1
Miami Climate Week kicking off in March
Just announced: Miami Climate 365 (MC365), a new year-round cross-sector initiative aiming to advance practical solutions to environmental challenges across Miami-Dade County. It’s kicking off its work with Miami Climate Week, a week-long series of events from March 23–29, 2025. “The growing severity of climate shocks and stresses demands coordinated action to protect our communities and environment,” said David Duckenfield, program director of Miami Climate 365.
Building on the momentum of South Florida’s designation as a U.S. Department of Commerce ClimateReady Tech Hub, the Knight Foundation provided $250,000 in initial funding to launch the MC365 initiative. Over the past several months, a task force has been meeting, including Francesca de Quesada Covey, chief innovation and economic development officer of Miami-Dade County and regional innovation officer of the ClimateReady Tech Hub; Duckenfield, Irvans Augustin, executive director at the Urban Impact Lab; Michael Berkowitz, executive director of the Climate Resilience Institute at the University of Miami; Michele Burger, director of the Climate Conference; Jordan de Leon, COO of the Urban Impact Lab; and Jen Posner, director of programs at the Climate Resilience Institute at the University of Miami.
Miami Climate Week will feature community activations across the county, including an opening Climate Conference, to highlight innovations in climate solutions, foster broad connections and conversations, and inspire both leaders and residents to continue driving progress.
2
Félix and Hyperproof named Endeavor Entrepreneurs
This month in Miami, Endeavor Global selected 17 entrepreneurs leading 12 companies from around the world to join its network as Endeavor Entrepreneurs. At its 101st International Selection Panel December 11-13, panels of entrepreneur judges interviewed a pool of nominated founders and evaluated their potential for high impact growth. Endeavor also seeks founders who commit to reinvesting time and resources into their local entrepreneurial ecosystems to help build the next generation of entrepreneurs, sparking a Multiplier Effect. Endeavor Entrepreneurs receive global support from the network.
Two of the companies selected represented Endeavor Miami: Félix and Hyperproof.
Founded in 2021 by Manual Godoy and Bernardo Garcia, Félix is a digital remittances company that makes it simple for users to send and receive cross-border payments instantly via WhatsApp. The company targets Latino immigrants in the US who are looking to send money to their families and friends in Latin America, a market that accounted for $155 billion in payment flows in 2023. By using stablecoins to facilitate the back-end payment flow, Félix can offer customers fast and cost-effective money transfers starting at $2.99 per transaction. The company most recently raised a $15.5 million Series A led by Castle Island Ventures in May 2024. Godoy and Garcia were inspired to build Félix by their own shared experiences facing financial challenges as immigrants.
Founded in 2018 by Craig Unger, Hyperproof is a cloud-based SaaS platform that streamlines compliance and risk management for mid-market and large enterprises across the United States and Europe. Trusted by customers such as Zoom, Doordash, and Santander, Hyperproof simplifies audits, automates evidence collection, and integrates seamlessly with over 100 compliance frameworks, including GDPR and ISO. Unger previously founded and sold Azuqua, a low-code workflow and integration platform serving clients including General Electric and Netflix, and founded Hyperproof in 2018 after extensive research to simplify compliance challenges for businesses.
The addition of these three entrepreneurs bring the number of Endeavor Entrepreneurs from Miami to 52. Endeavor Miami also hosted an Endeavor Summit the day before the ISP. Find coverage of the summit here.
3
Botmaker launches AI Agents
Botmaker, one of the most widely used chatbot platforms in Latin America, has launched AI Agents, aiming to set a new standard in conversational AI. This product allows businesses of all sizes to leverage generative AI at a time when businesses are increasingly turning to AI for smarter, more efficient customer engagement. AI Agents combine powerful customization with seamless connections to key communication channels – WhatsApp, Instagram, email, text, and more-and integrate directly with platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot to enable real-time automation. Botmaker, a company with over 200 employees born in Argentina, recently announced it was expanding to Mami, setting up a US headquarters here.
