ICYMI, Scale Up Miami applications are open for (small) business. The free program’s deep dive on financial management, digital marketing and leadership techniques helps Miami entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Eduardo Reyes is the founder of Mediamerse, an advertising agency that uses 360-degree video marketing campaigns to connect clients and customers in immersive digital experiences. The main barrier for a start-up business isn’t the lack of funding, Reyes said, “it is the limited connections and contacts to initiate the adventure.” That’s exactly the support that he found in Scale Up’s second cohort.

Reyes cites the diversity of entrepreneurs and businesses as a key to the program’s success. “I learned a super valuable lesson, how to put my attention in the important tasks/goals of my journey. Entrepreneurs tend to do everything and at the same time. Scale Up is like an advisor that focuses you on what things are urgent and what things are important,” he said. “And the impressive backgrounds of the mentors and speakers makes the experience unique.”

If you’re ready to think bigger about your small business, Scale Up Miami’s next cohort starts soon — the deadline to apply is December 6th. Get on it!

PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC CREATIVE STUDIO WITH THE IDEA CENTER

If your rent check just cleared, or money’s a little tight, Art Basel can be a pricey proposition.

So we’re here to help you experience the best of this week’s festivities like a VIP, even if you don’t quite have that VIP money.

Our first tip? Be an Instagram sleuth. By following Miami Insta influencers, you can get a last-minute tip on where the real cool kids are partying. Looking for some of those accounts and want some more of our best tips? Here’s the full lowdown on how to navigate your way to the high life this week.

Plus here’s our full guide to Basel.

MADE POSSIBLE BY NEW WORLD SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (NWSA)

(Friday) night’s alright for fighting. Or at least it seemed that way as two Little Havana community parties battled for the right to celebrate on the last Friday of the month. But after City of Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo’s “Little Havana Fridays” event replaced the long-running Viernes Culturales last week, the Viernes Culturales organizers are moving their event from the last Friday of the month to the third, to avoid competing with Carollo’s party. (Miami Herald)

And speaking of Little Havana. The neighborhood has a new flag that features a gigantic rooster and a combo of the Cuban and U.S. flags along with more than a dozen other flags from places like Mexico, Brazil and Puerto Rico. There’s… a lot going on. But as Art Basel reminds us this week, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So we suggest judging the new flag’s “beauty” for yourself. (Miami New Times)

Major Miami arts news. The Knight Foundation has awarded $37 million in funding to 22 SoFlo arts organizations to help support their work. Organizations like O Cinema, Miami New Drama, Borscht Film, and many more were among the recipients. And the funding also includes $6 million to support the Knight Arts Challenge, which is an open call for ideas from artists, over the next three years. (Miami Herald)

Snipes sticking around. After being suspended by Gov. Rick Scott late last week, Brenda Snipes announced over the weekend that she was not going to retire from her role as elections supervisor in Broward County. She had initially announced plans to leave her post in January after widespread criticism for her department’s miscues in counting and reporting votes in the midterm elections, but now she plans to fight the suspension. (Sun Sentinel)

Now the real work begins. Every amendment on the November ballot, except for one, was approved by voters. But that was only the beginning of the process. In next year’s legislative session, state leaders will likely have to approve new laws for any amendments that require changes to the state constitution. And disagreements over how the amendments will be executed, and which ones actually need new legislation, could lead to political battles and lawsuits. (Orlando Sentinel)

WE’VE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR…

Marcelo Carneiro and Jessica Rose Fisher! They each won a pair of tickets to Raw Pop Up, a multi-sensory experience in an abandoned department store, happening tomorrow night.

Congratulations to them! And if you weren’t a lucky winner, stay tuned for more giveaways.

We’ll see you tomorrow, Miami.

– The New Tropic