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The Spain-Born Conference: Connecting Latin American and European Startups to Miami’s Thriving Tech Scene

By Riley Kaminer

In Spain, the enthusiastic expression of "¡Olé!" embodies a spirited appreciation of an exceptional moment—be it during a bullfight, a flamenco performance, or a riveting soccer match. This spontaneous outburst of admiration captures the essence of an impressive occurrence. It has indeed signified a similar excitement for the innovation showcased by the #MiamiTech movement.

The phrase "¡Olé!" perfectly encapsulated the mission of the two-day event: to celebrate a common cultural heritage while forging vital connections among Latin America, Spain, and the United States through technology and entrepreneurship. It was more than just an event; it was a festival of shared vision and collaborative spirit.

On Monday, the event drew over 1,000 participants, which encompassed 240 speakers, 30 prominent investors, and 90 ambitious startups, all united under one roof in a fervent display of innovation and creativity. This gathering was not just about pitches and panels; it served as a vivid reminder of Miami’s burgeoning influence as a nexus for startups and investors from both sides of the Atlantic, shaping the future of the Americas in the tech domain.

Building a Global Hub Right Behind Home Plate

LoanDepot Park, a venue typically associated with baseball, transformed into a bustling epicenter for international partnerships and deals during these few days dedicated to technology. Startup booths adorned the concourse, investor meetings took place with the baseball field as a backdrop, and the packed agenda featured panels addressing critical topics such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, and digital infrastructure.

Delegations arrived from countries including Chile, Brazil, Argentina, and Spain, eager to convene with local Miami entrepreneurs, investors, and officials. Some in attendance were seeking to penetrate new markets, while others took this opportunity to showcase their own thriving ecosystems. Regardless of their goals, everyone was united in their quest to foster new connections.

Cristiano Franco Berbert, the Brazilian Consul in Miami, succinctly captured the sentiment of the event by stating, “We see Miami as the entry door to America.” This feeling was echoed throughout the event, highlighting Miami’s unique geographical, cultural, and economic position as a key player in the international tech landscape.

Pilar Carrato, the CEO of Spain’s public venture capital firm Innvierte, emphasized the prospects available to Spanish businesses in the Miami market. She proclaimed, “It’s an opportunity for Spanish companies to grow here, and for Miami-based startups to expand into Europe.”

A Spotlight on Startups

At the heart of Startup Olé lay the startups themselves, and Miami had several noteworthy companies representing its innovation landscape.

One standout was Cleanlight, a solar technology firm headquartered in Miami. They showcased their solar-powered lighting towers and praised their new manufacturing facility located in Hialeah, underlining their commitment to local production and the clean energy transition. CEO and founder Jordan Butler Llanos passionately expressed their mission to impact the community positively.

Similarly, HappyHOA emerged as another exemplary startup during the event. Their software facilitates management for condominium associations, aiding in payments, reporting, insurance, and various essential services. In a city overflowing with high-rise condominiums and homeowner associations, their solution directly addresses a pressing local need.

The event featured over 90 startups from diverse sectors, including climate tech, fintech, healthtech, and agtech. This eclectic mix showcased a range of talents and ideas, with founders from Argentina mingling with teams from nearby Doral. Chilean AI innovators pitched alongside Spanish ventures specializing in robotics, illustrating a truly global spirit.

International Institutions Offer Their Support

A defining moment of the conference occurred during the institutional welcome, where government representatives took to the stage to emphasize the crucial role that public institutions play in nurturing international innovation pipelines.

Esteemed speakers such as Carrato, Berbert, Argentine diplomat Marcelo Gilardoni, Miami-Dade County’s Maria Dreyfus-Ulvert, ProChile trade manager Jaime Silva, and Startup Olé founder Emilio Corchado delivered empowering messages about collaboration and forward-looking agendas.

Dreyfus-Ulvert voiced Miami-Dade’s commitment to establishing the city as a global innovation hub, remarking, “Events like this help strengthen the ties between our ecosystem and innovators across the globe.” Meanwhile, Silva highlighted ProChile’s collaboration with Startup Olé—not only in Miami but in Spain, Brazil, and Chile itself—dedicating their efforts to assist companies in establishing and fostering growth in the South Florida region.

Local Leadership Talks About Building Miami’s Innovation Economy

Another highlight featured a panel discussion focusing on how municipal leaders are actively supporting technology and innovation. Moderated by Patricia Tavira, this session showcased insights from Doral Mayor Christi Fraga and Miami-Dade Crypto Task Force Chairman Elijah John Bowdre.

Fraga shared Doral’s remarkable growth narrative and described how the city is laying the groundwork for nurturing innovation to flourish. This includes granting $20,000 scholarships for students pursuing degrees in STEM fields, expediting permits for startups, and promoting high-tech developments, including AI-enabled warehouses.

Doral is preparing for the groundbreaking field of urban air mobility as well. The city recently passed an ordinance certifying it as one of the few municipalities in the United States ready to accommodate electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. “We want to be a pilot city for companies like Joby,” Fraga remarked with enthusiasm.

Bowdre focused on the county’s drive to develop policies surrounding emerging technologies, from artificial intelligence to blockchain, to aerial mobility. He acknowledged the current landscape of uncertainty regarding regulations at the state and federal levels, suggesting this presents a unique opportunity for Miami to take the lead. He even hinted at an upcoming public-private initiative supported by Washington to fund smart infrastructure projects across the region.

MiamiTech… From Moment to Movement

“Miami is becoming the number one international tech hub, connecting the US, Latin America, Europe, and Asia,” enthused angel investor and bestselling author Paulo Andrez. “The diverse representation of countries and the caliber of startups at Startup Olé only serve to affirm this potential.”

Ana Barjasic, founder of Connectology and board member at the European Innovation Council, concurred, sharing her excitement over Miami’s evolving tech scene. “It was a pleasure speaking at Startup Olé Miami, interacting with local investors and entrepreneurs. The event drew essential stakeholders, spotlighting the continuous growth of our ecosystem.”

It became abundantly clear that the fundamental value of Startup Olé resided in the relationships forged—between individuals, governments, businesses, and ecosystems, all working collaboratively.

Founder Emilio Corchado captured this sentiment succinctly: “This is our American dream: bringing Startup Olé to Miami and building a community.”

As the conference concluded, it seems that this vibrant community is not just thriving; it’s on a trajectory towards sustained growth and innovation.

How AI legalese decoder Can Help

In this fast-evolving tech environment, legal jargon often poses a challenge for startups and innovators attempting to navigate crucial partnerships and agreements. AI legalese decoder is designed to demystify complex legal language, making it more accessible for entrepreneurs. By utilizing advanced artificial intelligence, it can simplify legal documents, ensuring that key terms and conditions are clearly understood—empowering startups at events like Startup Olé to form strategic partnerships without the headaches typically associated with legalese. This can promote a smoother path to growth and innovation, bolstering the relationships that events like Startup Olé aim to cultivate.

Clearly, the community built around Startup Olé is only getting stronger, and with tools like AI legalese decoder, the future looks even brighter for Miami’s tech ecosystem.

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