MEET MIAMI’S RADICAL TECH PLAYERS THAT ARE HELPING SHAPE THE CITY INTO THE NEXT SILICON VALLEY.
MICHAEL SAYMAN PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL SAYMAN
MICHAEL SAYMAN: ENTREPRENEUR, SOFTWARE ENGINEER, BESTSELLING AUTHOR AND PRODUCT LEAD AT TWITTER, TWITTER.COM
Over the past few years, what have you experienced within Miami’s booming tech industry that is noteworthy?
The passion that I find from the Hispanic community to dive into the world of tech has been so exciting. I think the potential of this next generation that comes out of Miami is big, especially because so many of us grew up in the Latino culture and family household that instills in us the value of hard work and determination to succeed.
Why is Miami an attractive city for the tech world?
The tech world is building products that are used by all kinds of people from all sorts of backgrounds all over the world. But the majority of those who work in the tech industry only represent a handful of cultures and backgrounds that these services are being used by. Miami represents a lot of the future demographic makeup that the U.S. as a whole will start to look like in the coming decades. It is in the interest of the tech industry to learn as much as they can from the communities that will represent the future of this country today. More so, it is in their interest to hire more diverse product leaders, engineers and thinkers that understand the various needs of those who the tech industry’s products do not fully serve today.
Tell us about how you are contributing to Miami’s tech community.
I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to share my childhood story of how I was able to ‘make it’ in Silicon Valley despite being born and raised in Kendall in Miami-Dade via a number of outlets including a book I recently published with Penguin Random House [App Kid: How a Child of Immigrants Grabbed a Piece of the American Dream]. While I am certainly far from a role model (and I actually hate that term), I would say that my story serves as one of many examples that young kids aspiring to code can look toward for both the good and the bad to learn from and improve upon. In addition, I’m always looking for new creative ways to support and grow the Miami tech community and the opportunities afforded to those who grew up just like me in Kendall and all around Miami.
You’ve had an extraordinary career thus far at just 25 years old. What have been some of the most rewarding experiences for you?
I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to learn from so many smarter and more capable people in the tech industry at such a young age due to the luck I had in landing my roles at these companies like Facebook when I was a teenager. I am also extremely grateful that so many people at Facebook, when I was that age, had the patience to deal with my immature teenage butt. Without their guidance, I would be nowhere.
Can you share with us any of your plans to reinvigorate Twitter with your recent onboarding?
I’m really excited for what we’ve got in the pipeline, as well as all the folks who are coming in to contribute to those projects my teams are working on. Over the next few months, I look forward to seeing what people think. We’re drumming up interest in Twitter from all sorts of talented people, in ways that maybe not everyone expected, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter in Twitter’s history takes us.
Best advice you’ve ever received?
Seek to understand before trying to be understood.
RYAN BRESLOW PHOTO COURTESY OF BOLT
RYAN BRESLOW: FOUNDER + EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, BOLT, BOLT.COM
Tell us about Bolt. How did its introduction impact the marketplace, as well as the tech landscape?
Bolt is bringing secure and seamless one-click checkout to the entire internet. Imagine having the same, streamlined shopping experience you’re used to on Amazon, but on your favorite retail brand websites like Fanatics or Swissgear. Through our innovative technology and growing shopper network (where anyone can create a shopper profile to use across websites), Bolt is disrupting the marketplace through this new concept of decentralized commerce or ‘decomm.’ Consumers and brands are already benefiting from this next chapter in commerce’s evolution, and more is to come.
Tell us more about your Conscious Culture movement. What inspired this?
Our society glorifies ‘hustle’ culture, and for a while I lived that lifestyle. But I soon realized that we can be healthier and more productive if we consciously center our humanity in the workplace. We can actually work harder, be more focused and deliver stronger results through a shorter workweek, for example, which is why Bolt made the four-day workweek permanent. Through Conscious Culture, we’re constantly testing and proving bold ideas like this that elevate Bolt’s culture, empowering our team members with greater flexibility, feedback and trust. Most importantly, our conscious.org site hosts all of our findings and ideas online for other companies to adopt, since our ultimate vision is to transform the way we all work and live.
