Saif Ishoof named Innovator in Residence at Republica Havas

Republica Havas announced that Saif Ishoof, founder of Lab22c, has joined its team as Innovator in Residence. The Miami-based agency is also announcing new work with eco-conscious blockchain company Algorand and with the global tech event eMerge Americas.

In this new consultative position, Saif Ishoof will be involved in creating opportunities and partnerships for Republica Havas in technology, innovation and culture, including blockchain, the metaverse and Web3. He will work closely with co-founders Jorge A. Plasencia and Luis Casamayor, as well as General Manager Anthony Bianco.

“Saif has extensive expertise in understanding how the forces of disruption are transforming how we learn, work and play. We are confident that as Republica Havas’ Innovator in Residence, he will add great value and drive impact for our agency and our clients in all realms of innovation and culture,” said Republica Havas co-founder, chairman and CEO Jorge A. Plasencia. “Our hometown of Miami is transforming into one of the world’s leading tech hubs, and given our experience working with longtime clients such as Google, we are uniquely positioned to become the partner of choice for the sector,” he added.

Ishoof’s influence has spanned multiple Miami industries: from agriculture to engineering, education and politics. Upon graduation from the University of Miami School of Law, he launched a vendor management software company in the agricultural space, and he has also worked with international engineering companies. Most recently, Ishoof worked as a higher-education leader as Vice President of Engagement at Florida International University and as Senior Advisor for Innovation and Technology to City of Miami Mayor Francis Suarez.

“I’m honored to be joining Republica Havas’ impressive team and to be a key player in the agency’s evolution,” said Ishoof. “The future is going to be defined by those who embrace algorithms and empathy –– at every stage of human progress, we must work to ensure that technology puts the human element first.”

Republica Havas pitched and won Algorand in March 2022. As part of the new relationship, the agency was initially tasked with raising awareness of the Algorand brand throughout Miami Tech Month (April 2022). To accomplish this, Republica Havas created the campaign AlgoMiami, a media takeover comprised of digital out-of-home (OOH) billboards, wild postings, digital takeovers of Swiftmile Micromobility charging stations, guerrilla-style chalk art, and building projections across key neighborhoods where events were scheduled. Consistent with Algorand’s commitment to sustainability, all materials used in the campaign are nontoxic, recyclable or eco-friendly. For example, the campaign ditched printed OOH boards in favor of digital.

Republica Havas has worked with technology events company eMerge Americas since 2014, providing creative work and strategy in support of its specific needs throughout the years. For this project, Republica Havas recommended a plan to raise awareness of the eMerge Americas conference, which boasts over 16,000 attendees, and other Miami Tech Month activities. The agency provided studio services to fulfill the media plan and, additionally, its sister publishing company Havas House produced the launch issue of its new eMerge Magazine, in partnership with eMerge Americas.

“We’ve been working with eMerge Americas since its inception and enjoy a great partnership with their team. They know our work firsthand, and now with Havas House launching eMerge Magazine, we have joined forces to create a top-notch medium that showcases and chronicles the growing Miami tech community,” said Plasencia.