How Tech Can Fast Track Community Solutions At Scale
Introducing The Miami-Dade Innovation Authority
The Miami-Dade Innovation Authority is a nonprofit established with seed funding committments of $3 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, $3 million from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, and $3 million from Miami-Dade County (pending approval) to provide funding to innovative companies working to solve pressing community challenges in climate, health, housing, transit, and more.
The Innovation Authority will work hand in hand with private sector funders to support startups, leveraging public and private dollars to maximize impact. With this innovative model, the Innovation Authority will direct seed funding provided by Miami-Dade County to solve our community’s biggest challenges, while creating a path for entrepreneurs to access private funding and test their technologies at scale.
The Innovation Authority fosters an innovation ecosystem that supports the discovery and commercialization of technologies, de-risking capital investments and helping companies successfully deliver market-ready solutions along with accompanying jobs in Miami-Dade County.
The Innovation Authority has three focus areas:
- Public Challenges: to fund solutions and facilitate pilots that test and validate technology solutions that improve quality of life for residents,
- Pipeline Support: to work in collaboration with local academic institutions to help scaling companies find talent and build a strong corporate culture based out of Miami-Dade, and
- Tech Ecosystem Enhancement: to continue the rapid growth of the tech sector and to cement Miami-Dade as a world-class location for innovation.
“With pilot programs and an openness to creative solutions, we are flipping the way government does business by inviting businesses to pilot their innovations with us,” said County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
“We’re saying to entrepreneurs everywhere that we’re open for business, and we’re inviting the private sector to join us as we unlock more streamlined, more cost-effective solutions to big public sector problems. I am grateful to the Knight Foundation and Ken Griffin for this major investment in innovative problem-solving right here in Miami-Dade.”
“With this announcement, Miami-Dade County is committing to innovation, and further positioning our community as a world-class destination for high-growth companies,” said Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III, sponsor of the Innovation Authority legislation. “This approach will fast-forward local solutions — while giving entrepreneurs a path to test and scale, making it faster and easier to innovate in Miami-Dade.”
“Miami Dade is the new frontier of tech innovation and entrepreneurship. The Miami Dade Innovation Authority will help us embrace our future and our destiny. This is all about seizing and accelerating opportunity,” said Alberto Ibargüen, President, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
“I am thrilled to support Mayor Levine Cava and the leaders of the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority in their mission to address the needs of our community by leveraging the power of technology,” said Ken Griffin, Citadel founder and CEO. “This work will advance innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth in South Florida.”
The Innovation Authority’s Board of Directors has appointed Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan, Esq., as President to lead the launch of the organization and support its strategic vision to scale solutions for people most affected by critical challenges, improve economic and social outcomes, and make Miami-Dade a world class capital for high growth companies.
