MIAMI, April 21, 2026 — Miami Dade College (MDC) will join global innovators at eMerge Americas, South Florida’s flagship technology conference and expo, April 23–24 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. MDC will once again anchor a dedicated space at the event, featuring its top technology programs, student work, simulators and more. In addition, two student teams will participate in a global startup competition and MDC President Madeline Pumariega, along with government officials and industry leaders, will lead a discussion on how education, economic development and private-sector innovation are aligning to strengthen the nation’s workforce.
Below is a list of activities featuring MDC at eMerge Americas 2026:
INTERACTIVE BOOTH
Throughout the event, MDC will feature an interactive booth at the center of the conference floor, showcasing how the College collaborates with leading industry partners to advance innovation and prepare Miami’s next generation of talent. Visitors will experience real-time data analytics through a Formula 1 simulator in partnership with Oracle and explore how technology is shaping both gameplay and the fan experience through MDC’s partnership with FIFA. The booth will also highlight student projects in robotics and artificial intelligence.
MDC AGREEMENT WITH INTEC
MDC’s interactive booth will also serve as the site of the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), a leading higher education institution in the Dominican Republic. Through this agreement, MDC will train INTEC faculty to embed artificial intelligence into teaching and learning, advancing AI awareness and instructional innovation across disciplines. The College will also deliver an AI clinic for local businesses in Santo Domingo.
STUDENT STARTUPS
MDC will showcase the student startups Nexus Horizon and Heal Bites, which will compete for a chance to pitch and win a $100,000 prize. Both teams emerged from The Idea Center’s Launch Lab, MDC’s startup incubator for student entrepreneurs. They were among 10 groups selected to participate in a live Pitch Night, hosted in partnership with eMerge Americas, where they competed for a $5,000 grant from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship and earned spots in the eMerge Global Startup Accelerator + Showcase.
Nexus Horizon — Warehouse Robotics ($5,000 winner)
Composed of three engineering students from MDC’s North Campus — Yandel Polanco, Darikson Valenzuela and Bill Dejardins — Nexus Horizon developed a robotics automation solution for warehouses and built its prototype in the campus robotics lab. The team is now in discussions with Prologis, an MDC partner, to validate market fit.
Heal Bites — AI-Powered Personal Nutritionist
Founded by Diana Trilleras Gomez, an artificial intelligence student and tutor from MDC’s Hialeah Campus, Heal Bites is an AI-powered nutrition coach based on the principle that food is medicine. It provides tailored nutrition plans based on key health indicators and dietary preferences. Heal Bites is working toward a pilot with several nutritionists.
PANEL DISCUSSION
On Friday April 24, at 3 p.m. on the Main Stage, President Pumariega, along with Alex Kelly, secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce; Keith E. Sonderling, United States Deputy Secretary of Labor; and Rania Succar, CEO of Kaseya, will participate in the panel discussion Talent as National Infrastructure: Building the Workforce Powering America’s Innovation Economy. The session will be moderated by Jaret L. Davis, senior vice president and Miami co-managing shareholder at Greenberg Traurig.
The panel will examine how education, economic development and private sector innovation are aligning to strengthen the nation’s workforce. It will highlight skills-based pathways, applied technology training and regional ecosystems, positioning talent as critical national infrastructure.
About eMerge Americas
eMerge Americas is a strategic convener and catalyst for innovation, bringing together global enterprises, startups, investors, and government leaders to accelerate advancements in AI, Finance, Health, and National Security. Through year-round programming and its annual global tech conference + expo in Miami, eMerge Americas connects capital, talent, and ideas to drive impactful progress, strengthen industries, and bring transformative and emerging technologies to market. For more information, visit https://emergeamericas.com/