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8+ things to know in #MiamiTech: News from Iron Mountain, Citadel, HBS Angels of South Florida, MyFBAPrep and more

Nancy Dahlberg
Nancy Dahlberg
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1

New large data center coming to Miami

Iron Mountain has broken ground on its first data center in Miami-Dade County. The facility, known as MIA-1, will deliver 16MW of capacity across 150,000 sq ft  on a 3.4-acre site in Miami’s District 12. What’s more, MIA-1 will run 100 percent carbon-free energy once it is operational in 2026, the company said.

“Our new world-class data center will serve as a gateway that connects Miami with the world, making it an exciting time to be part of this community,” said Mark Kidd, executive vice president and general manager of asset lifecycle management and data centers at Iron Mountain, in a statement. “We’re proud to contribute to its continued success and to enable our customers to thrive in the global digital economy.”

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said: “Iron Mountain’s expansion is more than just a business investment – it is a major step forward for Miami-Dade, solidifying our position as a global leader in technology and innovation. Their decision to invest in Miami-Dade not only creates high-quality jobs but also strengthens our local economy and reinforces Miami-Dade as a top destination for digital infrastructure. This is the kind of investment that drives our economic growth and enhances our competitive edge, ensuring a future ready Miami-Dade.”

Iron Mountain operates data centers in 11 other locations in the US and 25 locations globally.

The Miami area is home to numerous operators such as ColoHouse, Digital Realty, Hivelocity, DataBank, Cogent, EdgeConneX, CoreSite, QTS, Lumen, Verizon, and Equinix, Data Center Dynamics reported.

2

Citadel plans crypto trading services

Citadel Securities, the market-making firm founded by Ken Griffin, is reportedly planning to offer cryptocurrency trading services.

The Miami-based firm is seeking approval to provide liquidity on major exchanges, including those operated by Coinbase Global, Binance Holdings, and Crypto.com. The firm also intends to set up trading teams specializing in crypto outside the United States, the South Florida Business Journal reported.

This news comes weeks after Griffin gave his take on digital currencies during his keynote fireside chat at the 2025 UBS Financial Services Conference in Key Biscayne. “What I will say is the following: those on the very strong libertarian end are very focused on cryptocurrency,” he said, adding that the sense of community crypto brings to those who use it is under appreciated, and the belief in digital currencies can serve as a strong motivator for people in the market.

Read more here

3

HBS Alumni Angels hold pitch competition, and the winners are …

Three startups took home top prizes at last week’s Entrepreneurship Night put on by Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of South Florida. The program was the culmination of the organization’s annual pitch competition.

The winner of the $4,000 prize was 3rd-i Technology Inc.  3rd-I is changing the game for transportation safety with real-time social-safety solutions and one-of-a-kind discreet emergency system, says Founder and CEO Dillon Abend started his company at the University of Miami and is graduating from the University of Miami Herbert Business School this Spring. 3rd-I partners with rideshare companies, universities and enterprises to enhance brand image, loyalty, engagement, revenue and safety, he added in his LinkedIN post.

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Vero Learning, a career guidance and talent optimization platform based in Broward, won second place. Third place went to Extinguisher 360, .

4

News around Florida: New SpaceX facility planned

SpaceX plans to build a new 380-foot-tall facility at Cape Canaveral where it will eventually launch its Starship vehicle and announces a construction project on the Space Coast that is expected to include as least a $1.8 billion capital investment and generate an estimated 600 full-time jobs by 2030 – includes matching funds of up to $65 million via the Spaceport Improvement Program, the Orlando Business Journal reported.

“SpaceX’s investment in Florida is a major victory for our state and the future of the space industry,” Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue said in a press release. “Florida continues to set the pace for space innovation – breaking records with 93 launches in 2024 – and the state is on track to continue this record-breaking momentum into the future as a national leader in space manufacturing, launches, and business development.”

Read more here.

5

Kandji’s new office space unveiled

Kandji, the Apple endpoint security platform, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception for its new East Coast headquarters in The Plaza Coral Gables last week. The goal: to further the San Diego-based company’s global scaling efforts, attract world-class talent, and support rapid customer growth.  Government officials,  including Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago who cut the ribbon, and tech community leaders were able to tour the penthouse space already housing close to 100 employees in the Miami area, and there’s room to grow.

