About this programme
The Public Innovation Challenge is the Miami-Dade Innovation Authority's (MDIA) main program for getting new technology into county government use. MDIA transforms how municipalities pilot, procure and scale emerging technology, bridging private innovators and the public sector to fast-track adoption of solutions for pressing urban issues.
MDIA launched in 2023 with an equal match of private, public and philanthropic funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin, and Miami-Dade County.
Each challenge is built around a specific county problem, and companies must work in one of five focus areas: Health, Housing, Risk & Resilience, Mobility, or Digital Services. Challenge No. 8, the current round, focuses on optimizing water operations in Miami-Dade County, in partnership with the county's Water and Sewer Department, environmental agencies and academic institutions. Past challenges have covered sargassum seaweed repurposing, airport passenger experience, cargo visibility at PortMiami, transportation visibility, waste diversion, emergency management, and housing access.
How it works
MDIA's process runs in three stages: discovery, where it sources private-market solutions through public challenges tied to a specific county problem; market validation, where it supports growth-stage companies through equity investments and facilitates product and technology testing with local institutions and government; and growth, where it aligns public and private resources to help companies win procurement and commercial contracts.
MDIA invests $100,000 per selected company, structured as a modified Y Combinator uncapped post-money SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) note, with most-favored-nation (MFN) provisions and a side letter. Funds can be dispersed across multiple payments through the pilot process, with a typical payment turnaround of net-30 days.
MDIA anticipates selecting at least three companies per challenge for the $100,000 investment, which is contingent on the company completing the pilot. Selected companies get pro-rata rights in future equity rounds, consultation rights on significant matters, board observer rights, and information access; if a company voluntarily withdraws from its pilot, it must fully refund the investment.
Who can apply
A startup must propose a technology pilot that addresses the current challenge topic (currently water operations in Miami-Dade County) in partnership with county government, and must work in one of MDIA's five focus areas: Health, Housing, Risk & Resilience, Mobility, or Digital Services.
The company must have an actual functioning product or service that is ready to test, not just an idea. It must be a legally registered for-profit entity that owns all the intellectual property used in the challenge, and must be a Delaware C Corporation, or convert to one, if selected.
MDIA staff and board members, their immediate family, and companies producing cannabis products are not eligible.
MDIA is explicit that submitting an idea by itself is not an application for funding; investment only happens through the official open challenge process.
How to apply
- Watch for an open challenge on the current topic and respond through MDIA's official challenge process; there is no application fee.
- Applications go through three review rounds over 8 to 10 weeks: an eligibility review, an application review and finalist selection, and finalist interviews leading to winner selection. A video demo is encouraged but not required.
- Applicants may apply to multiple challenges at once if their solution fits each challenge's scope. All applicants receive an email notification of their acceptance status.
- Alternatively, submit a topic idea through MDIA's 'Propose A Challenge Topic' form, though this is separate from, and not itself, an application for funding.
Frequently asked
Can I just submit an idea to MDIA and get funded?
No. MDIA states that submitting an idea is not an application for funding; investment happens only through its official open challenge process tied to a specific topic, and you need an actual working product or service ready to test.
How much does MDIA invest, and on what terms?
MDIA invests $100,000 per selected company, through a modified Y Combinator uncapped post-money SAFE note with MFN provisions and a side letter, not a grant. It expects to select at least three companies per challenge.
What is the current challenge about?
Challenge No. 8 focuses on optimizing water operations in Miami-Dade County, run with the county's Water and Sewer Department, environmental agencies and academic institutions.
What happens after I'm selected?
You must establish a significant operational presence in Miami-Dade County, complete facilitated validation testing with local government and institutions, share performance metrics throughout testing, co-produce a results report within 45 days of the pilot ending, and give biannual updates on jobs and revenue.
How is MDIA funded?
It launched in 2023 with an equal match of private, public and philanthropic funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ken Griffin (Citadel founder and CEO), and Miami-Dade County.
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Reviewed 2026-09-25. Programmes change, so check eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private firm and is not part of any government body.