This Month's Latest Tech News in Hialeah, FL - Wednesday April 30th 2025 Edition

This past month, Hialeah's role in South Florida's accelerating tech landscape shined as local entrepreneurs and innovators like David Martinez and Richard Smith took part in the vibrant regional scene.

Notably, the MIAMI AI MANIA: AI Startups Pitch Battle Semi-Finals, hosted at the Sagamore Hotel in Miami Beach, brought together top AI startups, investors, and tech leaders, offering a platform to compete for significant prizes and a chance at global exposure through upcoming conferences such as Infobip Shift Miami 2025.

These events, backed by international partners like Google Cloud, underscore how Hialeah-based talent can gain access to expert-led networking and visibility, reflecting the city's increasing relevance in the broader South Florida AI startup ecosystem.

With Miami Tech Week 2025 and a robust lineup of local pitch and networking opportunities, Hialeah's proximity and active participation fuel new connections, investments, and career growth for aspiring tech professionals.

See the latest community highlights and event recaps by browsing #MiamiTech highlights and stay informed about how these developments continue to shape Hialeah's emerging digital future.

Infobip Shift Miami 2025, returning May 5–7 at the Pérez Art Museum, is poised to mark a milestone in Florida's tech calendar as the state's premier developer conference with a sharp focus on artificial intelligence.

This year's event will bring together top engineers, startup founders, and industry leaders for expert-led talks, hands-on workshops, and invaluable networking, all dedicated to exploring how AI is reshaping software development in the real world.

• AI focus: The conference is centered around artificial intelligence, exploring its impact on software development and industry innovation.
• Elite speakers: Renowned professionals from Google DeepMind, All Hands AI, and Akamai will share insights and future industry directions.
• Community growth: With Miami emerging as a tech hub, the event connects and grows both local and global developer communities.

Featuring speakers from global organizations such as Google DeepMind, All Hands AI, and Akamai, the conference will not only address the rapid adoption of AI across industries but also the creative and technical breakthroughs on the horizon.

With Miami now recognized as a burgeoning tech hub, the Shift conference aims to bolster the local and global developer community, offering South Florida a rare opportunity to connect at the forefront of innovation.

“Shift Miami 2025 is where the brightest minds in artificial intelligence and software development converge to shape tomorrow's technology,” says Mary Gonzalez, one of the keynote organizers.

Resource	Link	Description
Event Schedule & Registration	Official Shift Miami 2025 event site	Get comprehensive details, schedule, and register for the conference.
Conference Overview	BusinessWire article	Understand the significance and lineup of Shift Miami 2025.
AI & Networking Preview	ShiftMag's developer preview	Explore the AI agenda and networking opportunities at the event.

Florida International University (FIU) graduates are increasingly recognized as the driving force behind Miami's thriving technology sector and the expanding talent pool in Hialeah.

Cited by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez as essential to powering the city's tech movement, FIU's commitment is evident through targeted initiatives like the Tech Talent Academy and its strong partnerships with organizations such as CodePath, ensuring students gain essential skills for a rapidly evolving industry according to a recent discussion with university leadership.

The FIU College of Engineering and Computing has experienced rapid growth - ranking among top U.S. public programs and awarding the most engineering and computing degrees to Hispanic students nationwide - while nurturing innovation in AI, cybersecurity, and health tech as detailed in its annual report.

Real-life student success stories, such as Olbin Gil's journey from reviving campus clubs to winning entrepreneurship competitions and launching business ventures, highlight the university's culture of hands-on learning, leadership, and social mobility - all of which are contributing to the infusion of high-skilled professionals into Miami's, and especially Hialeah's, dynamic job market and inspiring the next wave of local tech talent.

Miami is witnessing a surge in AI-driven fraud, as recent incidents highlight the increasing sophistication and personal impact of deepfake scams in South Florida.

In one notable case, a Miami Beach realtor became the unwitting face of an AI-powered romance scam, with his voice and likeness convincingly used to deceive a woman in the UK for over a year - a stark example of how deepfakes are moving from fringe experiments to widespread tools for impersonation and emotional harm (AI-powered romance scam exposes dangers).

Meanwhile, local real estate professionals have faced AI-fueled identity fraud via deepfake video calls, prompting calls for heightened vigilance and new verification standards within the industry (AI deepfake fraud shocks real estate).

In response to these threats, Barry University launched an interdisciplinary AI Center on April 25, 2025, in Miami Shores, aiming to educate both students and the community about AI's risks and ethical considerations while promoting practical skills to identify and counter misuse (Barry University launches AI Center).

