Miami to serve as East Coast hub for loanDepot, bringing tech jobs
loanDepot, which offers mortgage lending and other real estate services, recently announced plans to open an East Coast hub in Miami. Set to open next month, the center will house technology, marketing , recruiting, and other corporate support functions, along with mortgage fulfillment roles from the company’s direct lending, retail, and partnership lending channels
The East Coast hub will initially accommodate 120 employees, with additional capacity to support future growth. The Miami location expands loanDepot’s network of corporate centers in California, Michigan, Texas, and Arizona. The new office space is planned to be about 20,000 square feet and is in the Miami Gardens area, a spokesman told Miami Today. “Miami gives us access to a deep and diverse talent pool in a market where loanDepot already has strong roots,” said founder and CEO Anthony Hsieh.
LoanDepot was founded in 2010, and it says it is the country’s second-largest retail nonbank mortgage lender. In 2021, it secured multi-year naming rights for Marlins Park
“This new center will bring key teams together, strengthen our ability to serve customers across the country, and give us room to scale. It is a strategic investment in our people, our platform and loanDepot’s next phase of growth,” Hsieh said
2
Mark43 doubles footprint in state, particularly South Florida
From hurricanes and large-scale emergency response to rapidly growing populations and complex regional coordination, Florida public safety agencies require technology that is resilient, secure, and built to keep critical operations running in moments that matter most. To that end, over the last 18 months, Mark43, which provides modern dispatch, AI-powered reporting, analytics and mobile tools, reports it has doubled its footprint across Florida
The Mark43 Public Safety Platform combines Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD), Records Management System (RMS), OnScene mobile workflows, Insights, AI-powered tools and an open platform architecture that supports Florida-specific compliance requirements. Mark43’s cloud-native architecture provides agencies with resilience during hurricanes, cyber threats, and other critical incidents
“Public safety leaders across Florida are embracing technology that helps their teams work smarter and respond faster,” said Bob Hughes, CEO of Mark43. “We’re proud to provide the cloud-native, AI-powered platform that helps agencies streamline operations, reduce administrative burden, and focus more time on serving their communities.”
For example, the Bay Harbor Islands Police Department brought its critical systems onto one platform, strengthening disaster recovery and enabling instant data sharing across Miami-Dade County. Coral Gables PD detectives now have case files and body cam footage on one platform at their fingertips. Miramar PD has trusted Mark43 for six years with the platform growing alongside the department’s needs, including integration with Broward County CAD for stronger regional coordination. Other recent South Florida customers of Mark43 include the police departments in Homestead, North Miami, Miami Springs and Boynton Beach.
3
Powerus secures $90M defense contract
Powerus has secured a U.S. Air Force contract worth up to $90 million, giving the West Palm Beach-based defense technology company another boost as it moves toward becoming a publicly traded business, the South Florida Business Journal reported
Its subsidiary, Tandem Defense, a U.S.-based manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems for military, government, and law enforcement customers, was awarded the contract to develop unmanned aircraft systems, ancillary support equipment, operator training and provide field service representative support
In June, Powerus, which builds and scales autonomous drone systems for military and commercial use in high-risk environments, also received a $30 million strategic equity investment from Unusual Machines. Earlier this year Powerus entered into an agreement to be acquired by Aureus Greenway Holdings. Read more here
4
Medtech Longeveron in XPRIZE finals, awarded $1M
Miami-based Longeveron, a publicly traded clinical-stage regenerative medicine biotechnology company developing cellular therapies for life-threatening and chronic aging-related conditions, announced that it has been selected from over 600 worldwide applicants to advance to the final phase of the XPRIZE Healthspan competition as a Milestone 2 Awardee team. Longeveron will receive a $1 million Milestone 2 Award to be used toward the future competition clinical trial in accordance with the XPRIZE competition rules, with the opportunity to compete for the XPRIZE Grand Prize of up to $81 million.
