March 18, 2024

Tuesday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 7/21/2015

Software rules in Florida venture capital deals

Eight of the 17 Florida companies that received venture capital funding in the second quarter of 2015 are in the software industry. The local breakout mirrors national trends. Across the country, 491 software companies received $7.3 billion in venture capital funding in Q2 2015. More at the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

See also:
» South Florida snags 68 percent of venture capital invested in state
» Florida, always short on venture capital, attracts 17 deals for startups in quarter
» MDLIVE leads state in venture funding in 2nd quarter

Boca real estate firm won't accept commissions at Trump properties

Outraged over Donald Trump's recent comments about Mexicans, a small Boca Raton real estate brokerage says it won't accept commissions from sellers in Trump properties in South Florida through Jan. 31. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

'Edgy' small swimsuits on display at Miami Beach's annual SwimShow

South Florida shoppers are becoming increasingly interested in edgy swimsuits — and that means good business for Soraia Da Silva. "America is getting more sexy," Da Silva, vice president of Brazilian swimwear brand, Despi, said Monday at the 33rd annual SwimShow in Miami Beach. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Eight First Coast companies ranked among best in Florida

First Coast employers snagged 8 percent of the best companies to work for in Florida, according to Florida Trend magazine’s latest report. More at the Florida Times-Union and see Florida's Best Companies to Work For 2015.

Funeral homes expand horizons for weddings, other events

Businesses that once focused almost entirely on honoring the dead are now open to an array of events as they seek to add revenue. Cemetery and funeral home operators say they're being squeezed as more people favor simpler, less expensive funeral services. More at the AP.

Out of the Box
Ag's next frontier? Growing plants in space

space plants Space may not be the final frontier for Anna-Lisa Paul and Robert Ferl; they want to grow plants there. Because, who knows, we may one day try to live on Mars, and to survive, we’ll have to grow our own food. Thus far, experiments by the two pioneering scientists have proven so successful that, earlier this month, NASA recognized their research with one of its three awards in the category of the Most Compelling Results.

» More from UF News and Science World Report.

Around the State
Cutting Edge

running man robot Some of the nation’s best and brightest robotics and software engineers work at the IHMC Robotics Lab in Pensacola. In June, their 350-pound, humanoid-type robot called "Running Man" competed against 24 other robots designed by various teams from the U.S. and abroad.

» Access full story

Tags: Daily Pulse, Afternoon Pulse

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