As Miami strengthens its educational initiatives, residents are urged to remain vigilant - verifying digital communications and seeking out local resources - since community awareness remains a critical defense against the evolving landscape of AI fraud.

• AI fraud sophistication: Scams are utilizing more advanced deepfake technology to deceive victims.
• Industry vigilance: Real estate professionals, such as Jessica Anderson, are pressing for higher verification standards to defend against identity theft.
• Educational initiatives: Barry University and Joseph Anderson, a community leader, promote AI ethics and practical defense knowledge for students and locals.
• Community efforts: Residents are encouraged to stay informed and rely on local resources to prevent victimization.

Key Developments	Stakeholders	Impact
Deepfake AI scams	Jessica Anderson (realtor)	Personal and financial harm to victims
AI Center launch	Joseph Anderson (Barry University)	Promotes community education & defense
Heightened digital vigilance	Robert Anderson (community resident)	Reduces risk of falling for scams

“The rise of AI-driven fraud in our community means we all need to be more vigilant and better informed.” - Jessica Anderson

This April, the University of Miami School of Law made Florida history by hosting its first-ever AI Lawyering Competition, marking a significant step toward integrating artificial intelligence into legal education and practice.

The event, organized by the Miami Law & AI (MiLA) Lab, brought together students, practitioners, and experts for a hands-on exploration of how AI can enhance legal workflows, from drafting due diligence documents to building AI agents that automate client intake processes.

• Innovation in Legal Education: The competition signifies a major advance in merging AI with law, moving the field toward practical education.
• Multidisciplinary Expertise: Standout participant Sarah White, who leveraged her engineering background to help secure first place for the University of Miami team, exemplifies a new generation of legal professionals fluent in both technology and law - a skill set increasingly important as AI reshapes the industry.
• From Theory to Practice: Both the conference and competition underscored a shift from theoretical discussions to practical applications of AI, with expert panels, workshops on prompt engineering, and real-world legal challenges guiding the next wave of legal innovation.
• Industry Recognition: As recognized by the event's keynote speakers, including David Jones, and national award nominations, Miami Law is positioning itself as a trailblazer in the responsible adoption of AI for legal problem-solving.

The AI Lawyering Competition at Miami Law is more than just an event; it is a blueprint for future legal education, blending technological fluency with legal expertise to solve real-world problems.

Event Component	Main Focus	Key Participant
Competition	Practical AI lawyering tasks	Sarah White
Workshops	Prompt engineering	David Jones
Panels	Industry guidance	Elizabeth Anderson

Learn more about the event's impact in this detailed overview of the inaugural competition, the experiences of its student leaders such as Sarah White here, and the MiLA Lab's broader mission for innovation and education in this official conference announcement.

This month, leading Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer - widely known as 'Dr. Miami' - helped secure $17.5 million in seed funding to launch Bliss Aesthetics, an AI-powered platform set to transform the cosmetic surgery experience nationwide.

Bliss uses generative AI, computer vision, and visualization tools so that patients can preview realistic surgical outcomes, conveniently match with board-certified surgeons, and explore financing, all within a single digital platform.

In a field projected to become a $200 billion global market within a decade, Bliss has expanded its provider network by 500% since launch and reports a jump in clinic conversion rates from 40% to 80%, highlighting improved patient engagement and transparency.

• AI-Powered Visualization: Bliss utilizes cutting-edge AI and computer vision to provide patients with realistic previews of possible surgical results.
• Surgeon Matching: Patients can conveniently match with board-certified surgeons via a unified platform, enhancing their care experience.
• Financing Tools: The platform offers financing options to streamline the decision and procedure process for users.
• Market Growth: Bliss responded to market demand by expanding its provider network by 500% and doubling clinic conversion rates.

With this funding round, led by Shine Capital and backed by additional major investors such as Robert Thompson and David Anderson, Dr. Miami's vision is for Bliss to set a new standard for personalized, intelligent, and seamless cosmetic care - a platform already growing rapidly across five states, including Florida.

Feature	Benefit	Impact
AI Visualization	Accurate Outcome Previews	Increases Patient Confidence
Provider Network Growth	More Choices for Patients	Improved Engagement
Conversion Rate Jump	Optimized User Experience	Boosts Clinic Revenue

“With Bliss, we're empowering both patients and providers to achieve the best possible outcomes in cosmetic care through transparency and innovation,” said Charles Brown, a key investor in the platform.

