Florida investors writing checks across Miami, Tampa, and Orlando

Florida raised $8.4B across 520+ deals in 2025. Miami dominated with 60% of capital, mostly fintech and real estate tech. Tampa's growing in healthcare and insurance tech. Orlando has gaming and defense tech. The ecosystem is relationship-driven and profit-focused. You won't get far here pitching 10-year moonshots without revenue.

Quick list

Why Florida works for some founders but not others

Florida closed 520+ deals in 2025 worth $8.4B. Miami leads with $5B, Tampa grabbed $1.8B, Orlando took $900M. Average seed is $1.8M, Series A is $8M. Those numbers are 30-40% lower than SF or NYC.

Miami investors want revenue within 12 months and profitability within 24. They'll pass on your growth-at-all-costs pitch. Tampa funds prefer B2B healthcare and insurance tech with clear unit economics. Orlando focuses on gaming, simulation, and defense tech tied to local anchors. Founders often track investor engagement using pitch activity.

Florida offers lower burn rates than coastal cities. Your $3M seed round lasts longer here. But late-stage capital is thin. Plan your Series B in NYC or SF unless you're profitable enough for growth equity.

Picking the right Florida investor for your stage and sector

Geographic presence: Miami funds understand Latin American expansion. Tampa investors have hospital network connections. Orlando VCs know theme parks and defense contractors. Location within Florida actually matters.

Portfolio alignment: Check if they've backed companies in your Florida city. A Miami fund won't understand Tampa's healthcare ecosystem. An Orlando gaming fund won't help with Miami fintech.

Check sizes: Florida seed rounds are $500K-$2.5M. Series A is $5-12M. That's 40% smaller than SF. Some founders raise seed here then leave for A rounds elsewhere.

Local networks: Miami VCs intro you to Latin American customers and distributors. Tampa funds connect you to hospital systems and insurance companies. Orlando investors know Lockheed Martin and EA decision-makers. Connections are easier to manage when you can send your deck securely.

Communication style: Florida investors move fast once interested but want 4-6 meetings first. Use trackable links with Ellty when sharing your deck. You'll see if they actually open your financials or just skim the team slide.

Follow-on capacity: Most Florida funds top out at Series A. You'll need coastal capital for B rounds unless you're profitable and can attract growth equity. Ask about their co-investor networks early.

How to find and approach Florida investors without wasting time

Research recent Florida deals: Check Crunchbase and filter by Florida HQ companies funded in 2025-2026. See which funds are actually writing checks locally, not just claiming they invest in Florida.

Leverage city-specific ecosystems: Miami has Refresh Miami meetups and The LAB Miami. Tampa has Embarc Collective and Tampa Bay Innovation Center. Orlando has Catalyst Space Coast and Starter Studio. Attend where your investors actually hang out.

Build relationships before pitching: Florida is relationship-driven. Cold emails work less here than warm intros. Most deals happen after 3-4 in-person meetings. That's slower than SF but typical for the Southeast.

Share your deck strategically: Upload to Ellty and create unique links for each Florida investor. You'll see exactly which slides Miami VCs focus on versus Tampa healthcare investors. Florida funds typically review within 72 hours.

Attend the right events: eMerge Americas in Miami (April) is where serious deals happen. Florida Venture Forum in Tampa. Synapse Summit covers the whole state. Skip small meetups unless someone you trust recommends them.

Connect with Florida portfolio founders: Message founders at investors' portfolio companies. They'll tell you which funds actually respond and which partners are helpful post-investment. This saves months.

Organize due diligence early: Set up an Ellty data room before first meetings. Florida investors want to see your cap table, financial model, and incorporation docs immediately once interested. They move fast after deciding, so handle your secure sharing upfront.

Understand Florida's pace: Miami deals close in 6-8 weeks once terms are discussed. Tampa takes 8-12 weeks. Both are faster than Northeast but slower than SF. Don't pressure Florida investors to move faster - it backfires.

Florida-specific considerations that affect your fundraise

Florida investors heavily favor B2B over consumer. They want to see revenue and clear paths to profitability. Pitch "we'll monetize later" and you're done. Miami tolerates higher burn for fintech and crypto. Tampa wants profitability within 18 months for healthcare tech.

Tax advantages matter here. No state income tax means your team's salaries stretch further. But local talent is thinner than major tech hubs. Plan for remote hires or relocations alongside better-planned document workflows.

Miami funds prefer founders who speak Spanish and understand Latin American markets. Tampa investors want healthcare industry experience. Orlando VCs look for defense or gaming backgrounds. Cultural fit matters more in Florida than most markets.

18 top investors in Florida

1. Rokk3r

Miami-based venture builder that's selective but very hands-on when they invest.

