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6+ things to know in #MiamiTech: Crypto jobs surge, calling all aging-tech startups, and much more

Nancy Dahlberg
Nancy Dahlberg
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Happy Miami Hack Week, everyone! If you are attending Miami Hack Week, check out the events here and their new Declassified Miami Hack Week Survival Guide here.

While you are hacking away or supporting those who are, here are a half dozen things to know in the #MiamiTech cryptoverse:

1

Miami-Fort Lauderdale in top 5 for crypto job postings

Crypto-related job postings in the U.S. surged 395% in 2021 from a year before, and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area was in the top five markets, According to a LinkedIn analysis, the San Francisco Bay Area, Austin, New York City, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, and Denver saw the most crypto job postings in 2021.

By contrast in 2020, the top five areas with most crypto job listings were the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Area, Greater Philadelphia and Los Angeles. 

As we know here in Miami, crypto interest is surging, thanks to the enthusiasm of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, the Bitcoin Conference coming to Miami, and the explosion of events during Techbasel. As our Refresh Miami blog has documented, the number of crypto-focused startups has been on the increase, and startups like MoonPay, QuickNode, Securitize, Recur and others have been raising serious capital. Read more about the LinkedIn data in this MarketWatch report.

2

Startups can apply to pitch at AARP Innovation Labs contest in Miami

Calling all entrepreneurs with a solution to empower us to choose how we live as we age: Here’s a chance to get your startup out there and perhaps win $20,000, too.

AARP Innovation Labs and the City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s Venture Miami Team are collaborating to host the Connect and Thrive Pitch Competition on March 9, 2022 in Miami.

This pitch competition is open to US based early stage startups whose solution answers the challenge statement:  How might we unleash disruptive tech solutions that bridge opportunities for learning, entertainment, and connection to foster inclusive communities where everyone thrives?

Early stage startups are invited to apply at bit.ly/connectpitch.  The deadline is February 3, 2022.  

The winner of the AARP Innovation Labs pitch competition supported by Venture Miami (City of Miami) will receive up to $20,000 and an opportunity to meet with Mayor Francis Suarez for a “Cafecito Talk”. The audience’s choice winner will receive $5,000. 

3

Endeavor Miami opens applications for accelerator programs

Endeavor Miami’s ScaleUp and EndeavorLAB Programs have accelerate 75 companies, which together have generated over $50 million in annual revenues, employed 651 people and raised $68 million to date. Endeavor Miami is accepting applications for all 2022 cohorts of its accelerated growth programs, ScaleUp Program and EndeavorLAB. Here is information from Endeavor about them:

ScaleUp Program is a four-month acceleration program designed to support startups with high-impact potential in the Miami ecosystem to create a path for scale. Selection criteria include 2 full-time employees, being based in Florida, having product-market-fit and generating between $800K and $2.5M in annual revenues. The ScaleUp Program Spring Cohort will run between March 15th and June 23rd. The deadline to apply is Sunday, Feb, 20. Founders participating in this program pay a fixed fee and do not give up any equity. For more details and to apply, go here.

EndeavorLAB is a two-month, audience-specific, accelerated growth program designed to support local early-stage companies in establishing their business foundations post-revenue generation. Selection criteria include being based in Florida, having product-market-fit and generating between $50K and $500K in annual revenues. Founders participating in this program receive a scholarship sponsored by the partner.The first EndeavorLAB of the year will be powered by Future of Cities, a mission-driven organization and consortium dedicated to transforming communities through sustainable development. The program willfocus on assisting minority-led climate tech companies creating innovative solutions to help improve our resilience to climate change or reduce our carbon footprint. Running between March 8th and May 5th, with an application deadline on February 13th. For more details and to apply, go here.

Here are the other programs scheduled for 2022. All of the programs are open to applicants:

  • ScaleUp Program, Fall Cohort: August 30 – December 8, 2022
  • EndeavorLAB, TBA: May 18th – July 14th, 2022
  • EndeavorLAB for Black Founders, powered by Dell for Startups: June 28th – August 25th, 2022
  • EndeavorLAB, TBA: Sept 28th – Nov 22nd, 2022.

4

4Geeks Academy, Shrimp Society partner up

4Geeks Academy, a Miami-based software programming academy, is teaming up with the Shrimp Society, a community of ambitious builders, to provide all students who enroll in and graduate from 4Geeks’ bootcamps within the next six months with a free Shrimp NFT. This will give them access to the Shrimp Society’s community of entrepreneurs, creators, hustlers, developers, and investors.

In addition, 4Geeks hopes to partner with companies and organizations that will sponsor scholarships for underrepresented minorities to attend the bootcamp for free and receive the Shrimp.

5

Startups selected to present at next Florida Venture Capital Conference

The Florida Venture Forum, Florida’s largest statewide support organization for investors and entrepreneurs, announced the 19 high growth companies selected to present at its 2022 Florida Venture Capital Conference, February 8-9, 2022, in Orlando. Three are from South Florida. They are (descriptions by Florida Venture Forum):

  • Calculum, (www.calculum.ai), Miami: The company has introduced the first web-based, automated Payment Terms Optimization Platform that is fully developed and production-ready. Using AI and predictive analytics, the ADA Platform of Calculum provides the client with comprehensive benchmarking and exclusive insights into its competitors and suppliers.
  • Streann Media, (www.streann.com/), Doral: Streann’s mobile-first product suite includes more than 150+ tools and features that enable client content to be viewed on as many platforms (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Roku, Connected TVs, etc.) and devices (phone, tablet, desktop or web) as possible. Programmatic Ads Technology patent pending, that increases Viewability Rates & Completion Rates with non-intrusive formats.
  • Xendoo, (www.xendoo.com/), Fort Lauderdale: Xendoo is a cloud-based Fintech company delivering intelligent automation in the online accounting and bookkeeping space. Small business owners lack consistent visibility into their financials to make timely and meaningful decisions for growing their business. Xendoo solves the problem of an archaic industry that lacks the technology and understanding of the modern world for small business owners.

Information about the conference and the full list of presenters are here.

6

More opportunities knock; deadlines are approaching

  • Seaworthy Collective, a Miami-based BlueTech startup community and venture studio empowering current and aspiring entrepreneurs in the regenerative ocean and climate impact, is now accepting applications for its second Sea Change Maker Cohort launching in April 2022. The application deadline is January 30, 2022, and entrepreneurs can find out more and apply here:  www.seaworthycollective.com/seachange. Read about Seaworthy Collective’s first cohort here.
  • Founder Institute (FI.co), the world’s largest pre-seed accelerator, is currently accepting applications for their upcoming Florida cohort launching in February. Deadline to enroll is Feb 6th. The Spring 2022 cohort will be held virtually. Any aspiring entrepreneur or team interested in building a technology business is invited to apply to the Florida Virtual Spring 2022 Founder Institute at http://fi.co/apply/miami, or attend a free online startup event in Miami at http://fi.co/event.s/miami. 
  • Applications are open for the Black Girl Ventures Change Agent Fellowship, a 9 month leadership skills development program for Black and Brown women entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders. Selected applicants, who must be based in Los Angeles,  New York, Chicago, Miami, Houston or Detroit, will each receive a $10,000 stipend. The time commitment is about 8 hours/month. The deadline to apply is January 31, 2022, and decisions will be made by mid-February. Learn more and apply at https://www.blackgirlventures.org/fellowship.

ICYMI

Catch up on #MiamiTech news of the past week

Have #MiamiTech news to share? Email Nancy Dahlberg at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @ndahlberg

Nancy Dahlberg
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