Active Orlando investors capitalizing Florida companies in 2026

Orlando raised $743M across 132 deals in 2025. Most capital went to simulation tech, hospitality software, and entertainment. The ecosystem is growing but still overshadowed by Miami and Tampa. You'll find more accessible investors here but smaller check sizes.

Quick list

Why Orlando works for simulation and hospitality tech

Orlando handles 132 deals yearly with average seed rounds at $1.6M. That's 35% lower than Miami but the ecosystem focuses on specific niches. Most local funds write $500K-$2.5M checks and expect product-market fit before Series A.

The city dominates simulation technology thanks to 120+ simulation companies near UCF. Hospitality tech gets attention because of Disney, Universal, and 300+ hotels. Entertainment and AR/VR startups benefit from theme park R&D talent leaving for startups.

Miami investors sometimes scout Orlando but the cities operate separately. You'll pitch locally for seed but need Miami or Atlanta capital for Series A. The trade-off is access to Disney engineers and hospitality decision-makers without Miami's competition.

Picking the right Orlando investor

Local presence means understanding Orlando's simulation cluster and theme park talent pool. Investors based here know which Disney Imagineers are leaving to start companies and which hotel groups will pilot new tech. Tampa-based funds with Orlando partners work too.

Portfolio companies should include Orlando exits or active investments. Check if they backed Squishmallows, RedAwning, or PartySlate. Those relationships connect you to entertainment buyers and hospitality operators that actually exist here. Capture leads directly from your documents by collecting viewer emails upfront.

Check sizes run $500K-$2M for seed and $2M-$6M for Series A. Orlando investors expect working product and early revenue before leading rounds. That's stricter than Miami pre-revenue deals but you'll have 12-16 months runway on smaller raises.

Local network means intros to Disney, Universal, and Lockheed Martin decision-makers. Orlando investors sit on advisory boards at hospitality and simulation companies. They'll connect you if your product fits their networks. Share your deck through Ellty with trackable links for each investor. You'll see who actually opens your materials versus who ghosts after intro calls.

Follow-on capacity barely exists locally. Most Orlando funds reserve nothing for Series A follow-on. Plan to raise your A round in Miami, Tampa, or Atlanta. Start those relationships 6 months before you need capital or you'll run out of runway. Keep your investors looped in and engaged with updates they can actually interact with.

How to find and approach Orlando investors

Research local deals through Orlando Tech Association's newsletter. Every Central Florida funding round and exit gets mentioned there. Starter Studio publishes their portfolio company updates quarterly with investor details.

Leverage local ecosystem by joining Lake Nona Impact Forum events. Orlando investors attend these monthly meetups. UCF's Business Incubation Program runs demo days where early-stage investors scout. The Corridor runs programs for hospitality and tourism tech.

Build relationships first at Starter Studio's office hours in downtown Orlando. Investors here want to see progress between meetings. Expect 3-4 conversations over 8 weeks before term sheets. That's slower than Miami but faster than traditional midwest funds.

Share your pitch deck using Ellty with unique tracking links. Orlando investors respond within 5-7 days if interested but many take 2 weeks. You'll see who viewed your team slide versus financials. That tells you if they care about execution or just checking boxes.

Attend local events like Orlando Tech Association's annual conference in September and Starter Studio's Pitch Night quarterly. Dreamit's demo day connects you to active investors. Skip random networking events and focus on these three for actual investor access.

Connect with portfolio founders at Canopy's portfolio events. They'll tell you which funds actually close deals versus which string founders along. PartySlate and RedAwning founders take calls. Ask them directly about check sizes and what investors focused on during diligence.

Organize due diligence with an Ellty data room before meetings. Orlando investors want everything ready upfront. Cap table, financial model, customer contracts, and IP documentation. They move slowly but expect founders to move fast on their requests.

Understand local pace runs 10-14 weeks from intro to term sheet. Orlando investors make decisions slower than Miami but want to see customer traction between meetings. They'll ask for 2-3 customer references and actually call them. Budget extra time for that. Compare plans to find the right fit for your team’s size, needs, and budget.