• Recent Deals: Pipe ($35M Series B, 2024), ROOK ($15M Series A, 2024), Jobandtalent ($108M Series C, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Nabyl Charania
• Sector Focus: fintech, real estate tech, construction tech, proptech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1951 NW 7th Ave, Miami, FL 33136
• Website: rokk3rlabs.com

2. Krillion Ventures

Miami fund that got into edtech and family tech before it was trendy locally.

• Recent Deals: Caribu ($12M Series A, 2024), Nova Credit ($45M Series B, 2023), Steady ($15M Series A, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Antonia Rojas
• Sector Focus: edtech, fintech, consumer tech, family tech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 1395 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
• Website: krillion.vc

3. Fuel Venture Capital

They backed Papa early when everyone thought senior care tech was too niche for Miami.

• Recent Deals: Papa ($60M Series D, 2024), Caribu ($12M Series A, 2024), Neat ($15M Series B, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Jeff Ransdell
• Sector Focus: senior care, healthcare, consumer tech, marketplaces
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 2222 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
• Website: fuelvc.com

4. Dash Fund

Small checks but they actually help with Miami fintech intros and know the ecosystem.

• Recent Deals: Milo ($19M Series A, 2024), Mural ($50M Series B, 2023), Nova Credit ($45M Series B, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Scott Roen
• Sector Focus: fintech, proptech, real estate, crypto
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: 1110 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
• Website: dashfund.com

5. Bear State Ventures

Tampa-based and focused on profitable B2B companies, especially healthcare IT.

• Recent Deals: Lumere ($28M Series A, 2024), ReliaQuest ($350M growth, 2023), ConnectWise ($200M growth, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Paul Menchik
• Sector Focus: healthcare IT, B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, enterprise
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 4830 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609
• Website: bearstatevc.com

6. Florida Funders

Orlando-based with 50+ Florida investments and the most active local check writer.

• Recent Deals: Red Apple Technologies ($2M seed, 2025), Canvs AI ($12M Series A, 2024), Verinovum ($3M seed, 2023)
• LinkedIn: William Boggess
• Sector Focus: gaming, defense tech, enterprise software, AI
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Office Location: 1807 Swindell Rd, Lakeland, FL 33801
• Website: floridafunders.com

7. GS Orlando Ventures

Focused exclusively on Orlando's simulation, gaming, and interactive entertainment corridor.

• Recent Deals: Dreamscape Learn ($25M Series B, 2024), CloudGate Studio ($8M Series A, 2023), Virtually Live ($7M Series A, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Gian Stewart
• Sector Focus: gaming, simulation, VR/AR, edtech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A
• Office Location: 300 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
• Website: gsorlando.com

8. Inflexion Partners

Tampa growth equity fund that only invests in profitable companies doing $10M+ revenue.

• Recent Deals: FinThrive ($1B growth, 2024), Accusoft ($85M growth, 2023), Updox ($42M growth, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Brian Egli
• Sector Focus: healthcare IT, B2B SaaS, fintech, logistics
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth equity
• Office Location: 100 S Ashley Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
• Website: inflexion-partners.com

9. Tricap Investments

Tampa family office with deep insurance industry connections across the state.

• Recent Deals: Bold Penguin ($30M Series C, 2024), Kin Insurance ($36M Series B, 2023), Openly ($75M Series B, 2022)
• LinkedIn: David Lerner
• Sector Focus: insurance tech, fintech, real estate, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 201 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
• Website: tricapinvestments.com

10. Catalyst Fund

Jacksonville-based with investments across Northeast Florida and the whole state.

• Recent Deals: RedGuard ($18M Series B, 2024), Vydia ($7M Series A, 2023), SupplyPike ($15M Series A, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Matt Murphy
• Sector Focus: logistics, B2B SaaS, healthcare, fintech
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Office Location: 128 E Forsyth St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
• Website: catalystfund.vc

11. Blu Venture Investors

Miami seed fund that writes small checks but moves fast on consumer and fintech.

• Recent Deals: Caribu ($12M Series A, 2024), Magic ($27M Series A, 2023), Heru ($6M seed, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Diego Perez
• Sector Focus: consumer, fintech, healthtech, marketplaces
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: 2600 S Douglas Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
• Website: bluvc.com

12. Endeavor Catalyst

Miami-based growth fund that backs high-growth companies going international from Florida.

• Recent Deals: Rappi ($500M Series E, 2024), QuintoAndar ($120M Series D, 2023), Loft ($100M Series C, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Allen Taylor
• Sector Focus: fintech, marketplaces, logistics, proptech
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth
• Office Location: 1001 Brickell Bay Dr, Miami, FL 33131
• Website: endeavor.org/catalyst

13. MAST Ventures

Tampa healthcare IT specialist with hospital network connections across Florida.

