In this episode of On the Fritz, I sit down with Tony Jimenez, a Cuban-American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and Managing Partner at Medina Ventures. Tony shares his incredible journey from organizing a historic 1.2 million-person concert in Cuba to building a successful plant-based CPG company, and ultimately transitioning into deep tech venture capital. We dive deep into the "unsexy" side of AI infrastructure, the looming energy crisis of data centers, and the global race for quantum supremacy. Tony also discusses his role in shaping Miami's booming tech ecosystem through eMerge Americas and the Gold Coast Accelerator. Whether you're a startup founder, a tech enthusiast, or an investor looking to understand the future of AI and quantum computing, this episode is packed with invaluable insights. Topics Covered: • Tony's early philanthropy work in Cuba and organizing the historic 2009 Peace Without Borders concert. • The pivot that saved his plant-based startup, JOI (Just One Ingredient). • Why Medina Ventures focuses on the "unsexy" side of AI infrastructure. • The massive energy demands of AI and the end of Moore's Law. • The global arms race for quantum supremacy and its implications for national security. • Building Miami's tech ecosystem with eMerge Americas and the Gold Coast Accelerator. Subscribe to On the Fritz for more conversations with top founders and investors. Follow Fritz Spencer on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eafritzspencer/ Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onthefritzshow/ Follow Fritz Spencer on X (Twitter ): https://x.com/EAFritzSpencer Connect with Fritz Spencer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fritzspencer Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4yiWFxUMaba32EltvQPQmd Learn more about Medina Ventures: https://www.medinavc.com/ Learn more about eMerge Americas: https://www.emergeamericas.org/ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction: Who is Tony Jimenez? 01:02 Growing up in Miami & Grappling with Cuban-American Identity 02:30 Founding Roots of Hope & Early Philanthropy in Cuba 06:40 Organizing the Historic 2009 Peace Without Borders Concert in Havana 16:40 Transitioning from Government Work to Tech Entrepreneurship 19:00 The Origin Story of JOI (Just One Ingredient ) & Human-Centered Design 25:16 The Pivot That Saved JOI: From Hardware to CPG 28:06 Surviving and Thriving During the COVID-19 Pandemic 30:47 Medina Ventures: Investing in Deep Tech, AI, & Quantum Computing 31:49 The "Unsexy" Side of AI: Infrastructure & Energy Challenges 35:25 The Global Arms Race for Quantum Supremacy 38:39 National Security Threats & Post-Quantum Encryption 41:04 The History of Miami's Tech Infrastructure (NAP of the Americas) 47:40 Building Miami's Tech Ecosystem with eMerge Americas 51:28 The Gold Coast Accelerator & Supporting Florida Founders 52:31 Closing Thoughts & Outro

Welcome back tune in while I sit down with Maria Russo, a two-time Miami "boomerang" and a central figure in the South Florida tech ecosystem. Maria shares her fascinating journey from a digital marketing intern in Boston to running Refresh Miami, one of the city's most influential tech media and community organizations. Discover how Maria transitioned from the world of high-budget digital ads to the fast-paced environment of venture capital, and eventually back to her roots in community building. We dive deep into the evolution of Miami's tech scene, the importance of storytelling in a growing ecosystem, and the unique challenges of attracting and retaining top-tier talent in South Florida. Whether you're a founder looking for advice on building trust with VCs, a tech professional considering a move to Miami, or just curious about the "quiet fire" burning in the local startup scene, this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration. ## Timestamps: 00:00:00 - 00:01:51: Introduction to Maria Russo and her Miami "boomerang" story 00:01:51 - 00:04:52: Early career in digital marketing and the power of trackable data 00:04:52 - 00:07:17: The startup itch and moving back to a transforming Miami 00:07:17 - 00:11:31: A full-circle Dunkin' Donuts story and the evolution of Brickell 00:11:31 - 00:14:40: Discovering the diverse cultures of Miami and the path to Venture Capital 00:14:40 - 00:17:48: Slid into the DMs: Joining Florida Funders and the VC world 00:17:48 - 00:21:12: The history of Refresh Miami and landing big speakers like Jason Calacanis 00:21:12 - 00:23:54: Building a news arm: Telling the Miami Tech story through reporting 00:23:54 - 00:28:04: Bridging the gap between community building and investment lenses 00:28:04 - 00:32:58: The art of listening and building trust with founders 00:32:58 - 00:38:06: Embracing the "Covid phase" influx and the future of the ecosystem 00:38:06 - 00:44:56: Solving the "Plan B" talent problem and decreasing the compromise of living in Miami 00:44:56 - 00:46:30: What's next: Rock climbing in Puerto Rico and closing remarks ## Connect with Maria Russo: * **LinkedIn:** [Maria Russo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariaderchirusso/) * **X (Twitter):** [@MariaDerchi](https://x.com/MariaDerchi) * **Refresh Miami:** [refreshmiami.com](https://refreshmiami.com/) ## Connect with On the Fritz: * **Subscribe for more episodes!** * **Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts!** ## Hashtags: #OntheFritz #MariaRusso #RefreshMiami #MiamiTech #VentureCapital #Startup #Entrepreneurship #SouthFlorida #Podcast #CommunityBuilding #DigitalMarketing #TechTalent #Innovation #FritzSpencer

Episode Description: Join host Fritz Spencer on "On the Fritz" as he sits down with Miami-based creative and entrepreneur, Justin Elliott. In this captivating episode, Justin shares his incredible journey from international touring DJ to the founder of Worth, a groundbreaking startup revolutionizing the collectible market. Discover how Justin's engineering background and passion for problem-solving led him to identify a critical gap in peer-to-peer commerce, particularly in high-value collectibles like sneakers, watches, and luxury items. Learn about Worth's innovative approach to tokenizing physical assets, ensuring authenticity, and building trust in a broken system. Justin also delves into his experiences growing up and building in Miami, his transition from a successful DJ career to tech entrepreneurship, and his role as a Claude AI ambassador fostering Miami's burgeoning tech ecosystem. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in startups, technology, music, and the vibrant culture of Miami. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Justin Elliott and Worth 00:01:14 - Who is Justin Elliott? The creative and entrepreneur 00:01:50 - The problem Worth is solving in the collectible market 00:05:36 - Justin's engineering background and reverse engineering success 00:09:36 - The journey as an international touring DJ 00:15:30 - Transitioning from DJing to tech entrepreneurship 00:16:22 - Building Worth: Challenges, excitement, and problem-solving 00:23:00 - Miami's tech ecosystem and the role of AI (Claude) 00:33:22 - Building and growing in Miami: The future of Worth 00:38:11 - How to connect with Justin Elliott and Worth Connect with Justin Elliott: • LinkedIn: Justin Elliott • Instagram: @llcoolblaze • Worth Website: wrth.it • Worth on Socials: @worthapp @WRTHapp Connect with On the Fritz: • Subscribe for more episodes! • Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts! Hashtags: #OntheFritz #JustinElliott #WorthApp #MiamiTech #Startup #Entrepreneurship #DJ #Engineering #AI #ClaudeAI #Collectibles #Sneakers #Authentication #Podcast #Business #Technology #Innovation #MiamiCulture #FritzSpencer

Podcast focus - Founders, funding, and the future of tech. Deep conversations with entrepreneurs and investors about the latest technology and investment trends. I work closely with startups to help them build strong financial foundations and scale effectively. I bring deep industry insight in technology and life sciences, with a passion for supporting innovation.

Julia Lucidi, CEO and Founder of @foundertactics joins me On The Fritz to discuss; building a startup and venture community, the founder journey she has been on, her career path and future aspirations.