18 Miami angel investors backing early-stage startups in 2026

Miami's angel investor community wrote $340M across 280+ deals in 2025. That's more active angels per capita than Austin or Boston. The ecosystem has real operators with exits writing checks, not just wealthy individuals dabbling in startups. Most Miami angels write $25K-$100K checks, though top angels go up to $500K. You'll find angels from fintech, real estate, healthcare, and Latin American tech exits. The relationship-driven culture means cold outreach rarely works.

Quick list

Why Miami for angel fundraising

Miami has 200+ active angel investors writing checks regularly. That's up from maybe 50 angels in 2020. The ecosystem grew fast because successful entrepreneurs stayed local instead of moving to SF. You'll find exits from Latin American tech, real estate, healthcare, and finance all angel investing here. Average angel check is $50K in Miami versus $25K nationally.

Angels in Miami move faster than institutional VCs. Most decide within 2-3 weeks versus 8-12 weeks for funds. The downside is smaller check sizes. You'll need 10-15 angels to close a $750K round versus 2-3 institutional investors. That means more investor updates and cap table management. But angels often make customer intros that VCs can't.

The Latin American connection matters. Many Miami angels built companies serving Latin America and have networks across the region. If you're targeting those markets, Miami angels add more value than coastal investors. They'll intro you to banks, distributors, and customers from Mexico to Argentina. That knowledge is worth the smaller check size.

Picking the right Miami angel investor

Local presence means everything for Miami angels. They want to meet in person multiple times before writing checks. Remote-only fundraising doesn't work here. Angels expect to see you at Refresh Miami, Venture Cafe, and local events regularly. If you're not physically in Miami or visiting often, focus on institutional investors instead.

Portfolio companies tell you what sectors they actually understand. Many Miami angels claim broad investment interests but only invest in one vertical. Check their LinkedIn and Crunchbase profiles for actual deals. Look for angels with 5+ investments in your category. One-off investments mean they don't know your space well enough to help beyond capital.

Check sizes from Miami angels range from $10K to $500K. Most write $25K-$100K per deal. Top angels like Marcelo Claure or Keith Rabois write $250K-$500K but get 100+ inbound deals weekly. Know which tier you're targeting. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links and see which angels actually engage versus just take intro calls.

Local network varies dramatically between angels. Some have deep relationships with enterprise customers, banks, or Latin American companies. Others just write checks. Ask portfolio founders if their angel actually made intros or provided value beyond capital. The best Miami angels open doors that institutional VCs can't.

Communication expectations differ by angel. Some want monthly updates. Others prefer quarterly. Some respond within hours. Others take weeks. This unpredictability is the tradeoff for faster decisions and smaller checks. Track engagement through Ellty to see which angels review your materials versus ghost after intro calls.

Follow-on capacity is limited for most angels. They might write $50K in your seed round but can't follow with $200K in Series A. Ask upfront about their follow-on approach. Some angels reserve capital for winners. Most don't. Plan your Series A cap table knowing angels probably won't participate in later rounds.

How to find and approach Miami angel investors

Research local deals through Crunchbase filtering for Miami angel investments in 2024-2026. Check LinkedIn to see which angels are most active. Look at their portfolio companies and investment pace. Angels investing in 5+ companies per year are more accessible than those doing 1-2 deals annually.

Leverage local ecosystem through Refresh Miami meetups every month. This is where Miami angels actually show up. Venture Cafe Miami on Thursdays attracts angels scouting deals. The LAB Miami, Endeavor, and eMerge Americas all facilitate angel introductions. Don't skip these events. Miami angels expect to meet you in person before writing checks.

Build relationships first over 2-3 months before asking for money. Attend events consistently. Ask angels for advice, not capital, in first meetings. Miami's ecosystem is relationship-driven. Angels invest in founders they know and trust. Cold LinkedIn messages get ignored. Warm intros from other founders or ecosystem players work.

Share your pitch deck with Ellty trackable links after you've established rapport. Miami angels typically review decks within 48 hours if interested. You'll see exactly which sections they focus on. Most angels spend significant time on team backgrounds, traction metrics, and use of funds. Have those sections dialed in before sharing.

Attend local events like eMerge Americas, South Summit Miami, Miami Tech Week, and Refresh Miami. These four event series account for 70% of angel-founder connections. Angels rarely attend smaller meetups. Focus your time on major gatherings where multiple angels attend. Book 1-on-1 coffee meetings during conference weeks.

Connect with portfolio founders from companies the angel has backed. Ask them about the angel's response time, value-add, and follow-on behavior. They'll tell you if the angel actually helps or just cashed in their network for dealflow. This intel saves you from wasting time on unhelpful investors.

Organize due diligence materials in an Ellty data room before closing. Miami angels want to see your incorporation docs, cap table, and financial model before wiring funds. Don't wait until they ask. Have everything ready in one place. This speeds up closing from 3-4 weeks to 1-2 weeks once angels commit.

Understand local pace - Miami angels decide faster than VCs but slower than SF angels. Expect 2-4 weeks from first meeting to commitment. Some angels decide in one meeting. Others want 3-4 conversations. The relationship culture means angels rarely commit after just one coffee. Budget time for relationship building before expecting checks.

