South Florida Tech HubSouth Florida Tech Hub
13
Dec, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Member Spotlight | Boca Code

Read Time 3 Minutes

Mission: To teach the next generation of software engineers and supply South Florida’s tech companies with top talent

Launched: 2020

Instructors: 7

Website: BocaCode.com

 

Todd Albert has been coding practically since he started reading. “I’ve been coding since I was seven years old, when my dad first brought home a computer,” he told South Florida Tech Hub. “There was nothing to do on it except write code!” 

A young Albert would devour computer magazines and eventually take part in high school coding competitions. He ended up pursuing a career as a climate scientist, which enabled him to travel the world and work with major organizations including NASA and NOAA.

All the while, however, coding was still a major part of Albert’s life: “I loved running my own programs and writing code.” After successfully completing a PhD, he re-entered the tech world full-time by teaching coding. 

Albert’s passion for coding led him to eventually work as the lead developer for a few South Florida tech companies, including his own agency. While in these positions, Albert began to realize that there was a lack of talent in our area. 

“So I decided to combine my teaching background and my coding background to create a code school, Boca Code” said Albert. “Our goal is to be the best code school that there is so that people come to us first for talent, and our students are in the highest demand.”

Boca Code’s courses stand apart from the crowd because, according to Albert, instead of starting students out on “the easy stuff” like HTML and CSS, at Boca Code they “jump right into the fundamentals: algorithms and data structures.”

“We get the students writing actual code on day one, and teach things from a high level architectural level perspective,” explained Albert. He said that this approach trains students to “think and code like a senior engineer right off the bat.”

Boca Code’s main offering is a full-time, 10-week intensive software engineering course. “With this course, students become a top software engineer in 10 weeks,” said Albert. The code school also has a handful of courses covering topics such as data analytics and python, user experience design, and game development.

Despite just launching last year, Boca Code already has a series of success stories. For example, one recent high school graduate got his first-ever job after taking Boca Code’s 10-week course. A 33 year old immigrant mother who had never coded decided to switch careers, got a scholarship to Boca Code’s software engineering course, and landed a job making $70,000 a year. And a Pizza Hut night manager was able to supercharge his college computer science degree and land a life-changing job after a stint at Boca Code.

Why Boca? Albert says it’s a quiet powerhouse. “While Microsoft, Apple, and Google were getting started in Silicon Valley, IBM was building the first personal computer here in Boca,” he acknowledged. Nowadays, Albert underscored that Boca has a thriving ecosystem of more than 400 startups and even a handful of unicorns: “Miami is always getting a lot of attention, but the tech scene in Boca is chugging away.”

Interested in leveling up your career? Check out Boca Code’s offerings by visiting their website.

,
06
Dec, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Member Spotlight | Techstrong Group

Read Time 3 Minutes

Business: The go-to source for unbiased information, insights and connections for IT professionals looking to excel personally and professionally.

HQ: Boca Raton

Employees: 40

Website: TechStrongGroup.com

The tech world is changing fast, and there is no shortage of information online that purports to keep you abreast of it all. But what can you trust? How do you know that you’re getting the most up-to-date, unbiased info out there? 

Whether you’re a CxO, IT professional, cybersecurity expert, or any other role in the tech industry, you might benefit from some of the Techstrong Group’s resources.

The Boca Raton-based omnichannel content company is empowering people and companies to come together and learn about what’s happening in the worlds of digital transformation, cybersecurity, the cloud, and DevOps.

Techstrong has a handful of business units, including a media arm that runs online communities including DevOps.com, Security Boulevard, Container Journal, and TechstrongTV. They also have a focus on professional associations, bringing tech leaders, consultants, and vendors together to share their knowledge and learn from each other.

Through their Techstrong Live! division, the team will be hosting more in-person, virtual, and hybrid events over the coming months. The company anticipates hosting roadshows and conferences in some of the biggest cities in the US.

One of the most high-profile events they are planning is a Digital CxO conference, which will aim to bring together upwards of 100 C-level executives together for learning and networking in the second quarter of next year.

At the helm of Techstrong is Alan Shimel. This serial entrepreneur has seen his fair share of tech fads over his decades in the industry, and he has a keen ability to identify what trends are here to stay.

“I’m always excited about technology,” Shimel told South Florida Tech Hub. “That’s why I love doing what I do.”

Of course, one of the biggest trends on the minds of technologists today is the so-called ‘Web3’ movement. Shimel is not a fan of the moniker: “it’s just what’s next,” he said.

“I was there for Web 1.0 and Web 2.0. Is crypto real? Right? And blockchain? Yes.”

For Shimel, a lot of the Web3 trends can be traced back to the move towards the cloud. “Covid also accelerated digital transformation,” he acknowledged. 

Having lived in South Florida for the better part of two decades, Shimel is bullish on the local tech ecosystem. He underscored the lack of innovation and tech talent early on: “When I first came down here, it was a desert.” But Shimel asserted that “this began to change a couple of years ago, thanks to some local initiatives.” 

He highlighted South Florida Tech Hub as a particularly beneficial organization, since it aims to unite technologists from the entire region. “Traditionally, what’s held South Florida back is that every 10 miles is a new territory of someone who controls that local scene, whether it’s an organization or a university or company.” Shimel said that bringing the tech community together on a regional basis will help compete with other innovation hotspots he’s experienced, such as Austin and Boulder.

The Techstrong Group is hiring! Learn more about joining this rapidly-growing team by visiting TechstrongGroup.com.

27
Nov, 2021

By Nikki Cabus

Infrastructure bill includes billions for broadband

Read Time 3 Minutes

The “Fact Sheet” from the White House Briefing Room outlines the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal which includes Ensuring every American has access to reliable high-speed internet.

“Broadband internet is necessary for Americans to do their jobs, to participate equally in school learning, health care, and to stay connected”, reads the Fact Sheet. “Yet, by one definition, more than 30 million Americans live in areas where there is no broadband infrastructure that provides minimally acceptable speeds – a particular problem in rural communities throughout the country. And, according to the latest OECD data, among 35 countries studied, the United States has the second highest broadband costs.”

The Briefing Room document continues, “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will deliver $65 billion to help ensure that every American has access to reliable high-speed internet through a historic investment in broadband infrastructure deployment. The legislation will also help lower prices for internet service and help close the digital divide, so that more Americans can afford internet access.”

Axios’ Margaret Harding McGill reports further on the the infrastructure bill heading to President Biden’s desk which included $65 billion to improve high-speed internet access and affordability. See her report below.