Unlike traditional chatbots, AI Agents can autonomously achieve specific goals without requiring pre-programmed conversational flows. By simply providing clear instructions, AI Agents dynamically generate intelligent responses, creating seamless and highly personalized user experiences, the company said.
“AI Agents unlock the full potential of generative artificial intelligence,” said Alejandro Zuzenberg, CEO of Botmaker. “This innovation allows businesses to elevate conversations to the next level, providing users with an experience that is both intelligent and intuitive. It’s a game-changer for how we think about customer interaction.”
With over eight years in the market, Botmaker operates in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States, serving clients in more than 40 countries and partnering with major tech players like Apple, Google, and Meta.
4
Thumzup Media expanding to South Florida
Thumzup Media of Los Angeles, a social media branding and programmatic marketing solutions company, announced its strategic expansion into South Florida.
Following its Nasdaq debut, Thumzup said it is channeling newly raised resources into targeted growth areas, with Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach identified as a high-priority market with a multi-billion-dollar local advertising market.
“South Florida represents a top-tier growth opportunity for Thumzup,” said Thumzup CEO Robert Steel. “Its vibrant retail environment, coupled with high consumer activity in Miami-Dade County, aligns perfectly with our programmatic marketing solutions. Our Nasdaq listing has supercharged our capabilities, enabling us to accelerate this expansion and provide greater value to our shareholders.”
Thumzup’s platform allows social media users to create and share branded content, merging traditional advertising strategies with grassroots peer-to-peer recommendations. This user-generated content model fosters authentic engagement, driving high visibility for advertisers, the company says. Gig economy workers are empowered to monetize their creativity while supporting local businesses, with the goal of further fueling regional economic growth.
“Our expansion into South Florida not only positions Thumzup to tap into a lucrative market but also underscores our commitment to empowering local creators and businesses,” Steele added. “We are dedicated to creating scalable solutions that drive value for all stakeholders, from shareholders to small business owners and gig economy workers.”
5
Blue Frontier receives DoD funding
Blue Frontier of Boca Raton was one of three companies nationwide to receive funding from the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in partnership with DoD’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program, which is focused on validating promising, innovative technologies that target the most urgent environmental needs of the Department of Defense. This initiative helps address one of the DoD’s most critical energy challenges: ensuring reliable and efficient heating, cooling, and water heating across its 500+ bases and 300,000 buildings worldwide. The goal is to enable DoD bases to reduce their carbon footprint and GreenHouse Gas emissions – and counter the approximately $4 billion spent annually on DoD facility energy costs.
Blue Frontier is installing a Liquid Desiccant-Enhanced Dedicated Outdoor Air System, which offers moisture removal efficiency, energy storage, and digital twin reliability in the unit. The LD-DOAS will be installed in the commissary/community spouses club at Fort Moore, Georgia and a bowling alley in Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts.
In February, Blue Frontier raised a strategic funding round of $16.9 million.
6
HotelPlanner buys PetsWecome.com
West Palm Beach-based HotelPlanner, a leading global provider of online group hotel bookings and individual room reservations, has acquired PetsWelcome.com, a pioneering platform dedicated to helping travelers find pet-friendly accommodations. Terms of the transaction were not released.
This acquisition marks a significant milestone in HotelPlanner’s mission to enhance the travel experience by providing greater inclusivity and convenience for all travelers, including those with four-legged companions.
“This acquisition allows us to better serve the millions of pet owners who consider their pets part of the family and want them by their side during their travels. Together, we will build on the strong foundation that PetsWelcome.com has created and further expand our offerings for pet-friendly travel,” said HotelPlanner Global President Bruce Rosenberg.
As part of this acquisition, HotelPlanner will integrate PetsWelcome.com’s comprehensive directory of pet-friendly accommodations and travel resources into its platform, ensuring a seamless booking experience for pet owners worldwide.
Founded in 2003, HotelPlanner is one of the world’s leading providers of individual, group and corporate travel bookings, through partnerships travel agencies, global hotel chains, individual hotels, online wedding providers, ancillary lodging providers, corporations, sporting organizations from youth to professional, universities, and government agencies. Its brands include HotelPlanner.com; Meetings.com; EventConnect.com; and VenueExplorer.com; Lucid Travel, which focuses on sports team travel; Eventsquid, which focuses on corporate and association event registration; and Cleverdis, a mainstay in trade show media.
