1
Kiara Capital raising flagship fund focused on fintech
Kiara Capital, a Miami-based venture capital firm focused on fintech, held the first close of its inaugural fund.
After validating its investment thesis using only partner capital, the firm has now opened its first external fundraising campaign targeting $30 million to $40 million. Investors include founders, bank CEOs, VC partners, and family offices with interest in fintech and financial innovation. The founding partners remain the largest investors in the fund.
The fund focuses on early-stage B2B fintech startups operating in Latin America, and cross-border markets linked to the United States. Kiara Capital aims to build a high-conviction portfolio of 15 to 20 startups, with initial checks starting at $500k and substantial reserves allocated for follow-on rounds.
Founded in 2023 by Michael Esrubilsky and Daniel Arippol, Kiara Capital specializes in early-stage investments, from pre-seed to seed. Since inception, the firm has made five investments, including Astride, a Miami-based fintech offering accounting solutions for foreign investors. Kiara’s current portfolio spans startups in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, and the U.S., with approximately $2 million already deployed.
“We prioritize founders who have deep expertise in the industries they’re building in, excel in execution, and often come through trusted referrals in the ecosystem,” said Arippol, in a statement. “We look for companies that combine strong product-market fit with the potential for outsized impact in the financial sector.”
Esrubilsky brings over 25 years of experience in fintech, with four successful fintech exits in Brazil totaling nearly $1 billion. Arippol complements the team with more than 15 years of experience in private equity, venture capital, and innovation across emerging markets.
2
Shakira-backed skin-care brand Isima raises $12M
Isima, a Miami-based haircare brand ignited by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Shakira, has raised over $12 million in venture funding. The round was led by Stelac Capital Partners, Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio Capital, northstar.vc and WME. The funding will be used to expand operations and its development efforts.
Led by Chief Science Officer Anthony Potin and and Andreea Diaconescu, Chief Marketing + Growth Officer, Isima is a clinically backed science-driven haircare brand inspired by the rich hair diversity of the Latin community. Its TriModal Method targets the scalp, cortex and cuticle, including patent-pending formulas designed for optimal hair health, strength and resilience.
“We devoted years of exhaustive research and clinical testing to addressing the specific diversity of needs harnessed by this expansive community,” said Potin, who worked with Shakira herself to develop the brand. “We tapped an elite panel of trichologists and formulators on a global scale to address hair textures from straight to coiled and states from chemically-treated to color-processed.”
Isima is now available at isima.com and will be in all Ulta Beauty stores nationwide and on Ulta.com on July 6. Supported by the key investments of the brand’s global financial partners, Isima will launch with availability in nearly 30 global markets upon its debut.
“We chose to support isima because it brings together scientific innovation and a deep respect for individual identity,” said Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio, president of LMDV Capital. “In an industry long dominated by one-size-fits-all solutions, Isima offers something different: products designed to embrace diversity and meet the unique needs of each person.”
3
Citadel Securities increases crypto focus
Citadel Securities, the Miami-based investment firm owned by Ken Griffin, recently backed Digital Asset as part of the New York cryptocurrency company’s $135 million funding round that included other big names including DRW Venture Capital, Tradeweb Markets, BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs and others. Digital Access said it will use the funding to advance adoption of the Canton Network, a blockchain for financial institutions.
The investment highlights how large financial institutions including Citadel are embedding themselves in the world of crypto. In March, Citadel Securities was reportedly preparing to launch its own crypto trading services and was seeking approval to provide liquidity on major exchanges, including those run by Coinbase Global, Binance Holdings and Crypto.com, the South Florida Business Journal reported.
Citadel also planned to establish crypto-focused trading teams outside the U.S. What’s more, Griffin has supported a regulatory framework around crypto that allows banks and asset managers to trade these instruments, which he said would force out some of the bad actors and provide liquidity. Read more here.
4
Big Miami delegation reps the 305 at VivaTech
At VivaTech, Europe’s largest startup and tech conference, Miami had its own pavilion for the first time, and the Paris conference was attended by a delegation from Miami that included leaders from Mana Tech, eMerge Americas, French Tech Miami and other organizations.
The delegation showcased 16 high-growth startups, representing the entrepreneurial energy and global ambitions of South Florida’s ecosystem. From clean mobility and health tech to AI and fintech, these startups offered a glimpse into Miami’s capacity to export and import innovation, Mana Tech reports. Among the startups and partners featured were AELER, Ascendance, PITCHOON, CanWe, NAYA Therapeutics, Fastformulator Inc., XXII, Scaper, Urbanloop, Lexon Design, Effective Capital, Djaayz, Outsmart Labs and others.