Why it matters: The pandemic proved the necessity of connectivity to participate in daily American life, and Biden’s administration acknowledged that by including this funding in the infrastructure package.

By the numbers: The funding is aimed towards building high-speed internet networks, helping low-income families pay for service and digital equity programs.

  • $42.45 billion in grants to states for broadband projects, which can range from network deployment to data collection to help determine areas that lack service.
  • $14.2 billion to provide $30 per month to low-income Americans for internet service. It will replace a $50-a-month Emergency Broadband Benefit program, offering less money monthly, but increasing the number of those eligible.
  • $2.75 billion for digital inclusion and equity projects, such as improving digital literacy or online skills for seniors.
  • $4 billion for rural broadband construction programs.
  • $1 billion to build “middle mile” infrastructure to connect local providers to larger internet access points.
  • $600 million for private activity bonds to finance broadband deployment projects in rural areas.

Between the lines: Early fears from cable and telecom companies that Biden’s broadband plan would lead to government-backed competitors in their service footprints or price regulation went unrealized.

The intrigue: The power player on broadband funding will be the Commerce Department, because its telecom division has a key oversight role in how the $42.45 billion in state funding will be spent.

Holly Borgmann, Vice President, Government Affairs at ADT stated that, “The federal government recently approved an unprecedented amount of funding to increase access to fast, reliable broadband. This money will help build out new Internet networks in rural communities, boost the data capacity of existing networks, increase the number of low-income households eligible for help with their broadband bills, and fund digital literacy and inclusion efforts.” She continued by saying, “South Florida’s tech-led businesses rely on robust Internet service to connect their businesses, employees and customers to one another, and South Florida’s tech workers and aspiring tech workers need access to world class broadband to compete for the jobs of today and tomorrow, many of which have gone at least partially remote.”

*Information sourced from Axios.com. in this article posted Nov 8, 2021 and the White House Briefing Room Fact Sheet here posted Nov 6, 2021.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–

Holly Borgmann, VP of Gov’t Affairs @ ADT, and Sheela VanHoose, Partner @ The Southern Group, both Co-Chair the Tech Hub Policy Committee. The direction of the policy committee is to have more of a platform instead of lobbying for actual legislation. These are the points that the committee has developed:

  • Uniform national data privacy policy
  • Robust, affordable broadband access
  • State local funding for incentives to bring companies to region
  • Computer science education (for students and teachers)
  • Affordable credentials programs/training
  • Safe harbor for data breaches if data stored in keeping with best practices
  • Workforce housing
  • Immigration investor visas for start-ups

If you are a Tech Hub Corporate Member and would like to learn more about getting involved, please email team@techhubsouthflorida.org

20
Nov, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Global Entrepreneurship Week shines a spotlight on South Florida’s tech scene

Read Time 4 Minutes

As South Florida’s innovation ecosystem continues to grow at a rapid clip, it can be difficult to keep track of the various tech initiatives happening from Miami to Martin County. The recent Global Entrepreneurship Week was no exception. This celebration of entrepreneurship saw a wide range of events, from the practical to the celebratory.

Scroll down to learn about some of the top Global Entrepreneurship Week events in South Florida.

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

1909 Gala: Taking stock of Palm Beach’s thriving tech scene

The first 1909 Gala, which had a 1900s-themed dress code, was a roaring success. Almost 200 local entrepreneurs and creatives attended to celebrate the West Palm Beach-based innovation hub.

“The 1909 Gala was extra special because it felt like the celebration of all of our efforts over the past 3 years including having to shift all of our programming during a global pandemic,” 1909’s Executive Director, Shana Ostrovitz, told South Florida Tech Hub.

Ostrovitz acknowledged that the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Palm Beach County is way more than just tech. “It feels like this is the moment in time we’ve all been waiting for,” she said. “We have a collaborative and supportive community foundation laid and we are starting to see the positive impact and results. Founders are able to find the support resources they need to be successful and sustainable – and they don’t have to move away to do it.”

The event featured a handful of speakers from the Palm Beach entrepreneurship and 1909 community, including Gaida Zirkelback of Sustainabase, Rodrigo Griesi of Neptunya, and Michelle Bakels of G2i.

Mayor Keith A. James of West Palm Beach delivered an opening address in which underscored that the city is an emerging tech hub, and that there is a “special place for entrepreneurs in [his] heart.”

Photos from the 1909 event are courtesy of Koda Creative.

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

Pitch Night at NSU’s Levan Innovation Center

South Florida Tech Hub hosted a pitch event at the Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation. Levan Center’s headquarters in Davie and the night was sponsored by New World Angels. 

“The event was a safe space for founders to share their ideas and pitch desks,” said Nikki Cabus, Tech Hub’s interim CEO. “It was a great opportunity for these local startups to get honest feedback and constructive criticism directly from founders, mentors and investors allowing them the the ability to implement impactful changes prior to pitching their ideas to investors.”

The session revolved around helping startups improve their pitches from the founders stage presence to pitch deck design and information and data presented. There was no competition or prize component, and the event’s intimate setting enabled experts to provide the most tangible and constructive advice to those who pitched.

There were around 40 entrepreneurs and business experts in attendance, including New World Angels COO and Tech Hub’s Startup Committee Chair, Sarah Lucas; CEO and CTO of LifeState, Tahl Milburn; local entrepreneur, Jim Green, and Mike Maniscalco, the Chair of Tech Hub’s Startup Founders Peer Group and the founder/CEO of Better Living Technologies.

The Startup Pitch Night lineup included:

  • SafeDate | Sid Klein
  • PadBlock | Alberto Marinas
  • Commin | Ryan Cox
  • Showspace Technologies | Mark Morrison
  • Happy Gift | Jeffry Mauricio Catano
  • Emergency Ventures | Joseph Russo
  • Owwll App | Jason Hill
  • Coally | Andres Joya Mosquera
  • Carevocacy | Stefano Carl Selorio
  • Edutainment | Ola Litkova

Jason Hill, Founder & CEO of the Owwll App, shared that it was his first time pitching his startup. Hill said, “It was amazing to see the Owwll Brand come alive on the big screens.” He continued, “It was truly a honor to have this opportunity to share the journey.”

The Innovation Center’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Wensveen, announced that evening that it was the center’s very first pitch event in their new “pitch room” with a state-of-the-art 18-screen video wall.

