North Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe, MPA, is bringing the Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit back for its fifth year, with three days of workshops, networking and hands-on conversations aimed at helping entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of starting, growing and scaling a business.
The 2026 summit, themed “Reel It In,” will take place Oct. 4-6 and is presented in partnership with the City of North Miami and the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (NMCRA).
The weekend will begin Sunday, Oct. 4, with Vision & Vibes: The Networking Derby at NoMi Village, 12351 NW Seventh Ave. in North Miami. The official opening reception is designed to give entrepreneurs an opportunity to connect and build relationships ahead of the summit’s main programming.
Programming will continue Monday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Hilton Miami Aventura, 2885 NE 191st St. in Aventura.
This year’s keynote speaker is Kandi Burruss, the Grammy Award-winning songwriter, entrepreneur, producer and philanthropist. Burruss has expanded her career beyond music into television, Broadway, hospitality and consumer brands. During the summit, she is expected to share lessons from building businesses, taking risks and developing a brand across multiple industries.
Burruss joins a list of nationally recognized figures who have previously participated in Teach to Fish, including Grammy Award-winning producer Timbaland, Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun and hip-hop pioneer and entrepreneur Doug E. Fresh.
From Information to Action
As Teach to Fish enters its fifth year, organizers say this year’s programming is designed to give entrepreneurs more opportunities to apply what they learn during the summit.
“After five years of Teach to Fish, we know business owners don’t just need more information. They need opportunities to actually use it,” Timothe said in a press statement. “We want people working through real issues in their businesses while they are in the room. When they leave a session, they should know what their next step is and be ready to take it.”
The summit will feature business owners, executives and subject-matter experts leading sessions on topics including access to capital, marketing, artificial intelligence, government contracting, business operations, staffing, financial planning, scaling, succession planning and corporate structure.
Organizers also plan to move beyond traditional panel discussions with more working sessions, allowing attendees to ask questions, address specific business challenges and begin developing strategies they can use after the summit.
Teach to Fish Pitch Competition Returns
The Teach to Fish Pitch Competition will also return for its second year, giving selected entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch their businesses and compete for funding.
For the NMCRA, the competition is part of a broader effort to connect North Miami-area entrepreneurs with resources and opportunities to grow.
“For the North Miami CRA, Teach to Fish gives us an opportunity to see which entrepreneurs are doing the work and preparing their businesses for the next level,” said Anna-Bo Emmanuel, Esq., FRA-RA, CP3P, executive director of the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, in a press statement. “The pitch competition takes that a step further. Business owners have the opportunity to put what they’ve learned into practice and compete for funding they can invest directly into their companies.”
Emmanuel said the CRA is also focused on identifying businesses that are positioned for additional support.
“We’re always looking for businesses that are ready to grow and determining how we can help them get there,” she said in a press statement. “Teach to Fish allows us to connect entrepreneurs with resources, strengthen their businesses and identify those who may be ready for additional opportunities.”
Since its launch, Teach to Fish has focused on providing entrepreneurs with access to information, resources and connections they can use beyond the event itself.
With its fifth annual summit, organizers are continuing that approach while placing a greater emphasis on putting business owners to work on the challenges they are facing now.
Event Details
Vision & Vibes: The Networking Derby
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
NoMi Village
12351 NW Seventh Ave.
North Miami, FL 33168
Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit: “Reel It In”
Monday, Oct. 5-Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
Hilton Miami Aventura
2885 NE 191st St.
Aventura, FL 33180
Tickets for both events are currently available through Eventbrite.
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