SuperConf is back, and it’s calling for launching startups to compete for $30K

superconf logo

 
By Nancy Dahlberg
SuperConf, the homegrown conference for developers, designers and entrepreneurs, is returning for 2020. Tickets are now on sale, and tech startups wishing to launch at SuperConf and compete for about $30K in prizes have until Feb. 7 to apply.
Before taking a 7-year hiatus, SuperConf brought Miami’s startups as well as some from afar in the very early days of #MiamiTech – 2011-2013 (It was one of the first events I covered on the Miami startup scene). It’s returning March 13 and 14th at the Lightbox in Wynwood, because there is still not a conference in Miami aimed at “the makers, the builders, the people inventing the stuff you’ll be telling your friends about in tw0 to three years,” says SuperConf founder Auston Bunsen, an entrepreneur and developer himself. His wife, Nathali Amaro, is the co-organizer of this year’s event.

Vintage SuperConf

For those who remember SuperConf, the 2020 conference will again be two days and feature startup launches and keynote speakers. In the past, companies like CodeSchool, ShoeFitr, Boatsetter, Seamless Docs, Feathr, 71lbs and LiveNinja launched at SuperConf. “We’ve also had speakers like the cofounders of Grasshopper & Sentry, early engineers at companies like GitHub and DropBox, the creators of CoffeeScript and Mongrel and investors from firms like Y Combinator, True Ventures & Quotidian Ventures,” said Bunsen.
Like in those days, attendance will be capped at 250 so attendees will be able to easily network with everyone else at the conference, including the speakers.
But there are some new things planned for 2020, too.
* Lunch with speakers: Each speaker will do at least one lunch with up to 6 attendees and attendees get to choose their speaker.
* Lightning talks on Day 1 from the community: Attendees will be able to submit a talk where they can get on stage and talk 5 minutes about almost any topic they like.
In addition to the lightning talks, Day 1 will be all about the launching startups. SuperConf will be awarding $30K+ in cash and prizes (1st prize – $20K, 2nd prize – $7.5K and 3rd prize – $2.5K) to winning companies, Bunsen said. Judging the pitches will be leaders from Bloomberg (Nathan Crooks), TheNextWeb (Georgina Ustik), Miami Angels (Rebecca Danta) and Refresh Miami (Brian Breslin).
Companies that want to apply to launch at SuperConf and compete for the prizes can apply here: https://superconf.com/launch-competition. The deadline to apply is Feb. 7. lt is important to note that only startups that have not launched publicly yet will be considered to present at SuperConf. Said Bunsen: “We’re looking for the next company that is going to change people’s lives. Apply!”
On Day 2 will be keynote speakers that will Include developers that have contributed to open source technologies used by Facebook, SoundCloud, Bloomberg, HelpSpace & Wix, as well as founders, designers, growth experts and investors such as Stonly Baptiste of Urban.Us.
Early-bird priced tickets are $375 until Jan 20th, then $400+. More information on the March 13-14 conference is here: https://superconf.com/
UPDATE: You can read Bunsen’s blog post about SuperConf’s origin story here.

SuperConf, a Miami tech and startup conference, shown in 2013. SuperConf is coming back March 13-14, 2020 at the Lightbox in Wynwood with a refreshed program (and a new logo — I still have the purple shirt).Follow @ndahlberg on Twitter and email her at [email protected]

Nancy Dahlberg