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Downtown Miami welcomed a new addition to its tech ecosystem Feb. 15 with the grand opening of The Source, a Black-owned tech center, according to the Miami Herald.
The project was led by Miami Gardens native Ted Lucas, founder of Slip-N-Slide Records, and his business partner Hilmon Sorey, a seasoned venture capitalist with investments in over 100 companies, including Uber and Lyft.
“If you look like me, I want to see how you are going to help my community,” Lucas said. “That’s very important to me.”
The Source aims to foster local tech talent and support students, startups, and small businesses through accelerators, workshops, and networking opportunities.
Lucas recognized Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s efforts in attracting tech founders to Miami and engaged with him during the COVID-19 pandemic to explore ways for Black residents to actively participate in the burgeoning tech scene.
“It’s important to have a space like this because there are a lot of different organizations handling different aspects of the tech ecosystem,” said Stefan Owens, head of Growth and Investment at The Source. Miami-Dade Commissioner Oliver Gilbert III, who attended the grand opening, expressed confidence in The Source’s commitment to supporting startup founders and empowering others.
Through a partnership between Lucas’ Tech Knowledge organization and Florida Memorial University, The Source has supported tech boot camps, training local residents for future tech jobs. “Within the last two years, we’ve invested $500,000 in startup companies, and we’re just getting started,” Lucas said.
Desiray Malcolm, a single mother of two from Miami Gardens, who worked in warehousing, participated in a tech boot camp at Florida Memorial University. Later, she secured became an account manager at Kaseya.
“They say this is the beginning for The Source, but I feel like we’ve already taken off,” Malcolm said.
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