6 Black Trailblazers Changing the Miami Tech Landscape With Power Moves

The mere mention of Miami and most people start thinking about lying in the sand and sunbathing at the beach. But thanks to a trailblazing group of black entrepreneurs, Miami can add technology and innovation to the city’s vibrant history.

So, what makes these entrepreneurs stand out? Check out their power moves below.

Brian Brackeen

Brackeen is the CEO and tech mastermind behind Kairos, an artificial intelligence company specializing in face recognition. Considering you can unlock your phone with your fingerprints, it should come as no surprise that facial recognition software is making its way into our daily lives. Kairos was selected by the Wall Street Journal as one of the top 25 startups in the country

Felecia Hatcher

As a mom, wife, and White House award-winning CEO, Hatcher is a triple threat for changing the conversation about the characteristics of a successful leader in technology. As the co-founder of Black Tech Week and Code Fever, she’s committed to increasing inclusive innovation in Miami and communities across the globe. “You have to build the city that you want. Black Tech Week is our gift to the ecosystem in Miami. There is such genius and raw talent in our community. We don’t need to leave our community to be successful,” she said during an interview with the Huffington Post.

Andre Kay

Kay is a 2015 Black Enterprise Techpreneur of the Year finalist, and South Florida 2012 Mover & Shaker Honoree by Business Leader Magazine and founder of Sociallybuzz, a social media and reputation management company. From analyzing data to drive sales to executing social media campaigns, his company provides full-service solutions for their clients.

Leigh-Ann Buchanan, Esq.

As the founding executive director of Venture Café Miami, Buchanan is on a mission to increase diversity and facilitate sustainable growth and innovation in Miami. Each week, Venture Café hosts an in-person event to gather some of best minds in the startup ecosystem.

Derick Pearson

Co-founder of Black Tech Week, White House honoree for the Empact 100 Awards, and the husband to tech power woman, Felecia Hatcher. According to Pearson’s bio, he spearheaded President Obama’s national education initiative where he traveled around the nation helping to increase high school graduation rates by promoting college paths in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to disadvantaged high schools students through a virtual energy lab.