Startups take the stage at South Florida events

NewME brought its first Popup Accelerator to Miami last week, and together with the Knight Foundation and LAB Miami, gave 65 South Florida participants a two-night pitch workshop, a one-on-one mentoring session with a Silicon Valley venture capitalist or NewME expert and the opportunity to present their ventures at Demo Night.

On Wednesday evening, 38 startup teams pitched to a crowd filling the risers of The Light Box Theater in Wynwood, and competed for tens of thousands of dollars in prizes. On the intimate stage, the teams made their two-minute pitches, each one accompanied by a pitch deck of 8 to 10 slides.

“Can’t you feel the energy? This is super exciting,” said Matt Haggman, program director of the Knight Foundation’s Miami office, which has been supporting and funding projects to help the startup community. “What’s going on here clearly shows there is something special happening and we look forward to contributing to it further.”

After the pitches, which were judged by two investors and Angela Benton, founder of NewME, Benton announced the winners:

•  First place: Sew Love, pitched by Sabrina Scandar. Sewlove.co, founded by sisters Sabrina and Silvia Scandar, is a platform for crowdsourcing fashion design. The Scandars want to raise $300,000 to help them continue developing their platform, make some key hires and fire up a marketing strategy. They won a prize package worth $45,000 in goods and services to help them build their startup, plus they were accepted into NewME’s 2013 Accelerator class.

•  Second place: Gozump, pitched by Charleston Malkemus. Gozump is a platform to help people buy homes, which will begin by targeting the military market. “We are Marines on a mission to change the way real estate works forever,” Malkemus pitched. Gozump won $23,000 in goods and services.

•  Third place, Indira, pitched by Carrie Ann Mantha: Indira is a fashion tech platform that creates personalized fashion and decor for weddings. It has a factory running in Little Haiti and is launching next month. Indira won $7,000 in goods and services.

Honorable mentions: ToddlerTV, SkillU, GoGeekster and NightPro. “We thought the judging process would be a lot easier. There was a lot of great technology,” said Benton, speaking Friday by phone after returning to San Francisco, where the NewME Accelerator is based.

All winners received co-working space at LAB Miami, which is soon moving to a larger space in the Wynwood neighborhood. All participants received a one-month “connect” membership to LAB Miami. Read more about the NewME PopUp here.

Many of the PopUp participants said getting the opportunity to mingle with other startups in South Florida was also valuable.

“We were really excited to meet more of the startup tech community,” said Mantha, who moved Indira from New York City to Little Haiti about six months ago. “It is much more dynamic than we realized.”

Last week was also big for other entrepreneurs taking the stage. Several hundred women attended the two-day Women’s Success Summit, where summit founder Michelle Villalobos and her business partner Jessica Kizorek laid out a system for work/life balance (hint: It starts with scheduling in your playtime, involves firing your least-profitable clients and includes developing strong systems for efficiency.)

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With time running out, Miami Commission to take up $45 million bond issue

The Miami Commission will meet Monday evening to finalize a $45 million bond issue.

City leaders say the debt will be used to pay off a short-term bank loan that financed Miami’s share of the PortMiami tunnel dig. The balance is due in January.

The bond issue has been controversial, in part because the city’s finance department waited until this fall to address the two-year loan.

Adding to the intrigue: The city had sought proposals from private equity companies interested in holding the debt, but tossed the sole proposal it received from Gates Group Capital Partners. Gates, which wanted to loan the city $48 million by taking control of a city-owned building as collateral, complained about the bid process.

Then, last week, the night before the commission was scheduled to vote on the bond issue, the city budget director announced that he had discovered a surprise surplus of between $37 million and $45 million. Commissioners delayed Thursday’s vote saying they needed more time to digest the new budget figures.

Despite the controversy, the bond issue is likely to pass Monday.

At the commission meeting last week, Vice Chairman Marc Sarnoff and Commissioner Willy Gort expressed support for the measure.

Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado told The Miami Herald that City Manager Johnny Martinez had since “made the rounds” to the other city commissioners’ offices, and there didn’t seem to be any lingering hang-ups.

Martinez said he was confident he could win the votes to move forward on the bond issue by Monday.

