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News, highlights and events throughout the Americas

Why Tech Insiders Are Excited About ChatGPT, An AI Chatbot That Answers Questions And Writes Essays

ChatGPT debuted in late November and has quickly turned into a viral sensation, with people tweeting questions, such as “Are NFTs dead,” and requests like, “Tell a funny joke about the tax risks of international remote work.” They include a screenshot of ChatGPT’s response, which often — but not always — makes sense. ChatGPT automatically generates text based on written prompts in a fashion that’s much more advanced and creative than the chatbots of Silicon Valley’s past. In a year that’s turned into a dud for the technology sector, with mass layoffs, wrecked stock prices and crypto catastrophes dominating the headlines, ChatGPT has served as a reminder that innovation is still happening.

 

-Source: CNBC

Mental Health Platform Opción Yo Acquired By Serial Entrepreneur Abi Mandelbaum

Daniela Sichel is on a mission to help people get their mental health in check. For more than 20 years, Sichel has been a practicing psychologist. But in 2019, Sichel realized that she wanted to scale her impact. She teamed up with fellow psychologist Mariana Morales to build Opción Yo, a digital platform for mental health counseling. Since then, the platform has provided services to more than 72,000 people in 69 countries. Opción has now reached a new milestone, having been acquired by Miami-based serial entrepreneur Abi Mandelbaum.

 

-Source: Refresh Miami

Uber Eats Launches Robot Delivery Service In Miami

The next time you order a meal from Uber Eats, it may be delivered by a robot – at least if you live in Miami. Miami residents can now order their Uber Eats takeout to be delivered via autonomous, sidewalk-trotting robots thanks to a new partnership between the ride-hailing company and robotics firm Cartken. With the new service, customers will be alerted when their food is on the way and then be instructed to meet the remotely-supervised robot on the sidewalk, according to in-app screenshots shared with CNN by Uber. Customers can then unlock the vehicle using their phone and grab their order from a secure compartment. (Customers can also opt-out if they prefer to have their items delivered by a courier.)

 

-Source: CNN

San Francisco Proptech Company Bungalow Relocates To Miami

A tech platform for renters and property owners is relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Miami. Andrew Collins, CEO and co-founder of Bungalow, announced his company is moving its headquarters into The Annex building at 215 N.W. 24th Street in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood. The new 3,000-square-foot headquarters will open on Jan. 9, Collins said. By that time 20-plus people from Bugalow's leadership team, finance department, product, real estate, and operations will be working out of the Miami office. "We closed our San Francisco office and downsized recently to a shared space, but now most of the Bay Area team is moving to Miami," Collins told the Business Journal via e-mail. He added that "a couple of us" already work out of a shared office in Miami.

 

-Source: South Florida Business Journal

Thoma Bravo, With A Growing Miami Office, Completes $32.4B Fundraise

It’s been a big month for Thoma Bravo in the Capital of Capital. The major tech-focused private equity firm based in Miami, Chicago and San Francisco last week announced it has completed fundraising for its buyout funds totaling more than $32.4 billion. “This fundraise will enable us to further our strategy of collaborating with management teams to build leading software companies. Having invested in more than 400 companies, we have seen firsthand how our partnership with management teams can turn great innovators into great companies, yielding fantastic results,” said Orlando Bravo, a founder and managing partner at Thoma Bravo, in a statement. Thoma Bravo, one of the world’s largest private equity firms with over $120 billion in assets under management, last year opened its office in Miami — its third major office – to “serve as the firm’s first foothold on the East Coast, providing a gateway to other national and global markets,” Bravo said at the time.

 

-Source: Refresh Miami

A Guide To Getting Started With Twitter Alternative Mastodon

Twitter under Elon Musk is still up and running despite massive layoffs and a series of erratic management decisions. Many long time users, however, worry the end is near or that platform is no longer a safe or welcoming place for them, and they’re looking for a new home online. That search had new urgency after Twitter banned several reporters on Thursday night, causing both U.S. and international officials to condemn the decision. While a number of new and existing companies are jostling to become the next Twitter, open-source option Mastodon has seen a large influx of people. The site can be tricky for new people to understand, and might not be what fills the Twitter void in the long run. But at least for now, it has many of the same posters and experts sharing their toots (we’ll get to that). If you’re interested in trying Mastodon out, Washington Post has provided a simplified guide to getting started quickly.

 

-Source: Washington Pose

eMerge Americas Startup Showcase 2023

Deadline Extended January 6th | eMerge Americas

 

This is your opportunity to win over $400,000 in an investment into your company! The eMerge Americas 2023 Startup Showcase is once again merging with Panoramic Ventures’ Startup Showdown and with the most active venture capital firm in Florida, Florida Funders, for a mega-pitch competition.  This competition will take place April 20-21, 2023, at the eMerge Americas global tech conference in front of leading venture capitalists, corporate enterprises, government officials, global media outlets, and guest judges. All selected startups will be allocated prime exhibit space on the 2023 eMerge Expo Floor within “StartUp Alley” to showcase their company over the course of the two-day event.

The #MiamiTech Happy Hour!

December 21st | Natalia Martinez-Kalinina + Chris Adamo

 

This is a casual recurring happy hour for new and old Miamians interested in connecting with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, tech folks, and a diverse group of awesome people. Come grab a drink and catch up!

eMerging Roadshow: Virtual Edition @ UC Chile

January 13th | eMerge Americas

 

eMerge Americas is hitting the road - IRL and virtually - to amplify local startups in emerging markets across Latin America in partnership with University of Miami and the Hemispheric Consortium.

Our virtual pitch series offers the greater community a unique chance to hear from businesses across the Americas. Please join us in fostering creative ideas and building a bridge between Latin American startups and the South Florida market. Join us virtually for a pitch event hosted in partnership w/UM, Hemispheric Consortium + Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 

eMerging Roadshow: Virtual Edition @ Universidad Andrés Bello

January 26th | eMerge Americas

 

eMerge Americas is hitting the road - IRL and virtually - to amplify local startups in emerging markets across Latin America in partnership with University of Miami and the Hemispheric Consortium.

Our virtual pitch series offers the greater community a unique chance to hear from businesses across the Americas. Please join us in fostering creative ideas and building a bridge between Latin American startups and the South Florida market. Join us virtually for a pitch event hosted in partnership w/UM, Hemispheric Consortium + Universidad Andrés Bello.

Miami Hack Week

January 29th - February 4th | Miami Hack Week

 

Hack Week is back in the 305! We bring top talent from across the world to spend 1 week building in Hackers Houses across the city of Miami. Join us for an action packed week filled with events, life changing connections and community.

2023 Synapse Summit

February 14th, 2023 | Synapse Florida

 

Come join the innovation movement as we take over Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL to Celebrate, discover, and engage everything the Florida innovation community has to offer! Get ready to make boundless connections in-person and virtually through the Synapse hybrid community feature for Florida’s 6th annual premiere innovation event. Everyone has a unique journey and Synapse Summit continues to play a role in so many success stories.

eMerge Americas  2222 Ponce de Leon Blvd  Miami  FL 

 

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