10 Fast-Growing Miami Startups to Watch in 2023
Last Updated: By TRUiC Team
Miami has quickly become one of the biggest startup tech hubs in America. The diverse culture and recent influx of venture capital funds is creating a safe haven for Miami startups to thrive. Following the companies that are becoming successful is a quick and easy way to learn what works and follow in their footsteps.
Learn exactly what startups are making waves in the magic city and get access to the investors, funding amounts, and industries that are all leading the charge.
Recommended: Learn how to launch your own company by reading our comprehensive guide on how to start a startup.
Top Startups in Miami to Follow
Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation, tech, and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the most exciting Miami companies of 2023 that startup lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting Miami startups launching and growing, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. Novo
- Industry: Fintech
- Founders: Michael Rangel, Tyler McIntyre
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: $170.5 Million
- Investors Include: GGV Capital, Crosslink Capital
Novo is a trailblazing fintech startup with a singular mission: transforming the way small businesses handle their banking needs. This innovative company merges advanced technology with customer-centric design to offer a powerful, yet user-friendly, banking platform.
As an impressive addition, Novo's integration capabilities with popular ecommerce and accounting tools like Shopify and Xero ensure a seamless banking experience, catering to the multifaceted needs of today's entrepreneurs.
2. Ugami
- Industry: Gaming
- Founders: Andres Radonski, Hector Hulian
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: $4.8 Million
- Investors Include: Origins Fund, Harlem Capital Partners
The world of credit cards has plenty of rewards that users can take advantage of, but this type of program isn't available in most other industries. Ugami is creating opportunities for gamers all over the world by creating a reward program that accrues Ugipoints.
With these points, users are able to purchase video games for hardware and software, tickets for esports tournaments, exclusive access to events, merchandising, and even more prizes. If the popularity of airline and hotel reward programs is any indicator, Ugami has a bright future ahead of them.
Discover more gaming startups to follow.
3. Influur
- Industry: Influencers
- Founders: Alessandra Angelini, Fefi Oliveira, Paula Coleman, Valeria Angelini
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: $5.8 Million
- Investors Include: Magma Partners, Latin World Entertainment
Influencers have taken over social media and millions of users look to them for advice on the best products or services in the market. By leveraging this huge market awareness, Influur is looking to become the platform that helps bridge the gap between influencers and major brands.
Once a brand signs on to the platform, they can set up a marketing campaign they want to run and have influencers reach out to them to apply. This helps brands find the right type of influencer for them, and it also secures funding so that brands don't lose out on valuable resources.
4. Yuga Labs
- Industry: NFTs
- Founders: Greg Solano, Wylie Aronow
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: $450 Million
- Investors Include: Lightspeed Venture Partners, Coinbase
The world of NFTs has opened up a huge hole for companies to create innovative services that have never existed before. Yuga Labs is attempting to create a blockchain tech company that develops NFTs and digital collectibles for other brands.
The company partners with different brands and helps create NFTs and digital collectibles all based on the Apecoin token. Yuga Labs looks to be one of the leading contributors to Web3 by implementing and creating easy access for brands to be part of the change.
Discover more NFT startups to follow.
5. CoinRoutes
- Industry: Cryptocurrency
- Founders: Dave Weisberger, Ian Weisberger
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: $34 Million
- Investors Include: Mirana Ventures, Ayon Capital
As crypto becomes a larger part of the world's economy due to its blockchain technology, CoinRoutes is helping everyone jump on board by creating crypto trading software. This allows anyone looking to trade in crypto, in the same way you would the stock market, to have easier access to data points that could help increase returns.
The platform promises to lower exchange fees, achieve better prices, and allow traders to use up to 50 different exchanges with just one interface. CoinRoutes has built several SaaS trading techs such as algorithms, market access, TCA, and market data that all traders require for the crypto market.
6. Blanket
- Industry: Digital Marketing
- Founders: Alex Nucci, Ricardo Vaszuez
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: $3.5 Million
- Investors Include: ANIMO Ventures, Chingona Ventures
Although not quite a new idea, Blanket is helping entrepreneurs get off the ground by developing software that completely automates the early stages of the sales development funnel. Instead of entrepreneurs spending their own time tracking down leads, following up, sending emails, and so forth, Blanket does it all in one platform.
