Over the past eight years, Baum has played a key role in the firm\u2019s strategy, investor relations, fundraising, and portfolio support. In his new role, Baum will lead the firm\u2019s strategic direction and day-to-day operations as Florida Funders enters its next phase of growth and impact, FLF said in its announcement.<\/p>\n
Wallace will remain actively involved with the firm, focusing on supporting the leadership transition, working closely with portfolio company founders, and continuing to serve on the Investment Committee.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter eight years of building Florida Funders together with our other partners, this transition is both a natural and exciting next step for the firm,\u201d said Wallace, in a statement . \u201cSaxon has been absolutely instrumental in our success. His strategic vision, leadership, and commitment to our investors and founders make him the right leader to take Florida Funders to the next level. I have complete confidence in Saxon and am thrilled to support him as we continue building a firm positioned for long-term growth and impact.\u201d<\/p>\n
FLF\u2019s AUM now approaches $300 million, and it has investments in over 110 companies. Founded in 2016, FLF is closing its third fund, a $60 million fund focused on AI, cybersecurity, and FinTech that has already invested in 12 startups. \u201cWe have always pushed the limits of what has been possible in early-stage VC and technology in Florida and the Southeast. We want to push even harder and become one of the best VC firms in the country,\u201d says Baum.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: 2026, according to the VCs writing the checks<\/a><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Exowatt launches data center development business <\/p>\n Miami-based Exowatt<\/a> recently announced the launch of ExoRise, a new business arm, to enter the data center development industry. The renewable energy startup plans to acquire land, develop data centers and equip them with Exowatt\u2019s P3, a proprietary dispatchable s energy technology that stores energy as heat and converts it to electricity on demand.<\/p>\n \u201cHyperscalers should not have to piece together land, power, and infrastructure on their own,\u201d said Hannan Happi, founder and CEO of Exowatt. \u201cExoRise delivers everything together so customers can focus on compute while we handle the power.\u201d<\/p>\n Nic Bustamante will lead ExoRise\u2019s work as chief data center officer. Bustamante comes from Corscale, a Texas-based data center developer where he served as CTO. Exowatt has already acquired its first parcel of land, with plans to develop a 10-20 megawatt pilot data center by the end of this year. Bustamante told the South Florida Business Journal<\/a> the project\u2019s location was \u201cbetween Texas and Arizona.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike traditional data center development that strains urban and suburban grids, ExoRise supports behind-the-meter and off-grid deployment on remote land. This approach delivers large-scale power without burdening local ratepayers while supporting national priorities around energy resilience and domestic AI growth, the company said. <\/p>\n READ MORE: Exowatt pulls in $50M to keep the AI boom from blowing a fuse<\/a><\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n The 33RD Team raises \u2018eight-figure\u2019 funding<\/p>\n \u00a0The 33rd Team<\/a>, a football intelligence and technology company founded by veteran NFL executive Mike Tannenbaum and based in Boca Raton, recently announced the closing of its \u201ceight-figure\u201d Series B funding round. The amount of the funding was not disclosed.<\/p>\n Investors in the funding round included Liberty Media, FORTA Advisors, Autumn Road, Dan Senor, Nick Gross, Gary Vaynerchuk, Ryan Moore, Greg Ciongoli, George Pyne, John Low, and Silver Falcon Capital. \u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a powerful validation of our vision and the new direction we\u2019re embarking on as a company. The guidance from our investors \u2013 spanning across elite coaching, global media, technology innovation, and more \u2013 is an invaluable asset as we build the future of football,\u201d said Tannenbaum, in a statement.<\/p>\n The round, initiated in early 2024, signaled the company\u2019s strategic pivot away from content and media, toward technology innovation. The 33rd Team\u2019s Zenith platform is used by four NFL teams. These collaborations provide advanced on-field metrics and analytics, while positioning the company to accelerate its technology roadmap and expand its footprint across the league.