Miami
Miami is an emerging ecosystem, and Fellows' contributions have exciting and tangible results!
A Hot Spot for Entrepreneurship
With its tropical climate, booming arts and culture scene, diverse population, and more, Miami is routinely ranked as one of the top cities in the nation in startup activity and it’s only getting bigger.
Living in Miami is more than just great weather – it’s being a part of a community of go-getters, built by immigrants over the past 100 years, with a passion for working to take Miami forward no matter what the challenges are.
The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Miami hosts dozens of collaborative workspaces, hundreds of community events a year and a seemingly endless supply of mentors, advisors, partners and sunshine to boot. So come check the city out – the cafecito is on us!
VFA Miami By The Numbers
2014
Year VFA launched in Miami
67 Fellows
Since VFA's arrival in 2014
43 Company Partners
Have hired Fellows
How One Fellow views Miami's Startup Ecosystem
Kateline Hullar '17
“Miami may seem like an outlier in the VFA cohort, but the moment I arrived, I understood the value of contributing to this city’s startup ecosystem. It’s a city that has struggled to find an identity and industry outside of tourism and hospitality and real estate, and it’s so worthwhile to invest in. I never realized all of the layers a city like Miami could have.”
A Fellow's Favorite Element of Miami
Briana Brown, '17 Fellow
“There is a solid set of people here looking to make Miami a better place to live!”
Where Fellows Work
The startup ecosystem is gaining steam, but there is still so much opportunity for Fellows to contribute and add value.
Fully insured peer-to-peer boat rentals
Educational technology that empowers teachers
Licensed grower and supplier of medical marijuana
Creates media and technology products for cities
Meet Leigh Sevin, '14 and Jinesh Shah, ’15
Co-Founders at Arthur
Several months into his 2015 Fellowship in Miami, Jinesh and the Miami cohort had the opportunity to get together with VFA supporter and former NBA star, Shane Battier. Shane initiated introductions by having everyone around the table talk about their startup jobs, skills, and passions. Leigh Sevin, a 2014 Miami Fellow, heard Jinesh talking about his design and coding chops and she immediately perked up. Jinesh was in the class below her and Leigh hadn’t had much of a chance to get to know him, so she asked him out for coffee to pitch him on an idea she was working on. Leigh had the sales and business acumen, but needed a coder and designer to supplement her skills. Jinesh liked what Leigh had to say and agreed to work with her. Today, Leigh and Jinesh are working on Arthur, a software platform for retail stores and staff
Learn more about ArthurLearn about Miami's Advisory BoardWe’re excited to partner with Venture For America. They address precisely our firm’s main goals for Miami – support for entrepreneurship as well as cultivation of our community’s next generation of leaders.
– Jaret Davis, Co-Managing Shareholder for the Miami Office of Greenberg, Traurig, P.A.