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

Developing the future of South Florida’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

In collaboration with Junior Achievement of South Florida, Tech Hub hosted a panel conversation entitled “Inspiring Our Future Entrepreneurs.”

The JA panelists included Irlanda Velazquez, a current high school student; Isaac Hetzroni, Founder & CEO @ Imprint Genius; and Huguette St Hubert, an intern at South Florida Tech Hub, who all completed entrepreneurship programs with Junior Achievement. 

Additionally, young entrepreneurs from all over The School District of Palm Beach County heard inspirational experiences from area business leaders, thanks to a partnership with Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and the Treasure Coast. Local business owners and entrepreneurs shared ways students can use the skills they’re learning to prepare for a successful future. A video highlight showcased some of the week’s work.

One of those business leaders was Ryan Boylston, Founder and CEO of 2TON. Ryan leads a team of highly skilled design professionals and technologists that assist clients in increasing business awareness and visibility through creative marketing strategies. Ryan also serves as a City of Delray Beach Commissioner. He took the time to speak to local students at William T. Dwyer High School this year. Boylston stated, “I have a lot of hope for this generation. I think their ceiling is higher than any other generation.”

Are you a local technologist, businessperson, or innovator that is looking to play an active role in developing the future of South Florida’s tech entrepreneurial ecosystem? JA is always looking for partners. “Please support this organization,” said Cabus. “They are your future workforce!”

For more information, visit https://jausa.ja.org/

20
Nov, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Tech Hub hosts event matching K-12 teachers with local tech experts

Read Time 3 Minutes

Fostering the next generation of South Florida talent

Last week, South Florida Tech Hub’s Talent & Education Committee hosted a virtual event to match local technologists with kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) educators from Palm Beach and Broward counties.

K-12 mentors are volunteers from the local tech community that are matched with a K-12 classroom teacher for the remainder of the 2021-2022 academic year. Broadly speaking, the mentor will aim to enhance the classroom experience for computer science teachers and students.

This support comes in many forms, including being a sounding board to advise teachers, telling students about their profession, providing a virtual or in-person field trip for students, and co-leading workshops.

The idea behind the initiative is to forge deeper connections between the South Florida tech community and our local schools. Ultimately, this project fits into the Talent & Education Committee’s goal of getting students excited about STEAM and technology in particular.

Mihai Fonoage, Vice President of Engineering at Boca Raton-based healthtech company Modernizing Medicine and Chair of the Talent & Education Committee, expressed excitement about the event. He told South Florida Tech Hub that “seeing the fantastic interaction between the K-12 Teachers and the Industry Mentors was such a reinforcement of our shared purpose to get students excited about STEM.”

Most teachers involved are either middle school or high school computer science educators. The mentors came from a wide variety of backgrounds, including some of the world’s largest tech companies as well as local startups and scaleups.

 

“We are impacting the teaching and learning in the classroom by matching K12 teachers to industry professionals,” commented Sheela VanHoose, a public policy expert and Partner at The Southern Group. “This mentor matching event is a part of Tech Hub South Florida’s larger efforts to address workforce issues across our ecosystem.” VanHoose leads Tech Hub’s Talent & Education subcommittee focused on K-12 issues.

While there is a growing number of top technologists and entrepreneurs in our region, the mentorship scheme aims to bridge the gap between this talent and our local schools.

 

“What we heard from the school districts was that they really could use help with getting people in the tech industry to have mentorships with the teachers that were in computer science education,” noted Ashton Adler, South Florida Tech Hub’s Talent & Policy Consultant, who organized the event.

“We’ve had great feedback so far,” said Adler. “The whole event was very inspirational – for everything the computer science teachers are doing, and for encouraging students to go into tech.”

This first cohort of roughly 15 mentors and 15 mentees is a pilot program that will run until the summer. Assuming all goes well, Adler expects that the program can grow since there has been a significant amount of interest.

 

Want to learn more about becoming a Tech Hub member and playing your role in developing the next generation of South Florida tech talent? If so, get in touch with us via email at team@techhubsouthflorida.org.

14
Nov, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Visualbility creates winning solution at Hack for Inclusion event

Read Time 4 Minutes

Inclusion is far from a buzzword. Increasingly, tech companies and executives are acknowledging that diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion are core to their company’s activities.

Our region continues to gain international notoriety as a leading destination for technology and innovation. South Florida Tech Hub recognizes the important role that inclusion needs to play in developing a thriving ecosystem for all.

Last week, Tech Hub hosted its Hack for Inclusion event, presented by Office Depot, Florida Power & Light (FPL) and Varis. The hackathon took place virtually and enabled developers, designers, project managers, and entrepreneurs to come together and develop tech for good.

The event also included a virtual tech job fair featuring in-person and remote opportunities from Miami to Martin County using the platform Premier Virtual.

 

 

First place for the hackathon went to a team that focused on helping the visually impaired navigate the web and winning them a $3,500 cash prize. 

“Missing alt tags from images offer a poor user experience, as they do not provide the necessary information for the screen reader,” explained Diana Tineo, who was on the winning team. 

“Visuability is a Google Chrome extension that uses Artificial Intelligence to auto generate descriptions of those images in real-time,” she continued. “The dream is to turn this into a family of applications that addresses accessibility issues at the source, so a natural next step for us would be to make this into a VScode extension that will help developers build more accessible websites. To build this product we used Microsoft’s Azure Computer vision API and Javascript.”

This was Tineo’s first hackathon, and she found it to be “one of the most fun experiences of [her] life.”

“Being surrounded by a smart, motivated and inclusive team reaffirmed that transitioning from real estate management into the tech industry was the right choice for me,” Tineo said of the experience. “Winning was the cherry on top, but building a product that can improve accessibility in the real world takes the cake!”

Claudio Luís Vera, an accessibility and inclusion expert who currently works as Head of Strategy at Stark, was one of the event’s judges. He called the event’s focus on accessibility “a true milestone for the South Florida tech community.”

“Overall, I was truly impressed with the enthusiasm that everyone brought to their projects and degree of care for folks with disabilities,” Vera told South Florida Tech Hub.

“I think there’s real hope that tomorrow’s talent will build really humane technologies that will impact and improve people’s lives.”

 

Another notable team of hackathon participants was a group of students from the Regenerate Tech organization which was founded by Randall Deich, a STEM Coordinator and educator at Lauderhill 612, a Title 1 high school within the Broward County School District. The team was led by Chamara Spence, a former Lauderhill 612 student, now freshman at Broward College.