Where do you see the future of tech for Miami?
Miami is already a burgeoning tech hub. We are incredibly diverse, passionate, genuine and full of life. These are just a few of our many ingredients that are putting Miami on the map as a global destination for entrepreneurs and changemakers of all backgrounds.
How do you hope to contribute to Miami’s tech landscape?
Paying it forward by sharing the lessons I’ve learned for the next generation of founders is something I’m humbled to do. From my hometown, Miami, I’m proud to model what a tech company of the future can look like. I plan to continue writing books, staying active on social media and serving this growing community however I can. The future is bright and sunny here in Miami, and I’m so excited to be a part of it.
MICHELLE ABBS PHOTO COURTESY OF WEB3 EQUITY
MICHELLE ABBS: VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNITY & EDUCATION AT METAGOOD, METAGOOD.COM; FOUNDER, WEB3 EQUITY, WEB3EQUITY.IO
How did you create the idea of Web3 Equity?
Web3 Equity was born after I held the largest conference during Art Basel at the FTX Arena on the topic of NFTs that attracted 5,000 attendees from all over the world. NFTs are ownership of digital assets built on blockchain technology. Then I started receiving tons of messages, especially from female friends, asking how they can get into the space. I started a group chat to answer all their questions together, and now we have over 700 people in the chat. We’ve created a safe place to ask any question, share resources and learn together.
What does your role as a community leader and educator look like?
I lead by doing. I am an executor and I work hard to create ideas, then see them through to the highest and most quality level of execution. As a former educator, I embody being a leader of service. In my role now, I serve the broader community and even my former students, to build a bridge and onboard them to web3.
Why does inclusion in web3 matter?
I believe web3 represents an opportunity to finally realize a gendere-quitable landscape. We know that less than 3% of venture capital goes to female founders; women still make less per dollar than men and face daily discriminations. To get to a more equitable world, we must onboard more women and nonbinary friends to the technological revolution while simultaneously engaging our male allies to take action.
What are some of the biggest struggles women face in the industry?
Women can often be underestimated both by themselves and by others, especially as it relates to finance and technology. There is a large body of research that shows women’s relationship with wealth and risk are quite different from males’. I often cite the fact that Ruth Bader Ginsburg as part of the Supreme Court in 1974 passed the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to allow women to get credit cards. Less than 50 years ago, it wasn’t common for us to even have lines of credit. Think about how they may impact us just one generation later and our approach to investing in risky technology. I believe this more thoughtful approach can be an asset for women, yet it can often lead women to opt out of being in the early days of technological waves. The blockchain technology being built today will be part of our day-to-day lives for decades to come, and women must be at the table at this moment.
STEVEN GALANIS PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMEO
STEVEN GALANIS: CO-FOUNDER + CEO, CAMEO, CAMEO.COM
Tell us about the growth Cameo has seen over the past two years.
We’ve seen huge growth in both our global presence and employee count; not to mention, we also recently just celebrated our 5-year anniversary. Around 81% of our company joined after Father’s Day 2020, and now we have a presence in 38 states and 14 countries. Over the past two years, our platform has grown tremendously as we were fortunate enough to be in a business that many people turned to during the difficult times. Birthdays and holidays were missed, so Cameo helped spread digital love to allow users to reach friends and family at a time when they couldn’t see them physically. No one could go to the movies or concerts, but could connect with loved ones through their favorite stars on Cameo.
How has Cameo evolved since its inception?
