How OneSixOne Ventures is making early-stage investing a community-driven effort
By Riley Kaminer
If you’ve been to a Miami startup event lately, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Justis Mendez and Pablo Casilimas. The founders of OneSixOne Ventures are everywhere – hosting networking events, making introductions, and diving deep into Florida’s startup ecosystem, with Miami in focus. But beyond the social scene, they’re building something serious: a venture firm that’s grown rapidly and is now preparing for a major expansion.
From grassroots to growth
“We started off last year with about $1.2 million in AUM,” Casilimas told Refresh Miami. “We more than tripled that. Right now, we have a little over $4 million and 21 portfolio companies.” That momentum is setting the stage for what’s next: a planned $35 million Fund II that will allow OneSixOne to scale its investment strategy, expand its events, and deepen its support for the founders they back.
Mendez and Casilimas’s journey started as students at the University of Florida, organizing meetups for entrepreneurs and helping connect early-stage founders with resources. What began as a side project evolved into a fund that aims to provide more than just capital.
“At its core, building a startup is all about people,” Casilimas said. “It’s about finding the right people to sell to, the right people who believe in your vision – whether that’s employees, investors, or customers. If we can get all those people in the right room, we can really move the needle for companies.”
Building more than a fund
OneSixOne Ventures operates with a broader approach than the typical VC model. Instead of waiting for deals to come to them, they have built an active platform that helps founders at every stage. A major part of that strategy is their event series. Last year, they hosted 11 events across four cities. This year, they’re on track for 50 events in 10 cities.
“The events are a platform to bring together founders, investors, and operators,” Mendez said. “It’s not just about access to capital. It’s about access to networks, education, and opportunities.”
Their investment focus spans multiple sectors, with a strong interest in infrastructure, AI, and cloud computing. Among their recent investments is an AI company automating developer operations and another focused on data protection infrastructure. By combining capital with access to expertise and connections, they aim to help early-stage companies move faster. Betr, Clockout and Agentuity are South Florida-based companies they have invested in.
A different kind of investor network
OneSixOne’s approach to LPs also stands out. Rather than relying solely on institutional investors, they’ve attracted a mix of exited founders and partners from other funds.
“Our LPs are operators who can make the right introductions, offer guidance, and help accelerate growth,” Mendez said.
One example of this came when OneSixOne was diligencing Hedgehog, a cloud infrastructure startup. During the process, they introduced the company to the former CIO of T-Mobile, who not only decided to invest but also helped Hedgehog land its first enterprise deal with T-Mobile.
“That introduction was the single most valuable connection anyone on their cap table made for them,” Casilimas said. “And we were the smallest check on the cap table.”
Looking beyond investments
OneSixOne is also taking a long-term approach by working with universities. They’ve established partnerships with institutions like UF and Northeastern University’s Seattle campus to embed venture education into academic programs. The goal? To help shape the next generation of founders, engineers, and investors.
“We’re thinking 30, 40 years out,” Casilimas said. “How do we have a generational impact? How do we change the way venture capital firms operate? We’re younger than most VCs, and that gives us a chance to build something different.”
Miami’s role in the equation
Miami is central to OneSixOne’s strategy. In OneSixOne’s view, the city’s emergence as a tech hub, combined with its connections to Latin America and Europe, makes it an attractive place for startups.
“Miami is a great place to build,” Mendez said. “People are going to continue to flock here. The quality of life is unmatched, and its position as a bridge between Latin America, the U.S., and Europe makes it an ideal location for a global tech hub.”
Their events have helped attract talent and capital to the city, and they see Miami’s growth as a sign that its startup ecosystem is maturing.
“As long as we continue to bring in great engineers, great education, and put the pieces together, we’re going to build the next Miami – not a copy of Silicon Valley, but a global tech hub in its own right.”
What’s next?
As they gear up for Fund II, OneSixOne is looking to scale its impact. The new fund will allow them to back more startups, expand their programming, and continue refining their approach to early-stage investing.
“We never really planned to be VCs,” Casilimas admitted. “We just started out trying to help founders, and that turned into something bigger. Now, we’re in a position to create real change – not just in how we invest, but in how the whole system works.”
With Fund II on the horizon and their network expanding, OneSixOne is positioning itself as more than just another VC firm, reshaping how early-stage venture capital works along the way.
Photos at the top of this post: OneSixOne Ventures co-founders Justis Mendez, at left, and Pablo Casilimas
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I am a Miami-based technology researcher and writer with a passion for sharing stories about the South Florida tech ecosystem. I particularly enjoy learning about GovTech startups, cutting-edge applications of artificial intelligence, and innovators that leverage technology to transform society for the better. Always open for pitches via Twitter @rileywk or www.RileyKaminer.com.
