Leigh-Ann Buchanan steps down from aīre ventures, will lead the new Miami-Dade Innovation Authority

Leigh-Ann Buchanan, a longtime leader in the Miami tech community, is taking on her next challenge: She will lead the new Miami-Dade Innovation Authority.

As the organization’s first president, she said she will “lead its launch and support its strategic vision to scale solutions for people most affected by critical challenges, improve economic and social outcomes, and make Miami-Dade a world class capital for high growth companies.”

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava announced the new nonprofit organization during her  State of the County Address in January. The new nonprofit organization will provide grants to startups tackling pressing community challenges in climate, health, housing, transit, and more as well as invite startups to pilot new technologies with the county. The Innovation Authority was formed with seed funding of $3 million from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, $3 million from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, and $3 million from Miami-Dade County.