Grammy Award-winning songwriter and entrepreneur Kandi Burruss will headline the fifth annual Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit, which will bring entrepreneurs, executives and business experts to South Florida Oct. 4-6. The summit also will feature the return of its pitch competition, giving selected business owners the opportunity to compete for funding.
Hosted by North Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe and presented in partnership with the city of North Miami and the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency, the three-day summit will focus on helping entrepreneurs build, strengthen and grow their businesses. This year’s theme is “Reel It In.”
Burruss, a Grammy Award-winning songwriter, entrepreneur, producer and philanthropist, has expanded her career from music into television, Broadway, hospitality and consumer brands. She is expected to share lessons on building businesses, taking risks and growing a brand across industries.
The Teach to Fish Pitch Competition will return for its second year, giving selected entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their businesses, apply what they have learned and compete for funding they can invest directly into their companies.
“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, executive director of the North Miami Community Redevelopment Agency. “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.”
The competition supports the NMCRA’s efforts to connect North Miami businesses with resources and growth opportunities.
“We’re always looking for businesses that are ready to grow and determining how we can help them get there,” Emmanuel said. “Teach to Fish allows us to connect entrepreneurs with resources, strengthen their businesses and identify those who may be ready for additional opportunities.”
The weekend will begin Sunday, Oct. 4, with “Vision & Vibes: The Networking Derby” at NoMi Village, 12351 NW Seventh Ave. in North Miami. The opening reception will connect attendees with business owners, executives and community leaders.
Programming will continue Monday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Hilton Miami Aventura, 2885 NE 191st St. in Aventura.
Sessions led by business owners, executives and subject-matter experts will cover access to capital, marketing, artificial intelligence, government contracting, operations, staffing, financial planning, scaling, succession planning and corporate structure. Organizers also will offer working sessions in which attendees can address business challenges and develop strategies to implement after 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. “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.”
Previous Teach to Fish speakers include Grammy Award-winning producer Timbaland, Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun and hip-hop pioneer and entrepreneur Doug E. Fresh.
Event at a Glance
Vision & Vibes: The Networking Derby
Official Teach to Fish Opening Reception
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026
NoMi Village
12351 NW Seventh Ave.
North Miami, FL 33168
Tickets are on sale through Eventbrite.
Teach to Fish North Miami Business Summit — “Reel It In”
Monday, Oct. 5, and Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
Hilton Miami Aventura
2885 NE 191st St.
Aventura, FL 33180
Tickets are on sale through Eventbrite.
About Teach to Fish
Founded by North Miami Vice Mayor Kassandra Timothe, Teach to Fish is an annual business summit that connects entrepreneurs and small-business owners with education, resources, experienced leaders and growth opportunities. Now in its fifth year, the summit combines workshops, networking and access to business and community leaders to help entrepreneurs turn what they learn into action.