“Each year, this group of students amazes me. They are not only the youngest group of contestants competing among much more experience teams, but they often face systemic issues with access to resources such as proper hardware and broadband access,” says Tech Hub’s Interim CEO, Nikki Cabus. “These are the exact types of issues that we hope to put a spotlight on, hack for solutions of equity, and support organizations such as Regenerate Tech making a difference in these students lives each day.”

Grace Kurian, a local tech executive who helped organize the event, thanked South Florida Tech Hub and “the leadership of Nikki Cabus for making this a rousing success.”

She continued: “Over the last year and a half, race equity has been top of mind throughout our country. After a lot of planning, it was so wonderful to see so many talented tech enthusiasts come together to build solutions to cultivate a more inclusive community to address challenges for the blind, disabled, immigrants, and racially diverse sectors of our community. I am proud to be a part of a community that is tackling these tough topics. I was amazed to see how rapidly our hackers developed meaningful solutions.”

 

1ST PLACE, $3,500 PRIZE: VISUALBILITY

  • Solution: Aan extension for visually impaired people that detects missing alt tags from images, identifies the image using artificial intelligence, and then inserts the description into the alt tag for the screen reader to pick up and read allow to the user. 
  • Team Members: Darie Dorlus, Diana Tineo, Dariel Mera, Vitoria Roas, Yong Ding
  • See Presentation | See Github

2ND PLACE, $1,500 PRIZE: FELLOWSHIP OF THE FURNITURE

  • Solution: Gives the ability to leave accessibility rating at a venue/businesses from business and customers. 
  • Team Members: Impu Chunchegowda, Jordan Aman, Camilo Ospina, Mauro Majul, Jonathan Guerrero, Pablo Martin
  • See Presentation | See Github

3RD PLACE, $1,000 PRIZE: FDA APPROVED

  • Solution: Allows people to find onboarding buddies in a company that can ease their transition into teams and the company culture. 
  • Team Members: Dawn Riziti, Earl Cameron, Juan Palacio, Ashley Clayden Moss, Tanvi Bhatnagar, James Zacka
  • See Presentation | See Github
22
Oct, 2021

By Nikki Cabus

Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava addresses 200 private investors at Miami conference

Read Time 3 Minutes

More than 200 private investors met at Fuel Venture Capital and IDC Venture’s 2.0 Expand Conference

More than 200 private investors from around the world gathered at the Rubell Museum for exclusive briefings by Miami-based Fuel Venture Capital and IDC Ventures.

During the two day conference titled “2.0 Expand,” founders and CEOs of some of Fuel’s 31 portfolio companies presented on the state of the union, growth across various tech industries and their visions of the future.

Founders from South Florida startups such as Boatsetter, Recargapay, Taxfyle, Bolt Mobility, and Ubicquia joined founders from global unicorns and soon-icorns such as Tradeshift, Curve and others.

“It was an incredible two-days of sharing, discovering and connecting. We had colleagues, investors and founders from around the world attend our conference in Miami with our partners IDC Ventures… and even more watching globally through our livestream,” said Ransdell. “I can speak for everyone in the room when I say that it was truly inspiring to listen to the progress made by the companies and founders we have put time and energy into. It’s easy to get lost in the day to day hustle, so having an event like this is crucial to being reminded of why we all do this in the first place— to change the world.”

Maggie Vo, Fuel Venture Capital’s first female General Partner and Chief Investment Officer shared her journey and stressed how transition from the public markets to the world of venture capital was spurred by the realization that value is continually shifting to actors in early-stage private-market deals. She wants to support innovative startups that have the potential to change the world.

“2.0 Expand allowed new connections to be made and existing relationships to be strengthened,” says Vo. “The stage was the perfect place to show off our portfolio investments, talk about the state of the union and spark further conversations about what’s next. As Jeff always says, there is nothing like being able to meet someone in person, shake hands and discuss how the companies we back are changing the world.”

On Thursday, Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Daniella Levine-Cava joined moderators Jeff Ransdell, Managing Director of Fuel Venture Capital and Bobby Aitkenhead, Managing Director of IDC Ventures alongside panelists Steve McLaughlin, CEO of FT Partners, Al Goldstein, Executive Chairman Avant, and Fernando González, CEO of Coru, for a fintech fireside chat.

The conversation quickly led to Miami’s booming ecosystem (startups raised a record $2.4 billion over 179 deals in the first nine months of 2021) and fintech’s role in the growth of the city.

When asked how she’s feeling about the tech world, Mayor Levine-Cava said she’s bullish on Miami-Dade, even going as far as saying she believes we are the center of the universe. She told Jeff Ransdell and other panelists, “we’re here for you” and that there are two kinds of people “the people who live here [Miami] and the people who will.”

_______

ABOUT Fuel Venture Capital

Fuel Venture Capital was founded in 2017 in Miami with the goal of fueling a modern economy based on knowledge and vision. Industry agnostic in our venture sourcing, we target exceptional entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas and professional track records, favoring early and late-stage companies propelled by exponential technologies. The firm’s “founder focused, investor driven” approach balances a commitment to propelling portfolio companies to success and delivering enhanced, risk-mitigated returns to our investors – ultra-high net worth individuals and the institutions that serve them.

ABOUT IDC Ventures

By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. IDC Ventures seeks to identify, invest in, support, and propel disruptive companies at the forefront of digital innovation. Companies led by visionary entrepreneurs, with agile organizations, committed to execution, and an unwavering commitment to their teams, their investors, and most of all, the realization of their vision. IDCV backs industry-defining founders from Series A to growth stages in Europe, the US, and Latin America, and primarily in the verticals of fintech, marketplaces, and platforms. IDC Ventures is the venture capital arm of Grupo IDC, a Latin American investment bank and asset management firm founded in 1995.

18
Oct, 2021

By Nikki Cabus

Tech Hub intern receives scholarship from Junior Achievement

Read Time 4 Minutes

The JA Circle of Wise Women 2021 Rosé Soirée Raises Over $90,000!

Over 160 guests attended this year’s Junior Achievement of South Florida Rosé Soirée. The event is pink-covered classy evening of networking among some of South Florida’s most prominent female leaders, honoring the year’s Woman of Wisdom or “WOW” and raising funds for Junior Achievement programs and student scholarships.

The title sponsor, CITY Furniture, has a strong commitment to JA South Florida with Andrew Koenig, CITY’s President, being the Vice Chair of the Board. Andrew is a Tech Hub Board member as well.

