The venture capital ecosystem in Florida is on its way to becoming more robust and beneficial to startups and their investors, according to a recent article in the January issue of South Florida Business & Wealth magazine.
Entrepreneurial resources and facilities have been cropping up in recent years – such as Venture Hive, The Lab Miami, as well as the Florida Institute of Commercialization of Public Research – helping to grow the number of investable firms in the region.
Likewise, Florida universities are more engaged in growing entrepreneurs as well as bringing innovations into the marketplace, according to the article. Also, success stories are getting out, attracting the attention of national venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.
Gunster attorneys David Bates and Bob White, who co-chair the firm's technology and emerging companies law practice, discussed their optimism about the growth in opportunities and deals in the region with Kevin Gale of the magazine.
In the article, Bates and White mention capital raised (ranging from $6 million to $50 million) by local companies such as 3Cinteractive, Modernizing Medicine, Bidtellect and Sonavation.
Bates was also interviewed in his capacity as chair of the Gold Coast Venture Capital Association, which aims to connect the entrepreneurial community in South Florida. National investors who travel to Florida to see the companies they're funding will also visit other companies in the area, he says in the article.
January 2016 is shaping up to be a busy month for entrepreneurs and investors.
The Florida Venture Forum is holding its 25th annual venture capital conference Jan. 28-29 in St. Petersburg.
The Gold Coast Venture Capital Association will be holding its annual expo for startups seeking capital, Sup-X: The Startup Expo, on Feb. 16-17 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center.
Read the entire article: Victory in VC Land: Venture capital ecosystem continues to gain momentum in South Florida (South Florida Business & Wealth, January 2016 issue)
