Florida First Check launched this week, and the state's business press picked up exactly the message that matters: keeping Florida's founders — and the jobs they create — at home.
- Jacksonville Business Journal — "Early-stage investment fund aims to keep founders in Florida"
- Refresh Miami — "Florida Funders' newest pre-seed strategy bets that the first check can keep founders home"
- St Pete Catalyst — "Florida First Check pre-seed funding strategy unveiled"
- Tampa Bay Business Journal — "Tampa VC firm launches statewide pre-seed fund for early-stage startups"
Behind the fund is the Institute's two-decade mission: turning Florida technology into Florida companies through the Florida Technology Seed Capital Fund, company-building support, and a capital continuum that now runs from a founder's first check to growth stage — entirely in-state. As Executive Director Rafael Lohner told reporters: "When a company builds here, the high-wage jobs and economic impact it creates stay here — that's the Institute's mission at work."
Pre-seed founders and partner programs: