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:
Miami Events:
- Founder Institute Miami: AMA with Alumni, Mentors & Directors: 6:30pm, Mar 31, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394118
Global or Regional Events:
- Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
- How Aspiring Founders can Use AI to Test Ideas & Move Faster: 8:30pm, Mar 23, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/393868
- [Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors (Private Event): 12:00pm, Mar 24, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/389052
- What Startup Ecosystems Get Wrong, and How to Fix Them: 12:30pm, Mar 30, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394268
- Solo-Founder 101: How Anyone Can Start a Business Using AI: 12:00pm, Mar 31, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392550
- From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 8:00pm, Apr 06, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392190
- Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 8:00pm, Apr 07, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390143
- How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 8:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/389466
- Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 12:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390761
- Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 12:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/392414
- How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 12:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394048
- How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 8:00pm, May 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390317
- Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 12:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/390493
- Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 8:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/388433
- 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
- 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.