The tunnel loan is technically the responsibility of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, a quasi-independent city body tasked with eliminating slum and blight in the downtown corridor.

While the city took out the short-term bank loan and would issue the bond, the CRA would be responsible for the debt-service payments.

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Woman hits ‘like’ on Facebook, gets arrested in India

The police in Mumbai arrested Monday a 21-year-old college student Shaheen Dhada for a Facebook status update and her friend Renu Srinivasan for clicking “Like” on the update. The case is the latest in a string of recent crackdowns on Internet speech in India.

The update had criticized a general strike called by a political party, the right-wing Shiv Sena, to mourn the death Saturday of its elderly founder and patriarch, Bal Thackeray. The controversial leader has been hailed by Hindu nationalists but also criticized by liberals for leaving behind a legacy of political violence in India’s financial capital. The party has been accused of anti-Muslim violence in Mumbai in 1992, and Mr. Thackeray frequently made statements against Muslims.

In her Facebook post, Ms. Dhada wrote, “Respect is earned, not given and definitely not forced. Today Mumbai shuts down due to fear and not due to respect.” She also said that politicians like Thackeray are “born and die daily” and the city need not shut down for it, and that people should remember the martyrs of the Indian independence movement.

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Dhada and Ms. Srinivasan were arrested under section 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code that seeks to punish statements that amount to “creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.” Additionally the two students have also been charged with Section 66A of the Information Technology Act that criminalizes online speech that is “grossly offensive or of menacing character.” Another law they have been charged with is Indian Penal Code 295A, which makes insulting or outraging religious feelings an offense. The punishment for each count is three years imprisonment each.

The arrests come in the wake of many such in India this year, a result of controversial new information technology laws. The other cases have included arrest of a resident of Chandigarh who complained on the Facebook page of Chandigarh police that they were not doing enough to find her stolen car; a cartoonist who posted work online protesting corruption scandals by the central government; and a professor in Kolkata who merely forwarded an email with a cartoon that was critical of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

While the women in the Thackeray case have been granted bail, the arrest has led to outrage on social media, with even right-wingers condemning the arrest as an assault on free speech.

Pranesh Prakash of the Center for Internet and Society in Bangalore says that the entire Information Technology Act needs a review by the government, civil society, and other stake-holders. “The current law does not have sufficient safeguards for privacy and freedom of speech and the law is being used as a tool of harassment,” Mr. Prakash says.

In a letter to the Maharashtra state government, Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju urged chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to take action against police officials who misused the laws to arrest the girls. Mr. Katju, a retired Supreme Court judge, wrote in his letter, “We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship. In fact this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act since… it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime.”

On top of the legal action against the women, street thugs exacted further punishment. A mob of Shiv Sena activists vandalized the clinic of Ms. Dhada’s uncle, Dr. Abdullah Ghaffar Dhada. Speaking on the phone from Mumbai, Dr. Dhadha says he incurred losses of two million Indian Rupees (nearly $ 36,500).

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Justin Bieber Stops Traffic to Confront Paparazzi

Justin Bieber was a big winner at last night's American Music Awards, but on Saturday he got into a confrontation with paparazzi following him around the streets of Los Angeles. 

In this exclusive video obtained by ET, Bieber is seen darting through traffic in his white Ferrari while being trailed by photographers recording his movements. 

RELATED: Justin Bieber Wins Big at AMA Awards

At one point when Bieber stops in traffic, he has paparazzi vehicles on both sides of his car. One of the photographers converses with Bieber, who has his window down. "You're driving pretty crazy," he tells the pop star, adding, "I think you should slow down a little, don't you think." Bieber responds: "I think you guys should probably stop following me."

Bieber then speaks to the photographer on the other side of his car and says, "I like you." But he then gestures to the other paparazzo who criticized his driving skills, saying, "I think this guy's just not fun." 

VIDEO: Oprah Advises Justin Bieber on Marriage

Bieber then asks the photographer, "What do your parents think about what you do?" When the photographer says, "I make them proud," Bieber responds: "Oh, you make them proud. Do you tell them, 'I stalk people for a living.'"

Traffic is halted in the street as the conversation continues, with other drivers honking and loudly urging Bieber to move.  The teen heartthrob then tells the photographer, "You guys love this don't you?"