Orlando-specific considerations

Orlando investors prefer capital-efficient businesses over growth-at-all-costs. Show profitability path within 18-24 months or they'll pass. Simulation, hospitality tech, and entertainment get funded because of local domain expertise. Pure SaaS without Orlando connections struggles.

Most deals close between January and April. Summer slows down because investors travel and portfolio companies focus on execution. Theme park busy season from June-August means hospitality investors are unavailable. Plan your raise to finish before May or wait until September.

14 top investors in Orlando

1. Starter Studio

They built Orlando's startup ecosystem by launching companies and connecting founders to capital. Strong hospitality and event tech focus.

• Recent Deals: PartySlate $4M Series A (2024), Embarke $2.1M seed (2023), Team OS $2.8M seed (2024)
• LinkedIn: Brian Kornfeld
• Sector Focus: Hospitality tech, event software, B2B SaaS
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 20 E Central Blvd, Orlando
• Website: starterstudio.org

2. Florida Funders

Statewide fund but they're active in Orlando simulation and defense tech. They write bigger checks than most local investors.

• Recent Deals: Neurala $14M Series B (2024), RedAwning $6M Series A (2023), CloudFactory $65M Series C (2021)
• LinkedIn: Richard Swart
• Sector Focus: AI, computer vision, simulation technology, B2B software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Offices in Tampa and Orlando
• Website: floridafunders.com

3. Canopy

Orlando-based fund focused on Central Florida startups. They understand hospitality market and theme park talent dynamics.

• Recent Deals: Team OS $2.8M seed (2024), Whistle Sports content deals (2023), Multiple hospitality tech investments
• LinkedIn: Chris Rudnicki
• Sector Focus: Hospitality technology, workforce software, entertainment
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Lake Nona, Orlando
• Website: canopy.vc

4. M13

LA-based but they invest in Orlando consumer and entertainment companies. They understand theme park consumer behavior better than most coastal VCs.

• Recent Deals: GOAT $195M Series F (2023), Daily Harvest $108M Series D (2022), Ring (acquired by Amazon $1B)
• LinkedIn: Latif Peracha
• Sector Focus: Consumer brands, entertainment, marketplace
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Office Location: Los Angeles (active in Orlando)
• Website: m13.co

5. Dreamit Ventures

Philadelphia-based accelerator with strong Orlando presence through UCF partnership. They back simulation and defense tech spinouts.

• Recent Deals: Multiple UCF spinouts annually, Healthtech and simulation companies, Defense tech startups
• LinkedIn: Steve Barsh
• Sector Focus: Healthtech, simulation, defense technology, B2B software
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Philadelphia (strong Orlando presence through UCF)
• Website: dreamit.com

6. AdventHealth Innovation Fund

Orlando health system's venture fund. They invest in digital health and back companies that deploy with AdventHealth first.

• Recent Deals: Multiple digital health investments (2024-2025), Care coordination platforms, Patient engagement tools
• LinkedIn: Ted Epperly
• Sector Focus: Digital health, patient engagement, care coordination
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: 301 E Pine St, Orlando
• Website: adventhealth.com

7. Techstars Orlando

Annual accelerator program run in partnership with J.P. Morgan. They invest $120K for 6% and connect founders to follow-on capital.

• Recent Deals: 2025 cohort including AR/VR and fintech, 2024 cohort exits and follow-on rounds
• LinkedIn: Andrés Barreto
• Sector Focus: Fintech, AR/VR, B2B SaaS, entertainment tech
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Downtown Orlando
• Website: techstars.com/orlando

8. SeventySix Capital

Philadelphia sports-tech fund that invests in Orlando entertainment and sports content companies. They understand Disney ESPN talent.

• Recent Deals: Whistle Sports $28M (2021), SportsCastr funding, Multiple sports betting and gaming companies
• LinkedIn: Wayne Kimmel
• Sector Focus: Sports technology, gaming, entertainment, content
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Office Location: Philadelphia (active in Orlando)
• Website: seventysixcapital.com

9. Indicator Ventures

Orlando-based fund focused on entertainment technology in Lake Nona. Small fund but well-connected to theme park executives.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Lake Nona startups, Entertainment tech investments, AR/VR companies
• LinkedIn: Scott Sanders
• Sector Focus: Entertainment technology, AR/VR, simulation
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Lake Nona, Orlando
• Website: indicatorventures.com

10. Engaged Capital

Orlando-based fund investing in B2B software for hospitality industry. They know every hotel operator in Central Florida.

