Melissa Medina | The Long Game w/ Jay Roberts #27

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On this episode of The Long Game, Prosper Group CEO Jay Roberts sits down with Melissa Medina, Co-Founder and CEO of eMerge Americas, the global technology platform that has helped transform Miami into a major hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment.

Melissa shares how growing up as a first-generation Cuban American and watching her father, Manny Medina, build and sell Terremark Worldwide shaped her approach to leadership, risk, reputation, and business.

Jay and Melissa discuss how a simple conversation about Miami’s lack of a technology ecosystem became eMerge Americas, a global conference and year-round platform connecting founders, investors, corporations, universities, and government leaders from more than 50 countries.

They also explore the early skepticism surrounding Miami’s technology potential, the challenges of surviving the pandemic, the migration of capital and companies into South Florida, and why Miami’s growth has become impossible to ignore.

Melissa also shares how eMerge supports early-stage founders through accelerator programs, pitch competitions, investor connections, and educational initiatives, helping create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic impact.

The episode offers valuable lessons on entrepreneurship, resilience, community building, investing, leadership, and why playing the long game means believing in a vision before the rest of the world sees it.

🎯 TAKEAWAYS:

• How Melissa Medina helped build eMerge Americas into a global technology platform
• How Miami became a rising destination for technology, capital, and entrepreneurship
• Why reputation, consistency, and keeping your word matter in business
• How eMerge connects founders with investors, corporations, and opportunities
• Why resilience and adaptability are essential when building something new
• How AI, quantum technology, fintech, and national security are shaping innovation
• Why in-person relationships are becoming more valuable in an increasingly digital world

Stay up to date with Jay Roberts:

Instagram: @jayroberts
Website: ProsperGroup.com