eMerge Spotlights Latin American AI Innovation in Miami
This week, Miami hosts the tenth edition of eMerge America’s technology and innovation forum, focusing on advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and gathering over 20,000 participants from around the globe at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
Miami is pulsating with innovation this week as it welcomes the tenth annual eMerge Americas, a premier technology and innovation forum with a significant spotlight on Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 20,000 attendees and 4,000 companies from fifty countries, the event underscores Miami’s role as a burgeoning tech hub in the Americas.
eMerge Americas Unites North and Latin America
Founded to forge technological connections across the hemisphere, eMerge Americas bridges North and Latin America. This year, the event continues facilitating this vision by showcasing cutting-edge developments from diverse nations, including Spain, Chile, Colombia, and Costa Rica. Held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, the forum offers a dynamic platform for entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and business leaders to network and share ideas.
A special pavilion, sponsored by Jackson Health System from the University of Miami, highlights innovations in healthcare, reflecting the growing importance of tech in medical fields. Additionally, the event features a prominent startup competition, rewarding finalists with cash prizes, mentorship, and networking opportunities, which is a testament to the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that eMerge cultivates.
Among the 110 startups participating in the competition, 15 hail from Chile, recognized by Claudia Serra, the commercial attaché from Chile in Miami, as a leader in innovation in Latin America. Serra notes that Chile’s robust tech sector is well-positioned to tackle global challenges, with around 140 Chilean tech companies established in the U.S. and nearly a third in Florida.
Colombia also made a significant mark at the forum, with eight startups representing its dynamic tech ecosystem. According to ProColombia, cities like Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, and Cali are becoming innovation hotspots, producing leading companies such as Rappi and Habi, Colombia’s first and second tech unicorns.
Empowering Women in Tech: Spanish Leadership
On the event’s final day, a panel of Spanish women leaders in tech will take the stage to share their experiences as part of an initiative by Female Startups Leaders to bridge the gender gap in the sector. Through its national export and investment agency ICEX, Spain aims to strengthen its visibility as a tech leader and facilitate partnerships between Spanish firms and international stakeholders.
The forum will wrap up with a distinctly local flavor as Manny Medina, founder of eMerge Americas, and Miami’s own Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, discuss the intersection of music, entrepreneurship, and technology. Pitbull, a Grammy-winning artist and savvy investor, embodies Miami’s blend of cultural and entrepreneurial prowess.
The eMerge Americas forum highlights Miami’s strategic importance as a tech nexus between the Americas and illustrates the critical role of international collaboration in driving technological advancements. As AI continues to shape various industries, forums like eMerge Americas are crucial for fostering innovation and addressing global challenges through technology.
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This year’s event reaffirms Miami’s position as a vibrant center for technological growth and innovation, showcasing how cities can leverage their unique cultural and economic strengths to become leaders in the global tech landscape. As participants return to their respective countries, they carry new ideas, partnerships, and strategies that may shape the future of technology and business across the Americas and beyond.
