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The Alan B. Levan | NSU Broward Center of Innovation (Levan Center of Innovation) and eMerge Americas joined forces to host their 3rd Annual South Florida Innovation Day on Wednesday, September 18th, attracting over 400 attendees from across the region. The event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to explore the latest trends by promoting Manufacturing collaboration through Entrepreneurship, Artificial Intelligence, Emerging Technology, and Healthcare.
“We were proud to host our 3rd Annual South Florida Innovation Day which brought together so many forward-thinking individuals and companies,” said Kelley Shanley, Interim Executive Director of the Levan Center of Innovation. “South Florida Innovation Day is a true testament to the innovation, collaboration, and growth happening right here in our region.”
The event began with a captivating performance by two LED drummers, setting an inspiring tone of innovation and creativity. The electrifying act energized the audience, creating an atmosphere of excitement that carried throughout the day.
Opening remarks were delivered by Mili Peluso, Deputy Executive Director of the Levan Center of Innovation; Kelley Shanley, Interim Executive Director of the Levan Center of Innovation; Alan B. Levan, founder and Chair of the Levan Center of Innovation and Chairman of BBX Capital; Michael Udine, Broward County Commissioner and former Mayor of Broward County; and Melissa Medina, Co-Founder and CEO of eMerge Americas.
Keynote speaker Saif Ishoof, Founder and CEO of Lab22c, delivered a powerful speech on the future of technology and innovation. Other notable speakers and panelists included Christofer Burger, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Miami; Sylvia Cesaratto, Consul General of Canada in Miami; Andrew R. Cagnetta Jr., CEO of Transworld Business Advisors; Mark Glickman, President & CEO of BioFlorida; Sean Walling, Senior Manager of Advance Operation at Stryker; and Anne P. Mohns, PhD, Director of Operations Engineering Technology at Medtronic’s OI Manufacturing Technology Development division.
The day was filled with dynamic workshops, engaging panel discussions, and high-energy pitch sessions, showcasing the future of South Florida’s thriving innovation ecosystem. Attendees also explored tracks focused on Emerging Technology, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Healthcare, and Manufacturing, fostering collaboration and networking in South Florida’s growing tech and manufacturing hubs.
In addition to the panels and presentations, attendees had the opportunity to engage in a Business Expo, where local startups and companies showcased their innovative products and services, fostering collaboration and networking opportunities throughout the day.
The highlight of the day was the startup pitch competition, where five innovative companies showcased their groundbreaking ideas:
- Lamatic.ai
- Enchanted Wave
- Campus Run
- Catch a Captain
- Yuvie
The two winners of the competition were:
- Cheng Qian, Founder of Enchanted Wave, a company specializing in brainwave technology. Enchanted Wave participated in the Levan Center of Innovation’s Accelerate Program earlier this year.
- Lilyana Demerdjieva and Jack Sardina, Co-Founders of Campus Run, an app streamlining campus logistics, which graduated from the Levan Center of Innovation’s Incubate Program in late 2023
Both companies were awarded $1,000 and fast-tracked to participate in the eMerge Global Startup Accelerator + Showcase, which connects promising startups with mentors, investors, and corporate enterprises.
This year’s South Florida Innovation Day was proudly sponsored by 35 Mules, eMerge Americas, PNC Bank, TD Bank, and FI Group. Their contributions helped elevate the event, enabling a diverse range of programming and supporting South Florida’s innovation community.
The day concluded with an exclusive VIP reception attended by South Florida’s key stakeholders, offering additional networking opportunities, and celebrating the innovative spirit that drives the region forward.
For more information about South Florida Innovation Day 2025, please visit www.sflinnovationday.com. For more information about the Levan Center of Innovation, please visit https://www.nova.edu/innovation/.
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