In a high-stakes bet on Miami’s future as a global AI capital, eMerge Americas announced this morning it has acquired Miami AI Hub, a fast growing meetup at the center of Miami’s artificial intelligence community. As part of the acquisition, Miami AI Hub founder Burhan Sebin has been named eMerge Americas’ first-ever Chief AI Officer, a newly created executive role designed to steer the organization’s AI strategy, programming, and partnerships.
The move cements eMerge Americas’ ambition to elevate AI as a central pillar of its year-round programming and its flagship tech conference and expo, set to return in April 2026 with a major AI expansion. The company also unveiled the Miami AI School, a new training ground to fast-track founders, creatives, and operators into AI-native leadership.
Burhan has played a key role in fostering a strong AI community here in South Florida of over 4,000 people. His vision aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate Miami as a global destination for deep tech and emerging technologies.
said Melissa Medina, CEO of eMerge Americas.
Under Sebin’s leadership, Miami AI Hub has rapidly grown into a unifying force for AI startups, technologists, researchers, and enterprise leaders across the region. Known for hands-on workshops, ethics-forward programming, and collaborative R&D initiatives, the Hub has helped put South Florida’s AI potential on the map.
Sebin brings over seven years of experience in tech and innovation. Prior to launching Miami AI Hub, he served as Head of Research and Entrepreneurship at Venture Miami, where he connected founders, funders, and talent across South Florida’s fast-growing ecosystem. He also led the “Built in Miami” incubator program, where our own Sun Tech Pulse team participated in both 2023 and 2024.
Originally from Türkiye, Sebin holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (Middle East Technical University). He currently serves on the Board of Advisors at AI 2030, a nonprofit focused on AI’s global impact. In his most recent role as VP of Growth at Atlas Space, Sebin helped expand partnerships across the AI and extended reality (XR) sectors.
Joining eMerge Americas is an incredible opportunity to scale our efforts and put South Florida on the map as a leader in the global AI ecosystem. Together, we’ll build bridges across sectors and borders to drive responsible AI innovation from Miami.
said Burhan Sebin, Founder of Miami AI Hub, in a statement.
What’s Coming to eMerge Americas in 2026:
The acquisition isn’t just symbolic, it kicks off a slate of ambitious AI initiatives leading into next year’s conference:
- A significantly expanded AI Pavilion on the show floor
- Interactive demo zones for real-time AI applications
- Curated panels and workshops featuring global experts
- The inaugural Miami AI School, an immersive program with real world case studies, demos, and portfolio development for AI builders
The school will run in three high intensity phases and aims to not only educate participants on AI, but equip them to actively shape its direction in fields like healthcare, fintech, media, and national security.
South Florida’s AI Moment
Today’s announcement underscores a broader trend: South Florida’s tech ecosystem, once known more for crypto and real estate tech, has quickly become fertile ground for AI investment, experimentation, and community building.
The move also reflects a regional strategy to position Miami as a bridge city connecting Latin America, the U.S., and global tech capitals, with AI at the core.
Sebin’s elevation into the C-suite marks a rare public facing commitment by a tech conference operator to integrate AI strategy at the executive level, a move more common in enterprises than in event organizations.
What’s Next for eMerge Americas
Alongside AI, eMerge Americas plans to roll out new initiatives in National Security, Finance, and Healthcare in the coming weeks. These are expected to include strategic partnerships, venture initiatives, and expanded content tracks at next year’s conference.
Founded in 2014, eMerge Americas has grown into one of the largest innovation conferences in the Southeast, drawing over 20,000 attendees annually from 50+ countries and helping to catalyze billions in venture funding.