Miami's tech scene is having a moment as Silicon Valley power players descend on the city. But not everyone loves the changes they bring.
- The first viral Miami moment happened in December when Mayor Francis Suarez tweeted "How can I help?"
- Since then, top Silicon Valley investors and tech founders have moved to South Florida.
- But some of the old guard of Miami tech are not so happy with the recent arrivals.
On December 4, 2020, during the darkest days of the pandemic, Silicon Valley discovered Miami.
That's when Silicon Valley VC Delian Asparouhov tweeted, only partially in jest, "ok guys hear me out, what if we move silicon valley to miami?" and Mayor Francis Suarez tweeted in answer "How can I help?"
Their tweets went viral and since then tech founders and VCs including Asparouhov, an investor at Founders Fund, have flocked to South Florida, bringing their skills, network, and wealth along with them.
Atomic's Jack Abraham was one of the first to arrive, months before the "How can I help?" tweet. He extended a seven-day vacation with friends into a month and a half last June, staying in various Airbnbs in different neighborhoods to get a sense of the city. Then, the inevitable happened: he moved there. "I just fell in love with the city," he told Insider in an exclusive interview from Atomic's new Miami office.
Abraham called a few friends and recruited the famous investor Keith Rabois to join him in the Sunshine State.
And interest in the growing tech scene in Miami has not slowed since.
Here's a rundown of the must-know happenings in Miami new tech community, including exclusive interviews with the key players involved, as well as deep dives on the recent spat between Silicon Valley tech transplants and the city's old guard.
Read more:
- VC Keith Rabois has a new side hustle in Miami as a Barry's Bootcamp instructor
- Insider spent several days in Miami, getting a sense of where VCs and startup founders regularly go to grab coffee, dine and talk business.
- Inside the new Miami life of Founders Fund VC and self-appointed city ambassador Keith Rabois
- The real story of how Atomic's Jack Abraham is turning Wynwood into the heart of Miami's tech scene
New stealth startups based in Miami
The two California-to-Florida transplants, Abraham and Rabois, have joined forces to launch a new startup, too. OpenStore is a company that will "provide instant liquidity to long-tail Shopify merchants," Rabois told Insider in an exclusive interview. And more stealth startups are underway as VC money pours in.
Read more:
- Meet OpenStore, the new stealth Miami startup founded by Founders Fund VC Keith Rabois and Atomic's Jack Abraham.
- Softbank will invest $100 million to make Miami a new tech hub
Miami's Mayor rolls out red carpet for tech newcomers
Silicon Valley transplants have declared Miami a new hot spot of innovation, but the city's existing tech scene has issues with their "savior complex," as one of them described it to Insider.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez finds himself in the middle of a spat between the old guard and the newcomers, acting as the city's peacemaker. "I get concerned sometimes because I want my Miami OGs to be a little more patient, and I want the new guys to be more embracing," the mayor tells Insider.
Read more:
- How a tweet sparked a feud in Miami, pitting Silicon Valley tech transplants against the city's old guard
- A conversation with Miami Commissioner Ken Russell about being the "gatekeeper" of tech, the tax bill that brought an influx of Silicon Valley wealth to Miami, and Asian American representation.
- Exclusive: Miami's mayor expects planning documents for a tunnel with Elon Musk's Boring Company to be ready in about 3 months
- Thousands of crypto-crazed fans in Miami partied and watched money burn at the bitcoin conference. Here are 5 of the wildest stories from the event.