Five years ago, we had one talent on our platform and now we have over 50,000. This time five years ago, we sold a handful of Cameos, and now we’ve done millions. We’ve transcended from being primarily U.S.-based to having global customers and talent. We have also grown and evolved into an ecosystem of multiple products, including Cameo Calls, Cameo Live, DMs, as well as merchandise, via our acquisition of merch company Represent. Cameo is also bridging the gap between brands and talent with our B2B offering, Cameo for Business. We recently entered the web3 space with the launch of our collection of NFTs, Cameo Pass, which is our way of enabling our super fans to experience Cameo in real life. One of those real life experiences will take the form of a Cameo Pass event in Miami before Formula 1 on May 7th, which should be super exciting.
What is so appealing about Miami as a tech hub?
As a tech hub, Miami has a lot of really interesting dynamics, like its street culture, which I think is very influential. Not many people know this, but Cameo’s logo was actually designed by a Miami-based firm five years ago called Vanillashake in Wynwood. Miami also has vibrancy that carries through its style, art, music, food and more. It is full of entrepreneurs, and the crypto scene has taken off here, much thanks to Mayor Suarez. Miami has opened its arms to welcome the tech community, and for the tech start-up sector, the retention has been very high.
Where do you see the greatest potential in Miami for the tech industry?
Miami has the opportunity to be the epicenter of crypto and consumer tech—it’s well on its way there. It’s the gateway to Latin America, with countries like El Savador adopting bitcoin as the most recognized form of currency. We’re seeing tons of crypto leaders, startups and firms putting down roots in Miami to build the crypto community in the long term.
How do you hope to contribute to this landscape?
I’m thrilled to now be a permanent resident of Miami and get to know everyone. I’m involved with mentorship and networking programs like Endeavor Miami. I’d love to help encourage people to come to Miami and help them with business advice, connect them—be someone they can talk to.
CHRISTIAN SEALE PHOTO BY NICK GARCIA PHOTOGRAPHY
CHRISTIAN SEALE: CO-OWNER, VITRUVIA, VITRUVIA.CO
Tell us how Vitruvia is contributing to Miami’s blossoming tech landscape.
Vitruvia represents the future of healing. We are grateful to work with the world’s top athletes, musicians and entrepreneurs to take back control of their bodies, perform at their highest level and achieve whatever they desire. Having a renewed body and relieving an individual of pain—whether it’s chronic or not—allows each individual the ability to reach their full potential. Personally, I feel privileged to live in Miami and to have Vitruvia headquartered here. Six years ago, my peers in the healthtech community thought I was crazy for moving to Miami to invest and build healthcare businesses. Now the whole world is here, and we are on the forefront of that movement.
What makes it so unique?
Vitruvia begins with better insights. Our proprietary ultrasound imaging software, ScarMap, enables physicians to quantify the health and pliability of your tissue. Think of it like a cholesterol score for your soft tissue. With this guidance, our expert medical team then determines a personalized treatment plan to restore your quality of life with our breakthrough RELIEF procedure. The best part is there’s zero downtime.
What does Vitruvia’s patient treatment process look like?
We treat you as if you were a member of our family and collectively discuss your goals to ensure we provide your desired result. Our treatment process begins with ScarMap to analyze your soft tissue health that may be damaged from injury, surgery, poor posture or simply aging. If you are a candidate for treatment, our world-class medical team performs our RELIEF procedure to repair and restore your damaged tissue.
What potential does Miami hold for the tech industry?
Miami represents the city of 2050 with the current, future and rich diversity of the U.S. Like Play-Doh, Miami is being molded each day, and the new wave of tech entrepreneurs have an incredible opportunity to reimagine a world-class city that learns from the mistakes of traditional tech hubs. Innovations in affordable housing, sea-level rise, the digital divide and health inequity provide the tech industry with an abundance of opportunities to build solutions for what modern-day urban living is for everyone. We’re here to make Miami—and the world—a better place.
MATT MEDVED ALEJANDRO NAVIA PHOTO BY MARK ADRIANE
MATT MEDVED+ALEJANDRO NAVIA: CO-FOUNDERS, NFT NOW, NFTNOW.COM
How did NFT Now come about?
