By Riley Kaminer
If you want to succeed in today’s hyper-competitive startup world, don’t count on being first to market with a great idea.
“Original ideas are a dime a dozen, and execution is everything,” Karl Alomar, Managing Partner at M13, told Refresh Miami. As the seasoned venture capitalist explained, success comes from delivering on a vision better and faster than your competitors.
Alomar has a clear view of what it takes to thrive in this environment. With decades of experience as an operator (including as COO of cloud platform DigitalOcean) and now investor, he’s seen the shifts in how businesses are built – and financed. M13 has $1.3 billion in assets under management and primarily focuses on the future of work, commerce, health, and money. These categories, Alomar noted, are increasingly dominated by advancements in AI and blockchain.
One of M13’s standout investments is Piñata, a company building an operational platform for distributed workforces. From managing teams sampling products at grocery stores to coordinating large-scale field marketing efforts, Piñata bridges the gap between brands and gig workers. Historically, this process relied on pen, paper, and spreadsheets. “They’re essentially taking what ServiceNow did for in-office teams and adapting it for a decentralized workforce,” Alomar explained.
Another notable example is emergency dispatch technology provider Prepared, whose 911 technology has been integrated into Apple’s iOS 18. Alomar met Prepared’s co-founders when they were still in college, and M13 invested in their pre-seed. The company raised a $27 million Series B earlier this year.
In South Florida, M13 has also backed several rising stars. Alomar pointed to CAT Labs, a crypto investigation platform founded by former DEA agent Lili Infante, alternative mortgage provider Milo, and retail marketplace Max Retail, underscore the growing talent pool in South Florida.
But Alomar’s take on Miami’s tech scene is refreshingly nuanced. While he’s a staunch advocate for the city, he doesn’t buy into the hype of it being a major tech hub just yet.
“It’s not the tech hub everybody wanted it to be, but it has aggregated some incredible founders and talent,” said Alomar, who was the featured speaker at a Refresh Miami event last year. Miami, he argued, is a great place to find highly skilled and experienced people – if you know how to tap into the network.
What makes Miami particularly appealing, Alomar added, is its compatibility with the distributed workforce model. “Executives are happy to work out of Miami, sourcing engineering and technical talent from anywhere in the world,” he said. This dynamic lets startups operate globally while enjoying Miami’s lifestyle benefits.
For founders hoping to break into the venture capital world, Alomar offered straightforward advice: “Understand what you’re building and why you’ll win.” He noted that many founders underestimate their competition, which is inevitable in high-growth markets. “If you don’t have competitors, you should question whether there’s real opportunity in the space,” he added. The challenge is not only to enter the market but to dominate it.
For M13, the firm’s unique approach stems from its operator-led DNA. Alomar and his team work closely with founders, taking a proactive approach to support them through challenges. “We’ve helped companies that might have failed survive and succeed, and for those already succeeding, we’ve accelerated their growth,” he said.
Alomar also reflected on why now is a prime time for venture investing. “The greatest businesses in history were built during tough economic periods,” he said. When funding is scarce, valuations are more reasonable, and founders build with efficiency in mind. In his view, this combination creates fertile ground for long-term growth.
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
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