Here is your roundup of recent significant events in the worlds of technology, entrepreneurship, startups and venture capital investing in Florida and beyond. Please share this information with others who may find it valuable.
The Big Buzz:
The Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research hits deal milestone. The institute recently closed its 72nd financing transaction. To date, the institute has funded 48 companies (including some multiple financings), which have had an estimated positive economic impact on our state of $379 million. The institute provides seed-capital financing to companies that are commercializing technology developed at Florida universities and research institutes.
Helpful Stuff:
SAFEs and KISSes: Alternative investment vehicles can help early stage companies get financed
Recent Happenings:
- Here are 8 cool Broward County startups.
- Governor Scott signs cybersecurity secrecy bill into law. Will restrict hackers’ access to sensitive cybersecurity information in some situations.
- Federal District Court rules that company with no U.S. trademark rights can still bring certain trademark actions against a U.S. company.
- The South Florida Accelerator opens in FAT Village, Fort Lauderdale, with a new kind of accelerator business model.
- Successful Sup-X event demonstrates South Florida’s ascendance as a startup destination. This startup expo, held in Fort Lauderdale in mid-February, attracted 50 startups and a significant assortment of private equity, venture capital and angel investors. The top three startups shared $50,000 in awards. Congratulations to Apellix for taking the top spot.
Photo: Don Tolep (courtesy of Silverstream Consulting)
- Black Tech Week a success in Miami. Entrepreneurs, funding sources and mentors come together.
- Congratulations to Greg Baty on his move to Trivest!
- Q&A with Melissa Krinzman of Krillion Ventures – South Florida entrepreneurs should prepare for a reduction in venture capital activity.
- UF continues to shine. Congratulations to University of Florida – named best university in Florida (public or private).
- FAU Tech Runway provides startup company mentoring based on MIT formula.
- Social News Desk named to Gator 100. Social News Desk, a leading creator and provider of social media management tools for newsrooms and media organizations, received this award in recognition of being one of the 100 fastest growing companies owned or led by University of Florida alumni.
- Corporate venture capital investment continues to increase – is this good for your startup?
- Co-working spaces flourish in South Florida. Downtown Fort Lauderdale is home to some of the hottest co-working spaces in South Florida. General Provision (in FAT Village) and Axis (downtown) provide space, essential services and all the benefits of co-working for startups and entrepreneurs. This co-working trend is hot and will continue to increase.
- Congratulations to Jackson Streeter, appointed CEO of the Florida Institute for Commercialization of Public Research.
- The SEC’s equity crowdfunding rules will become effective in May. These rules were approved in October 2015 and were the last big outstanding item under the JOBS Act.
- Cybersecurity is a huge (and growing) issue for corporate boards. The New York Stock Exchange publishes a definitive guide on cybersecurity issues and risks for public company directors.
- Despite its name, the recent Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act will benefit growing companies and entrepreneurs. The FAST Act, enacted in December 2015, contained several key provisions that may facilitate capital-raising for growing companies.
- Euro Safe Harbor 2.0 coming up? U.S. and EU reach agreement on personal information data exchange (called the “privacy shield”), but there is still a long way to go.
Events:
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Technology Leaders of the Year awards 2016 by Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce (Miami) |
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e-Merge tech conference (Miami) |
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Orlando Tech Week |
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Florida Venture Forum’s Florida Early Stage Capital Conference (St. Petersburg) |
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Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance mid-year meeting and luncheon (Fort Lauderdale). Keynote speaker: Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Atwater |
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FAU Tech Runway – Launch Competition 2016 (Boca Raton) |
About Gunster’s VentureBuzz
Produced by Gunster’s technology and emerging companies attorneys, Gunster’s VentureBuzz is designed to provide regular updates on news, events, advances and innovations of interest to companies, entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capital and private equity firms and investment banks in Florida and beyond.
Gunster’s technology and emerging companies team is involved in all stages of business development and commercial law. Our legal counsel covers the initial business planning phase, structuring of new entities, complex operational and corporate financing transactions, as well as the final liquidity event.
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This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication.
About Gunster
Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 13 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Naples, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa Bayshore, Tampa Downtown, Vero Beach, and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 280 attorneys and consultants, and over 290 committed professional staff, Gunster is ranked among the National Law Journal’s list of the 500 largest law firms and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Diverse Law Firms by Law360. More information about its practice areas, offices and insider’s view newsletters is available at www.gunster.com.
