On The Fritz - Episode #003 - Maria Derchi Russo - Miami Tech, Venture Capital & Building Community

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