For an ambitious startup founder, $75,000 can be the first institutional vote of confidence. It gives runway, sure – but, more crucially, it’s the check that helps transform an idea into a company worth watching.
Florida Funders (FLF) and the Institute for Commercialization of Florida Technology, known as The Florida Institute, are betting that such a check can accomplish something bigger, too: persuade Florida’s most promising technology founders to keep building in the state.
The organizations announced Florida First Check, an evergreen investment strategy that will place between $75,000 and $100,000 into selected Florida-based pre-seed startups. The Florida Institute will provide the capital, while Tampa-based Florida Funders will find, evaluate and invest in companies on its behalf.
The strategy is arriving at a consequential moment in a startup’s life. Pre-seed founders are often still validating a market, developing a product and asking early employees or customers to take a chance on them. At that stage, even a relatively modest institutional investment can unlock momentum. Its absence can send founders elsewhere in search of money, networks and credibility.
“Florida has no shortage of brilliant founders – what’s been missing is a reliable first check that keeps them building here instead of relocating for capital,” Rafael Lohner, executive director of The Florida Institute, said in an announcement.
Florida First Check is intended to become the earliest link in a chain of institutional funding available within the state. It will sit ahead of seed-stage capital from DeepWork Capital and the Florida Opportunity Fund, as well as Series A and B financing through the Florida Growth Fund, managed by J.P. Morgan.
Unlike a one-time pool of money, the strategy was designed to replenish itself. Proceeds from earlier investments will be recycled into future startups, potentially creating a durable
Florida Funders will bring its existing investment criteria to those early decisions. “We look for three things in every company we back: rapid growth, founders who can sell, and teams that have done it before,” Zach Brodsky, senior investment associate at Florida Funders, said in the press release.
That framework helps explain the strategy’s first investment.
Stello AI, a Tampa startup led by co-founder and CEO Amee Parekh, is building an agentic artificial intelligence platform for enterprise human resources teams. It aims to automate compensation, payroll and other core HR processes and, according to the announcement, is already operating in production with Fortune 1000 customers.
Parekh previously helped scale Uber Eats in the United States and Canada into a multibillion-dollar division by gross bookings and later served as senior vice president of human resources at Hims & Hers. Her background places Stello squarely within Florida Funders’ preference for teams with extensive operating experience.
For Parekh, the geography has been an advantage rather than a constraint. “Building Stello AI in Florida has been a huge advantage – the community is very open to innovation and has a deep appreciation for AI,” she shared.
“Like we’ve already started to do in Tampa, we’re especially excited to partner with Miami’s investors, incubators, and accelerators to make this a collaborative effort while supporting exceptional founders across every region of the state,” said Brodsky.
Florida First Check is now seeking other technology startups in areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech and enterprise software.
The initiative will ultimately be measured by whether its founders raise follow-on rounds, create high-wage jobs and build enduring companies without trading their Florida roots for access to capital.
Pictured above: Florida Funders team photo, 2026
- FLF appoints Rachael Ferm as Director of Investments, strengthening its community-driven venture model
- Saxon Baum on Miami’s reset, Florida Funders’ next phase, and the work still left to do
- Mana Tech thinks Miami’s next chapter needs more than networking
- 2026, according to the VCs writing the checks
- Align Ventures closes oversubscribed $125M Early-Stage Fund II
- Author
- Recent Posts
Riley Kaminer
I am a Miami-based technology researcher and writer with a passion for sharing stories about the South Florida tech ecosystem. I particularly enjoy learning about GovTech startups, cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence, and innovators that leverage technology to transform society for the better. Always open for pitchesley Kaminer (see all)
- Florida Funders’ newest pre-seed strategy bets that the first check can keep founders home- August 5, 2026
- Space-Eyes takes aim at a $638 million public debut- August 4, 2026
- Maximum lands $30M on the thesis that banks need more than an AI upgrade- August 4, 2026
