Celebrating five years of business empowerment, the annual summit connects entrepreneurs with funding, industry expertise and opportunities for long-term growth
By Jessica Garrett
NORTH MIAMI, FL. — Twenty entrepreneurs walked away from the 5th annual Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit with more than inspiration. They left with a financial investment in their futures after receiving $5,000 grants during a $100,000 pitch competition that closed the three-day conference Oct. 6.
The awards represented a significant milestone for the annual summit, founded by North Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe to help entrepreneurs build stronger, more sustainable businesses through access to education, resources and professional relationships.
Now in its fifth year, Teach to Fish continues to demonstrate the value of pairing business education with opportunities for financial advancement. The $100,000 giveaway, distributed among 20 recipients, provided entrepreneurs with funding that could help them acquire equipment, enhance marketing efforts, strengthen operations or support their next stage of business development.
The grants were presented during the summit’s second annual pitch competition, an initiative that builds on the conference’s mission of helping business owners transform ideas and preparation into measurable opportunities.
Five Years of Connecting Entrepreneurs to Opportunity
Presented in collaboration with the City of North Miami and the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, the conference offered a combination of educational workshops, panel discussions, networking and conversations with established business leaders.
Attendees explored subjects ranging from marketing, branding and artificial intelligence to government contracting, business operations, access to capital and strategies for scaling their companies.
The programming was designed to address challenges entrepreneurs face at different stages of development, from establishing a business and attracting customers to strengthening internal systems and preparing for larger opportunities.
Kandi Burruss Shares Lessons Beyond the Spotlight
The summit’s final day featured Grammy Award-winning entertainer and entrepreneur Kandi Burruss in a conversation with Vice Mayor Timothe titled “Power & Purpose: A Kandid Konversation.”
Burruss drew on her experiences across music, television and business ownership to discuss the decisions, setbacks and strategies that have shaped her entrepreneurial journey.
In one candid exchange, she recalled being told by a former publicist that she was conducting “million-dollar business on a bootleg budget.” The observation prompted her to rethink the way she operated her businesses, eventually establishing a professional office and expanding her team.
She also emphasized the importance of financial accountability, explaining how losing money through an accountant early in her career influenced her approach to managing and protecting business assets.
The conversation became especially interactive as entrepreneurs in the audience asked questions about partnerships, business expansion and overcoming obstacles.
When asked how to determine whether an unsuccessful business venture should be abandoned, Burruss encouraged entrepreneurs to consider changing their approach before walking away.
“Sometimes it’s just more of a pivot versus a quit,” she said.
Her advice reflected a recurring theme throughout the summit: Entrepreneurs must be willing to evaluate their strategies, seek expertise and make adjustments to build lasting businesses.
Burruss also offered guidance to a ninth-grade student interested in launching a jewelry business. She encouraged the aspiring entrepreneur to research startup costs, take advantage of social media and demonstrate the initiative necessary to attract supporters.
“You can get other people to invest in you, but you’re only going to do it if you show initiative,” Burruss said.
The exchange illustrated how the summit created space for both emerging and established entrepreneurs to learn from those who have navigated the complexities of building successful enterprises.
About the Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit
Founded by City of North Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe, the Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit is an annual entrepreneurship and business development conference designed to empower aspiring and established business owners through education, mentorship, networking and access to resources. Presented in collaboration with the City of North Miami and the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, the summit supports business growth, economic development and expanded opportunities for entrepreneurs throughout the community.
