On Feb. 3, 2016, David Añón spoke to members of the Media Management Association to explain how an upcoming Miami-based technology conference could benefit students interested in startups and innovations.
Añón is vice president of marketing for eMerge Americas, a conference held at the Miami Beach Convention Center since 2014. eMerge Americas promotes the advancement of technology and acts as a launch-pad for innovations and ideas. Last year, more than 50 countries were represented at the conference, which hosted 10,000 attendees and 500 companies. Although eMerge Americas is still in its formative years, it has already struck a multi-year agreement with NBCUniversal that holds the exclusive right to broadcast the event live.
According to Añón, Miami is becoming a home for technological innovative industries and is ranking second out of all U.S. cities for entrepreneurial growth. He also noted that Latin America is the fastest growing region in the world and that Miami serves as the perfect hub between the Americas to bring innovations to life.
This year, eMerge Americas will take place on April 18 and 19and will host former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, social activist Monica Lewinsky, Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph, musician Pitbull, and professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to name a few high-profile speakers.
eMerge Americas will offer panel sessions that feature industry executives, innovators, activists, and government officials. The “Women, Innovation, and Technology” track is designed to motivate and empower women who are leading the drive in technological innovations. The “eGov” track attracts political officers and business leaders who are involved in and with local, state, and federal agencies. The Startup Showcase will serve as a platform for innovative startups and will give them the chance to connect with investors and win prizes. Other events will include a hackathon, a hiring fair, and endless networking opportunities.
As vice president of marketing, Añón said that he is striving to “continue to maintain the presence [of eMerge Americas] and generate a dialogue” by utilizing the power of social media and heavily promoting the conference to build up the brand.
Student tickets are available online for a heavily discounted $55 fee. To register, students should visit http://emergeamericas.org/register, click on the “BUY NOW” button under the Tech Pass, and select the “Student Tech Pass ($55 + Tax)” option. Passes can be picked up on April 17 or April 18 by presenting a valid student ID.
