credit, American Inno
Emily Nightingale
Inno Guides are designed to serve as an onboarding tool for anyone that’s new to the region's ecosystem, as well as a refresher for those looking to learn more about Tampa Bay's startup and tech communities and the resources available to them. If you think we’re missing anything, email us at TampaBayInfo@AmericanInno.com.
Critical to the growth of an innovation economy is funding and access to capital. Whether it's a single entrepreneur seeking seed financing or a rapidly growing company looking to raise a Series C, young businesses rely on investors to grow and scale their ventures.
In Tampa Bay – where the amount of venture capital deals between 2015-2018 increased 115 percent from the previous four years (2011-2014) – a handful of VC firms, angel investors and other groups have placed a renewed focus on the area. They're hoping to capitalize on the region's rapid growth (Tampa Bay's one of the 20 fastest-growing metros in the U.S.), affordable talent (the region has the third lowest labor cost in the country), sunshine and more.
Below is a comprehensive guide to some of the most notable venture and angel investors in Tampa Bay, who are eager to support the growing tech economy. (Note: This list does not include private equity or money management firms).
Think we missed a pertinent firm? Let us know and we’ll update the list.
Angel Investors
- TiE Tampa "The TiE Tampa chapter founded in 2012 is one of the fastest growing chapters in TiE Global ecosystem. TiE Tampa fosters entrepreneurs in all industries, from ideation to exit, by providing access to funding, education, networking and mentoring by local and global leaders."
Venture Capital
- ARK Applications "Our team has decades of experience growing businesses; we can work together to help you bring needed growth to your business."
- Atlantic Merchant Capital Investors "Atlantic Merchant Capital Investors is a private merchant bank focused on the origination of proprietary private equity transactions. The firm invests in U.S. businesses in the banking, insurance, financial services and other sectors. The firm also makes venture capital investments through Atlantic Inspire. It is based in Tampa, Florida and was founded in 2009."
- Axioma Ventures "Founded in 2016, Axioma Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm invests in health care and information technology companies."
- Baldwin Beach Capital "Baldwin Beach Capital is a private equity and venture capital firm. The firm is the venture capital investment arm of the Baldwin family. It was founded in 2011 and is based in Tampa, Florida."
- Ballast Point Ventures "Founded in 2001, Ballast Point Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm seeks to invest in the commercial services, health care, and information technology sectors."
- Burton Partnership "Burton Partnership was a principal investment firm based out of Tampa, Florida."
- Clearwell Group "Clearwell Group is a family office investment advisory business. It invests in public securities through active and passive managers and invests into private businesses directly and through private equity funds.. It prefers to invest in health care, proven technology, food and beverage, consumer products, financial services, and software."
- Florida Funders "Founded in 2013, Florida Funders is a hybrid of a venture capital fund and an accredited investor syndicate which is based in Tampa, Florida. The firm invests in early-stage technology companies."
- Florida-Israel Business Accelerator "Florida-Israel Business Accelerator is a technology accelerator designed to establish and grow successful, high-growth tech ventures in the Tampa Bay area. The firm provides funding, mentoring and office space facilities to selected startups through its various programs. It was launched in 2016 by the Tampa Jewish Community Centers & Federation."
- The Florida Angel Nexus "Florida Angel Nexus is an Orlando-based angel investment firm that enables investors to fund small groups of their choice."
- The Florida Venture Forum "The Florida Venture Forum is Florida’s largest statewide support and networking organization for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, helping startup and growth companies connect with the capital sources and business services they need to grow and scale."
- Greybull Stewardship "Greybull Stewardship is a private equity firm that is headquartered in Tampa, Florida and was founded in 2010. The firm seeks to invest in the retail, food products, consumer services and software sectors."
- GunnAllen Venture Partners "GunnAllen Venture Partners (GAVP) invests both equity and debt capital in venture-backed, private emerging growth companies."
- Hegemon Capital "Hegemon Capital is a private equity special opportunity asset manager that invests in the United States and internationally in a variety of industries, including financial services, real estate, credit, equity, biotechnology, information technology, energy, and others."
- La Ragazza & Associates "La Ragazza & Associates is a venture capital firm which invests in entrepreneurs and artists in the music industry. While the firm focuses on investing in startups dealing with music IP, it also provides investment opportunities in all aspects of the music industry. Other than providing financial help it also provides consulting and advising services to startups. The firm is based in Tampa, Florida."
- Lion Investments "Lion Investments was an investment firm that made private equity and venture capital investments. The firm was based in Tampa, Florida."
- Lovett Miller & Co. "Lovett Miller & Co is an investment firm that provides growth capital for rapidly growing, privately-held companies, with a particular emphasis on financial provider and technology-enhanced health care companies. The firm was founded in 1997 and is based in Tampa, Florida."
- MDJ Group: MDJ Group is a strategic technology investment firm focused on creating and transforming high-potential organizations into industry leading companies. Founded in 2002, MDJ Group has established itself as a leader in helping to grow companies in the areas of information security, network infrastructure, and human capital management
- Milford Investment Partners "Milford Investment Partners was a venture capital partners based in Clearwater, Florida. It specialized in seed, early stage and later stage investments."
- Nelson Consulting "Founded in 2000, Nelson Consulting is an investment bank based in Tampa, Florida. The firm provides services in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, mezzanine capital, leveraged buyout, initial public offering, buy-side, and sell-side advisory, business valuation, and due diligence."
- Omni Elite Holdings "OmniElite Financial Group is a venture capital firm led by Business Professionals, Inventors, Entrepreneurs and Venture Capitalists. The firm prefers to invest in the brand name hospitality and service industry development, educational finance for military and civilian, and real estate development and property management sectors. It is headquartered in Tampa, Florida."
- Parker Ventures "Parker Ventures was a venture capital firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The firm was founded in 2009. It specialized in seed, early stage and later stage investments."
- Sanan Private Equity "Sanan Private Equity is a privately held private equity and venture capital firm that is based in Tampa, Florida. The firm seeks to invest in the health care and information technology sectors."
- SK Ventures, Sarasota "An early stage venture capital firm run by Paul Kedrosky and Eric Norlin."
- South Atlantic Venture Funds "South Atlantic Venture Funds was a private equity and venture capital firm based in Tampa, Florida. The firm used to invest in communications, health care, technology, manufacturing, consumer products and specialty retail sectors."
- St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Technology Fund "Our shareholders are local businesses and institutions who support a variety of economic development projects focused on building high-quality, sustainable jobs and creating a culture in which businesses will thrive in St. Petersburg."
- Stonehenge Growth Equity Partners "Stonehenge Growth Equity Partners is an investment firm that spun out of Stonehenge Capital Company. The firm was founded in 2013 and seeks to invest in the technology-enabled firms."
- Strategic Acquisition Ventures
- Third Lake Capital "Third Lake Capital is a family office that specializes in a broad range of investments including private equity, real estate and venture capital. The firm is headquartered in Tampa, Florida."
- TiE Angels Tampa "TiE Angels Tampais a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in early stage, promising and growth companies in the health care and technology sectors."
- Weatherford Capital "Founded in 2015, Weatherford Capital is a family-owned private investment firm. The firm in partnership with family offices makes direct private equity and late-stage venture investments."
- Westlake Ventures "Westlake seeks development stage companies with innovative solutions to problems with a large addressable market."
Will Flanagan, director of product, contributed.
