Florida's pro-Israel, pro-Tech excitement for the future
Calcalist's inaugural conference celebrating Israel-Florida ties showed a promising sign of things to come.
I am currently in Miami for Calcalist’s first-ever Tech & Invest conference, conceived to celebrate the collaboration between Israel and Florida.
The day was full of insights from business leaders, techies, investors, and former politicians. It was a welcomed change from our usual locations and an opportunity to hear from people across the country and from an entirely new ecosystem.
One of the things that immediately stood out this year was the unabashedly pro-Israel, pro-tech, and pro-business sentiment felt in Miami. It was a stark contrast from earlier this year when we had been greeted by pro-Hamas protestors in New York who broke their way into our building to harass our guests. Or when we had to hide our location for security reasons, as we did in London. The energy this time felt different.
It was an exciting energy that reflected the positive energy felt by residents following the US presidential election. Every time the new administration was mentioned, the crowd would break out into an enthusiastic cheer.
As moderator at the event, I took to the stage and presented the opening remarks to the 500-person crowd. Here is what I said:
Good morning everyone,
What a pleasure it is to be here this morning in Miami for Calcalist and Bank Leumi’s inaugural Tech & Invest conference. In the past, we have ventured to New York and California, but I can honestly say how exciting it is to be here down in the Sunshine State with you today.
Florida and Israel share many traits - not just humid weather and Jewish grandparents. Entrepreneurship runs deep through both our veins, and Miami’s rise as an American tech hub is proof of that. If I’m honest, I’m surprised it took us this long to make this great event happen.
In 2022, the total bilateral merchandise trade between Florida and Israel was over $650 million, making it Florida’s 4th largest partner in the Middle East. For Israel, the Sunshine State has been host to more than 50 Israeli companies, responsible for more than 2,500 jobs in the region.
In recent years, State Governor Ron DeSantis and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez visited Startup Nation, demonstrating strong support for Israel and promoting South Florida’s tech scene and interest in cryptocurrency technologies. Today, the state has 36,000 tech companies and its businesses employ almost 11 million people.
So today, as America enters a sweet new age of leadership, I can safely say we are adding Key Lime Pie to our usual dose of New York Cheesecake: we will hear from experts from both countries that explore Miami’s strengths as a rising investment and tech hub, highlighting the city’s core strengths and its prominent sectors within this exciting ecosystem.
Thank you