On The Fritz

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

Episode Description: Join host Fritz Spencer on "On the Fritz" as he sits down with Miami-based creative and entrepreneur, Justin Elliott. In this captivating episode, Justin shares his incredible journey from international touring DJ to the founder of Worth, a groundbreaking startup revolutionizing the collectible market. Discover how Justin's engineering background and passion for problem-solving led him to identify a critical gap in peer-to-peer commerce, particularly in high-value collectibles like sneakers, watches, and luxury items. Learn about Worth's innovative approach to tokenizing physical assets, ensuring authenticity, and building trust in a broken system. Justin also delves into his experiences growing up and building in Miami, his transition from a successful DJ career to tech entrepreneurship, and his role as a Claude AI ambassador fostering Miami's burgeoning tech ecosystem. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in startups, technology, music, and the vibrant culture of Miami. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to Justin Elliott and Worth 00:01:14 - Who is Justin Elliott? The creative and entrepreneur 00:01:50 - The problem Worth is solving in the collectible market 00:05:36 - Justin's engineering background and reverse engineering success 00:09:36 - The journey as an international touring DJ 00:15:30 - Transitioning from DJing to tech entrepreneurship 00:16:22 - Building Worth: Challenges, excitement, and problem-solving 00:23:00 - Miami's tech ecosystem and the role of AI (Claude) 00:33:22 - Building and growing in Miami: The future of Worth 00:38:11 - How to connect with Justin Elliott and Worth Connect with Justin Elliott: • LinkedIn: Justin Elliott • Instagram: @llcoolblaze • Worth Website: wrth.it • Worth on Socials: @worthapp  @WRTHapp  Connect with On the Fritz: • Subscribe for more episodes! • Leave a comment and let us know your thoughts! Hashtags: #OntheFritz #JustinElliott #WorthApp #MiamiTech #Startup #Entrepreneurship #DJ #Engineering #AI #ClaudeAI #Collectibles #Sneakers #Authentication #Podcast #Business #Technology #Innovation #MiamiCulture #FritzSpencer

Podcast focus - Founders, funding, and the future of tech. Deep conversations with entrepreneurs and investors about the latest technology and investment trends. I work closely with startups to help them build strong financial foundations and scale effectively. I bring deep industry insight in technology and life sciences, with a passion for supporting innovation.

Julia Lucidi, CEO and Founder of  @foundertactics  joins me On The Fritz to discuss; building a startup and venture community, the founder journey she has been on, her career path and future aspirations.