Kandji’s co-founder and CEO, Adam Pettit, said:  “Miami is fueling the next frontier for technology advancement. We’re thrilled to immerse ourselves in this dynamic community and look forward to welcoming its world-class talent to our expanding team. Our East Coast headquarters will not only allow us to contribute to the local economy, but will provide the space, talent, and resources to accommodate Kandji’s growth and ability to deliver cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to manage and secure their Apple device fleets at scale.”

READ MORE IN REFRESH:  Kandji bases its East Coast HQ in ‘the new frontier of tech’ – and it’s hiring

6

MyFBAPrep makes executive hires

This week, MyFBAPrep, a Broward County-based tech company in the eCommerce logistics space, announced that it has added six industry leaders to its executive and leadership teams, bringing a combined 100+ years of experience in eCommerce, supply chain, and logistics. With 100+ warehouses across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and the United Kingdom, MyFBAPrep offers Amazon FBA prep, direct-to-consumer fulfillment, retail replenishment, and B2B solutions.

The latest new hires include Steven J. Edelstein, the new VP of Growth & Partnerships, who has more than 25 years of experience in health & beauty logistics, supply chain management, copacking and direct-to-consumer fulfillment, and Trevis Stall, VP of   Supply Chain, who also brings 25 years experience and has held executive roles at FedEx Supply Chain and Fulfillment IQ. The other appointments are three Directors of Sales —  Bill Shipley, Jacob Cabana  and Michael Kliska — as Senior Account Executive Sophia Buelow.

“Each of them brings an elite level of expertise across enterprise sales, supply chain excellence, and strategic growth that will accelerate our ability to deliver the most comprehensive, scalable fulfillment solutions for brands worldwide,” said co-founder and CEO Tom Wicky. :This isn’t just growth; this is a decisive investment in building the most formidable logistics team in eCommerce.”

7

More MiamiTech news to note

  • Miami fintech KEO World announced a partnership with BTG Pactual Bank, Latin America’s largest investment bank. KEO is bringing its Workeo solution and Amex Business Link platform to Brazil. This expansion will help businesses digitize B2B invoice payments, improving efficiency, purchasing power, and access to credit in a market where SMEs receive less than 10% of traditional credit.
  • The era of seagliders is officially underway. Miami-based REGENT christened its full-scale Viceroy seaglider prototype and the 12-passenger seaglider completed its first on-water tests in Narragansett Bay. It was  a major milestone for the company, led by  co-founder and CEO Billy Thalheimer, that is building out an electric seaglider network in South Florida and the state.
  • AEROSENS,  a Miami-based startup that develops technology solutions to make the aviation industry more transparent, smarter and cost efficient, announced it was selected to present at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It’s one of the 10 startups (from 180 applicants) to present as one of the most innovative companies in its field providing operational efficiency and sustainability.

8-PLUS

Opportunity knocks

  • Endeavor Miami  is accepting applications for its next ScaleUp Program. Apply for the ScaleUp program here. Endeavor Miami is also taking applications for two of its upcoming 2025 EndeavorLab programs for earlier state startups. Apply here by May 9th for the EndeavorLab Black Founders cohort and apply here by August 22 for the EndeavorLab Women Founders cohort.
  • Applications for Florida Power & Light’s the next 35 Mules Accelerator Program opened on Feb 17th. If you’re a Pre-Seed to Series A startup looking for expert mentorship, $100K in no-equity funding, and access to top-tier coaching and VC connections, find our more and  apply here by April 1.
  • Are you a pre-Series A startup founder looking to make your mark on a global stage for a $100,000 equity-free priae? Applications for TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200 are now open. Go to the  Startup Battlefield 200 page to learn more and apply by June 9.

ICYMI

Have news to report? Email Nancy Dahlberg at nancy@refreshmiami.com and follow her on X @ndahlberg. Subscribe to Refresh Miami’s free weekly newsletter here featuring startup news, tech job opportunities and events. Thank you for supporting Refresh Miami.

Nancy Dahlberg
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