TAMPA, and MIAMI, Fla. – February 2, 2024 –Florida Venture Education Foundation, a non-profit organization formed by the Florida Venture Forum to support the growth and development of entrepreneurs, announced today it has selected Steve Lux, co-founder and managing partner of Topmark Partners, as “Venture Investor of the Year.”
The Venture Investor of the Year award celebrates individuals and venture capital firms that have demonstrated exceptional fund performance, achieved high exit multiples for recent exits, and actively promoted entrepreneurship. Recipients are lauded for their efforts in fostering a thriving venture ecosystem, both within Florida and on a national scale.
Upon receiving the award, Steve Lux expressed his gratitude and reflections on his journey: “I am truly humbled to receive the Venture Investor of the Year award. This recognition not only honors my contributions but also shines a light on the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit that defines Florida. I am proud of what we’ve accomplished together in building a thriving venture ecosystem that supports innovation and growth across the state and beyond.”
Florida Venture Education Foundation Board Chair, Tim Cartwright, partner of Fifth Avenue Family Office and chairman of Tamiami Angel Funds, said, “Steve Lux’s selection as our Investor of the Year was a unanimous and clear choice. Steve’s longtime leadership of the Florida Venture Forum and years of dedication to Florida and its growing venture community are unmatched. We are all indebted to him and look forward to many more years of his leadership.”
Lux has been a Forum member for over 20 years and has served in multiple leadership roles with the organization. He chaired its selection committee – responsible for selecting 100+ companies every year to present at Forum events – for 17 years and is a three-time chair of the organization.
About the Florida Venture Forum: The Florida Venture Forum is Florida’s largest statewide support organization for investors and entrepreneurs, helping fast-growth companies connect with sources of capital from across the country. Since 1984 more than 2000 companies have presented at Forum events and have gone on to raise upwards of $16B in equity capital, producing billions more in economic value to Florida. The Forum’s 250+ members represent a “who’s who” of venture capital and private equity dealmakers, including equity and debt investors at all stages, as well as major law, accounting, and investment banking firms, and large corporates active in the innovation ecosystem. The Forum provides programs and programming statewide throughout the year in addition to hosting major annual conferences like the Florida Venture Capital Conference, the Statewide Collegiate Startup Competition, the Early Stage Capital Conference, and industry-focused events including aerospace and healthcare. For more information, visit: https://flventure.org/.
About the Florida Venture Education Foundation: The Foundation has been active since 2016. The Foundation’s mission is to drive participation from underrepresented communities in the Venture Ecosystem and create awareness of the Venture Ecosystem in Florida. It also supports education initiatives, data and research projects concerning Venture Activity and Impact on the state of Florida. For more information, visit: https://flvef.org/.
About Topmark Partners: Topmark Partners operates under the principle that trust is earned and built over long periods of time. We commit ourselves every day to finding new ways to support our portfolio companies through valuable relationships and thoughtful advice. We have spent decades developing an expansive network of entrepreneurs, strategic partners, and other critical members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem who can help accelerate the growth of our portfolio companies. Topmark Partners plays an active role in leading growth-stage investments, introducing other financial partners, potential customers, and identifying and recruiting talent. Serving as a trusted partner with management teams, we take a collaborative approach in sharing perspectives gleaned from decades of experience. We have participated in numerous investment transactions and have access to a wide network and deep knowledge base. We view it as a distinct honor to be able to partner with entrepreneurs to support their efforts in building highly successful businesses. For more information about Topmark Partners, please visit the Topmark’s web site, www.topmarkpartners.com.
