Venture capital activity in Florida on the rise
Amid a challenging climate, Florida venture capital activity was on the rise in the first half of 2025 and is on track to have its best year since the 2022 high, according to the eMerge Insights Florida Venture Capital 1H 2025 Report released today. Startups in fintech, cybersecurity, web3, medtech, climatetech and other sectors all contributed to this Florida story, with the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area leading the way. More from Refresh Miami.
Metropica on the rise: $2 billion megaproject expected to transform Sunrise
Right now, this sprawling parcel home to the future $2 billion project known as Metropica might not look like much. But in time, this patch of earth in western Sunrise will be teeming with people who live in one of 3,300 homes. People who work in one of four office towers. People who book a room in one of two hotels and flock to the high-end restaurants, shops and entertainment spots. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
Builders adapt with innovation as Southwest Florida housing market cools
With Southwest Florida’s housing market shifting, the area’s largest home builders — and one of their biggest clients — are shifting along with it. At Babcock Ranch, which sold its 5,000th new home earlier this year, innovation relates to how the homes are constructed and how they are financed. Competing building companies have experimented and even collaborated on construction innovations. More from the Gulfshore Business.
What happens at Kennedy Space Center during government shutdown?
NASA operates several centers and employs thousands of people across the US – perhaps most prominently in Florida where its Kennedy Space Center is billed as its premiere spaceport. The vast majority of NASA's employees could be furloughed and all but its most critical operations – including management of the International Space Station – are likely to be paused. More from Florida Today.
Jacksonville-based First Coast Habitat names interim CEO as permanent leader
First Coast Habitat for Humanity, formerly HabiJax, named Chris Folds as CEO after his three-month stint as interim leader. The Jacksonville-based affordable housing nonprofit recently expanded its service area to cover Duval, Nassau and Baker counties. Then-chief community partnerships officer Folds was tapped as interim CEO in June after Monte Walker departed after five years. More from the Florida Times-Union.
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Business Profile
St. Pete flood barrier fabricator finds immediate success
Enrico Palmerino never intended to start another business after Hurricane Helene flooded his home in St. Petersburg. He also didn’t trust what he found on the market to protect his family. Palmerino went to work fabricating a flood barrier system without worrying about profit margins. Dam it Defense launched in late June, and the family-owned and operated company opened its first factory in St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District a year after Helene inundated the area.
» More from St. Pete Catalyst.
Out of the Box
Orlando-based team wins Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event
An Orlando-based pair of tandem bike riders emerged as the winners of the first Red Bull Tandem Rollercoaster event in the United States, which took place this past weekend in Altamonte Springs. As the final competitors of the day, team NFT Boombox emerged as champions of the whacky and wild contest, which involved 30 teams navigating an obstacle course over water at Cranes Roost Park on themed tandem bikes.
» Read more from the Orlando Sentinel.