You Belong Series: Demystifying Venture Capital
Demystifying Venture Capital: A Conversation with Investors
Join us for an insightful evening as we pull back the curtain on the world of venture capital. Our panel of seasoned investors will share how venture funding really works, what they look for in founders and the pros and cons of taking venture dollars. We’ll also explore career paths into VC -- offering tips, stories, and advice for those curious about breaking into the industry. Whether you’re a founder, operator, or aspiring investor, you’ll leave with practical insights, real stories, and a clearer path to engaging with VCs.
Parking: PayByPhone street parking available on surrounding streets. There is also a parking garage in the WeWork building. We highly recommend using a ride-share service.
Please note: While we greatly appreciate our male allies, we prefer to keep these events to women only. Thank you in advance for respecting this policy and we hope to see you at one of the other Miami Tech happy hours!
About Our Panelists:
Dami Osunsanya, GP, Athena Capital
Dami is GP at Athena Capital and former Partner, Co-Head of the SoftBank Opportunity Fund, where she helped launched and manages a $100M+ early stage and growth stage vehicle for tech enabled companies in the U.S. SBOF has invested in over 80 tech companies since 2020, including Quicknode, Squire, Paystand, 8Sleep, Mayvenn, Drift, CareerKarma, Praxis Labs, Noya, Atomic and Lendtable.
Maggie Vo, Managing Partner, Chief Investment Officer, Fuel
Maggie Vo, CFA, is a former global hedge fund manager with over a decade of experience in capital allocation, portfolio strategy, and risk management across both public and private markets. Since moving into venture capital, Maggie has been a driving force in scaling Fuel Venture Capital to over $550 million in AUM and creating Hedged Venture Capital, a pioneer approach that combines the active risk management discipline with the outsized return potential of private innovation investment. As Chief Investment Officer and Managing General Partner, Maggie leads the firm’s investment strategy and due diligence processes while actively supporting portfolio companies as a board member and strategic advisor. She has been recognized as one of Business Insider’s “26 Most Important VCs in Miami” and PitchBook’s “109 female founders and investors to know in 2025.
Stephanie Perez, Principal, Fin Capital
Stephanie is a Principal at Fin Capital, where she focuses on sourcing new investment opportunities and supporting portfolio companies. Stephanie brings a strong background in business development and strategy within the Financial Technology sector. Before joining Fin Capital, Stephanie was a member of JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate Development team, where she managed strategic partnerships. In this role, she led the execution of several key partnerships and created frameworks for sourcing, negotiating, and managing relationships across various business units. Previously, Stephanie also served as Head of Industry Strategy at R3, one of the pioneering enterprise blockchain software firms. At R3 she played a key role in driving R3’s expansion into new industry verticals and in launching its global partner program. Her earlier experience also includes roles in Global Strategy and Business Development at Verifone and on the Strategy Consulting team at MasterCard Advisors, the consulting division of MasterCard Worldwide. Stephanie holds a B.A. in Government from Harvard.
About Women in Miami Tech
Founded in 2016, Women in Miami Tech is a community of 3,000+ professionals focused on supporting and advancing women in the tech industry in South Florida. We host a monthly gathering to connect the community, as well as facilitate ongoing discussions, advice and support via our Telegram channel.
About City of Miami Department of Economic Innovation and Development
The Department of Economic Innovation and Development is an office within the City of Miami focused on improving the City's standard of living through the creation of jobs, support for innovation, increase in wealth, and an overall improvement in the quality of life.
About The LAB Miami
The LAB Miami is where Miami's most relentless founders, technical talent, and startup operators come to build. In the heart of Wynwood, our campus is designed for those pushing the edge of what's possible—with the infrastructure, community, and energy to accelerate real progress.
Terms and Conditions
RSVPing for this event constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded (Recordings) and to the use of the Recordings for editorial, advertising and promotional purposes in any media in perpetuity. You waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of the Recordings, including, without limitation, any claims for copyright infringement or for any fees for the use of these Recordings. You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, you should not enter the event premises. RSVPing for this event also constitutes your consent to receiving email communications after the event.