Opportunity Miami

In Miami-Dade County the biggest emitter of climate-warming emissions is transportation. In thinking about Miami’s future, a critical piece will be how we get around in a way that is emissions-free. Since Miami is surrounded by water, why not turn our focus to another mode of transportation? Boston-based REGENT has created all-electric seagliders – a cross between a plane and a boat – that are high-speed and zero-emission solely for coastal transportation. Tom Harari is the Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development for the venture-backed aerospace and maritime company. He joins us to explain how the seaglider can change how we get around in South Florida.

As Chief Digital Officer at Microsoft U.S., Jacky Wright is leading teams to help businesses innovate and succeed in this rapidly-changing tech industry. She’s also one of the few females – and black females -- at the top of the industry. Jacky joins us for our first studio podcast to discuss how to drive real inclusion and diversity in tech, including here in Miami where there are wide disparities in terms of race and gender despite the growing tech scene.

Energy-efficient development is going mainstream with the help of PHIUS, or Passive House Institute U.S. The nonprofit trains and certifies professionals on the Passive House standard, focusing on building “net-zero and net-positive buildings by minimizing the load that renewables are required to provide.” This includes super insulation, airtight envelopes, high-performance window installation, site management, and component sourcing.

PHIUS has become the leading passive building research and information provider in North America.

But how do we achieve environmentally sustainable buildings, from single-family homes and schools to offices and skyscrapers? We explore on the Opportunity Miami podcast with Katrin Klingenberg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of PHIUS, who explains the concept of passive building. Klingenberg is the lead instructor for the PHIUS Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) training, and also directs the technical and research programs at PHIUS which has trained over 2,000 architects, engineers, energy consultants, and energy raters and builders in passive building standards.

In thinking about the 15-minute city, neighborhood hubs can help to build a future that is more livable, offer more of a sense of community, and be more sustainable. Listen as Opportunity Miami explores this future with the Miami-based startup REEF. Co-founder and Senior Vice President of Product, Philippe Saint-Just, explains how the company is reimagining neighborhoods.

There’s a revolution taking place around the world. The car industry is going electric. Mercedez-Benz by 2030 will be fully electric. Volvo is doing the same. General Motors is moving to all electric by 2035. And, of course, Tesla - which pioneered the wave to electric - has become the most valuable car maker in the world.

But last year Tony decided to make a change. He launched an effort called Future of Cities, a new organization focused on redefining real estate and community development in the post-pandemic world.

When we think about building Miami’s economic future, we know it’s critical to be a place that creates lots of new jobs. Studies show that virtually all new job growth comes from companies five years or younger. If Miami’s job sectors are to grow, then this means being a place that launches lots of high-growth tech companies — which Miami’s doing better than ever.

But it also means that Miami needs to be a place that launches lots of micro- and medium-sized business — which may never be considered high-growth, but which employ lots of people across the community.

How do we empower entrepreneurs across the board? Can public policy shape our local entrepreneurial ecosystem? We explore on the Opportunity Miami podcast with Victor Hwang, founder of Right to Start, and Pilar Guzman Zavela, CEO of Half Moon Empanadas.

Interview with Victor Hwang at (2:09)

Interview with Pilar Guzman Zavela at (32:43)

The pandemic brought our need for broadband access into sharp focus. In many ways, we need internet connectivity like we need electricity or running water — the internet’s how we look for jobs, learn, shop, and receive healthcare.

But across the country, many people still don’t have internet; in Miami-Dade County alone, nearly 1/4 of homes don’t have access to the internet. Now, the Federal government is making the largest investment ever to close the digital divide, including $65 million to improve broadband access across the country.

What does this mean for Miami? Can we finally achieve universal broadband access? We explore on Episode 4 of the Opportunity Miami podcast.

Interview with Blair Levin at (2:49)

In the first half of 2021, only 1.2% of venture capital went to Black founders — and that was amid a record year for investment in Black-owned startups. How can we build a future where being a Black entrepreneur is normal, not novelty? On the Opportunity Miami podcast, we hear from Shu Nyatta, managing partner of SoftBank Group International, about SoftBank’s $100M Opportunity Fund, which was founded within eight days of George Floyd’s 2020 killing to focus on funding Black and Brown entrepreneurs. We also speak with three Black tech and innovation leaders: Sherrell Dorsey, publisher and CEO of The Plug; Felecia Hatcher, CEO of Black Ambition; and Brian Brackeen, founder of Lightship Capital. They share their thoughts on ways to elevate Black founders in Miami.

Interview with Shu Nyatta at (2:21)

Interview with Sherrell Dorsey, Felecia Hatcher, and Brian Brackeen at (22:42)

Entrepreneurs, community leaders and venture capitalists are flipping the script on climate change, turning it into an opportunity for growth and innovation. Could new efforts in climate tech help make Miami a global leader in sustainability and resilience? On the Opportunity Miami podcast, we hear from Clay Dumas, founding partner of Lowercarbon Capital, an $800 million international venture-capital fund focused on climate tech, and Luisa Santos and Jane Gilbert, two Miami civic leaders who are helping drive the nation’s fourth-largest school district to commit to 100% clean energy use by 2030.

Interview with Clay Dumas at (2:36)

Interview with Luisa Santos and Jane Gilbert at (22:33)

Climate change isn’t a favorite topic of conversation in Miami, one of the cities most vulnerable to sea-level rise. But some venture capitalists see climate change as a generational business opportunity, because the drive to lower carbon emissions will create new industries, businesses and jobs — and the places that embrace them will win. Is this a huge opportunity for Miami? Watch or listen as Opportunity Miami explores with Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and investors Christian Hernandez of 2150, Patricia Wexler of Starlight Ventures, and Kiel Berry of Mission One Capital.

Interview with Christian Hernandez at (2:27)

Interview with Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Patricia Wexler, and Kiel Berry at (18:07)