Popular ITPalooza to return Dec. 8 at new location

The South Florida Technology Alliance announced its 5th annual ITPalooza will take place on Thursday, Dec. 8, at a new venue, the Signature Grand, located at 6900 W State Road 84 in Davie.

ITPalooza is an annual gathering of South Florida's technology professionals, CIOs and CTOs, user groups, educators and companies. Anticipating more than 2,000 registrants, 30 speakers, 100 sponsors and 30 tech groups from across South Florida, it is primed to deliver unbelievable value to the South Florida Tech community.

This event is one of South Florida’s largest tech conferences and  includes educational speaker tracks, a hiring fair, hackathon, Agile Group, CIO track, IT Expo, charity toy drive and after-party. ITPalooza will feature a dedicated Management Track in conjunction with the iCoast CIO Council and will focus on the unique needs of CIOs and other top-level IT executives. Last year, about 1,500 attended ITPalooza, then held at Nova Southeastern University (pictured above).  

“ITPalooza 2016 is a celebration of technologists in South Florida,” said SFTA President and ITPalooza event chairman Rick Sebaly.  “Connie Cabrera and her ITP Planning Committee have done a great job making this year’s event the best it can be.”

Registrations start at 8 AM and there will be a 9 AM keynote speech from Centrify. The event will also feature a second keynote at 5:00 PM featuring an executive from Amazon Web Services. The evening party and social event will commence at 6 PM.

Since its inception, ITPalooza has raised more than $125,000 in cash and toys for various South Florida non-profits including Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ STEM Advisory Board, The Stockdale Foundation and US Marine’s Toys for Tots.   

The event culminates in a networking holiday party with food and drink available for sale.

Admission is $60, granting individuals access to all activities taking place throughout the day. Unwrapped toys  for the “Toys for Tots” charity are welcome.

Online registration can be accessed at itpalooza.com or on Eventbrite at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/itpalooza-2016-tickets-25847957938?aff=itpsite. VIP and Student tickets are also available for purchase. Student admission is $15 with the presentation of a valid student ID. Information on sponsorship opportunities is also available on the site.

 - Submitted by ITPalooza

Read 2015 coverage of ITPalooza here.

Carlton Fields provides free legal resources to Florida tech entrepreneurs

Florida-based law firm Carlton Fields has unveiled LaunchtoThrive.com, a microsite that provides legal documents, resources, and free counsel to entrepreneurs in the technology industry.

The aim is to help startups in regional tech-growth markets – including Miami, Tampa and Orlando – master multiple business challenges by providing startup-specific legal services and support at no cost. The site has launched in English and Spanish to ensure that Hispanic entrepreneurs are provided with resources catered to their needs.

“LaunchtoThrive.com expands on Carlton Fields’ longstanding commitment to entrepreneurs in Florida and across the nation. It allows our lawyers to form new relationships and help entrepreneurs grow their businesses from the ground up,” said Joe Swanson, an attorney in the firm’s Tampa office. “Local institutions, such as the University of South Florida and the Tampa Innovation Alliance, provide further, invaluable support to our relationships with these pioneers at a time when Tampa is undergoing a startup boom.”

Carlton Fields’ commitment to local entrepreneurs has led to multiple partnerships throughout Florida.

“The Spanish language component of LaunchtoThrive.com is essential in that it allows us to reach out to a population of entrepreneurs that has been underserviced nationwide, and that is essential to Florida’s future economic growth,” said Swanson.

Hispanics are indeed at the forefront of creating businesses across sectors. A 2015 report by Geoscape and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce revealed that Hispanics are the most likely to become entrepreneurs; in fact, the number of Hispanic owned businesses was projected to increase to more than 4.07 million in 2015, a 57 percent increase since 2007.

Free legal resources become especially crucial in light of recent data showing that less than half of all startups reach the five-year anniversary of their founding. Furthermore, legal issues are frequently cited as an impediment to success; the cost of top-notch lawyers often discourages startups from even seeking counsel – a problem Carlton Fields intends to solve.

LaunchtoThrive.com features easy-to-access links and downloads of documents such as bylaws, articles of organization and incorporation, trademark assignment and license forms, nondisclosure and employment agreements, and much more. A ‘Recent Resources’ queue includes expert articles and interviews on time management, wage and hour laws, considerations for going public, and data security preparedness, among other topics.

“We’re partnering with diverse entrepreneurs to support the comprehensive business strategies of Florida’s emerging companies,” said Jack Clabby, a shareholder in Carlton Fields’ Tampa office, who has worked with startups and other growing businesses throughout Florida.