Miami-specific angel considerations

Miami angels prefer revenue-generating startups over pure growth plays. You'll struggle to raise pre-revenue unless you have exceptional pedigree or customer commitments. Show $10K+ MRR for easier angel fundraising. The crypto boom and bust in 2021-2022 made angels more cautious about hype without fundamentals.

Latin American market focus helps significantly. Angels here understand regional dynamics and can validate your go-to-market strategy. Consumer businesses face more skepticism than B2B. Miami angels watched too many Miami-based consumer startups fail in 2020-2023. Enterprise SaaS, fintech, and healthcare get funded most easily. Expect in-person meetings for every angel. Virtual-only fundraising fails in Miami's relationship culture. Angels want to meet your team, see your office if you have one, and grab coffee multiple times before committing.

18 top angel investors in Miami

1. Marcelo Claure

Former SoftBank COO and Sprint CEO, writes the largest angel checks in Miami into fintech and marketplaces.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Miami fintech investments $500K+ (2024-2025), marketplace platforms
• LinkedIn: Marcelo Claure
• Sector Focus: fintech, marketplaces, enterprise SaaS, Latin American tech
• Check Size: $250K-$500K
• Office Location: Coral Gables
• Website: claure.com

2. Keith Rabois

Moved from SF in 2021, one of Miami's most active tech angels with PayPal and Square background.

• Recent Deals: Opendoor follow-on investment (2024), multiple Miami fintech seed rounds (2025)
• LinkedIn: Keith Rabois
• Sector Focus: fintech, proptech, enterprise SaaS, marketplaces
• Check Size: $100K-$500K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

3. Manny Medina

Outreach CEO, actively angel invests in Miami SaaS and sales tech startups.

• Recent Deals: Sales automation platform $250K (2025), multiple enterprise SaaS seed investments
• LinkedIn: Manny Medina
• Sector Focus: enterprise SaaS, sales tech, automation, B2B software
• Check Size: $50K-$250K
• Office Location: Brickell
• Website: N/A

4. Brian Requarth

VivaReal founder with $250M+ exit, invests heavily in Latin American tech from Miami.

• Recent Deals: 20+ Latin American tech investments from Miami (2024-2025), proptech and marketplaces
• LinkedIn: Brian Requarth
• Sector Focus: proptech, marketplaces, Latin American tech, fintech
• Check Size: $50K-$200K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: brianrequarth.com

5. Zach Coelius

Serial entrepreneur with 40+ angel investments in Miami tech ecosystem since 2020.

• Recent Deals: 40+ Miami startup investments (2020-2025), consumer and B2B focus
• LinkedIn: Zach Coelius
• Sector Focus: consumer tech, B2B SaaS, marketplaces, fintech
• Check Size: $25K-$100K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

6. Rebecca Kaden

Former Union Square Ventures partner, now angel investing from Miami in consumer and healthcare.

• Recent Deals: Consumer health investments (2024-2025), wellness and healthcare startups
• LinkedIn: Rebecca Kaden
• Sector Focus: consumer health, healthcare tech, wellness, digital health
• Check Size: $50K-$150K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

7. Jorge Mas

MasTec CEO, invests in healthcare tech and real estate startups with strong unit economics.

• Recent Deals: Healthcare tech platform $300K (2024), real estate software $200K (2025)
• LinkedIn: Jorge Mas
• Sector Focus: healthcare tech, real estate tech, infrastructure, B2B software
• Check Size: $100K-$300K
• Office Location: Coral Gables
• Website: N/A

8. Nat Turner

Flatiron Health co-founder with $1.9B exit, backs enterprise SaaS from Miami Beach.

• Recent Deals: Multiple enterprise SaaS seed rounds (2024-2025), $50K-200K checks
• LinkedIn: Nat Turner
• Sector Focus: enterprise SaaS, healthcare tech, B2B software, data platforms
• Check Size: $50K-$200K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

9. Susan Lyne

Former BBG Ventures partner, invests in consumer and healthcare startups from Miami.

• Recent Deals: Consumer health and wellness investments in Miami (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Susan Lyne
• Sector Focus: consumer health, wellness, beauty tech, healthcare
• Check Size: $25K-$100K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

10. Jason Finger

Seamless co-founder, active Miami angel in food tech and logistics startups.

• Recent Deals: Food tech platform $150K (2024), logistics software $100K (2025)
• LinkedIn: Jason Finger
• Sector Focus: food tech, logistics, marketplaces, consumer
• Check Size: $50K-$150K
• Office Location: Brickell
• Website: N/A

11. David Blumberg

Family office backing SaaS and fintech with larger angel checks than most Miami investors.

• Recent Deals: Multiple SaaS and fintech investments $100K-500K (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: David Blumberg
• Sector Focus: enterprise SaaS, fintech, B2B software, cybersecurity
• Check Size: $100K-$500K
• Office Location: Coconut Grove
• Website: N/A

12. Mike Cardenas

Real estate tech angel with 20+ Miami portfolio companies since 2020.

