2022 was a busy year for South Florida's technology and startup sector.
A year after bursting onto the national scene, the Miami area continued to attract new companies, events and funding, reinforcing the region's status as the tech hub of the southeastern U.S.
Still, it wasn't all good news, with some local companies announcing job cuts – and even business closures – in response to a slowing economy.
That was reflected in Miami Inno's news coverage. Certain developments stood out to our readers, including air taxi updates, layoffs and basically anything tied to "Shark Tank."
Here are Miami Inno's most-read stories of the year, in no particular order:
'Shark Tank' judges Mark Cuban, Kevin Hart invest in South Florida startup
Health supplement brand The Transformation Factory won a $600,000 investment on an episode of "Shark Tank" after CEO Alexiou Gibson struck a deal with judges Mark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and Kevin Hart, a comedian and actor.
Reef Technology lays off more than 700 employees
In May, Miami 'unicorn' startup Reef Technology laid off 5% of its global workforce. The company plans to double down on its parking and ghost kitchen businesses in order to boost profits and productivity.
Snoop Dogg, Gwyneth Paltrow among investors in Miami startup's $87M raise
In April, cryptocurrency payment startup MoonPay raised $87 million from a collection of investors that include Ashton Kutcher, Gal Gadot, Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, Gwyneth Paltrow and Matthew McConaughey.
Meet 5 air taxi companies with plans for South Florida
Several companies announced plans to bring flying taxis to South Florida to help travelers avoid the region's infamous traffic. We took a look at some of the businesses that aim to bring such aircraft to the Miami area.
More South Florida tech ventures reached 'unicorn' status in record-breaking 2021
The number of global "unicorns" – private companies valued at $1 billion or more – surpassed 1,000 for the first time in 2021, we reported in January. That included several businesses based in South Florida. Here are the local businesses that joined the ranks of unicorn ventures last year.
Construction startup wins pitch competition judged by Kevin O'Leary of 'Shark Tank'
In April, Miami construction startup Togal.AI won a $420,000 investment after taking home first prize at the 2022 eMerge Americas Startup Showcase.
Blockchain.com signs lease for 22,000-square-foot office in Miami
In February London-based Blockchain.com inked a lease for a new office in Miami's Wynwood neighborhood.
Exclusive: Fintech started by ex-PayPal CEO shuts down only weeks after launch
Nirvana Money, a fintech startup led by former PayPal CEO Bill Harris, folded in November, less than a month after its official launch.
Exclusive: Taxfyle to hire 100+ in Miami, expand HQ after $20M raise
Taxfyle, an on-demand platform that matches individuals and businesses with licensed CPAs, announced plans to hire more than 100 new employees at its Coconut Grove headquarters after raising $20 million from investors.
New-to-Miami startup hits $1B valuation after latest funding round
Consumer tech rental website Grover reported its valuation surpassed $1 billion after raising a combination of debt and equity funding.
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