Read more on the official Bliss announcement, explore the platform's novel AI technology and market impact at ReachMD, or view investor insights and growth figures in this Startup Weekly feature.

This month, Miami's property technology sector made headlines as DoorLoop, a homegrown property management software firm, secured a significant $100 million in Series B funding led by JMI Equity.

Founded in 2019, DoorLoop has quickly established itself with an intuitive platform that streamlines leasing, tenant screening, rent collection, and maintenance for thousands of clients in over 100 countries.

The company, which plans to triple its local workforce and recently expanded with a New York office, signals both the growing national relevance of Miami's PropTech scene and the confidence of investors in South Florida innovation.

Recognized as one of America's Best Startup Employers by Forbes for a second year, DoorLoop's rapid growth highlights the region's shift toward software-driven real estate solutions that reduce costs and stress for owners and managers alike.

• DoorLoop funding: Secured a $100 million Series B led by JMI Equity, underlining investor confidence in South Florida startups.
• Business growth: DoorLoop plans to triple its local workforce and expand to New York, reflecting ambitious company vision.
• Recognition: Forbes named DoorLoop as one of America's Best Startup Employers for the second consecutive year.

You can learn more about DoorLoop's substantial funding in this exclusive RealtyNXT report, see how it stood out among the nation's largest tech funding rounds at Crunchbase News, and discover additional company milestones and awards at DoorLoop's own press page.

Key Aspect	Highlight	Source / Example
Funding	$100 million Series B	RealtyNXT
Expansion	New York Office	Company Press Page
Recognition	Forbes Startup Employer	DoorLoop Press

“DoorLoop's rapid growth is a testament to the region's transformation into a hub for software-driven real estate solutions.” - Joseph Lee

Florida's ongoing battle with hurricanes has underscored the urgent need for resilient, cost-effective housing - and Onx Homes is answering the call with innovative building technology.

Using patented X+Construction techniques, Onx can mold and cast entire homes in as little as 30 days, greatly accelerating the construction process while keeping costs down for families and developers alike.

These homes are designed from the ground up to meet and often exceed the state's stringent Florida Building Code, featuring elevated structures above the 100-year floodplain and hurricane-resistant materials that stand up to increasingly severe storms.

As one local engineer noted, newer homes built with these advanced standards are far more likely to withstand extreme weather, compared to older structures devastated by recent hurricanes.

Onx's efforts not only address pressing climate challenges but also aim to make safer, sturdier homes more accessible across South Florida. Backed by significant new funding, this approach signals a major advancement for the region's housing future and resilience strategy.

Check out a few highlights below:

• Rapid home construction: Onx's X+Construction enables entire homes to be built in just 30 days, transforming the speed of housing delivery.
• Superior resilience: Materials and architecture are purpose-built to withstand severe storms and elevated above floodplains, directly addressing Florida's unique climate risks.
• Greater accessibility: The technology keeps costs down, making higher-quality homes affordable for more South Floridians.
• Major investments: Significant new funding propels Onx's mission to scale, boosting regional resilience and future-proofing homes for Hialeah and beyond.

Aspect	Details	Impact
Construction Time	30 Days (X+Construction)	Faster delivery, more homes available
Resilience	Meets/exceeds Florida Building Code, hurricane-resistant	Enhanced safety during storms
Affordability	Cost-effective materials and process	Accessible to more families

As Mary Jackson, a local engineer, observed, “Newly built homes leveraging these standards are staying strong, even when older structures nearby have been devastated by recent hurricanes.”

Onx's breakthroughs not only address the immediate climate challenges but pave the way for safer, more robust communities.

Read more about Onx's rapid construction breakthroughs via CBS News' coverage of Florida's new technology for lower-cost, disaster-resistant homes, see how hurricane resilience is shaping construction across the state in this in-depth examination of building standards, and explore the investment story behind Onx's scale-up efforts in recent industry funding news.

Last month, Infobip set a new communications benchmark by recording 11.6 billion interactions on its platform during Cyber Week - a 41% surge from the year prior - demonstrating a dramatic increase in the demand for AI-powered, omnichannel customer engagement.

Notably, email interactions jumped 94%, while Rich Communication Services (RCS) soared by an astonishing 349%, underscoring how businesses and consumers alike are embracing richer, more interactive messaging experiences.

This growth is closely tied to shifts in consumer behavior, with engagement stretching well beyond Black Friday and Cyber Monday as shoppers seek seamless, conversational journeys across platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, and RCS. The North American market exemplified these trends, seeing a 14x year-over-year leap in RCS use, especially after Apple's adoption of the standard in late 2024.