“CITY is proud to support JA-South Florida. We are so proud of the work they do to help develop our youth, teach them financial skills and literacy and help get our future workforce ready for work. The work they do for these kids is nothing short of amazing, ‘ says Koenig.

‘The Circle of Wise Women is a vibrant group of women – who are passionate about and dedicated to Junior Achievement’s mission of empowering youth with the knowledge, ability and confidence to navigate their futures, drive our economy, and lead our community.’ The JA Circle of Wise Women 2021 Rosé Soirée raised over $90,000!

The 2021 Woman of Wisdom honored was Rita Case, CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group. The Circle also pinned 16 new members, awarded three deserving female students with scholarships and celebrated being together again. One of those new members was Kimberly Sarni, Managing Director at South Florida Business & Wealth, a Tech Hub corporate member and partner.

“Junior Achievement is one of the most amazing non-profits for the mere fact that children are learning the fundamentals in a real life environment. They are learning trades, managerial skills, governmental policies, all while working and managing their own business’s. After touring JA World, and realizing I had the opportunity to join The Circle of Wise Women. To be recognized in this community of leaders, inspiring women and most of all like minded individuals who are creatively changing children’s lives as inspired me to continue to give back,” said Sarni. She continued, “Laurie Sallarulo (JA President) and Diana Metcalf have been instrumental in my acceptance, and at our inductee ceremony I realized that so many of the Circle were friends of mine. I am so very humbled for the opportunity to be a part of this amazing organization.”

This year’s event awarded three local girls and JA Fellows Company Incubator alumni as the Girl’s Scholarship Recipients which included our Tech Hub Community & Programs Intern, Huguette St. Hubert. 

“We are incredibly proud of our three JA Circle of Wise Women Girls Scholarships Recipients: Arriyona Gillett (unable to attend), Huguette St. Hubert and Rose Octeus!” said Martha Rios, Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives at  JA South Florida. “These three outstanding ladies participated in JA Programs (JA Fellows and JA Summer Youth Employment) that allowed them to create real businesses during the school year and intern and local organizations like Tech Hub during the summer.”

Huguette told Tech Hub that, “This scholarship will be pivotal in helping me reach my career goal … and now understand the importance of soft and hard skills, networking, and professionalism. I feel more confident when I am applying for a job, interviewing for a position, and communicating with others. I now take ownership of my actions and responsibilities and portray the characteristics of a true leader.”

“I have become an open-minded person, ” says St. Hubert. “I take advantage of every opportunity that is provided to me. I believe that JA career bound truly taught me the skills necessary to be successful in today’s workforce. Thank you to Junior of Achievement of South Florida, Circle of Wise women, and all the supporters for those amazing opportunities. I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the outstanding staff at JA for their hard work and dedication.”

When you’re asked to support Junior Achievement today, I hope you will give as generously as you can and support students like me,” urges St. Hubert.

 

To find out more about Junior Achievement South Florida and this year’s Circle of Wise Women’s Rosé Soirée: https://jasouthflorida.org/events/rose-soiree/

15
Oct, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Member Spotlight | Angelus Advisors

Read Time 3 Minutes

Mission: Serve as a trusted advisor to help businesses find and implement the most appropriate and effective enterprise resource planning systems.

Launched: 2017

HQ: Miami

Employees: 3

Website: AngelusAdvisors.com

The days of pen and paper were already numbered in early 2020, but the pandemic has served as a definitive push for businesses to digitize their operations. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems play a key role in enabling companies to integrate a wide range of business functions into digital tools. 

These efficiency gains are no longer nice-to-haves, but are rather necessities for running a business in 2021. This is a big business: Oracle notes that the market size for ERP software is “in a phase of rapid expansion,” and expects the total market size to exceed $50 billion by 2024.

There is a wide range of solutions for companies – from tools streamlining the administration of human resources to financial management software. While the abundance of options is positive for consumers, it can be difficult for leaders to make the right decision about what software is best for their company at any given time.

That’s where Tony Velasquez steps in. He and his team at Angelus Advisors are the trusted advisors for some of America’s most prominent companies, including Ryder, Papa John’s Pizza and PGA of America. They help businesses determine which ERP platforms fit their needs, outlining a game plan to help them procure and implement the software that is right for them.

“My objective is to take a client from point A to point Z,” Velasquez told South Florida Tech Hub. “We help them configure the system, identify their needs and requirements. Then we help build it, test it, and deploy it.”

At the moment, Angelus Advisors primarily consults on projects involving Workday, an industry-standard ERP platform used by more than 55 million workers worldwide. The platform enables companies to bring core activities like payroll, recruitment, and time tracking to the cloud.

“I’m focused on Workday because I’ve been working in that ecosystem for almost ten years now,” Velasquez said, noting that he started by working for a few implementation consultancies, including one bought by Aon Hewitt. However, Velasquez and team advise on a wide range of ERP systems, including smaller platforms like Paycor and NetSuite. 

In 2017, Velasquez decided to make the switch to building his own business because working at home would enable him to spend more time with his family.

What motivates Velasquez is giving back. “Why I do what I do is because I want to help my clients,” he explained, noting that it can be a minefield to determine which ERP systems are the most appropriate for them. 

Velasquez is particularly interested in giving back to the Tech Hub ecosystem, which he feels has “helped [him] meet and interact with many different organizations.” He asserted that he would relish the opportunity to help members of the Tech Hub community with their ERP systems. “We would be more than happy to jump in and help advise companies in the Tech Hub community to evaluate any systems,” he said.

Angelus Advisors is poised for growth, according to Velasquez: “I want to 2x or 3x our revenue, and I foresee making one or two more hires.” He also expects to branch out more from Workday, enabling them to better advise medium-sized businesses, as well as the large companies they already serve.

,
08
Oct, 2021

By Nikki Cabus

South Florida Based Streann Media Revenue Jumps 85% in Q3 2021!

Read Time 3 Minutes

Streann Media, the most interactive and innovative OTT platform in the world, announced record revenue in Q3 2021, propelled by innovative OTT projects, signing up broadcasting giants Teletica Media Group and Bethel Media, one of the world’s biggest megachurches. The company experienced healthy growth, increasing ARPU significantly.

 

In 2021, brands have shifted advertising dollars from traditional media to OTT in 2021, and Streann is capitalizing on this trend. Particularly, revenue from digital advertising services is experiencing double-digit, month-over-month growth. The company has built a disruptive advertising solution for content creators and brands, partnering with industry leaders Didna and CatapultX to bring artificial intelligence and new digital ad formats to market. The new ad formats have given publishers an ROI of 350% with a video completion rate of 97%.