<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Formula E\u2019s all-electric races coming this weekend<\/p>\n Formula E, the all-electric international racing series, will return to Miami on Saturday for its first competitive race at\u00a0Hard Rock Stadium\u2019s Miami International Autodrome in Miami Gardens. The Miami E-Prix will serve as Round 3 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship\u2019s 12th season, the South Florida Business Journal reported.<\/a><\/p>\n Home teams including Andretti, CUPRA Kiro and DS PENSKE are expected to compete in front of local fans as the championship continues its early-season North American stretch. Event materials show the Miami E-Prix will also feature a musical performance and educational programming focused on science, technology, engineering and sustainability. Read more here.<\/a><\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Larry Page snaps up more bayfront property<\/p>\n A trust linked to Google co-founder and billionaire Larry Page paid $14.97 million for a home in Miami\u2019s Coconut Grove \u2013 right next to a big estate the same trust acquired for $101.5 million a few weeks ago, the South Florida Business Journal reported.<\/a><\/p>\n Banyan Canopy Revocable Trust has been linked to Page, co-founder and former CEO of Google. The trust recently acquired a 4.09-acre property at 3585 and 3575 Anchorage Way, plus 3301, 3303 and 3330 Devon Court. It has 11,855 square feet of residential space. A few days before that, another trust tied to Page bought the home at 3085 Munroe Drive for $71.9 million. With the new deal, Page\u2019s trust owns 5.24 acres along Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove. <\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Omni Public launches civic tech platform <\/p>\n Omni Public Consulting Group<\/a> announced the opening of its\u00a0Omni | X<\/a>\u00a0headquarters in Miami, establishing a permanent base for its civic technology operations and unveiling its first platform designed to help governments build more resilient, responsive, and accountable urban systems. From its Miami headquarters, Omni | X will deploy agentic AI to support infrastructure management, utilities, traffic operations, crisis response, and autonomous drone navigation, marking Omni Public\u2019s evolution from a public affairs advisory firm to civic technology company.<\/p>\n The Miami headquarters will serve as the hub for Omni | X, housing product development, public-sector partnerships, and pilot initiatives with cities and regional stakeholders. Omni Public was also recently accepted into\u00a0Harvard Innovation Labs<\/a>, Harvard University\u2019s flagship ecosystem for student and alumni entrepreneurship. \u201cMiami is becoming a global testbed for civic innovation, and this city gives us the diversity, urgency, and forward momentum needed to build AI systems that make governments more adaptive, transparent, and human-centered,\u201d said Cesar R. Hernandez, Omni Public Founder and CEO, in a statement.<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n More #MiamiTech news to note<\/p>\n NEXA completes key acquisition: NEXA\u00a0(formerly Social Mobile) has completed its acquisition of Sonim Technologies, the US-based leader in ultra-rugged, mission-critical communication devices for enterprise,\u00a0government,\u00a0and public safety markets. The acquisition is a milestone in NEXA\u2019s strategy to expand its leadership in purpose-built enterprise mobility solutions and deliver innovative, scalable offerings to customers worldwide.\u00a0\u201cSonim\u2019s reputation for rugged, mission-critical mobile communications aligns seamlessly with NEXA\u2019s expertise in delivering purpose-built enterprise solutions.\u00a0 Now with approximately 250 team members, we are uniquely positioned to help customers operate more securely, scale with confidence, and perform in the most demanding environments. This combination strengthens our ability to innovate faster and deliver even greater value to our global customer base,\u201d NEXA CEO Robert Morcos said.\u00a0Read more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Deadline nears for military founders to apply: If you\u2019re a\u00a0veteran, service member, mil-spouse, or first responder\u00a0leading a startup in the national security, AI \/ quantum, energy, health, or finance spaces, eMerge Americas will have a dedicated fast-track into the\u00a0eMerge Global Startup Accelerator + Showcase. Ten qualifying companies will be selected and fast-tracked. Being selected includes a 6-week virtual training series for fundraising, go-to-market, and growth strategy; a Founders\u2019 Day for pitch sessions and networking; a booth at eMerge Americas to showcase your solution to investors, corporates, and partners; and access to compete in the Startup Pitch Competition with $125K in funding\/prizes. Participation is free. Apply by Feb. 3 here.