Marc Blumenthal

Marc Blumenthal is a serial technology entrepreneur, investor, and ecosystem builder based in Tampa Bay. He founded Progressive Business Solutions in 1985 and grew it from a startup into a leading computer-systems integrator generating nearly $20 million in annual revenue before selling it to ePartners. In 2000 he acquired Intelladon, a Tampa-based producer of e-learning courseware and talent/learning-management solutions, building it into a leading online learning provider before selling it to Tribridge in 2013. He then served as a Business Development Director at Tribridge from roughly 2013 to 2017. He holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from the University of South Florida.

Blumenthal has been a General Partner at Florida Funders since June 2015. In 2018, alongside longtime tech founder and investor Tom Wallace, he helped transform Florida Funders from a crowdfunding platform into a full early-stage venture capital firm. Their thesis was direct: talented Florida entrepreneurs were building promising startups but often had to leave the state to raise early-stage capital, so Florida Funders set out to mobilize Florida's wealth to invest locally and turn the "Sunshine State" into a "startup state." The firm reports 100+ portfolio companies, a network of 2,000+ accredited investors, and roughly $300M in assets under management.

Beyond his investing, Blumenthal is a prolific community builder. He is a founder and board member of Synapse Florida, a nonprofit that runs one of the state's largest innovation summits and works to connect and strengthen Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem. He has also served on the boards of the Tampa Bay Technology Forum and Metropolitan Ministries, reflecting a career built as much on ecosystem development as on individual deals.

• Invests in early-stage (pre-seed through Series A) technology companies, with a strong preference for B2B/SaaS businesses tied to Florida.
• Prioritizes founder quality above all — he looks for founders who "focus on the fundamentals": avoiding waste, hiring top talent, and keeping realistic financial projections, especially in tough markets.
• Takes a deliberately long-term view, noting that early-stage investments won't return capital until well after current market conditions shift.
• Believes downturns are an opportunity, not a reason to sit out: "Many companies fail during economic downturns because investors believe such occasions are not conducive to success," yet informed investors can find value when others retreat.
• Emphasizes portfolio diversification (spreading capital across many startups rather than concentrating) and emotional discipline — successful VCs "do not allow themselves to grow deterred by struggles or unexpected snags."
• Open to emerging technology areas — he has publicly discussed how Florida Funders approaches blockchain and the firm maintains a dedicated cybersecurity advisory board.