Miami Tech Summit Brings Together Industry Leaders and Politicians
The Miami Tech Summit, co-founded by Jose Felix Diaz and Justin Sayfie, brought together 300 entrepreneurs and executives from the tech and finance sectors, as well as university and local government leaders, at the Perez Art Museum Miami. The event featured discussions on various topics including crypto, tariffs, AI, and the state of Miami’s tech industry.
Focus on Human Connection
Diaz emphasized that the summit was their “gift to Miami,” a city they believe has become vibrant and thriving. Sayfie added that they wanted to create an event that would bring back human connection in a world where technology can sometimes be divisive. The summit featured experts from government, industry, and education, highlighting the intersection of business and politics.
Keynote Speakers
The opening speaker, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, discussed his company’s focus on solving real-world problems in cross-border payments and crypto custody. Ripple recently announced a $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, aiming to provide better infrastructure for large financial institutions. Garlinghouse expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating it would “exponentially scale their business” and benefit the entire industry.
Garlinghouse also reflected on the crypto climate over the past two years, criticizing the SEC for suing the industry instead of providing regulatory clarity. He believes that stablecoin legislation will be cleared “very soon” and hopes that the market structure bill will pass before the summer break, which would be a significant development for the crypto industry.
Miami’s Tech Potential
Garlinghouse emphasized that for Ripple to have a large presence in Miami, the city needs more talent. He urged universities to continue scaling their efforts to produce skilled professionals. The presence of companies like Amazon and Apple in the Miami area is a positive sign, according to Garlinghouse.
Other speakers included Mauricio J. Claver-Carone, President Trump’s Special Envoy to Latin America, who discussed the potential benefits of the president’s tariff strategy for the Americas. Fred Voccola, vice chairman of Kaseya, highlighted Miami’s unique immigrant spirit and the opportunities presented by the emergence of AI in mainstream usage.
Education and Innovation
FIU Interim President Jeannette Nuñez discussed her career journey and the university’s efforts to embed AI throughout the curriculum. She emphasized the importance of experiential learning opportunities to prepare students for jobs in the tech industry.
The summit concluded with Michael Saylor presenting his “21 truths of Bitcoin.” The event also provided opportunities for networking and human connection, aligning with the founders’ goals.
The Miami Tech Summit is part of Miami Tech Week, which has been instrumental in establishing the city as a major tech hub. The event demonstrated the city’s potential for innovation and growth in the tech industry.