The technology company keeps pushing boundaries, planning the launch of two new streaming solutions in Q4 2021 to attract content creators from all verticals. Hundreds of millions of video creators -including millions of Streann’s active users- will be able to bring remote production to the next level with these new products:

💥 Inside-Switcher is the first video studio app with different multi-camera possibilities, lowering the cost of production and increasing the speed of broadcast-quality content experiences from a single App. The company launched a successful beta program in September, selling out thousands of slots for new users in only four days.

💥 Streann Studio is a web-based software that allows content creators to broadcast and personalize live videos to multiple streaming platforms simultaneously, including YouTube Live, Facebook Live, RTMP, HLS, and Twitch.

 

The global video streaming software market size is exploding, as it is expected to grow from USD 6.1 billion in 2020 to USD 15.0 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.7%. The fastest-growing segment is multi-camera streaming, with anticipated triple-digit user adoption for 2022.

Streaming is the new normal, and Streann is growing exponentially thanks to a unique SaaS “plus” model.

“We had an awesome Q3, and Q4 2021 will be even stronger because we see substantial demand for programmatic advertising solutions and connected TVs. Our total addressable market just got bigger, as we are launching new streaming tools to give content creators more options to distribute, engage and monetize,” commented Gio Punzo, CEO at Streann Media.

 

 

About Streann Media

Streann Media is the world’s most innovative and interactive OTT streaming platform. With Streann, content providers can create the next generation Netflix or Spotify, with more than 150 proprietary features for market-first delivery, engagement and monetization technologies. Established in Miami, Florida, the company has won multiple industry awards for its easy-to-use, all-in-one solution and has been deployed in 141 countries with millions of active users. For more information, visit www.streann.com.

08
Oct, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Levan Center secures $700k grant to support South Florida entrepreneurs

Read Time 3 Minutes

The Davie-based Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation has won a $742,787 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration as part of the Venture Challenge funding competition that sits within its broader “Build to Scale” program.

The competition is designed for intermediary organizations like universities and accelerators that are supporting new business ventures that challenge the status quo, commercialize technologies, and create jobs.

The funding will go towards activities that help build our region’s tech ecosystem. “We will use the funding to support the startups as they go through the program,” Teresa Grandal Cusse, Assistant Executive Director of the Levan Center, explained to South Florida Tech Hub. “It will help us keep the program and wraparound services free for the startups.” These services include legal, accounting, and marketing advice.

The provision of these funds is stipulated on the Center matching them dollar for dollar. “The match shows that we’re co-invested in the project,” said Grandal Cusse. The Center is barred from using this funding to directly invest in startups, however. 

Grandal Cusse is an experienced grant writer, having previously run the grants office at Miami Dade College, written grants for the City of Doral’s police department, and led development efforts at a Miami private school. Her advice to startups considering grant funding? Go for it.

“It’s worth committing the time,” she said, noting that a federal grant can take upwards of 100 hours to prepare, while private foundation grants can take 20 to 50 hours. According to Grandal Cusse, it might make sense for a startup to look for non-profit partners, since there tend to be fewer grant opportunities for for-profit businesses – although they do exist. 

“Grants can be very intimidating,” Grandal Cusse noted. “But think about it as a research project with a business plan thrown into it.”

Last week, the 54,000-square-foot, 1,350-person capacity Levan Center opened its doors for a soft launch, ahead of its full launch in early 2022. The Center Levan boasts a wide range of facilities, many of which are the first in South Florida or even the Southeastern United States. Some notable highlights include a state-of-the-art cybersecurity range, a media production studio, and ample space for co-working and meeting.

Apart from these facilities, the Levan Center has developed a series of programs designed for startups and entrepreneurs of all stages. Applications are currently open for their two early-stage programs, Ideate and Incubate. They plan to launch their Accelerate and Post-Accelerate programs in Spring 2022.

John Wensveen, Nova Southeastern University’s Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director of the Levan Center, expressed excitement about what’s to come. “Some of our partners are starting to come in and help iron out some of the kinks,” he said, noting that the Levan Center’s first members have already started working in the space. “We’re going to plan our grand opening event for January 22 and start the year off with a big deal.”

Are you a South Florida innovator? Learn more about the Levan Center and apply to become a member by visiting NSU.edu/innovation.

,
04
Oct, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Virtual Badge wins $120,000 at Startup Showdown

Read Time 3 Minutes

On Thursday, digital ID startup Virtual Badge won a $120,000 investment at the Startup Showdown, a pitch competition run by Atlanta-based venture capital firm Panoramic Ventures.

The event was hosted at Wynwood nightclub Le Rouge. Over 500 people attended to watch pitches from five other startups: Doctor Allways, Gemini Sports, Kazmaleje, Medblue, and Defy Trends, a Miami-based cryptocurrency insights platform that also landed a $120,000 investment at the event.

Virtual Badge is a South Florida startup that develops cloud-based digital identification solutions. This includes IDs for short-term events like conferences and meetings, as well as IDs designed for daily use. The badges make it easy for administrators to manage onboarding, operations, and compliance. 

For contractors, the IDs can hold information like certifications, skills, and licenses, as well as client feedback. For short-term events, the digital badges can contain Covid-related information such as proof of a negative test, screening waivers, and contact tracing if someone becomes infected.

Some of Virtual Badge’s clients and partners include the American Youth Soccer Organization, commercial real estate giant CBRE, and Delray Beach’s Mizner Country Club. Co-founders John Simion and Georges Duplessy, CEO and COO/CTO respectively, launched the startup in 2019 and took part in EndeavorLab.

“This competition was really great,” Duplessy told South Florida Tech Hub. “A lot of good companies participated, and winning it is a confirmation of not only what we’ve built here at Virtual Badge but that we’re on the right track!”

Duplessy explained that this funding will enable Virtual Badge to catalyze their marketing and sales efforts in order to “be able to reach more potential customers and be implemented at more job sites that are currently still using paper to try to track their workers’ compliance.”
He also underscored the important role the South Florida tech community has played in the startup’s success: “I’d like to also thank our team here at Virtual Badge and all the people from the local community including Tech Hub, Endeavor, Shrimp Society and many more that really showed up to support us not only during the event but way before that!”