“There’s an adventuresome spirit in Florida right now, and we’re happy to be a part of it,” added Gary Sasso, Carlton Fields’ President and CEO.

Visit LaunchtoThrive.com to learn more. Connect with us on Twitter @LaunchtoThrive.

- Submitted by Carlton Fields

How to get a hot tech job? Miami Dade College offering big data degree

By Nancy Dahlberg / [email protected]

Data scientist, data analyst, data architect, business intelligence analyst – the job titles vary but companies can’t seem to get enough of them in this hot tech sector.

What’s more, these data analysts that prepare and analyze large data sets are garnering average salaries exceeding $100,000, several recent national salary surveys show. Yet, companies say workers lack the skills for the abundant opportunities in both public and private sectors, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, energy, education, logistics and construction.

To help fill that gap, Miami Dade College’s School of Engineering and Technology on the Wolfson campus plans to launch a new big data program in spring 2017, becoming the first educational institution in Florida to offer an undergraduate degree in data analytics. The program was recently approved by the State of Florida.

“Data science and analytics has been identified as a field where the shortfall in the workforce will be in the hundreds of thousands,” said Djuradj Babic, director of MDC’s School of Engineering and Technology, citing a McKinsey & Co. report that forecast nearly 200,000 vacancies nationwide in the field by 2018. “The effect of this gap in related fields such as information technology and cybersecurity will be threefold.” 

The program will begin with a College Credit Certificate in Business Intelligence, progress to an Associate in Science in Business Intelligence, and culminate in a Bachelor of Science in Data Analytics. “As we researched nationwide, we found that degrees were only being offered at the graduate or post-graduate level. Our undergraduate pathway is a model that can be replicated and applied nationwide,” Babic said. 

 Industry partners include NextEra Energy, Siemens Energy, the Business Higher Education Forum, Oracle, SAS, Accenture, Miami-Dade County, Miami Children’s Hospital and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, MDC said. For more information on the program, visit http://entec.mdc.edu/BS-DA.htm.

[Read more: Tech talent in South Florida: Making progress?] 

Mindful in Miami

 

This week my two-part package on mindful startups was published in the Miami Herald's Business Monday section.

Startups out to build a mindful Miami

By Nancy Dahlberg / [email protected]

Miami a magnet for mindfulness? Really?

If you are reading this stuck in Interstate 95 gridlock, stressed out at work, or distressed by news of yet another senseless shooting death or an only-in-Miami fraud, you may think not. But a growing number of local startups are betting the time has come for mindfulness and well-being in the Magic City.

Consider this: While yoga classes, spas and life coaches have long been a part of the scene, the past year has brought businesses specializing in serene spaces, education and training. Product companies create clothing and accessories, even reminders to be mindful. Food product companies are taking root, and farmer’s markets and healthy, organic food restaurants are now plentiful, including Dr Smood, which launched in Wynwood and South Miami in December and is now on a fast track to global expansion. There’s a bit of mindful-tech, too: A Miami Beach startup uses biofeedback to help you change your state of mind.

Events are multiplying, with Miami’s first mindfulness festival next month and a three-day World Happiness Summit planned for March.

Read the full story and see the photo gallery here.

 

The Sacred Space opens a mindful world to Miami

For founder Karla Dascal, the $10 million Sacred Space renovation was the culmination of a personal journey into mindfulness and well-being. ‘It’s not for people who need it, it’s for people who want it,’ Dascal says. (Part of the garden area is pictured above.) 

Read the full story of Sacred Space and see the photo gallery here.

 

NEXT MONTH: MODERN LIFE, A MINDFULNESS FESTIVAL

What: Exploring mindfulness in Miami, Modern ŌM and The Sacred Space Miami present Modern Life, a first-of-its-kind festival offering diverse practices to help counter stress and information overload of the modern world. At Modern Life, festival-goers will not only learn how to cultivate conscious living in a high-vibration environment but will also have the opportunity to connect with like-minded doers. The curated program includes activities and workshops across meditation, music, art, fitness, food, entrepreneurship and technology led by some of the most sought-after teachers in the world of mindfulness.

Who: Scheduled speakers include rock-star shaman Alyson Charles; yogi and creator of The Sonic Butterfly Harp, Andrea Brook; Founder of 1111 Vibes, Andrew Clark; founder of Center of the Cyclone, Biet Simkin; MindBodyGreen meditation expert, Charlie Knoles; founder of Creative Insight Journey and life coach, Jennifer Grace; founder of Skanda, Ken von Roenn.

