Building Miami's AI and Tech Ecosystem | Melissa Medina, eMerge Americas

Miami's tech scene took years of deliberate work to build. **Melissa Medina, CEO and Co-Founder of eMerge Americas,** joins Brooke to share how a conference created to fill a gap became a year-round platform for founders, investors and emerging technology. Season 2 opens with a conversation about what deserves attention now. Melissa explains how she looks past AI branding to find real customer traction. She also shares why quantum deserves more attention and why first-time adopters should begin before they feel ready. If AI still feels like a room where everyone else knows more than you, this episode is for you. **In this conversation:** - How Melissa and her father built eMerge Americas - What helped Miami grow into a global technology hub - How investors separate meaningful AI companies from trend-chasing - Why Melissa is bullish on quantum and deep tech - The growing connection between technology and national security - How the eMerge Global Startup Accelerator supports early-stage founders - Melissa's advice for people who feel intimidated by AI **About Melissa** Melissa Medina is the CEO and Co-Founder of eMerge Americas and a Partner at Medina Ventures. She has more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, investor, community leader and philanthropist. Under her leadership, eMerge Americas has grown into a global technology conference that attracts more than 20,000 attendees from over 50 countries. The organization also supports South Florida's technology community throughout the year with summits, startup programs, workshops and investment resources. **Connect with Melissa** - Learn more about Melissa Medina - Explore eMerge Americas **Mentioned in this episode** - View eMerge Americas events and startup programs - I’ll be attending the Miami AI Summit. Learn more and register to join me there. **Listener offer:**  Save 5% on Leela Quantum Tech with code BROOKE. Affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you purchase through this link, at no extra cost to you. **How I AI is now The AI Movement Podcast.** LinkedIn: Brooke Gramer Website: TheAIMovementPodcast.com *"The AI Movement Podcast" is a concept and podcast series created and produced by Brooke Gramer of EmpowerFlow Strategies LLC. All rights reserved.*