Standing InnOvation is UF Innovate | Tech Licensing’s annual celebration recognizing University of Florida researchers who have disclosed, optioned, or licensed technologies or received issued patents during FY25. This is an invite-only event that honors the outstanding contributions of UF innovators across disciplines.

The day begins with a keynote session by Melissa Medina, co-founder, CEO, and president of eMerge Americas, at Santa Fe College’s Blount Center. This public keynote is free and open to all, and it is the only way non-invited guests can gain access to the full Standing InnOvation celebration. If you are an entrepreneur, innovator, or changemaker, this is your opportunity to hear directly from an industry leader and connect with the UF innovation community.

Register here to secure your spot.

Our Speaker:

Melissa Medina

Melissa Medina has over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, operator, investor, community leader and philanthropist. A native to Miami, FL, Melissa Medina is Co-founder, CEO & President of eMerge Americas with a mission of transforming South Florida into a global tech hub. The eMerge Americas signature event, launched in 2014, is a global tech conference and expo held annually at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

With Melissa’s leadership, the eMerge Americas conference now attracts more than 20,000+ attendees from over 50 countries. In addition to the annual conference, eMerge organizes year-round executive summits, innovation challenges, startup pitch competitions, masterclasses, webinars, a world-class global accelerator program, as well as publishes venture activity and investment insights reports.

Melissa is also a Partner at Medina Ventures, an early-stage venture fund, as well as the President of the Medina Family Foundation, which has a mission to fund local initiatives that focus on mentoring children and empowering families. Melissa was named by the South Florida Business Journal as one of the “2023 Power Leaders in Technology.” Melissa is also on the Board of The Miami Foundation, as well as Tech Equity Miami. Most importantly, Melissa is a mother and most passionate about her 5 children.

Sponsored by:

Wolf Greenfield

Wolf Greenfield is one of the 10 largest law firms in the US devoted exclusively to intellectual property (IP) law. For nearly a century, the firm has helped clients protect their most valuable intellectual property. Wolf Greenfield attorneys advise a diverse set of clients whose IP is at the core of their business: large global corporations, mid-size companies, innovative start-ups and emerging enterprises, renowned universities and research institutions, and Nobel Prize winners. More than 90% of the firm’s practitioners have science or engineering degrees and nearly 70% hold advanced degrees (MS, PhD, or MD).

With over 160 legal professionals based in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC, the firm offers a full range of IP services across industries, including patent prosecution and litigation; post-grant proceedings, including IPRs; opinions and strategic counseling; licensing; intellectual property audits and due diligence; trademark and copyright prosecution and litigation; and other issues related to the commercialization of intellectual property.