XPRIZE Healthspan is a 7-year global competition incentivizing teams to develop and test therapeutics that restore muscle, cognition, and immune function in adults aged 50 to 90 by a minimum of 10 years, with an ambitious goal of 20 years, to extend healthy life within one year or less of treatment. Longeveron is developing regenerative medicines, including stem cell therapy products. “We look forward to the next chapter of the competition as we continue to develop our stem cell therapy that we believe has the potential to have a significant impact for patients and their families, and extend healthy life,” said Longeveron CEO Stephen H. Willard.
5
Mana Tech Scale2Miami startup raises $200K; applications open for next cohort
Kresko RNA Tech, a Buenos Aires-based startup that went through Mana Tech’s Scale2Miami program, recently secured an initial $200,000 in funding from investors connected through Mana Tech’s ecosystem. This is a recent outcome of the program’s focus on connecting international founders with the capital, networks, and market access needed to expand into the United States
For Kresko RNA Tech, the program provided a pathway from international startup to U.S.-focused investor conversations, ultimately resulting in its first investment close. The startup develops RNA-based technologies with applications in biotechnology and healthcare
“Scale2Miami became an important part of our journey from building great science in Latin America to building a global company from the U.S.” said Carla Etichetti, CEO and founder of Kresko RNA Tech. “One of the things I value the most is how tangible the network became: the introductions were not simply networking opportunities, but the beginning of real relationships with investors, founders, industry leaders, and other key actors across the ecosystem. Over the last six months, many of those introductions have continued to open new conversations and opportunities for Kresko”.
Mana Tech has opens applications for the third edition of Scale2Miami, with startups able to apply through August 30, 2026. Scale2Miami was created to help early-stage companies from outside the U.S. navigate one of the most difficult steps in international expansion: gaining meaningful access to the American startup and investment ecosystem. The program combines international startup scouting, market validation, mentorship from investors and operators, a Miami immersion, and a live Demo Day connecting selected founders with Mana Tech’s growing network of more than 150 angel investors.
READ MORE:Mana Tech thinks Miami’s next chapter needs more than networking
6
OutRival adds travel division, makes key hire
OutRival, creator of AI-powered voice agents and digital workers for enterprises, has appointed cruise industry veteran Jeff Herzfeld to head up its new business unit: Travel
The Miami-based startup, which has raised more than $50 million to date, serves customers across insurance, financial services, higher education, and other complex, regulated industries. With the launch of its Travel vertical, OutRival is bringing its platform to help cruise lines, hotels, resorts, tour operators, travel agencies, and other travel brands drive revenue, increase operational capacity, and strengthen customer relationships at scale, the company says. OutRival’s platform automates outbound communications with prospective and existing customers through voice, text messages, email and chat.
Herzfeld brings more than 20 years of commercial leadership experience across Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Cruises, Virgin Voyages, and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, leading large-scale sales operations, customer experience, contact center, and technology transformation initiatives
7
$610M in 2025 impact generated by Research Park at FAU
Businesses at the Research Park at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton generated more than $610 million in total economic impact in 2025, according to a new economic report. The 49 businesses based at the park supported 1,505 jobs and produced $174 million in labor earnings last year, with an annual salary of $115,768. Together, the companies advanced innovation across industries including healthcare, aerospace, and technology
Established in 1985, the Research Park at FAU is a “workforce engine that creates high-paying jobs, brings groundbreaking technologies to our community, and prepares the next generation of innovators,” said Research Park President Andrew Duffell, in the South Florida Business Journal. The Research Park hosts Global Ventures, an incubator program for second-stage tech firms, and FAU Tech Runway, a public-private startup accelerator. Read more here.
8
Ondas Defense hires global president
David Barnea, a former director of Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, has joined Ondas Defense’s leadership team as global president and chairman. He will lead the company’s global expansion efforts, strategic technology development and government and defense relationships, focusing on expanding in the Middel East, Asia and Europe
“He led one of the world’s most sophisticated intelligence organizations through a period of active conflict, rapidly evolving threats and highly complex operations in which artificial intelligence, advanced communications, cyber capabilities and purpose-built technologies played an increasingly important role,” said Ondas CEO Eric Brock, in a statement
Ondas, founded in 2014 and recently headquartered in West Palm Beach, builds and sells drones, robotics and AI systems for military, defense and law enforcement customers
9
Picture this!