Watch the video for more of our exclusive footage!

VIDEO: Justin Bieber on Interacting with Hysterical Fans

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MTA launches new rail service for stranded Far Rockaway residents

There’s a new subway line in town – the H.

The MTA today announced it's running a free rail service for residents of the Rockaways stranded without a subway since Sandy struck on Oct. 30.

The new line — a throwback of the old Rockaway shuttle, which was dubbed the “H” train — opens tomorrow at 4 am.

The trains will operate every 15 minutes between the Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue station and the Beach 90-Holland station, making all intermediate stops.

Stations west of Beach 90-Holland suffered extensive damage to signal systems and cannot accommodate passenger trains.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin

From the Far Rockaway stop, riders can switch to the MTA’s free shuttle bus to Howard Beach, where they can connect to the A train.

“The A train tracks from Howard Beach to the Rockaways were almost completely destroyed by the storm, and replacing them is a tremendous undertaking,” Governor Cuomo said.

“While that work continues, this new shuttle service will help improve travel for people in the Rockaways who are still recovering from Sandy’s effects.”

The H train will close at night for repairs at 1 am for three hours.

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Growing middle class feeds spirits business in Latin America

Diageo executive Randy Millian is proud of the fact that eight out of every 12 times someone pours a standard or premium whiskey in the Latin American and Caribbean region, they’re drinking one of his company’s brands.

That kind of dominance is why the spirits giant is bullish on its future in Latin America, which recently has been the fastest growing region for Diageo worldwide. In 2012, the Latin America and Caribbean region represented 12 percent of Diageo’s net worldwide sales and 11 percent of the company’s operating profit. Diageo hopes Brazil will become one of its top three markets by 2017, behind the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

But getting there hasn’t been easy. During periods of economic and political unrest in the region over the last decade, there were times when it would have been more profitable for Diageo to pull back, said Millian, president of Diageo Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet, the company focused on growing its scotch business across the region and it paid off. Over the last eight years, Diageo has increased sales more than two and a half times and almost tripled its operating profit.

“I believed it would get good,” said Millian, who supervises more than 3,000 employees across the region and 119 in Miami. “But I’m not sure I realized it would get this good.”

Millian has been running the region out of Diageo’s Miami office for more than a decade. But he’s also no stranger to this part of the world. He first lived in Argentina as a child and during his career has done stints in Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica.

The Miami Herald sat down with Millian during a media day, which was part of a Diageo investor conference in Miami spotlighting the success in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Here is some of what Millian had to say:

Q. Has your growth over the last decade been comparable to Diageo’s growth around the world?

We would definitely be in the top positions in the league within Diageo. That’s one of the reasons they’re focusing on us. Like many corporations, the emerging markets have a huge potential for growth. I’m including Asia-Pacific, Africa and Latin America. We are seeing higher growth rates than we are seeing in the developed world, especially Europe. Although the U.S. is starting to come back, the growth rates in the emerging markets are significantly higher.

Q. What is driving the growth Diageo is experiencing in Latin America?

The improved demographics. You now have over 50 percent of the population who is middle class. You have had an increase in spending. Not only are there more people in the middle class, but you have more people in the (upper) class. We expect over the next year to have 60 million more people in the (upper) class. They’re also learning to spend money in different ways.

Q. In what countries do you see the most growth or most opportunities for future growth? Is Brazil the main focus?

There has been broad growth in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Chile and Peru. We have seen it all over, but those would be the ones we’re focusing on. It’s not just Brazil, it’s throughout the region.

Q. Why did you remain committed to this region over years when there was not a lot of growth and there was a lot of political and economic unrest in some countries?

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Kim Kardashian and sisters to be honored by city of North Miami on Monday

The Kardashian sisters — Kim, Khloe and Kourtney — will receive keys to the city of North Miami at a special presentation on Monday led by Mayor Andre Pierre.

The sisters are living in North Miami during the filming of their new E! reality TV show Kim and Kourtney Take Miami. The move came after Miami Beach rolled-up the welcome carport to the idea of another reality show within its city limits.