7
What were the top-read Refresh stories in 2024?
You may have seen our Year In Review. In coming days we will have look-ahead stories as well. Stay tuned! In the meantime, of the 475 posts (and counting) we published this year, here are Refresh Miami’s top-read stories in 2024. While most were startup fund-raises (you guys kept Riley plenty busy!), notably the top-read post was by a guest contributor (we always welcome guest posts, by the way!).
- Miami: the Dubai of the Western Hemisphere (guest post by Peter Yared)
- Lucy Guo’s Passes raises $40M Series A to turn top content creators into tomorrow’s big brands
- Mark Bezos’ West Palm firm raises $100M for inaugural venture fund already backing 6 startups
- Delphi raises $2.7M for AI-powered digital cloning platform
- Lost something? Drake-backed Boomerang raises $4.9M in seed funding to help you get it back
- Mavi drives away with $3M seed to fuel expansion of in-car retail marketplace
- To transform sports-betting communities, Winible raises $6M from Inspired Capital, Ray Lewis and others
- Marco lands $12M Series A to further develop solutions for LatAm’s SME exporters
- Base’s tech-enabled membership club makes it easier to make meaningful connections
- Boopos closes new credit line of up to $175M for business-buying marketplace
- With investors betting on the ‘long game,’ Betr raises $15M at $375M valuation
- Neocis raises additional $20M in mission to revolutionize dental surgery through robotics
- Moving on up: Miami jumps 7 places into top 20 in global startup ranking
- Carewell bags a $24.7M Series B round to transform the caregiving experience
- South Florida’s tech hub is officially ClimateReady, with $19.5M federal grant in tow
- The hottest technology in Miami? Exowatt raises $20M, launches renewable energy solution
- DoorLoop secures $100 million to transform the property management game
- Miami-based Connexa Capital closes debut VC fund at $20M+, backs 5 startups and counting
- Ted Lucas to open hub in Miami to connect entrepreneurs, investors and community members
- With a fresh $16.9M injection of capital, Blue Frontier is leading the eco air revolution – from Boca Raton to the world
ICYMI
8-PLUS
Opportunity knocks
- Founders, apply to join the eMerge Global Startup Accelerator + Showcase, an opportunity to take your company to the next level. eMerge Americas offers startups the opportunity to debut and share their transformative ideas by providing access to resources, investors, curated bootcamps, mentors, and networking opportunities with global enterprises. Learn more and apply here by Dec. 31.
- The SMB Growth Lab, presented by eMerge Americas and powered by JP Morgan Chase, is an opportunity for SMBs located in Miami Dade County to gain access to cutting-edge digital tools, comprehensive training, and exclusive connections with key players in the tech ecosystem—all designed to propel your business to new heights. 50 SMBs will be selected for the cohort. Learn more and apply here by Dec. 31.
- Attention Veteran Founders: eMerge Americans and The Veteran Fund announced the inaugural SALUTE! Virtual Veteran Pitch Competition. Apply now for a chance to be one of eight veteran-led #startups pitching live to top investors and industry experts on January 22, 2025.
Apply here by Jan. 6th. - Endeavor Miami is accepting applications for its next ScaleUp Program. Apply for ScaleUp here.
- The Florida Venture Forum is now accepting presenter applications for the 2025 Florida Venture Capital Conference in Coral Gables next March. Apply here by Jan. 17.
READ MORE IN REFRESH MIAMI:
- With $3.5B valuation, Vultr raises $333 million to expand AI infrastructure
- Syncromune, a Fort Lauderdale-based biotech, raises $100M Series A for cancer therapies
- MinusSugar raises $2.5M to shake up the juice industry with sugar removal breakthrough
- Leap Financial raises $3.5M to send ripples through the remittance industry
- All-star investors back new Miami-based women’s basketball league, dunk $28M into Series A
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.
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