Issue link: http://endeavor.uberflip.com/i/601215
9 High Growth Industries in Florida Miami remains young as an entrepreneurial ecosystem. In the interest of understanding which industries will help differentiate Miami from other ecosystems, Endeavor Miami has identified five industry verticals with strong entrepreneurial growth potential: software, technology and IT; healthcare and medical technology; food and beverage services; creative industries; and education services. These industries have been identified as the verticals in South Florida with the strongest growth potential. Companies growth potential is based on their robust growth; the availability of resources necessary to support that growth; and the presence of key economic indicators that help entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive (e.g. investment activity and job creation). Software, Technology and IT Sector The growth of South Florida's software, technology and IT sector has been sustained by South Florida's large and ever increasing talent pool. Additionally, South Florida's emerging "tech scene" has nurtured a multifaceted, supportive ecosystem that provides growing resources to software, technology and IT entrepreneurs. Examples of these resources include: eMerge Americas (a technology conference held in Miami), The Idea Center (an innovation center at the Miami Dade College), Venture Hive (which creates, tests and validates the content and software tools that corporations, governments, and universities need in running innovation management, economic development, and entrepreneurship programs), and Refresh Miami (Miami's largest technology meet- up). This vertical strength is best evidenced by the investment landscape in software, technology and IT, which is the most active in South Florida. In 2014, for instance, Miami- based startups attracted approximately $49.4 1 Million in venture funding. Healthcare and Medical Technology Sector South Florida's healthcare and medical technology industry has the second highest level of entrepreneurial investment in South Florida. The strength of this vertical can be tied to the fact that entrepreneurs in this 1 NBC News Jan 2015. Please note that figure includes investment in Magic Leap (17%).