<\/a><\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Jobs, jobs, jobs \u2013 in #MiamiTech<\/p>\n Clai\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Senior Full Stack Engineer<\/a> Find more jobs on Refresh Miami\u2019s job board\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n PLUS<\/p>\n Opportunity knocks<\/p>\n Apply to catapult your startup at the\u00a02026\u00a0eMerge\u00a0Americas\u00a0Conference + Expo\u00a0April 23\u201324 in Miami, where 100 startups will be selected to learn from class mentors, connect with investors and partners, showcase in front of thousands, and potentially pitch for $125K in funding and prizes in the grand finale.\u00a0Learn more and apply by Feb. 3 (deadline extended).<\/a><\/p>\n The\u00a0SMB Growth Lab, hosted by eMerge Americas, JPMorganChase + Momentum Miami, empowers Miami-Dade small and mid-sized businesses to embrace digital transformation, strengthen operations, and unlock sustainable growth opportunities.\u00a0Apply here by Feb. 3 (deadline extended).<\/a><\/p>\n Startup Grind\u2019s\u00a0Pitch Battle \u2013 Miami Venture Week 2026<\/a>\u00a0at The LAB Miami is your chance to\u00a0showcase your startup,\u00a0connect with top investors, and gain global recognition. Find out more and apply by Feb. 20.<\/p>\n Israeli founders can showcase their startup, product, or breakthrough solution to global investors, partners and media at\u00a0Israel Tech Week Miami 2026\u00a0next April.\u00a0Apply by March 15 here.<\/a><\/p>\n ICYMI \u2013 Catch up!<\/p>\n Have news to report? Email Nancy Dahlberg at\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>\u00a0and follow her on X @ndahlberg and\u00a0on LinkedIn<\/a>.\u00a0Subscribe to Refresh Miami\u2019s free weekly newsletter\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0featuring startup news, tech job opportunities and events.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Exowatt\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Lead Receiver Design Engineer<\/a>
F\u00e9lix\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Business Operations Senior Manager<\/a>
Iru\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Senior Product Manager, Identity<\/a>
Kaseya\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Director, Technical Program Management<\/a>
Lennar\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Graphic Designer\u00a0<\/a>
Playbypoint\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Customer Support Specialist<\/a>
Neocis\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineering<\/a>
Slalom\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Azure Cloud Architect\u00a0<\/a>
Titl\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Senior Full Stack Engineer<\/a>
Total Wine & More\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Lead, Software Engineer<\/a>
Transak\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Senior Manager, Recruitment\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Nancy](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/60b7851ea3a84-bpfull.jpg\")
<\/a> I am a writer and editor with extensive media experience and a passion for journalism and serving the community. Most of my career has been spent with the Miami Herald in business news, and my expertise is writing about tech and entrepreneurs. I love hosting this blog for Refresh Miami and we aim to be the go-to site for South Florida startup and tech news, features and views. Have news? Contact me at [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>. Thanks for reading! <\/a>Latest posts by Nancy Dahlberg (see all<\/a>)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t8+ things to know in #MiamiTech: News from FLF, Exowatt, The 33rd Team, Formula E, Larry Page, Omni Public, NEXA, jobs & more<\/a> – January 30, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIndigo raises a $50M Series B to modernize malpractice insurance \u00a0<\/a> – January 29, 2026\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWho\u2019s presenting at the upcoming Florida Venture Capital Conference? We\u2019ve got the lowdown<\/a> – January 29, 2026\t\t\t\t \t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"1 Change at the top of Florida Funders Florida Funders (FLF), one of the Southeast\u2019s leading venture capital\u00a0…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":78,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[225,227,226],"class_list":{"0":"post-137600","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-hialeah","8":"tag-hialeah","9":"tag-hialeah-headlines","10":"tag-hialeah-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}