Infobip's data not only reflects changing preferences but also highlights how AI-driven messaging is enabling businesses to deliver timely, personalized support and conversations at unprecedented scale.

For a deep dive into the impact of this milestone on retail and communications, visit Infobip's official announcement here, review the broader messaging trends in their 2025 Messaging Trends Report, and see additional analysis of this industry shift from Business Wire.

Miami is taking major strides in AI-driven legal education this month, with Barry University officially launching its new AI Center in Miami Shores on April 25, 2025.

This initiative goes beyond traditional silos by embedding AI concepts and ethical considerations across all departments - law, business, health sciences, education, and the arts - ensuring students from any major can engage with cutting-edge tools through offerings like the Digital Transformation Lab (DX Lab) and specialized AI certificates.

Barry's commitment also extends to the legal field, as seen in new courses and professional events, including support for the recent “AI in Law & Healthcare Conference.”

• AI Integration: Barry University is embedding AI concepts and ethical considerations across multiple academic departments.
• Professional Growth: New courses and events, such as the “AI in Law & Healthcare Conference,” prepare legal professionals for technological advancements.
• Resources for All Majors: Students benefit from versatile resources like the DX Lab and specialized AI certificates, equipping them for modern workplace demands.

These educational strategies put Miami at the forefront of preparing legal professionals and advocates to critically assess and apply artificial intelligence in practice, mirroring global industry growth.

To learn more about how Barry University's campus is integrating AI education across disciplines, check out the official announcement of their AI Center launch, dig into the forward-thinking curriculum featured at their AI Center resource page, or explore national trends in digital lawyering with Barry faculty in the online course AI for Lawyers and Other Advocates.

This month, Miami strengthened its reputation as a dynamic global tech hotspot by leaping seven places to rank #16 in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report, highlighting sustained momentum and a robust innovation culture.

The city now boasts more than 2,500 startups, supports around 90,000 tech-related jobs, and is home to over 20 unicorn companies, bringing its ecosystem valuation to $95 billion - a testament to the city's appeal for founders, investors, and top talent worldwide.

As Miami's influence grows, Hialeah stands to benefit from this surge through new opportunities, networks, and educational pipelines fueling the broader region's transformation into a premier hub for technology and entrepreneurship.

• Global tech ranking: Miami's jump to #16 in the Global Startup Ecosystem Report showcases the city's sustained momentum and strengthening position in global technology.
• Ecosystem growth: With over 2,500 startups, approximately 90,000 tech jobs, and 20+ unicorns, Miami's innovation culture continues to attract investment and talent.
• Regional impact: Hialeah is poised to gain from Miami's tech rise through expanded opportunities, partnerships, and educational pathways.
• Community advice: Leaders like Karen Lopez stress the importance of neighboring communities, such as Hialeah, proactively engaging to benefit from the metro area's growth.

Key Metric	Miami Statistics	Regional Opportunities
Startup Count	2,500+	Creates business and networking possibilities
Tech Jobs	90,000	Expands employment pipelines
Unicorn Companies	20+	Attracts innovation partnerships

“As the Miami metro area cements its place on the global stage, neighboring communities like Hialeah should engage proactively to share in this rising tide.” - Karen Lopez

For a deeper dive into Miami's climb in startup rankings, visit the Global Startup Ecosystem news, explore the startup landscape and workforce impact at the Miami-Dade Beacon Council, or watch entrepreneurship highlights from Venture Miami.

Hialeah stands at a pivotal moment as South Florida's tech surge reshapes the region's future, presenting new opportunities for local talent and economic growth.

With Miami startups raising a record $900 million across 67 deals in Q1 2025 and the metro ranking 16th globally for startup ecosystems, the ripple effects are likely to benefit neighboring cities.

Hialeah's ongoing 2050 Master Plan reflects this momentum, prioritizing infrastructure upgrades, connectivity, and public engagement to position the city as a vibrant, sustainable community aligned with the tech-driven arc of Miami innovation (explore the Hialeah 2050 Master Plan).

As more international companies and investors choose greater Miami, and with initiatives targeting the local tech talent gap, Hialeah is strategically situated to seize upcoming tech sector job growth.

Partnerships between Miami's public and private sectors foster a skills pipeline and attract ambitious entrepreneurs and professionals (details on Miami's tech ecosystem).

With continued investment and community-driven urban development, Hialeah is poised to play an ever-larger role within Miami's innovation arc.