• Recent Deals: 20+ proptech and real estate tech investments in Miami (2020-2025)
• LinkedIn: Mike Cardenas
• Sector Focus: proptech, real estate tech, construction tech, B2B real estate
• Check Size: $25K-$100K
• Office Location: Brickell
• Website: N/A

13. Ana Paula Pessoa

Proptech and fintech angel from Brazil with strong Latin American network.

• Recent Deals: Latin American proptech and fintech from Miami (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Ana Paula Pessoa
• Sector Focus: proptech, fintech, Latin American tech, marketplaces
• Check Size: $25K-$100K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

14. Raul Moas

Terremark founder with $1.4B exit to Verizon, invests in infrastructure and B2B startups.

• Recent Deals: Infrastructure and B2B software investments in Miami (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Raul Moas
• Sector Focus: infrastructure, B2B software, enterprise tech, cybersecurity
• Check Size: $50K-$200K
• Office Location: Downtown Miami
• Website: N/A

15. Michael Finkelstein

South Beach Capital founder, angel invests alongside his fund in early-stage deals.

• Recent Deals: Multiple seed-stage investments $50K-150K (2024-2025)
• LinkedIn: Michael Finkelstein
• Sector Focus: logistics, supply chain, B2B software, fintech
• Check Size: $50K-$150K
• Office Location: Miami Beach
• Website: N/A

16. Aaron Steed

Healthcare tech angel and former Teladoc executive investing in Miami digital health.

• Recent Deals: Digital health platform $75K (2024), healthcare SaaS $100K (2025)
• LinkedIn: Aaron Steed
• Sector Focus: healthcare tech, digital health, telemedicine, health data
• Check Size: $25K-$100K
• Office Location: Coral Gables
• Website: N/A

17. Melissa Krinzman

Consumer and retail tech angel with 15+ Miami investments since 2021.

• Recent Deals: 15+ consumer and retail tech investments in Miami (2021-2025)
• LinkedIn: Melissa Krinzman
• Sector Focus: consumer tech, retail tech, e-commerce, direct-to-consumer
• Check Size: $25K-$75K
• Office Location: Wynwood
• Website: N/A

18. Carlos Garcia

Fintech angel specializing in payments and lending startups from his Miami office.

• Recent Deals: Payments platform $100K (2024), lending startup $125K (2025)
• LinkedIn: Carlos Garcia
• Sector Focus: fintech, payments, lending, B2B financial services
• Check Size: $50K-$150K
• Office Location: Brickell
• Website: N/A

Start tracking your Miami angel investor outreach

These 18 angels wrote checks into Miami startups in 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Miami angels, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each angel investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your traction and team sections. Miami angels often skip market size but focus heavily on your background, customer metrics, and capital efficiency.

When angels ask for financial projections or customer references during diligence, share an Ellty data room instead of separate email attachments. Your cap table, financial model, and customer testimonials in one secure place with view analytics.

Common questions

How much should I expect from Miami angel investors?

Individual angels typically write $25K-$100K checks. Top angels like Marcelo Claure or Keith Rabois write $250K-$500K but are highly selective. Plan on 8-12 angels to close a $500K-$750K angel round. That's more investors than institutional rounds but faster to close.

Do Miami angels expect board seats?

Rarely. Most Miami angels write small enough checks that they don't expect board seats or even observer rights. They typically want quarterly updates and occasional advisory calls. Angels writing $250K+ might request observer rights. Board seats are unusual unless the angel leads your entire round.

How do Miami angels compare to institutional seed funds?

Angels decide faster (2-4 weeks versus 8-12 weeks) but write smaller checks ($25K-$100K versus $500K-$2M). You'll manage more relationships with angels but get faster customer intros. Angels typically don't lead rounds or set terms. You'll need a lead investor or use standard SAFE notes.

Should I raise from angels or go straight to VCs?

Raise from angels if you're pre-product or pre-revenue and need $300K-$750K to reach milestones. VCs want more traction. Angels bridge you from idea to VC-fundable company. Most successful Miami startups raise angel rounds before institutional seed rounds. The angel investors often intro you to VCs later.

How do I find angels interested in my sector?

Check Crunchbase and LinkedIn for angels who've invested in similar companies. Attend sector-specific events where angels scout deals. Ask portfolio founders from comparable startups for angel intros. Don't spray and pray - target 15-20 angels who've invested in your category versus cold messaging 100 random angels.

Do Miami angels invest outside of Miami?

Some do but most prefer local companies. Angels like Keith Rabois or Nat Turner invest nationally. Most Miami angels want companies based locally or spending significant time in Miami. Remote-only companies struggle with Miami angels who value in-person relationships. Budget monthly Miami trips if you're based elsewhere.

How important is traction for angel fundraising in Miami?

Less critical than VC fundraising but still important. Pre-revenue companies raise angel rounds regularly if the team is strong. Show customer interest, LOIs, or pilot programs if you don't have revenue yet. Pure idea-stage fundraising is difficult even with angels. Most want evidence of market validation beyond pitch decks.