November brings three key dates for business owners and entrepreneurs in South Florida: an investors' summit in Brickell, a small business fair in Wynwood and the national local shopping campaign on the last Saturday of the month.
Venture Capital Summit in Brickell: November 12
The Miami Finance Forum (MFF) and the Florida Venture Forum (FVF) are jointly hosting the 2026 Venture Capital Summit on Thursday, November 12, from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., at DUA Miami (Autograph Collection), George Ballroom, 1300 South Miami Avenue, Brickell.
The event expects to surpass 200 attendees —venture capital investors, entrepreneurs, family offices, and financial professionals— compared to the approximately 180 who participated in the previous edition.
The evening begins with a networking reception and continues with a panel moderated by Richard Montes de Oca, shareholder of Buchanan and president of the MFF, who previewed: "Investors and entrepreneurs face important questions regarding valuations, access to capital, and the prospects for new investments. We have assembled a panel of experienced individuals to examine these topics from the investor's perspective."
The four panelists are Nate DaPore (founder and general partner of Roo Capital), Junior Gaspard (principal of Fulcrum Equity Partners), Dana Sadovnic Hamaui (principal of Radian Capital), and Jonathan Kilman (general partner of Govo Venture Partners).
The registration fee is 75 dollars for MFF members, 105 dollars for non-members, and 50 dollars for eligible startup founders. Registration is available on the official Miami Finance Forum portal. The main sponsor is Buchanan.
"Florida has become one of the most dynamic markets in the country for venture capital and entrepreneurship," noted Kevin Burgoyne, president and CEO of the Florida Venture Forum.
Crafts and small business fair in Wynwood: November 20 to 22
From Friday, November 20 to Sunday, November 22, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Mana Wynwood Convention Center (318 NW 23rd Street) will host the 2026 Miami Makers Market & Small Business Expo, organized by Greenway Arts Alliances. Admission for the public is free.
The event aims to bring together artisans, local manufacturers, specialty food vendors, and small businesses in a three-day in-person market.
Important warning for vendors: the contact for requesting exhibitor space is a personal Gmail account, and the event does not appear on the official schedule of the venue for fall 2026. It is advisable to verify directly with the Mana Wynwood Convention Center before making any participation fees.
Small Business Saturday: November 28
On Saturday, November 28 —the day after Black Friday— Small Business Saturday is celebrated, a national campaign created by American Express in 2010 to encourage shopping at local brick-and-mortar businesses.
In Miami-Dade, the next confirmed event is "Small Business Saturday by Elevate Local Shops," at 11:00 a.m. at The Doral Yard (Doral/Medley).
Businesses that want to take advantage of the campaign can register on the Shop Small map from American Express —it is necessary to accept Amex cards; changes may take up to three days to reflect— and download free promotional materials in English and Spanish, including posters and social media content.
In October, American Express also announced a $5 million Shop Small grant program for 2026, which participating businesses can apply for.
Entrepreneurs seeking additional support can consult the free advisory services from the City of Miami for permits and licenses, or the incentives of up to $50,000 from the Miami DDA for businesses in the Downtown and Brickell area —provided they apply before signing any lease agreement.
Related videos:
Filed under: