At the heart of this program is a commitment to pairing industry veterans with promising startups, creating powerful partnerships to drive innovation and growth across the region’s tech landscape and beyond. 

We’re equally excited to introduce Mark Steele, our first Venture Partner, whose wealth of experience in the tech SaaS sector exemplifies the caliber of expertise this program will bring to our portfolio companies.

Introducing The Venture Partner Program 

The Florida Funders Venture Partner Program is built on a simple yet powerful premise. By connecting our portfolio companies with seasoned experts in their specific verticals, we can provide more personalized, practical support that goes beyond traditional investment. This program will help optimize startup operations, accelerate growth, and ultimately increase the success of our portfolio companies.

The program pairs portfolio companies with Venture Partners in our key verticals: FinTech, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, Ecomm, Ed-Tech, and Healthcare. After a rigorous vetting process, these carefully selected industry veterans will serve as dedicated advisors and active company board members, offering their skills, insights, and operational prowess. These Venture Partners will also help source deals in their specific verticals and will become an extension of the Florida Funders team representing us at conferences and industry events around the globe. 

By bridging the gap between experienced industry leaders and our innovative startups, the Florida Funders Venture Partner Program reflects our commitment to not only fund but actively nurture the success of the tech companies in our portfolio.

Our First Venture Partner: Mark Steele

With over 20 years of experience in the tech and SaaS industries, Mark Steele brings an unparalleled depth of experience in sales and business development and a proven track record of success as a tech entrepreneur.

From his early days in sales to leadership roles as CRO and CEO, he’s helmed both Fortune 500 companies like Oracle and nimble startups. Most recently, Mark co-founded and grew his ADA compliance-focused company, eSSENTIAL Accessibility, from inception to $22 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in just three years, culminating in a successful exit and merger with Level Access led by the investment firm KKR.

Informed by his impressive background, Mark’s insights will support the SaaS startups in our Fund 3 portfolio, specifically targeting functional elements like elevating go-to-market strategies, optimizing sales, identifying and securing strategic partnerships, and amplifying growth in e-commerce and beyond.

“Many startups have great founders, a strong vision, innovative thinking, and excellent products,” Mark notes. “But they often struggle with taking their product to market and getting real paying clients. That’s where I hope to lend my expertise—to help accelerate that piece.”

As someone who’s succeeded on both sides of the table—as an entrepreneur and now as an investor—Mark brings a unique perspective and realistic guidance to our portfolio companies. Mark understands the intricacies of startup-VC relationships and sees the effective management of these relationships as a potential competitive advantage. He’s looking forward to guiding his partnered companies in setting realistic expectations and mastering communication to build trust on both ends and drive productive partnerships.

Ultimately, Mark hopes to help his partnered startups grow into great tech companies whose products and services aren’t just nice to have but rather essential, bringing measurable value to clients and driving financial results. 

As both a Venture Partner and investor in Florida Funders, Mark is deeply committed to the success of our portfolio companies. He’s excited to transfer his learnings to new founders and get more directly involved in fostering sustainable growth across Florida’s tech ecosystem.

“I’m looking forward to establishing deeper roots in the Florida tech scene and giving back by sharing my knowledge,” Mark says. “The program will be successful if the engagement levels are there from both sides – the Venture Partners and the portfolio companies receiving that support.”

A Collaborative Approach to Supporting the Next Generation of Great Tech Startups

Florida Funders has closely observed the challenges and complexities that early-stage startups face on their growth journeys. The Venture Partner program is tailored to address these specific areas, providing targeted guidance where it will be the most valuable.

Mark Steele’s extensive experience and proven entrepreneurial success set a high standard for the Florida Funders Venture Partner Program, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome him as our first Venture Partner. We also look forward to welcoming additional Venture Partners to create a powerful ecosystem of knowledge transfer and practical guidance that will benefit individual companies and contribute to the overall strength and resilience of our portfolio.

We’re excited to see this program’s tangible impact. At Florida Funders, we’re not only driven to fund the future; we’re actively shaping it, one startup at a time.