Miami’s community will also share their lessons and passions. Among them: Tony Cho, real-estate developer, will speak on building mindful communities. Ebony Smith, corporate coach, will offer a workshop on mindful leadership. Paul Toliuszis, famed yoga teacher, will discuss Oneness. Michael Capponi, nightlife impresario, will share his deep interest in humanitarianism and mysticism.

When: 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Oct. 15

Where: The Sacred Space Miami, 105 NE 24^th St., Miami

Cost: $59-$69 for half-day passes; $109 for full day (prices rise $10 in October)

Tickets/more information: www.modernlifefest.com

 

 

 

 

MDC's Idea Center, Tel Aviv University hosting daylong CyberMiami tech conference

 The Idea Center at Miami Dade College (MDC), in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, will host CyberMiami, a one-day technology conference featuring cybersecurity experts from business, education, and intelligence fields on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m. at MDC's Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami.

The conference will connect the business ecosystem of the Latin American market with top entrepreneurs from the U.S. and Israel, where there are currently more than 400 cybersecurity companies in operation.

“We live in an increasingly risky world, from private information, personal banking and government infrastructure,” said Leandro Finol, executive director of the Idea Center.  “Cyber risk should be at the top of the agenda of both executives and the general public.  CyberMiami is a forum where we are bringing top cybersecurity leaders to discuss the most relevant issues of today and tomorrow.”

Attendees at CyberMiami will learn from cybersecurity industry leaders about defending and protecting their organization against imminent cyber-attacks in order to prevent data breaches. The conference will include discussions about cyber threats as well as an exhibition of cybersecurity technologies.

The lineup of guest speakers at CyberMiami includes: Hadar Blutrich, CEO of Source Defence; Inon Elroy, Economic Minister of North America; Sam Friedman, director of sales of Cyberbit; David Gladshtein, director of business at Minerva Labs; Avital Grushcovski, V.P Product of Source Defence; Yasmin Hami, business development manager of Votiro; Greg Lenox director of sales of Secdo; Derek Schwartz, CEO North America of Safe-T; and Shay Zandani, CEO of Cytegic.

To register or for more information, please visit http://cyberweekmiami.com.

 WHAT:            The Idea Center @MDC to Host CyberMiami

WHEN:            Thursday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

WHERE:         The Idea Center @MDC, Building 8, 1st Floor, 315 N.E. Second Ave.

COST: $150

- Submitted by Miami Dade College

Entrepreneurship Datebook: Events, workshops in South Florida

The State of Miami's Tech Hub: Jurnid Sessions presents part III of this series, with investors Estaban Reyes and Mark Kingdon, and entrepreneurs Gabriela Sabate and Ric Herrero, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept 27, Miami Ad School, 571 NW 28th St. More info on Eventbrite.   

Hispanic Unity of Florida's Entrepreneur Summit: Successful entrepreneurs, business experts, educational institutions and marketing gurus will share their insights and best tips for success at this free summit, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesdday, Sept. 28, Nova Southeastern University,  Carl DeSantis Building, Fort Lauderdale. More information: www.Hufesummit.org

The Innovation M Conference: Three-day-long mix of inspiring entrepreneurs, educators and innovators that will be held Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 28-30, at The Idea Center at Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. Each day’s event kicks in at 5:30 p.m.; Peter Blacker, executive vice president of digital media and emerging businesses at NBCUniversal, is keynote speaker. Free. More information here.

Refresh Miami Demo Day: South Florida startups  AlulA, Bid.Aero, Citizen, Coach HQ, DocuVital and Moulin.io were selected to pitch for prizes that will  propel their  business forward, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, Miami Dade College, Chapman Conference Center (Building 3, 2nd Floor, Room 3210). More info here or refreshmiami.com.

LaunchCode's HappyHire: Are you an aspiring technologist looking to start your career in software development? A CTO on the hunt for rockstar coders? Come join us for LaunchCode's HappyHire. Employers including MasterCard, LifeWallet and others will be on hand, 6 p.m.-8 p.m, Thursday, Sept. 29,  Venture Cafe Miami, 1951 NW 7th Ave., Miami. More info: happyhire.eventbrite.com

Have an event you would like considered for Entrepreneurship Datebook? Email it to [email protected]. Want to see a more comprehensive listing? Check out the Community Events section of the revamped refreshmiami.com.