MM: We founded NFT Now in January 2021 after beginning to navigate the NFT space and finding a lack of credible resources for news and education. The climate back then was mostly characterized by platforms promoting their own drops and talking-head influencers shilling their own bags. We realized that there was an incredible opportunity to build a beacon of truth and empowerment and an onboard ramp for the mainstream market to help bring the next billion users into web3. As the premier web3 digital media platform for NFT coverage and curation, our mission is to empower the creators of culture and help bring NFTs from niche to mainstream.
What growth have you witnessed over the past two years?
MM: NFTs have gone from being a fringe concept in the crypto community to one of the most significant technological developments in our lifetimes. By unlocking the power of digital ownership, we have seen NFTs blossom into a multibillion-dollar industry and begin to disrupt age-old hierarchies like the traditional art world and music industry. It’s important to note that we are still very early when it comes to mainstream adoption. Reports indicate that less than 1 million people even own an NFT, meaning that the potential for further market penetration is staggering.
Why is Miami such an important market for the NFT and crypto community?
AN: Over the past two years, Miami has worked to create a welcoming climate for thought leaders and futurists that has helped foster technological and cultural innovations. Both of these aspects are fundamental to NFTs—you can’t build a successful NFT community without the marriage of tech and culture. With critical tentpoles like Miami NFT Week, Bitcoin Miami and Art Basel Miami Beach, Miami has become one of the cultural epicenters for the web3 movement.
How do you feel NFT Now fills a void for this community?
AN: It’s still the early days as Miami solidifies its role within the NFT and crypto space. As we are new to Miami, we are still learning about the community, its dynamics, dreams and goals. We are navigating our presence thoughtfully and intentionally to help educate and elevate the community. In December 2021, we brought The Gateway, our immersive and interactive NFT activation, to Miami during Art Basel in partnership with Christie’s. To symbolize creators taking back the power from the financial system, we transformed the CitiBank building in Bayfront Park into a 23,000-square-foot audiovisual gallery and drew more than 1,200 attendees to experience NFTs firsthand. We are working with local organizations to learn more about their needs and how we can contribute. In February, we partnered with the Faena Rose club to offer their members an educational seminar on NFTs and had more than 180 people sign up for our event at the Faena Forum. We’re also in conversations with the ICA about creating an event series to educate collectors, artists, investors and the art community about NFTs. We even joined their Young Collectors Board as a commitment to their mission.
Why is Miami an appealing city for the tech world?
AN: NFTs and crypto are a global technological movement, and Miami is an international hub that is perfectly situated to play a leading role within our community. With the support and leadership of the local government, we are seeing throngs of founders, creators and investors leveraging all the resources that the city has to offer. The combination of great weather, a taxfriendly ecosystem, access to international markets and multicultural and ideological diversity all help create a perfect storm for the NFT community to thrive.
As one of Miami’s most influential tech players, how do you hope to contribute to the landscape in terms of its technological evolution?
AN: Miami is the perfect place for us to fulfill our mission. We are creating initiatives to educate and empower the community by providing resources to navigate what can be a difficult space with a steep learning curve. In addition to forging strong community bonds through our platform, content and events, we are currently hiring and would love to welcome Miami’s best and brightest to help us build the future of web3 media.
WIFREDO FERNANDEZ PHOTO COURTESY OF MIAMI LAW
WIFREDO FERNANDEZ: HEAD OF U.S. STATE & LOCAL PUBLIC POLICY AT TWITTER, TWITTER.COM
What first drew you to the tech industry?
I’ve been fascinated with technology since I was a child. My mom trained me to use MS DOS when I was 7, and at 11 I taught myself HTML and programmed my first website where you could download mp3s, MIDIs, progz and punters and Winamp skins. I grew up on internet chats and AIM, and was later influenced by emerging social media. I wasn’t trained as an engineer in college nor was I a business major, so the path into tech wasn’t clear then. Upon graduation, I became an educator through Teach For America (TFA), and in my second year, TFA piloted an education technology bootcamp, which trained me on humancentered design and granted me a trip out to Stanford where I met a bunch of folks in tech and venture capital who were speaking a new language (to me). From there, I started to think differently about the problems I wanted to work on and how tech could help achieve impact at scale.
