eMerge Americas 12th Annual Conference in Miami: Tech Meets National Security

eMerge Americas, one of the nation's premier technology conferences, is preparing to welcome approximately 25,000 attendees to its 12th annual spring event in Miami. The conference brings together startups, universities, and government leaders across four key verticals: Health Tech, FinTech, AI and Quantum, and National Security.

Founded by Melissa Medina and Manny Medina, eMerge Americas grew out of the family's deep roots in Miami's tech infrastructure. The Medinas previously built Terremark Worldwide, Inc., a data and IT infrastructure company best known for creating the Network Access Point of the Americas. After selling Terremark Worldwide to Verizon, the father-daughter team turned their attention to expanding South Florida's technology ecosystem, and eMerge Americas was born.

Today the organization hosts roughly 50 events per year, with the annual spring conference serving as the flagship gathering.

National Security Takes Center Stage

This year's conference features a prominent national security track headlined by Emil Michael, Undersecretary of War for Research and Engineering, and DARPA Director Steven Winchell. The two will appear together on the main stage for a discussion on how the private sector can engage with the federal government and how defense agencies are accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies.

The conference will also feature a significant U.S. Army presence, with representatives from the Army Research Lab and Devcom participating in programming. A university hackathon organized in partnership with Devcom will tackle real-world defense problem sets, and a live xTech Army Pitch Competition will take place on the conference floor. The pitch competition marks the first time xTech has partnered with eMerge and the first time the competition has been held in Miami.

Live Demonstration Day Kicks Off the Week

On April 21, just days before the main conference opens, eMerge Americas will host its second Live Demonstration Day. Approximately 20 companies will showcase their technologies to a curated audience of around 400 attendees from both the public and private sectors. Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins will open the event.

The morning will feature company presentations, followed by afternoon demonstrations that allow companies to show their technologies in action rather than through static displays or slide decks. The format builds on a successful September event at Port Miami, where 10 companies demonstrated capabilities above, on, and below the water for roughly 200 guests.

A Proven Launchpad for Founders

Since its founding, eMerge Americas has run a large-scale accelerator program, putting approximately 100 companies per year through the program. More than 1,200 founders have participated to date, and alumni companies have collectively raised over $2.5 billion in funding.

The organization's broader economic footprint is equally notable. eMerge Americas has generated over $3 billion in economic impact across South Florida and Florida, contributing to the creation of more than 10,000 jobs.

With four verticals and thousands of attendees, eMerge Americas recommends that first-time attendees choose one or two themes of interest and review the published agenda on the conference website. A companion app is available for download, allowing attendees to browse the lineup and connect with other participants ahead of the event.

For more information, visit eMergeAmericas.com or follow eMerge Americas on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

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