• Recent Deals: Hospitality workforce software, Property management systems, Guest engagement platforms
• LinkedIn: Glenn Welling
• Sector Focus: Hospitality technology, B2B SaaS, workforce software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Orlando
• Website: engagedcapital.com

11. CNF Investments

Central Florida real estate and proptech investor. They back founders building for Orlando's hospitality real estate market.

• Recent Deals: Vacation rental technology, Property management software, Real estate analytics platforms
• LinkedIn: Craig Ustler
• Sector Focus: Proptech, hospitality real estate, vacation rentals
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Winter Park, Orlando area
• Website: cnfinvestments.com

12. Embarc Collective

Tampa-based but invests heavily in Orlando fintech and insurance tech. They understand Florida insurance market better than anyone.

• Recent Deals: Insurtech companies, Fintech platforms, RegTech solutions
• LinkedIn: Lynn Atchison
• Sector Focus: Fintech, insurance technology, RegTech
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A
• Office Location: Tampa (active in Orlando)
• Website: embarccollective.com

13. Valencia Ventures

Valencia College's venture fund supporting student and alumni entrepreneurs. Small checks but strong local network.

• Recent Deals: Valencia College entrepreneur program graduates, Early-stage Central Florida startups
• LinkedIn: Sanford Shugart
• Sector Focus: All sectors, student entrepreneurs
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Office Location: Orlando (Valencia College campus)
• Website: valenciacollege.edu

14. Lockheed Martin Ventures

Corporate venture arm investing in Orlando defense, aerospace, and simulation technology. Strategic investor for B2G companies.

• Recent Deals: Simulation companies, Defense technology, Aerospace software, Cybersecurity
• LinkedIn: Chris Moran
• Sector Focus: Defense technology, simulation, aerospace, cybersecurity
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Strategic investments
• Office Location: Multiple Florida locations including Orlando
• Website: lockheedmartin.com/ventures

Start tracking your Orlando investor outreach

These 14 investors closed Orlando deals in 2025-2026. Before you start reaching out to Central Florida funds, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each Orlando investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your financials. Orlando-based founders often find local investors focus heavily on customer traction and revenue metrics over market size projections.

When Orlando investors ask for more materials, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your cap table, financial model, and customer contracts in one secure place with view analytics.

Common questions

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

Not required but it helps for hospitality and simulation tech. If you're remote, show strong connections to Disney, Universal, or UCF talent. Most Orlando VCs invest 70-80% locally.

How does Orlando compare to Miami for fundraising?

Smaller check sizes ($500K-$2M seed vs $2M-$5M in Miami) and more conservative investors. Orlando focuses on hospitality and simulation tech while Miami does fintech and real estate. Miami moves faster but expects higher growth rates.

What's the average seed round size in Orlando?

$1.6M in 2025. That's up from $1.2M in 2023 but still 40% below Miami averages. Most Orlando seed rounds are $800K-$2M.

Should I raise locally or go straight to Miami or Atlanta?

Raise locally for seed if you're in hospitality, simulation, or entertainment tech. Series A typically requires Miami or Atlanta co-investors. Series B almost always needs out-of-state capital.

Do Orlando investors expect in-person meetings?

First meeting can be Zoom but they want face-to-face before cutting checks. Budget for 2-3 Orlando trips during your fundraise. Coffee meetings at Starter Studio or Lake Nona are standard.

What industries get funded most in Orlando?

Simulation and training tech leads with 28% of deals, hospitality technology at 22%, and entertainment at 18%. Healthcare and fintech each get about 12%. Pure consumer plays struggle without Miami co-investors.

How long does fundraising take in Orlando?

10-14 weeks from first meeting to closed round. That's slower than Miami (6-10 weeks) but comparable to Tampa. Orlando investors want to see execution progress between meetings.