What have been some of the most impactful or memorable moments of your career thus far?
As an educator, every moment that a student has a breakthrough and creates new knowledge is impactful. As a founder, the effect on strangers’ lives is always a source of pride—I love hearing about the role The LAB played in people’s personal journeys. As a student, studying the law rewired my brain and opened up my perspective on how the world operates. I loved the experience of working for a federal judge, representing foster youth or working on cyber civil rights. At Twitter, every day brings a different opportunity for impact.
Tell us about creating The LAB Miami.
I co-founded The LAB Miami with Elisa Rodriguez-Vila and Danny Lafuente in 2012 in a 700-square-foot space in Wynwood with desks made from shipping pallets and about $300 worth of wood. Our original vision for The LAB (Love, Art, Business) was to create a place for community collaboration, education and creativity; a space for coworking and events that would allow for the city to experiment as it developed its startup and tech identity, with a mix of cultural and arts programming. With the help of The Knight Foundation and local investors, we scaled from that small space to the 10,000-square-foot campus that operates today. I finally stepped away from the organization in 2017, and as I reflect today, I believe The LAB’s creation was a critical factor in the city’s evolution over the last decade. Our space and programs accelerated serendipity and led to crucial collisions and projects that propelled our community forward.
What does your role consist of working on public policy at Twitter?
I work on the U.S. Public Policy team at Twitter, where I help lead the state and local policy team and work on a mix of issues at the federal level, such as privacy, child safety, content moderation and crypto. We serve as ambassadors and advocates to governments, regulators and civil society partners around the world in an effort to serve the public conversation and promote a more open internet.
What do you hope to contribute to Miami’s tech landscape?
I hope to always be a resource and sounding board to founders and students. I’ve learned many hard lessons in each of these functions. I love working with inspiring folks that are exploring the frontiers of technology. Through Twitter, I hope that I can be a conduit for growing our presence locally, as there is phenomenal and diverse talent here.
AMY HOM PHOTO COURTESY OF REEF TECHNOLOGY
AMY HOM: SVP OF KITCHEN OPERATIONS, REEF TECHNOLOGY, REEFTECHNOLOGY.COM
How did you first get involved in the tech industry?
I have always been in the restaurant industry, so in some ways have always been in tech. As the industry evolved, it became more technology-based. For leaders to be successful, they need to learn and educate themselves on many different tech platforms. I would say throughout my journey I have had to get more and more involved in the tools to drive a successful business.
What attracted you to a company like REEF?
REEF is on the cutting edge of technology and creating the ecosystem that connects the world to your block. It is fascinating what they have already accomplished in a small amount of time. They are focused on better quality and speed while delivering over 200 brands globally. This was intriguing to me as a new frontier of the tech-restaurant industry. I believed I could add value to the team while learning along the way.
Tell us what your role looks like.
I am a part of an impactful community at REEF that leads operations with our kitchens and retail application. As a leader of operations, food safety and training, my goal is to set the vision for where we want to go while consistently improving and pushing our team to strive for operational excellence. My motto is ‘Easy on people, tough on standards.’ My role includes partnering and driving tech with our products, supporting growth initiatives, finance and developing new systems to continuously improve.
Why is Miami such an attractive city for the tech community?
Miami is going through a tech boom coupled with being the gateway to the world. It has a very forward-thinking government leadership that is aggressively pursuing new technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency. The city is actively attracting Silicon Valley companies to build a futuristic city. Miami is a destination for major global events as well, such as the North American Bitcoin Conference and Art Basel.
What do you hope to contribute to the tech landscape in Miami?
REEF wants to take brands where they have never been able to operate before while backing them with the technology to optimize their operation and scale faster. We are creating a growth engine for brands and new culinary concepts to be able to reach consumers through new technology and positive engaging experience.
Photography by: Courtesy of Unsplash