At the close of VivaTech, Mana Tech, eMerge Americas, and VivaTech announced they have officially joined forces to deepen international startup mobility, co-host innovation programming, and promote Miami as the U.S. gateway for European startup expansion.
READ MORE: French Tech Miami is helping startups find their raison d’être in Miami
5
Carnival Cruise Line selects DXC to power technology infrastructure
DXC Technology, a publicly traded Fortune 500 global technology services provider, and Carnival Cruise Line, the world’s most popular cruise line, announced a multi-year agreement to power the cruise line’s technology infrastructure.
This partnership will support Carnival’s guest experience across its global fleet, as well as its portside and shoreside operations. DXC will deliver reliable and scalable IT services designed to enhance operational efficiency, improve employee productivity and help ensure a seamless, connected experience for millions of guests sailing annually with Carnival.
Through the partnership, DXC will manage Carnival’s core IT infrastructure across all operational environments including shipboard systems, shoreside offices and port facilities. Using an employee-centric delivery model, DXC will ensure that the tools and services provided are tailored to support both Carnival’s workforce needs and a consistent guest experience.
6
Jobs, jobs, jobs
Here are a few open tech jobs in #MiamiTech:
Boats Group – Product Designer
Chewy – Business Intelligence Engineer I
Chewy – Software Engineer II
eMed – Sr. Fullstack Software Engineer
eMed – Sr. Cloud Engineer
General Assembly – Manager of Content
Kaseya – Global Payroll Manager
Kaseya – Network Security Manager
Kore.ai – Global Director of Revenue Growth
Open Store – Social Media Manager
Papa – Staff Mobile Engineer
Payabli – Risk Analyst
Playbypoint – Customer Success Manager
Playbypoint – Sr Product Designer
Pipe – Product Counsel
SageSure – Staff Software Engineer
Find many more on our Refresh Miami job board here.
7
FIU’s Wall of Wind open to startup testing
As hurricane season ramps up in Miami, FIU’s Wall of Wind Experimental Facility is opening its doors to startups and small businesses developing resilient infrastructure solutions.
Through the South Florida Risk + Resilience Tech Hub, selected companies can apply for low-cost, full-scale product testing, including Category 5 hurricane simulations, at one of the nation’s most advanced facilities.
This is a unique chance for companies working in construction tech, renewable energy, or coastal resilience to gather critical data, improve performance, and gain exposure in South Florida’s innovation ecosystem. Apply by Aug. 1 here.
8-PLUS
Opportunity knocks
- LAST CALL – CLOSING SOON: The Open Opportunity Fund invites early stage founders to apply to Open Pitch. This startup competition focuses on identifying outstanding entrepreneurs building the next generation of tech companies.The winning company will receive a $125K investment from Open Opportunity Fund. The competition will take place live at Invest Fest 2025 in Atlanta. Apply here by June 30.
- LAST CALL – CLOSING SOON: SPARC South Florida (Startup Pitch Accelerator Regional Competition) is accepting applications to compete for a $1 million prize in the Startup World Cup Global Pitch Competition and receive broad exposure for your startup, plus access to coaching and mentorship. Apply by July 1 here.
- The Cade Prize for Inventivity, named after Dr. Robert Cade, lead inventor behind Gatorade, celebrates inventors and entrepreneurs, who, through an innovative invention, demonstrate a creative approach to addressing problems in their field of expertise. Each year, Cade Prize winners receive over $100,000 in cash prizes and legal services with no strings attached. Find out more and apply here by July 10.
- Endeavor Miami is accepting applications for the next next EndeavorLAB cohort designed for early-stage founders in South Florida. This program helps entrepreneurs build the foundation to scale through structured programming, expert-led training, and one-on-one mentorship. Apply here by July 11.
- Venture Atlanta 2025 is calling for tech-enabled startups from across the Southeast (from seed to growth stage) to apply to pitch. Selected companies will gain access to 450+ investors from 250+ funds, receive coaching and mentorship, attend the exclusive VA Investor Dinner, and benefit from year-round networking opportunities. Eligible applicants must have a strong Southeastern U.S. presence and be planning to raise capital within the next 18 months.Apply here by Aug. 8.
- The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program’s Facilitated Growth Cohort at Florida International University offers training to help you grow and expand your business. You are not required to have any employees but should have a business generating revenue. You will create a Business Model Canvas with mentorship and will determine if your business is validated/marketable and if it is scalable/expandable. Find out more and apply here.
ICYMI
Have news to report? Email Nancy Dahlberg at [email protected] and follow her on X @ndahlberg and on LinkedIn. Subscribe to Refresh Miami’s free weekly newsletter here featuring startup news, tech job opportunities and events. Thank you for supporting Refresh Miami.