Florida took its rivalry with New York straight to Times Square this week. A massive new billboard in the heart of Manhattan displayed a message for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani: “Thanks for the jobs!” The Florida Chamber of Commerce named Mamdani its “Economic Developer of the Year,” saying New York’s progressive tax policies are helping push businesses, wealth and residents toward the Sunshine State as Florida continues to attract people and businesses from high-tax states
10
Jobs, jobs, jobs
Betr – Marketing Graphic DesignerBetr – Marketing Video EditorChewy – Database Engineer IICitywire – Audience Development & Content ManagerClaimsHero – Strategic Partnerships & Growth InitiativesFlex – Sr Product Marketing ManagerHut 8 – Customer Project Manager – Data Center InfrastructureIru – GTM Operations ManagerLennar – Business AnalystLennar – QA EngineerLennar – Software Engineer IIVultr – AI Cluster Architect
Find more opportunities on Refresh Miami’s job board here
PLUS
Opportunity knocks
- The Florida Council of 100, eMerge Americas, Related Ross and its partners opened applications for Ambition Accelerated, a program with cohorts for defense and dual use, fintech, healthtech and resilience startups. Learn more and apply here by Aug. 21.
- The Risk and Resilience Tech Hub at FIU is accepting applications from companies developing innovative materials, products, and technologies that improve the resilience of infrastructure systems. Apply here by Aug. 22.
- Are you Miami curious? Maybe you’re ready for more sunshine or tired of state income taxes. Maybe you’re just looking for your next adventure. The challenge usually isn’t the city, it’s figuring out how to make the move make sense – the right role, the right company, the right connections. If you’ve been thinking about Miami, check out moveto.miami, powered by Refresh Miami. We’re here to help.
- Calling all Florida-based startups: GatorPitch Miami has always been an opportunity for University of Florida-affiliated startups to get in front of South Florida’s vibrant investor and entrepreneurial ecosystem. For this year’s event on Nov. 5, UF Innovate is opening the opportunity to pitch to Florida-affiliated companies. Find out more here and apply here by Sept. 4.
ICYMI – Catch up!
- Recent startup fundraises: HealthSnap raises $25M to turn its AI promise into a growth engine
- Maximum lands $30M on the thesis that banks need more than an AI upgrade
- Exit news:Space-Eyes takes aim at a $638 million public debut
- OpenFX acquires Global Ledger, taps Novo co-founder to build multi-currency accounts
- VC news: Florida Funders’ newest pre-seed strategy bets that the first check can keep founders home
- Align Ventures closes oversubscribed $125M Early-Stage Fund II
- Recent spotlights:Building tech unicorns: Lessons from OpenFX’s Harrison Mann, especially keep customer-focused.
- ImaageQ wants to give homebuyers a better view of the future
- AI-powered Alpha School’s afternoons are for building life skills and that’s what sets it apart. No teachers.
- The water aisle is about to get a breath of fresh A1R
- Boatwork wants to transform South Florida’s $18.5B marine industry
- And much more paywall-free #MiamiTech news here!
Have news to report? Email Nancy Dahlberg at nancy@refreshmiami.com 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
- Author
- Recent Posts
Nancy Dahlberg
I am a writer and editor with extensive media experience and a passion for journalism and serving the community. Most of my career has been spent with the Miami Herald in business news, and my expertise is writing about tech and entrepreneurs. I love hosting this blog for Refresh Miami and we aim to be the go-to site for South Florida startup and tech news, features and views. Have news? Contact me at ndahlbergbiz@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!
Latest posts by Nancy Dahlberg (see all)
- 10+ things to know in #MiamiTech: loanDepot bring tech jobs, plus news from Mark43, PowerUs, Longeveron, Scale2Miami, OutRival, Research Park at FAU, Ondas, Florida Chamber & more- August 14, 2026
- OpenFX acquires Global Ledger, taps Novo co-founder to build multi-currency accounts- August 7, 2026
- Wayy bags $2M pre-seed to become an AI-powered sales co-founder for entrepreneurs- August 3, 2026
