Levan Center enables members to grow their businesses in exciting South Florida innovation ecosystem

As an entrepreneur, having a strong community around you is more important than ever. The Levan Center is a hotbed of innovation. Our Broward-based facility is the central node connecting South Florida’s most ambitious, cutting-edge entrepreneurs.

We sat down with two of the Levan Center’s members to learn more about the benefits of being a part of our ecosystem.

Tara Kumar, Marketing Director at Validifi

Validifi is the leading provider of bank and payment data solutions. Earlier this year, they launched a new product, Fi Risk Index, which enables lenders to assess the risk associated with thousands of financial institutions and bank accounts by screening out the riskiest of leads while also driving positive decision-making for an auto-funded workflow.

Levan Center: What does being a member of the Levan Center mean to you?

Tara Kumar: Being a part of the Levan Center community aligns with our mission to continuously innovate and our passion for collaboration. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring visibility to financial technology while also being able to collaborate and stay abreast of new and local likeminded companies. Due to Covid we had to reduce office space and so we have taken advantage of occupying office space here at the Levan Center. The Levan Center has enabled us to create space for our team to meet and collaborate in a fresh environment.

LC: How has being a member of the Levan Center helped grow your business?

TK: Being members of the Levan Center has allowed us to maintain a presence in the South Florida market as well as attract and retain talent. We believe it has been an added benefit conducting client meetings at the Levan Center, showcasing that we are at the forefront of cutting-edge technology.

LC: What are your thoughts on South Florida’s tech ecosystem?

TK: We are excited to contribute to the South Florida tech ecosystem. Watching the recent growth of financial technology in the area fuels our passion and mission to grow and innovate in this space.

Aurelia Edwards, Founder of Nailstry

Nailstry is an app-based fingernail sizing tool that leverages AI to simplify press-on nail shopping. The sizing tool is supported by a curated press-on nail marketplace and helps to reduce waste by eliminating the need for excess nails. Nailstry has garnered support from tech and beauty giants such as Apple, Meta and Unilever, and was also the top prize winner at the SPARK Hollywood 2022 Pitch Competition.

Levan Center: What does being a member of the Levan Center mean to you?

Aurelia Edwards: The Levan Center is a wonderland of resources, and it provides the perfect environment to foster innovation. Being a member of the Levan Center is empowering. We are all doing really great work here and I’m happy to be a part of a community that’s excited about what they do every day. Working in a creative environment with individuals who support and motivate each other is very important when you are navigating entrepreneurship.

AE: I also appreciate that the Levan Center is located in Broward County, and that it helps to stretch the tech community from Miami to Palm Beach. In the past, I traveled often to Miami to engage with the tech community, so I’m thrilled to have a place that’s a little closer to home.

LC: What are the benefits of the Levan Center for Nailstry?

AE: I am happy to say that I am a dedicated office member at the Levan Center. My private office is fantastic, and I’m able to cultivate a space that inspires my creativity and productivity. I usually work with my door open in order to remain connected with other coworkers in the center. The other benefit that the Levan Center offers is an extensive network of entrepreneurs, mentors and investors, as well as access to conferences and various industry events. Through connections made within these networks, I have been able to become more active in volunteering my time for youth mentorship – specifically for middle school and high school students.

LC: What are your thoughts on South Florida’s tech ecosystem?

AE: South Florida’s tech ecosystem is on fire. I’m so excited to see such bright minds coming together to build the next generation of innovation. The diversity that South Florida lends to the tech world will have a global impact in that it has created space for everyone to participate. Representation matters and founders who have traditionally been underestimated find the support they need here.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Levan Center? Learn more about our membership tiers here – or contact Gabriela Alvarado Blume, Director of Community Engagement, at [email protected].?