One of South Florida's most prominent technology founders is partnering with Miami Dade College to provide work experience opportunities to students.
SynthBee, the latest venture launched by serial founder Rony Abovitz, will give MDC students the chance to earn internships, fellowships and job opportunities at the software company. Abovitz, the founder of both Mako Surgical and Magic Leap, said the goal is to provide innovative work experiences to locals pursuing careers in technology.
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"By investing in student talent and fostering a culture of build it yourself entrepreneurship, we are shaping the future of South Florida as a global hub of innovation," he added.
A University of Miami graduate, Abovitz was part of the founding team of Mako Surgical Corp. Launched in 2004, the robotic surgical arm maker was eventually acquired by Stryker for $1.65 billion in 2013.
He went on to start Magic Leap, the augmented reality company headquartered in Plantation. He attracted more than $2 billion in funding for Magic Leap and hired hundreds of employees in South Florida before stepping down in 2020.
Abovitz is bullish about the region – and has been for decades.
In an April 18 panel discussion at the eMerge Americas conference, he spoke about the disbelief he was met with more than 20 years ago when he said he wanted to build Mako Surgical in Florida instead of Silicon Valley.
"People told me, 'You'll never get funded there. The robots won't work. Nothing will work. All of that was nonsense and turned out not to be true," he said.
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So far Abovitz has been not shared much information about SynthBee, which is still in stealth mode. According to its website, the firm is "building safe, scalable, and reliable computing intelligence to amplify human innovation." He said students will have access to the company's technology as part of the partnership with MDC.
Through the collaboration, the college and SynthBee aim to cultivate top tech talent and give locals the skills they need to build their own technology companies
"This partnership exemplifies our commitment to equipping students with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving world," MDC President Madeline Pumariega said.
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