EMERGE AMERICAS – MELISSA MEDINA

BY DENA STEWART
ALIVEONSOUTHBEACH.COM

Melissa Medina Jiménez has dedicated her career to transforming Miami into a global tech powerhouse. As the co-founder, CEO, and President of eMerge Americas, she has been instrumental in shaping South Florida’s entrepreneurial and technology landscape. Since launching the eMerge Americas conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center in 2014, Melissa has grown it into a premier global tech event, attracting over 20,000 attendees from more than 50 countries.

Under her leadership, eMerge has become much more than an annual gathering—it now encompasses year-round executive summits, startup pitch competitions, an accelerator program, masterclasses, and investment insight reports, all aimed at fostering innovation and economic growth in the region.

Beyond eMerge, Melissa plays a pivotal role as a Partner at Medina Ventures. She is also the President of the Medina Family Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to mentoring children and empowering families through education and quality-of-life initiatives. Her impact has been widely recognized—she was named one of the “2023 Power Leaders in Technology” by the South Florida Business Journal and serves on the boards of The Miami Foundation and Roots of Hope.

**Armando Christian Perez** **“PITBULL”**

Despite her professional achievements, Melissa’s greatest passion lies in her role as a mother. With five children, she is deeply committed to balancing her thriving career with the joys and responsibilities of family life. Through her work and advocacy, Melissa continues to shape Miami’s future, ensuring that the city remains a vibrant hub for technology, innovation, and community empowerment.

**Melissa and her Dad**, **Manny Medina**

Having attended the eMerge Americas Conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center every year, seeing Melissa in action, Stewart and I know how extraordinarily well she multitasks with a smile.

What makes the eMerge Americas Conference so special is seeing some incredible new inventions and meeting many of the inventors who invented them; Learning about cryptocurrencies from the Pros and the life-changing ways Artificial Intelligence can be used. Also, it’s fun playing with the toys, gadgets, electronic devices, and robots that can do everything I can do, but better!

Stewart and I look forward to this year’s Conference, March 27th and 28th.

“It’s Just a Conversation” and “Alive on South Beach®™” are produced
by Center for Folk and Community Art