Spotlight: Rising Tide Car Wash makes waves in social impact

From left, Andrew D’Eri, Donna D’Eri, John D’Eri, Tom D’Eri and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, celebrate ‘Employing the Full Spectrum,’ part of Starbucks’ new ‘Upstanders’ series.

This social entrepreneurial company focuses on employing adults with autism. 

Name: Rising Tide Car Wash

Location: 7201 N. State Road 7, Parkland

What it is: A car wash with a focus on employing adults with autism. 

Website: risingtidecarwash.com

Services provided: Washes, some cleaning services. Prices start at $6 for a simple, basic wash of the exterior and use of a free vacuum. 

How it began: An existing car wash was purchased and renovated in 2012, and then launched as Rising Tide in April 2013 in Parkland. The business gives job opportunities to people with autism. When John and his son Tom D’Eri learned that 80 to 90 percent of adults with autism are unemployed, they set out to change that statistic. The D’Eris researched options and determined a car wash would be the ideal business for creating jobs for people with autism, like Tom’s brother Andrew, who likes structure and performing repetitive tasks and follows safety guidelines to the letter. 

Management team: John D’Eri, CEO; Tom D’Eri, co-founder and COO; Tom Sena, CFO. Dr. Michael Alessandri, executive director of the University of Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, is an advisor.

Number of employees: 42, with 35 on the autism spectrum. 

Competitors: Others are in the area including Express Car Wash in Boca Raton and Sample Road Auto Spa in Pompano Beach.

Year-over-year: Six months after it started its car-wash operation, the business had tripled its customer base of 35,000 to 40,000 and had its first profitable month in October 2013. In its first full year, Rising Tide did about 110,000 car washes. In its second year, it did 142,000. For its third year, the company projects 160,000 to 170,000 washes. 

Milestone: 

September 2016: Starbucks is highlighting the business in one of 10 videos “about ordinary people doing extraordinary things to create positive change in their communities,” as it says in a news release. The “Upstanders” series, as it’s called, is available through the coffee chain’s mobile app, website (Starbucks.com/Upstanders) and its YouTube account. Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, senior vice president of public affairs at Starbucks and the executive producer of the company’s social impact media initiatives, wrote and produced the series. Shot over two days in August, the six-minute video entitled “Employing the Full Spectrum” shows Andrew D’Eri drying cars and polishing tires with fellow employees at Rising Tide as well as scenes from D’Eri’s family’s home life in Fort Lauderdale. John and Tom D’Eri also are in the video.

Watch video below:

Upcoming: A second location in Margate is planned, with groundbreaking expected in the next two weeks. It’s projected to be completely built in about six months, with a spring opening. The new car wash  will be on 1.5 acres at 2970 N. State Road 7 that were purchased for $1.5 million and will be about one and a half times larger than the one in Parkland. It will cost about $3.4 million to get  it up and running. More than 50 people will work at the Margate location. 

Major keys to success: “You can’t do this without dedicated employees,” John D’Eri said. He cites “the dedication of all his employees, their willingness to follow proper protocol, their desire to deliver value, the fact that they treat clients with respect, value their position in the company and create a culture of acceptance” for the success of Rising Tide.

Strategy for success: John D’Eri said the company plans to replicate the success of the business locally, regionally and then nationally with a hub-and-spoke concept with the Parkland operation as a hub. In addition, he said, the company plans to analyze and use the knowledge gained to produce a superior product and delve into other businesses, using best practices as they relate to people on the autism spectrum — “the autism advantage,” he calls it.

RORY CLARKE

 

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To see all Startup Spotlights, go to the Startup Spotlight category of this blog.

 

MDC’s Idea Center, NBCUniversal and Telemundo to present free Innovation M Conference next week

The Idea Center at Miami Dade College  is partnering with NBCUniversal and Telemundo to present the first ever Innovation M Conference, a three-day event from Sept. 28 – 30, featuring an extraordinary mix of inspiring entrepreneurs, educators and innovators.

Innovation M will explore a new America. This groundbreaking initiative will include experiential learning, inspiring talks and wrap-up with a thrilling community challenge. Sessions will discuss leadership, media and social innovation in the millennial age, among other topics.

Guest speakers will include Peter Blacker, EVP digital media and emerging businesses at NBCUniversal; Durell Coleman, founder and CEO of DC Design; Dr. Constance Iloh, assistant professor at UC Irvine; Zivthan Dubrovsky, platform lead at Bioinspired Robotics; Reny Dias Arango, VP insights and consumer intel at NBCUniversal; Lisa Atia, creative brand strategist at Blavity; Nuria Santamaria Wolfe, digital media and tech strategy at Twitter; Vanessa Hauc, Telemundo correspondent; Francesca Kennedy, founder and CEO of lx Style; and Christine Souffrant, Venededy founder. 

