eMerge Americas Builds on Momentum from Successful Inaugural Event, Announces Dates for 2015 Conference

MIAMI, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- eMerge Americas is proud to announce the dates for the 2^nd Annual eMerge Americas event in 2015. From April 29^th through May 5^th Miami will once again become a hub for entrepreneurs, industry luminaries, tech enthusiasts, global thought leaders and strategic investors. eMerge Americas expects 10,000 attendees as it builds on the strong momentum of a successful inaugural event.

eMerge Americas' 2014 event had over 6,000 attendees, more than 400 participating companies, including 115 startups from throughout the Americas and South Florida, and over 150 expert speakers. The Miami Beach Convention Center was filled with more than 100 exhibitors and 55 companies from varying industries looking to attract top talent during the Hiring Fair.

"The inaugural eMerge Americas event exceeded our most optimistic expectations and set a high standard for the years to come," said Manuel D. Medina, chairman of the Technology Foundation of the Americas. "Our team has begun working in earnest to enhance various elements for the 2015 event in order to build on the tremendous momentum the eMerge movement has generated in the first year."

Approximately 60 percent of attendees traveled to Miami from outside the state of Florida, with more than 30 countries and 28 U.S. states represented by the thousands of attendees that participated in eMerge Americas. In addition, 43% of all attendees were C-level executives and the average salary of the 6,000 attendees was $150,000 annually.

The inaugural event featured the first-ever regional startup competition highlighting top early and later-stage companies from across the Americas and South Florida. Modernizing Medicine and Hair Construction were selected as the winners of the Launch competition, which provided $150,000 in cash and prizes to the companies. The first eMerge Hackathon attracted over 30 teams of developers from throughout South Florida and the region to create applications aimed at providing innovative solutions for the benefit of local communities across the Americas.

Attendees had an opportunity to learn from some of the top minds in technology, innovation and business. Peter Diamandis, Cedric Dahl, Yoani Sanchez, Paul Maritz and Armando Christian Perez, aka Pitbull, were just some of the luminaries to present during the 2014 conference. Thought-provoking keynote presentations and panel discussions covered various topics tied to how new technologies that are disrupting industries, such as the rise of virtual currency, the transformation of healthcare, the liberation of information via digital media, and lessons from top entrepreneurs about how to build successful companies.

With more than 100 sponsoring organizations, eMerge Americas received strong support and investment from global technology organizations, industry-leading companies in various sectors, and top community and government agencies.

These staggering numbers are only for the inaugural year of eMerge Americas - 2015 is expected to be even bigger and better. Visit eMerge Americas' website to stay informed regarding new details for the event in 2015, as well as videos and photos from the 2014 event.

About eMerge Americas
eMerge Americas serves as the preeminent innovative thought exchange helping transform Miami into the technological hub of the Americas. By connecting global industry leaders and investors with the America's top business executives, IT decision-makers, and innovative entrepreneurs, new partnerships that will spur visionary innovation and technological advancements in the Americas for the betterment of business and society are being forged. Summits focused on healthcare, entertainment and media, finance, cities, and education address the most pressing issues of today and provide solutions and resources to continue the rapid advances of the 21st century. eMerge Americas Founding Partners are the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami-Dade County, Greenberg Traurig, P.A., and Medina Capital. For more information about eMerge Americas, please visit: www.emergeamericas.org.

SOURCE eMerge Americas