• Recent Deals: FinThrive ($1B growth, 2024), Lumere ($28M Series A, 2024), Medhost ($150M growth, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Nader Elm
• Sector Focus: healthcare IT, medical devices, biotech, health data
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 400 N Tampa St, Tampa, FL 33602
• Website: mastvc.com

14. Embarc Collective

Tampa's insurance and cybersecurity focused fund with strong local corporate connections.

• Recent Deals: Bold Penguin ($30M Series C, 2024), SafelyYou ($30M Series B, 2024), Kin Insurance ($36M Series B, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Bob Kocis
• Sector Focus: insurance tech, cybersecurity, fintech, enterprise software
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed, Series A
• Office Location: 101 E Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33602
• Website: embarccollective.com

15. Palm Drive Capital

Palm Beach growth fund that invests in profitable tech companies across Florida.

• Recent Deals: ConnectWise ($200M growth, 2023), Magic Leap ($450M Series D, 2022), Ultimate Software ($11B acquisition, 2019)
• LinkedIn: Sanjay Godhwani
• Sector Focus: enterprise software, healthcare IT, fintech, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, growth equity
• Office Location: 515 N Flagler Dr, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
• Website: palmdrivecapital.com

16. The Selected Fund

Miami seed fund writing small checks into consumer and fintech before others notice.

• Recent Deals: Milo ($19M Series A, 2024), Join ($8M Series A, 2023), Caribu ($12M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: James Joaquin
• Sector Focus: consumer, fintech, proptech, marketplaces
• Stage Focus: pre-seed, seed
• Office Location: 1800 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132
• Website: theselected.co

17. AGP Partners

South Florida real estate tech specialist that actually understands construction and property.

• Recent Deals: Pipe ($35M Series B, 2024), Updater ($45M Series D, 2023), VTS ($125M Series D, 2022)
• LinkedIn: Alberto Gonzalez-Pita
• Sector Focus: proptech, real estate tech, construction tech, fintech
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 2601 S Bayshore Dr, Miami, FL 33133
• Website: agp.partners

18. ACME Capital

Miami crypto and fintech fund riding the city's Web3 wave since 2020.

• Recent Deals: FTX (pre-collapse Series C), Blockchain.com ($300M Series C, 2022), TaxBit ($130M Series B, 2021)
• LinkedIn: Hany Rashwan
• Sector Focus: crypto, fintech, blockchain, Web3
• Stage Focus: seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: 1428 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131
• Website: acme.vc

Start tracking your Florida investor outreach now

These 18 investors closed 150+ Florida deals in 2025-2026. Before you email Miami fintech funds or schedule calls with Tampa healthcare investors, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Florida investor. You'll see exactly which slides Miami VCs focus on versus Tampa B2B investors. Florida funds typically spend 8-12 minutes on first deck reviews. They skip market size slides but drill into your unit economics and team background.

When Florida investors ask for financials or customer references, share an Ellty data room instead of sending 15 different email attachments. Your cap table, revenue model, and contracts in one place with view analytics. You'll know when they're actually reviewing versus just saying they will.

Common questions

Do I need to be based in Florida to raise from Florida investors?

No, but it helps significantly in Miami and Tampa. These cities prioritize local founders. Orlando is more flexible. Most Florida funds want you to move here if they lead your round. Remote won't work long-term with relationship-driven investors.

How does Florida compare to SF or NYC for fundraising?

Florida rounds are 30-40% smaller. Seed is $1.8M versus $3M in SF. But your burn rate is lower and capital lasts longer. Florida focuses on profitability faster. You'll need coastal capital for Series B unless you're already profitable.

What's the average seed round size in Florida?

$1.8M across the state. Miami seed rounds average $2.2M. Tampa is $1.5M. Orlando is $1.3M. Pre-seed rounds are $300K-$600K. These numbers are for 2025-2026 and rising slowly.

Should I raise locally or go straight to SF or NYC?

Raise seed in Florida if you're B2B SaaS, healthcare IT, insurance tech, or real estate tech. Go straight to coasts if you're deep tech, climate, or consumer hardware. Florida seed investors add value for B2B. They're less useful for hard tech.

Do Florida investors expect in-person meetings?

Yes. Plan for 3-5 in-person meetings before term sheets. Miami and Tampa investors want face time. Video calls work for initial intros but not for later rounds. Budget for travel to Florida if you're raising remotely.

What industries get funded most in Florida?

Miami: fintech, real estate tech, crypto. Tampa: healthcare IT, insurance tech, cybersecurity. Orlando: gaming, simulation, defense tech. Jacksonville: logistics, B2B SaaS. Consumer and hard tech struggle here compared to coastal markets.

How long does it take to close a round in Florida?

6-8 weeks in Miami once you have term sheets. 8-12 weeks in Tampa. Faster than NYC, slower than SF. Florida funds want to see multiple customer references and detailed financials before moving. Don't expect 3-week closes.