"The generation that created Facebook, Uber, Change.org, and countless other disruptive platforms are poised to reshape politics and government in the United States and abroad, said Leandro Finol, the Idea Center’s executive director. “We are thrilled to partner with NBC Universal and Telemundo to host this extraordinary Conference."

Get free tickets to this event at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovation-m-conference-join-3-days-of-innovation-tickets-27155776659?mc_eid=ce9c4e6266&mc_cid=0013f1416a.  

For more information, visit www.theideacenter.co.  

WHAT:        Innovation M Conference

WHEN:        Wednesday – Friday, Sept. 28 – 30, various times  

WHERE:     MDC’s Wolfson Campus, Building 8, 5th floor,  315 N.E. Second Ave. 

- Submitted by Miami Dade College

For small businesses stung by Zika, here's help

By Nancy Dahlberg / [email protected]

Small businesses who suffered business losses due to being in the Wynwood “Zika zone” may be eligible for a loan program.

Miami Bayside Foundation, an economic development nonprofit, will be extending loans of up to $20,000 to minority- and woman-owned businesses in the city of Miami that can demonstrate their business has been adversely affected by the Zika vrus.

The new Zika Emergency Assistance Loan Program, or ZEAL, part of the Miami Bayside Foundation’s micro-loan program, is designed to specifically provide assistance with payroll expenses in order to ensure job retention in what was previously designated “Zika Zone.” The loans are for two years at 6 percent and the only fees are $100 for pulling credit and closing costs, said Kathleen Murphy, the foundation’s executive director.

The Zika zone designation was lifted by Gov. Rick Scott on Monday, but businesses are still feeling the impact, said Murphy. "We know local small businesses are struggling to recover until the season kicks in and our number one priority is to help them stay open and ensure they are able to pay their employees."

For more information on loan criteria and to apply, visit www.miamibaysidefoundation.org.

Endeavor Miami honors Goldman Properties CEO for vision, leadership

By Nancy Dahlberg / [email protected]

Endeavor Miami will honor Jessica Goldman Srebnick, a serial entrepreneur who has played a major role in the development of Miami’s burgeoning Wynwood Arts District, including the expansion of the Wynwood Walls, an international attraction.

Because of her vision and leadership, Goldman Srebnick, CEO of Goldman Properties and co-founder and CEO of Goldman Global Arts, will receive Endeavor’s IMPACT Award at Endeavor Miami’s third annual gala next month, said Laura Maydon, managing director of Endeavor Miami, a non-profit that supports and accelerates high-impact entrepreneurs in South Florida.

Since 2012, Goldman Srebnick has been at the helm of Goldman Properties, an award-winning real estate and development company credited with revitalizing the Wynwood neighborhood. Founded in 1968, previously Goldman Properties spearheaded revitalizations of at-risk pedestrian neighborhoods in New York and Philadelphia.

“Each neighborhood has its own DNA and soul,” said Goldman Srebnick. “We use different forms of art to accentuate that soul and make the neighborhood more accessible and inviting to the public.”

This week, Goldman Srebnick announced the renovation of Miami’s new Hard Rock Stadium with giant street art murals through its newest company, Goldman Global Arts. Goldman Global Arts is dedicated to major art projects.

Miami is the perfect ecosystem to try new things, said Goldman Srebnick. “We are a transformational and aspirational city, one that has matured to the true international destination that still has room for growth an exploration. Together we should have a goal of making Miami the perfect case study for what happens when entrepreneurial spirit is set free.”

The event will celebrate the high-impact entrepreneurship movement in Miami, uniting more than 350 business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors. Endeavor Miami is the first U.S. affiliate of Endeavor, a global nonprofit dedicated to accelerating entrepreneurship. With the support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Endeavor Miami launched in 2013, and since then,15 South Florida companies – most recently Pincho Factory – have been accepted into Endeavor’s global network of business leaders, mentors and investors.

Last year, Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Square and founder of LaunchCode, and Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, co-founder of Gilt and GLAMSQUAD, were honored.

The Endeavor Miami 2016 Gala will be Saturday, Oct. 22, from 7 p.m. to midnight at Wynwood’s Soho Studios. Tickets: www.endeavormiami.org. Proceeds support Endeavor Miami.