They've already experienced a 28% open rate and an 18% click-through rate on all email campaigns. They've also built software that finds and reaches out to all decision-makers in the idea audience that matches the filters entrepreneurs provide.
Feeling inspired? Learn how to launch your company with our guide on how to start a startup.
7. 8Base
- Industry: Web Applications
- Founders: Albert Santalo
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: $15.3 Million
- Investors Include: Alumni Ventures, Techstars
As a tech entrepreneur with a lot of ideas, it can be difficult seeing them all through to fruition. If you had some help on the coding end that you could use to develop and create innovative applications, ideas would become reality much quicker. All that is possible with 8Base, which helps build web applications with a low-code JavaScript framework that's built specifically for developers.
There are a host of libraries and other application components to use, and many teams can work together from developers to designers to product managers. Businesses are able to build powerful and scalable backend programs without all the technical development skills needed.
8. GamerGains
- Industry: Gaming, Blockchain
- Founders: Jonathan Brovda, Jake Brovda
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: $5.8 Million
- Investors Include: Winklevoss Capital, Alumni Ventures, BlockFi
The gaming industry is always open to new technologies being integrated into existing systems and crypto is no different. With GamerGains, users are able to connect their gaming accounts to GamerGains in order to earn crypto as they play their favorite games. All users have to do is complete challenges and achievements in order to unlock more crypto.
Gamers can even wager their crypto with other users to accrue even more rewards. Anyone using Xbox, PlayStation, or Stream can connect to the service and start earning crypto.
9. Caribu (Acquired by Mattel)
- Industry: Video conferencing
- Founders: Alvaro Sabido, Maxeme Tuchman
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: $5.1 Million
- Investors Include: Halogen Ventures, Miami Angels
Now that remote communication like video conferencing platforms is becoming part of the norm, it provides opportunities for new businesses to create innovative software that attracts a specific target market. Caribu is one of those companies, and they are looking at families who use video calling and are trying to build an engaging platform that can be fun for kids and parents alike.
Using Caribu, parents can interact with kids by reading, drawing, or playing games in real-time. This platform is perfect for parents who travel for work or those that are part of the military and need to be away for long periods of time.
10. OneOf
- Industry: NFT
- Founders: Lin Dai, Joshua James, Adam Fell, Jared Christopherson, Bill Tai, Suna Said
- Founded In: 2021
- Funding: $12.6 Million
- Investors Include: Sangha Capital, Tezos Foundation
Another company on this list that is focusing on creating NFTs for a specific industry is OneOf. They've set their sights on the music industry, but they have also taken an interest in sports-related NFTs as well.
By connecting fans with the Web3 experience, they can take advantage of purchasing their own NFTs using crypto, debit cards, or credit cards.
Recommended: Check out our full list of the top startups to watch in 2023!
FAQs
Is Miami good for startups?
Yes, Miami is great for startups. As of April 2022, Miami is the No. 1 tech job growth city in the US as well as the No. 1 tech job migration city. They are also the No. 1 in the Southeast US in terms of venture capital dollars invested. The big change has primarily come from the COVID-19 pandemic, where Silicon Valley workers moved to different cities for lower tax breaks and other allowances.
How many startups are in Miami?
There are a lot of startups in Miami, and the city is becoming a major hub for tech innovation. There are around 248 startups for every 10,000 people in the city.
What are popular startup industries in Miami?
Tech is becoming a huge industry in Miami with a focus on Web3 applications like NFTs and cryptocurrency. There is also a focus on the gaming industry and integrating NFTs and crypto to enhance the experience for gamers. FinTech and Clean Tech are also industry leaders in the city.
What are some successful Miami startups?
One of the most successful startup companies out of Miami has been Novo, an online banking system for businesses. Others include Papa, Pipe, H.I.G. Capital, and REEF technology.
How do I start a startup in Miami?
In order to launch a startup in Miami, you'll need to follow several crucial steps. You'll want to develop your startup idea, create a roadmap to success, build your team, and formally establish your startup in Florida. Then, you'll need to secure funding, set up accounting, establish the brand, and launch and scale your startup.
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