The presentation to the sisters will be at 11:30 a.m. in the council chambers of North Miami City Hall, 776 NE 125 St.

Pierre will present a key to the Kardashians and give the reality stars an official welcome to North Miami.

The media has been advised the sisters will pose for photos, but will not give interviews at the event.

A lunch reception will follow the presentation.

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You Named Your Kid What?! Strange Baby Names

Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddie Prinze, Jr.

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze, Jr. named their newborn son Rocky James, Us magazine reports! Rocky is the name of the famous Sly Stallone movie character, while James is Prinze's dad's middle name. This Hollywood couple isn't the first to chose a peculiar name for their child. Click the pics to see what celebrities are calling their kids. 

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Bloomberg extends NYC gas rationing through Friday

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is extending the gas rationing system in New York City through the Thanksgiving holiday.

He announced Sunday that the odd-even license plate system would be in effect through Friday.

Bloomberg said that with 30 percent of stations still closed and a major travel week coming up, the extension would make sure there aren't the long lines that brought about the system in the first place.

Motorists can get gas on alternate days based on whether their license plate ends with odd or even numbers.

Rationing went into effect in the city on Nov. 9 in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Damage to gas stations and distribution networks had led to hours-long lines.

Paul Martinka

Drivers fill up their cars at a gas station in Brooklyn.

Gas rationing has ended in New Jersey and on Long Island.

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Panama Canal’s $5 billion makeover could be boon for South Florida

PANAMA CITY, Panama --
Huge yellow dump trucks resemble Tonka toys in a sand pile as they haul tons of rust-colored dirt and basalt rock from a 56-foot gash in the earth that will become a new access channel in the $5.25 billion expansion of the Panama Canal.

The trucks keep rumbling up muddy terraced slopes as a quick-moving storm blurs the horizon. The rain chases away workers pouring concrete for a mammoth set of locks that will lift super-size ships for their transit across the narrow Isthmus of Panama, but the crews are back in the pit as soon as the sun returns.

By April 2015, it will all be under water — ready for the ever-bigger vessels revolutionizing international trade. The expansion is expected to double the canal’s capacity.

The 2015 target is about six months behind schedule, but U.S. ports are still scrambling to ready their channels for so-called post-Panamax ships and some say they welcome the reprieve. At this point, Baltimore and Norfolk, Va. are the only ports along the Eastern Seaboard with channels deep enough to handle the vessels when they’re fully loaded.

Call it the race for deep water as ports up and down the East Coast, including PortMiami and Port Everglades, and along the Gulf of Mexico make plans to dredge their channels, shore up their docks or rustle up funding for renovations to receive the big ships. Many won’t be ready by the time water floods the new locks.

PortMiami in position to cash in

PortMiami is further along than most and is hoping that early advantage and its position as the first major U.S. port north of Panama will make it a preferred port of call for post-Panamax ships.

Latin American and Caribbean ports also are trying to figure out how to capitalize on the expansion.

As this new phase of canal construction nears completion with 13,000 people working around the clock, there is renewed interest in preserving the history of the old Panama Canal Zone as well as the legacy of those who worked and died building the canal.

While the 50-mile-long Panama Canal has provided a maritime shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific for the past 98 years, it’s just about maxed out.

This year vessels from the four corners of the globe — car carriers from Japan, bulk carriers loaded with soybeans and wheat from the U.S. heartland, oil tankers, towering container ships carrying the output of Chinese factories to U.S. retailers — are expected to move a record 332 million tons of cargo through the waterway, said Jorge L. Quijano, chief executive of the Panama Canal Authority.

That’s only about 20 million tons short of the canal’s capacity, he said. The canal is also popular with cruise lines and dozens of cruise ships are being built that exceed the size limits of the current canal.

But the more immediate problem is that the huge cargo ships increasingly favored for trade with Asia are too wide, too long and too heavy for the current canal.

With a growing number of ships in the post-Panamax category — exceeding the specifications for the largest ship that can fit through the existing locks — the Panama Canal must expand or risk losing market share.

And post-Panamax vessels aren’t even the biggest on the high seas. Post-Panamax Plus ships, such as most U.S. tankers that carry liquefied natural gas bound for Asia, are five times too big for the Panama Canal.

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