Nikki Cabus, Interim CEO of South Florida Tech Hub, commented: “I am so proud of Georges and John. They know their stuff backwards and forwards, have perfected their pitch, and have made an effort to get out and about in the tech community. It wasn’t a shocker that they ended up taking home $120k and had so many wonderful people there supporting them.” 

She continued: “Fireworks, strobe lights, music and bottle service. That’s how you do a pitch contest Miami style! Congrats, Virtual Badge!”

Ahead of the Startup Showdown event, Virtual Badge and the other 25 semifinalist companies attended a mentor day, where they received mentoring and pitch advice from top executives at companies such as Calendly, NASDAQ, PwC, and ParkMobile.

Judges for the Startup Showdown included Paul Judge and Mark Buffington, Panoramic Ventures’ Managing Partners; Ana Paula González, Director of the Softbank Miami Initiative; Brian Brackeen, General Partner of Lightship Capital; and Chris Adamo, co-founder of Flamingo Capital.

“Startup Showdown is a unique opportunity for early-stage startups to present to well-known investors and innovators in the tech ecosystem as they look to take their companies to the next level,” Panoramic’s Paul Judge said in a statement. He said the goal with the Startup Showdown is to “democratize the funding process in order to showcase the most promising talent in the next frontier of innovation, regardless of race, gender, or geographic location.”

Interested in applying to pitch or RSVPing to attend a future Startup Showdown session? Visit StartUpShowdown.vc.

Learn more about VirtualBadge by visiting their website, VirtualBadge.com.

, , ,
20
Sep, 2021

By Nikki Cabus

GenoBank.io Parters To Issue Tamper-Proof COVID-19 Test Results using Blockchain

Read Time 4 Minutes

GenoSUR and GenoBank.io to Issue Tamper- Proof COVID-19 Test Results using Blockchain

GenoBank.io and GenoSUR have formed a dynamic collaboration to verify COVID-19 test result authenticity to protect against “photoshop” fraud and ensure the safety of residents and visitors in Florida and Latin America.

GenoSUR with diagnostic laboratories based in Miami, Florida and Chile will certify the results of the SARS-CoV2 tests using blockchain technology and cryptographic signatures developed by GenoBank.io, headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA with a hub in Miami, Florida. This cryptographic process will make every certificate tamper-proof and can be easily verified on a public blockchain, an open-source platform developed for decentralized applications and interoperable blockchains. “I see blockchain playing a significant role in the future of patient information authentication. Thanks to GenoBank.io and Daniel Uribe’s vision, we will have the opportunity to be one of the very few to implement and innovate this technology within the healthcare sector in Miami and beyond,” said Camilo Padron, GenoSUR Head of Business Development.

In essence, the collaboration creates tamperproof “COVID-19 Proof of Negative Test Certifications” that can be verified internationally and by authorities at points of entry (airports, maritime, employees and workplace, schools, universities & colleges, educational and technical institutions, the hospitality industry, etc.) via QR Code, without requiring additional personal data of patients or those responsible for their healthcare. 

By ensuring authenticity with this blockchain, this consortium will be protecting international and local travelers’ health, and their healthcare data’s privacy. This protection can also be extended when testing residents and related workers in any sector of Miami, Florida, the State itself, Latin America, and the rest of the world. “We’re very honored to be accepted by GenoSUR leaders, Matias Gutierrez and Camilo Padron as their strategic partners to develop privacy-preserving and tamperproof solutions based on blockchain for ethical laboratories like GenoSUR,” said Daniel Uribe, GenoBank.io Co-Founder and CEO.

The test data is stamped on the blockchain in a “Zero-Copy” mode. This means that GenoBank.io does not retain any of the certificates nor personal data. The “COVID-19 Proof of Negative Test Certification” is owned by the individual and it is aligned with best-in-class digital self-sovereignty practices that favor privacy above all else.

 

The solution developed by GenoBank.io will allow:

  1. Traceability to the “Kit” used to perform the SARS-CoV-2 detection test.
  2. Generation of a unique digital signature with blockchain technology to the accredited and vetted Healthcare Professional/Lab Director to perform the test, which can be verified globally.
  3. Issuance of an immutable time stamp, which gives certainty about the validity period of the test — three days — without risk of falsification (Digital Time Bomb if requested).
  4. Protection of donor/passenger/worker right to digital privacy, since GenoBank.io’s platform allows the lab results document certification without exchanging personal data (“Zero-Copy” mode).
  5. Once the “COVID-19 Proof of Negative Test Certification” has fulfilled its mission, users/patients can exercise their “right to privacy and anonymity” (or similar), through their privacy rights (or GDPR in Europe, etc.).

 

About Genobank.io

GenoBank.io leverages blockchain technology (BioNFTs) to help donors establish ownership and control over their biosamples and genomic data. GenoBank.io is the only option with three pending patents over their unique, decentralized lab data management platforms designed to protect multi-omics data and the donors’ identity. In addition, Genobank.io is also fast becoming a data rights platform for botany (for example, premium coffee owners who want to protect and prove the DNA lineage of their plants) and animals (for example, Holstein cattle breeders interested in the same, protection and proof). The company licenses its technology to research and commercial entities (laboratories, biobanks, research institutions, biosample kit manufacturers, universities and colleges, educational and technical institutions, and enterprise healthcare in corporations) enabling them to comply with data protection and privacy laws with full transparency toward the donors (data subjects). For more information, visit: https://genobank.io/

 

About GenoSUR 

GenoSUR is a full service COVID19 PCR test sample collection provider and laboratory located in Miami, Florida and Santiago, Chile. GenoSUR specializes in providing its own patented PCR test sampling kits to clinics, labs, and testing centers, plus, includes 4-hour turn-around result times at its CLIA laboratory facility. In addition, the company also provides their clients advanced cloud-based software to facilitate the flow of patient management, scheduling, and reporting to the State. In addition, GenoSUR offers their service to all types of local, statewide, and national, and global businesses so that staff or employees can receive safe and quick test results. Businesses include Hospitality, Logistics, Airlines, State/County Departments and Private Corporations. GenoSUR processes daily sample analysis with capacity to process up to 2000 samples per day. GenoSUR has been recognized by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council and awarded the key to Miami-Dade County by Mayor Carlos Gimenez for its contribution to the county for its innovative solution to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information visit: www.genosur.com

13
Sep, 2021

By Nikki Cabus

Member Highlight | Fuel Venture Capital unveils new headquarters with ribbon cutting

Read Time 3 Minutes

Fuel VC expands its footprint  following banner year in 2020 and the explosive growth of Miami’s tech scene with the opening of Fuel Station in Coconut Grove. 

