \nOfficial Website: UglyTalk.com
URL:https://refreshmiami.com/event/ugly-talk-building-and-scaling-tech-companies-in-miami/
LOCATION:Mana Tech\, 21 SE 1st Ave\, Flr 10\, Miami\, FL\, 33131\, United States
CATEGORIES:Seminar or Talk
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://refreshmiami.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Official-Banner-2.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Grey Journal":MAILTO:awu@discovergrey.com
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250520T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250520T160000
DTSTAMP:20250513T142953Z
CREATED:20250513T142953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250513T142953Z
UID:10003464-1747746000-1747756800@refreshmiami.com
SUMMARY:UGLY TALK: MIAMI FOUNDERS & FUNDERS
DESCRIPTION:Miami’s startup glow-up isn’t all sunshine. Behind every big win is a founder who’s faced the fire—and an investor who’s seen it all. In this two-part edition of Ugly Talk\, we dive deep into what it really takes to build and support innovative companies in Miami. We start with the founders—exploring what’s working\, what isn’t\, and what’s still misunderstood about launching in this city. Then we turn the mic to the investors to reveal the red flags\, the green lights\, and what truly builds long-term conviction in a Miami deal. \n  \n🧠 What You’ll Learn\n\nReal Solutions for Miami Founders: Understand the “Miami effect” on early-stage traction and team building.\nOverlooked Challenges: Explore the unique hurdles of operating in the Miami market.\nRaw Founder Stories: Hear missteps\, pivots\, and unexpected wins straight from the trenches.\nInvestor Insights: Learn what makes Miami startups stand out—and what causes investors to hold back.\nBuilding Relationships: Discover how local investors assess trust\, potential\, and community in a deal.\n\n🎤 Who’s on the Panel\n\nRon Tarro – President of New World Angels\nNathaniel Vasel– Partner at Las Olas Venture Capital\nNet Kohen – CEO of Linkme\nBruce Pinchbeck – Cofounder & Head of Marketing\nCarlos Garcia – Economic Development Strategist
URL:https://refreshmiami.com/event/ugly-talk-miami-founders-funders/
LOCATION:The Hub @ Office Logic
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://refreshmiami.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FOUNDERS-FUNDERS-IN-MIAMI-Square.jpeg
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