As part of the Founder Institute’s Startup Ecosystem Leaders series, we were pleased to welcome FI program co-directors Roxette Miranda & James for an update on the latest developments in Miami's startup and tech ecosystem.
Roxette Miranda has been a co-director of the Miami Founder Institute accelerator for over 3 years now, and is the Director of The LAB Miami, one of the city’s premiere startup hubs and physical co-working spaces for entrepreneurs. She is also a Partners at 305 Works, an angel investor, and a past Program Manager for various other startup accelerators.
James Irvine has also been co-director of the Miami Founder Institute accelerator for 3+ years, is the Founder of ‘Pitch Night’ in the greater NYC area, a monthly series of community pitch competitions. He likewise is a Partner at 305 Works, has been an angel investor, as well as previously worked with other accelerators programs; and earlier in his career focused on commercial banking with both JPMorgan and Merrill Lynch.
In this video, FI Miami co-directors Roxette Miranda & James Irvine share their thoughts on the ‘state of the startup’ today in Miami, and across the wider Miami statewide tech ecosystem, which new and emerging developments excite them for the near future, what has surprised them most in working with early-stage entrepreneurs, and much more.
Plus, learn a few startup success stories of recent FI Miami Alumni, about the amazing local program partners and mentors, and open event dates and application deadlines for the upcoming Miami 2026 Founder Institute pre-seed accelerator cohort!
Watch FI HQ's full interview with FI Miami Co-Directors Roxette Miranda & James Irvine:
If you're a Miami-based pre-seed stage entrepreneur interested in finding direction on your own startup journey, and you haven’t done so already, head over here to learn more about the next FI Miami 2026 accelerator cohort.
Or, join us at one of these upcoming Miami startup events:
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, May 26, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395474
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How to Start a Unicorn as a Solo Founder, with Adeo Ressi: 2:00pm, May 26, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/399155
- Vibecoding 101 for Startups: Build Your First App w/ Mark Montalban: 12:30pm, Jun 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398095
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 12:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390493
- How to Launch an AI-Powered Company With a Day Job Featuring Adeo Ressi: 2:00pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/399274
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact (POSTPONED): 8:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/388433
- What It Takes to Get Funded: Live Investor Q&A w/ Maayan Teper: 12:00pm, Jun 09, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/396176
- Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 8:00pm, Jun 15, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393198
- Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 8:00pm, Jul 06, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392828
- Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390631
- From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393321
- Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 12:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391183
- Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391271
- What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 12:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392938
- How to Build a Strong Pipeline of Entrepreneurs for your Innovation Hub: 12:00pm, Sep 15, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/398329
- Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 8:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391550
- From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 8:30pm, Oct 05, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390907
- From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 12:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393451
- From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 12:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393068
- From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Nov 17, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391412
- From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 12:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/391025
Applications to the Miami 2026 Founder Institute are now open, and anyone building an applicable tech company can apply at FI.co/apply/miami.
Graduates of the Founder Institute are creating some of the world's fastest growing startups, having raised over 2BN in funding, and building products people love across over 200 cities worldwide.
See the most recent news from our Grads at FI.co/news, or learn more about their stories at FI.co/graduates.