Amid an inflection point of Miami’s startup and venture capital landscape, Fuel Venture Capital, founded in Miami’s Wynwood Arts District in 2017, is proud to officially announce its expansion and the relocation of its headquarters to Coconut Grove. On September 9, 2021 the Fuel Venture Capital team alongside Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony. 

The move follows a year of unprecedented growth for Fuel VC. Following an agreement to enter into a co-invest alliance with leading European fund IDC Ventures and its portfolio of high-impact technology investments, Fuel VC’s overseas footprint has expanded significantly. Today, the fund has positions in 31 startups, including three unicorns and five soonicorns projected to surpass billion-dollar valuations by year-end. 

Fuel Venture Capital has deployed over $50 million to South Florida based companies alone, including Taxfyle, Bolt, Terran Orbital, Ubiquia, So Stereo, Unitea and more. 

“Fuel Venture Capital set roots in Miami during a time when it was unorthodox to be championing the creative economy. But my faith in our city’s potential to be fertile ground for startup innovation was always strong, and our fund’s growth serves as additional evidence of my commitment to growing alongside the community around it,” states Jeff Ransdell, Founding Partner and Managing Director of Fuel VC. 

Adds Maggie Vo, Managing General Partner and Chief Information Officer: “It is a privilege to have a front-row seat to the evolution of Miami, and to be playing an active role in that transformation, as my partners, peers and I work to expand its horizons further into the future and across new industries.” 

Deemed “Fuel Station”, the headquarters comprises three levels designed with collaboration and style in mind. Ransdell built the office of his dreams during the pandemic and filled it with unique pieces from LA-based photographer Tony Kelly and artist Florian Eymann. The office is shared with Fuel VC portfolio companies Taxfyle and BOLT, as well as partner firms such as IDC Ventures, legal partner Leslie Ziegel of SMGQ Law, Maquia Capital Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ: MAQC) and communications agency of record, The Tag Experience. Throughout the 20,000 sq. ft space, you will find lounge areas, conference rooms, coffee stations, a bar, billiards table, ping pong table and custom OhmniLabs robots (a Fuel VC portfolio company) that encourage idea sharing amongst companies. More than 45 employees and six companies currently occupy the Fuel Station. 

Additionally, the famed “Fuel Wall of Fame,” where investors, founders, and VIP’s sign the neon backlit wall adorns signatures from investors and visitors such as Grammy winning superstar Pitbull, 4-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, Miami tech spokerson and Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez, and many more.

“I commend Jeff Ransdell and the team for seeing the potential in Miami and making it their hub. With the official opening of the new office, Fuel Venture Capital has set the foundation for others looking to establish themselves among our growing tech community,” says Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez.

07
Sep, 2021

By Riley Kaminer

Member Spotlight | Improving

Read Time 3 Minutes

Mission: To develop innovative IT solutions and processes to help their clients realize tactical and strategic business objectives. 

Launched: 2007

HQ: Dallas

FTEs: 1,200

Website: Improving.com

If nothing else, the pandemic has underscored the crucial importance for businesses to be forward-thinking in their approach to IT. Consulting firm Improving understands these struggles, and works to help clients use technology to catalyze the growth of their business.

Primarily, Improving’s services are focused around consulting – everything from digital transformation projects to business analytics and intelligence. The company also provides application development services such as web, cloud, and mobile development. 

Additionally, Improving has an active training and coaching business. They are the largest provider of training for Scrum.org in North America. While many businesses engage Improving to help train their staff, individuals can join these virtual classes as well. (You can check out all the classes Improving offers on their website.)

The majority of Improving’s client base consists of mid-market to larger companies. They work with companies across a variety of sectors, including transport, financial services, and energy. Each client engagement looks different. Sometimes, Improving deploys an entire team to work on a project, and other times they send in experts to augment an existing team.

Kristin Johnson is VP of Marketing at Improving. She has been at the firm for almost ten years and has seen it expand from 150 people to more than 1,200 employees (or “Improvers,” as they are known internally) across the US, Mexico, and Canada. 

Johnson reported that the company had a small dip in business in the middle of 2020 due to the pandemic. Some Improvers even volunteered to reduce their salary temporarily, to help the company’s cash-flow (they have now all been paid back “and then some,” said Johnson). However, she asserted that the company has seen significant growth: “It’s truly a testament to the dedication that all of our Improvers have been putting forth.” 

“I’ve loved working with Improving,” she told Tech Hub South Florida. Johnson highlighted Improving’s company culture as one of the aspects she values most about the company: “A good company culture is not something to take for granted.”

Improving’s values are excellence, involvement, and dedication. This helps fulfill the company’s ambition, in Johnson’s words, “to change the perception of the IT professional.” She continued: “Truly building trust with one another, as well as our customers, is huge. And we’re deeply rooted in our commitment to establishing that trust.”

Part of this mission is rooted in the ideas of conscious capitalism, a non-profit movement followed by companies like Whole Foods and the Container Store. “Conscious Capitalism has four pillars,” Johnson explained, “purpose, stakeholder orientation, culture, and leadership.”

Johnson is involved in her local Conscious Capitalism branch, and sees it as a way to validate a lot of the values that she said Improving was already living.

Community is important to Improving. “We are passionate supporters of communities,” Johnson said. When able, Improving provides space, food, and drinks free of charge to organizations like user groups and meetups. “It’s our way of giving back.”

Learn more about Improving by visiting their website.

,
1 … 22 23 24 25 26 … 41

LATEST POSTS

SUBSCRIBE







Member Spotlight | Boca Code
Member Spotlight | Techstrong Group
Infrastructure bill includes billions for broadband
Global Entrepreneurship Week shines a spotlight on South Florida’s tech scene
Tech Hub hosts event matching K-12 teachers with local tech experts
Visualbility creates winning solution at Hack for Inclusion event
Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava addresses 200 private investors at Miami conference
Tech Hub intern receives scholarship from Junior Achievement
Member Spotlight | Angelus Advisors
South Florida Based Streann Media Revenue Jumps 85% in Q3 2021!
Levan Center secures $700k grant to support South Florida entrepreneurs
Virtual Badge wins $120,000 at Startup Showdown
GenoBank.io Parters To Issue Tamper-Proof COVID-19 Test Results using Blockchain
Member Highlight | Fuel Venture Capital unveils new headquarters with ribbon cutting
Member Spotlight | Improving