Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge
Legal & GovTech · Run by Miami-Dade Innovation Authority (MDIA), a nonprofit · Miami, FL
Every field is checked against a primary source where we can. How we verify.
The facts
All fields verified Sep 28, 2026- Terms model
- Equity for cashInvests cash in your company and takes equity (an ownership stake) in return.
- Investment
- $100,000 per selected company via an uncapped post-money SAFE, tied to a pilot with local government
- Equity taken
- Not publishedNonprofit launched in 2023 in collaboration with Miami-Dade County that runs Public Innovation Challenges: each challenge poses a problem from a county department or partner institution, and MDIA expects to select at least three companies per challenge for a target $100,000 investment, conditioned on the company testing its solution with local government or partner institutions. The FAQ says MDIA invests on standard terms through a modified Y Combinator post-money uncapped SAFE and is entitled to a full refund if a company voluntarily withdraws from the pilot. Selected companies must have a significant operational presence in Miami-Dade County for the pilot, which may require relocation; applying is free and companies from anywhere can apply. Past challenge topics include airport, port and transportation mobility, waste, emergency management and housing. Public Innovation Challenge No. 8, on water and sewer operations, closed July 25, 2026; no next challenge has been announced.
- Program length
- Not published
- Format
- Not published
- Location
- Miami, FL
- Cohorts per year
- Not published
- Cohort size
- at least 3 companies per challenge
- Stage focus
- early-to-growth stage companies with an existing product or MVP
- Sub-vertical
- govtech: investment plus pilots with Miami-Dade County departments (challenge topics rotate)
- Demographic focus
- Not published
- Backers
- Miami-Dade County
- Notable alumni
- Not published
Terms notes: Nonprofit launched in 2023 in collaboration with Miami-Dade County that runs Public Innovation Challenges: each challenge poses a problem from a county department or partner institution, and MDIA expects to select at least three companies per challenge for a target $100,000 investment, conditioned on the company testing its solution with local government or partner institutions. The FAQ says MDIA invests on standard terms through a modified Y Combinator post-money uncapped SAFE and is entitled to a full refund if a company voluntarily withdraws from the pilot. Selected companies must have a significant operational presence in Miami-Dade County for the pilot, which may require relocation; applying is free and companies from anywhere can apply. Past challenge topics include airport, port and transportation mobility, waste, emergency management and housing. Public Innovation Challenge No. 8, on water and sewer operations, closed July 25, 2026; no next challenge has been announced.
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Terms in plain English
MDIA invests a target of $100,000 in each company it selects through an uncapped SAFE, and the investment is tied to running a pilot of your solution with a Miami-Dade County department or partner institution. If a company voluntarily withdraws from the pilot, MDIA is entitled to a full refund of the investment. Applying is free, but selected companies must set up a real operating presence in Miami-Dade for the pilot.
Who this is actually for
Early-to-growth stage companies with a working product or MVP that fits one of MDIA's challenge topics, which have ranged from transportation and port logistics to emergency management, housing and water and sewer operations, and that want local government as a pilot customer. Companies from anywhere can apply if they can operate in Miami-Dade during the pilot.
Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge application deadlines
Frequently asked questions
- When is the next Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge application deadline?
- A specific application window for Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge is not yet published. Timing is expected but not confirmed.
- How much does Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge invest?
- Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge lists an investment of $100,000 per selected company via an uncapped post-money SAFE, tied to a pilot with local government.
- How much equity does Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge take?
- Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge does not publish the equity it takes, so we record it as not published.
- Where is Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge located and is it in person?
- Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge is based in Miami, FL.
- Is Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge still active?
- As of our last check on Sep 28, 2026, Miami-Dade Innovation Authority Public Innovation Challenge is active.
Compare this program
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Sources
Everything above was checked against these, verified Sep 28, 2026.