Miami Beach Shines at eMerge Americas 2025 Tech Conference

The expo hall at eMerge Americas 2025 bustled with activity as thousands of attendees explored cutting-edge technology exhibits. Held on March 27–28 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, this year’s eMerge conference drew a record crowd of over 20,000 attendees from 60+ countries​, the largest turnout in the event’s history. The two-day gathering showcased South Florida’s growing stature as a global tech hub, bringing together innovators, investors, and business leaders to exchange ideas and forge new partnerships. Amid the excitement, the City of Miami Beach played a prominent role, using the conference to promote its forward-thinking, business-friendly climate and commitment to innovation.

Star-Studded Keynotes Inspire Attendees

The eMerge Americas 2025 main stage featured an array of high-profile speakers who shared insights and inspiration with the audience. Keynote highlights included:

• Daymond John – The Shark Tank investor and FUBU founder kicked off Day 1 with an engaging conversation about entrepreneurship and perseverance​
• Dave Portnoy – The founder of Barstool Sports discussed his journey building a digital media empire, in a fireside chat with Miami Mayor Francis Suarez​ that offered candid lessons on risk-taking and resilience.
• Palmer Luckey – The Oculus VR wunderkind turned defense tech entrepreneur (founder of Anduril Industries) delivered a keynote on the future of dual-use technology and innovation in national defense​
• Armando “Pitbull” Pérez – The Grammy-winning artist-turned-entrepreneur returned to eMerge, energizing the crowd with insights on how emerging digital technologies are fueling new opportunities in business and education​

These visionary talks – alongside other notable speakers like tech pioneer Martine Rothblatt and celebrity chef-entrepreneur Jacques Torres – sparked excitement and “big idea” conversations throughout the conference halls.

Major Announcement: Building South Florida’s Next-Gen Economy

One of the biggest headlines from eMerge 2025 came courtesy of Stephen Ross, the billionaire developer and Miami Dolphins owner. Ross used the eMerge stage to unveil a new initiative aimed at attracting more companies and investors to South Florida. In a Friday keynote, he announced a strategic partnership (alongside eMerge Americas co-founder Melissa Medina and Florida Council of 100 CEO Michael Simas) designed to position Florida as a prime destination for global business expansion​

The plan will support fast-growing industries – including finance and fintech, health care and medical technology, aerospace and logistics, and clean technology – that are key to the region’s future​

Ross noted that South Florida is “already poised to become an innovation hub,” and emphasized the importance of linking local resources to foster growth. “With initiatives like this, we can link educational institutions, entrepreneurial programs, and sources of capital to create a new environment for American businesses,” Ross said during his remarks​

This bold commitment, backed by Ross’s Related Companies and partners, underscores the region’s momentum and the public-private collaboration driving South Florida’s next-generation economy.

Miami Beach Showcases Its Tech-Friendly Climate

Throughout eMerge Americas, Miami Beach’s presence was strongly felt on the expo floor. The city’s Economic Development and Information Technology departments jointly hosted a booth showcasing Miami Beach’s tech-friendly business climate, its range of economic development incentives, and its unwavering commitment to innovation. City representatives engaged conference-goers with information about Miami Beach’s pro-business offerings, from lease subsidy grants and job creation incentives to streamlined permitting, all underscoring that the city is serious about attracting and nurturing high-growth companies.

Mayor Steven Meiner also took the stage during the conference, reinforcing the city’s vision to build a year-round economy centered on innovation, inclusion, and smart growth. His participation reflected Miami Beach’s leadership-level commitment to partnering with entrepreneurs, investors, and tech leaders shaping the future.

Crucially, Miami Beach made it clear that it welcomes businesses in sectors like technology, finance, art, culture, and healthcare. These industries, well represented at eMerge, align with the city’s strategic focus to diversify beyond tourism and hospitality. With a supportive local government and competitive incentive programs, Miami Beach positioned itself as an ideal landing spot for companies looking to expand or relocate in South Florida. The conference provided a perfect platform for the city to tell its story: that Miami Beach is open for business and ready to innovate alongside the world’s best.

Championing Startups and Innovation

Startups took center stage at eMerge 2025 through the conference’s signature Startup Showcase & Accelerator competition – and Miami Beach played an active role here as well. More than 100 promising startups from around the world pitched their ideas over the two days, vying for a game-changing $125,000 investment prize​ put up by event partners. In the end, the final spotlight belonged to SmArT, an early-stage agriculture-tech startup based in Miami, which won this year’s Startup Showcase and secured the $125K funding to accelerate its growth​

Notably, one of the judges for the startup pitch finals was Miami Beach Commissioner Joseph “Joe” Magazine. Commissioner Magazine’s participation on the judging panel reflects the city’s hands-on engagement in nurturing the startup ecosystem and aligning its economic development efforts with innovation trends. By embedding city leadership directly into events like the Startup Showcase and Accelerator, Miami Beach signals to entrepreneurs that their ideas and businesses are valued and supported here. It’s a powerful message that the city’s commitment to innovation isn’t just talk, it’s actively investing time and resources to help new ventures succeed.

A Forward-Thinking Community Poised for Growth

As eMerge Americas 2025 wrapped up, one message was clear: Miami Beach has cemented its status as a forward-thinking, business-ready city at the heart of South Florida’s tech boom. The city’s high-profile involvement in the conference – from hosting a bustling booth to weighing in on startup pitches – demonstrated Miami Beach’s determination to be more than just a venue for tech events, but a true partner in the innovation ecosystem.

City officials are capitalizing on this momentum to attract the next wave of companies and talent to Miami Beach, ensuring the local economy remains dynamic and diversified. The enthusiastic response at eMerge affirmed that Miami Beach’s pro-innovation stance is resonating with the global tech community. Interested in being part of Miami Beach’s growth story? To learn more about the city’s business attraction initiatives and incentives, visit mbbiz.com and see how Miami Beach is ready to support your success.