Innovation

By Gisel Habibnejad Now in its third year, eMerge Americas is a two-day event hosting technological innovations through EXPO space experiences, networking interactions, and conferences. The EXPO floor included exhibitor booths, through which the latest innovations were displayed; a “Launchpad” of entrepreneurs who shared their experiences and inventions; a Hackathon where about 125 coders had 24 hours to decode complex challenges built by API sponsors for a chance to win more than $50,000 in cash and prizes; and a hiring fair. The summit talks incorporated various topics fit to inspire innovators of all journeys in technology. The Government Innovation Forum (eGOV) brought together leaders of government and business to discuss “how public-private partnerships leveraging disruptive technologies are transforming our communities” and to deliberate on transforming our communities into smart cities. Made up of over 100 startups from around the world, the eMerge Americas Startup Showcase provided a point for these companies to interact with hundreds of investors and partners. The Women, Innovation, and Technology Summit (WIT) is a one-day summit that united powerful women of the industry to inspire and motivate event goers by presenting leaders “who are bridging the gap between the creative and tech industries” and also featured a Technology and Innovation fashion show. Other conferences consisted of the Textpert Stage, which allowed visitors to engage with experts who discussed the latest innovations and trailblazing technologies. This year’s keynote speakers were comprised of General Colin L. Powell, Monica Lewinsky, Tony Hawk, Pitbull, Chairman of CNBC Mark Hoffman, Chairman of NBCUniversal International Group and NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises Cesar Conde, Co-Founder of America Online Steve Case, CEO of AT&T Ralph de la Vega, Co-Founder of Netflix Marc Randolph, and many more. Of course, we can’t forget the VIP parties, live entertainment shows, and cocktail soirees. Each offered special ways to interact and network with peers who are involved and enjoy the same technological industry. These events were hosted at Lincoln Road, the Paris Theater in South Beach, and the Perez Art Museum Miami (PAMM). eMerge Americas takes place in the growing tech community of Miami hosting industry leaders, government officials, and investors from North America, Latin America, and Europe. The year’s biggest B2B event of the Americas was aired nationwide courtesy of CNBC and Telemundo, and was also broadcasted live to other countries such as Europe, Africa, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.emergeamericas.org