Stay up to date on Miami entrepreneurs, events, research and more.
We are uniquely positioned as the hub for the Americas, we are (and have always been) a scale-up city.
Meet Anabel Perez, Endeavor Entrepreneur and Board Member, and Founder and CEO of NovoPayment, one of the companies highlighted in our Endeavor Insight report.
Anabel spoke with us about her experience starting and scaling a business in Miami. She also gave us her point of view of the Greater Miami area after reviewing our report on Miami’s Competitive Advantages.
How would you define your experience scaling your business in Miami?
Our experience scaling in Miami was a bit “before and after”, in that it changed dramatically once we connected to a local entrepreneurial support network. This changed the course of our journey…opening up the potential for engaging and exchanging ideas with other business leaders with similar needs, gaining exposure to qualified mentors, and access to new markets and segments (beyond Miami).
Where do you see Miami going in the near future?
I see Miami continuing to evolve as a destination for entrepreneurial, high-value companies…not only founded by talented immigrants but fostering innovation within the Miami community for a new generation of entrepreneurs. Miami will remain a leader in the start-up business scene, where students increasingly choose to stay and build their careers locally… something much more than a regional gateway.
What do you think about the effect high-growth companies (like yours) have in the local economy?
First, I think about that cycle of entrepreneurial reinvestment we’ve lived and experienced first-hand, and how to keep it going. I believe that as entrepreneurs, we’re better at creating jobs and growing revenues when we connect and support one another and embrace the knowledge and capital available to us.
What would you say to entrepreneurs that are thinking of entering in the Greater Miami area?
I’d say, “what are you waiting for?” Especially to young entrepreneurs and people looking to start a new venture in one of the six categories where Miami has a strong concentration of larger, high-value entrepreneurial companies.
I’m referring to passenger transit and transportation services, financial intermediaries, consulting, pharma and medical device, software and software-enabled companies, and advertising, are all areas where we punch above our weight compared to the rest of the U.S. They are real bright spots for our area with standout sub-sectors for software developers, analysts, business operations, for example.
Miami is a transformative city….a melting pot… a true multi-cultural marketplace welcoming of new talent and ideas. We are uniquely positioned as the hub for the Americas, we are (and have always been) a scale-up city.
Anabel Pérez – Founder & CEO of NovoPayment