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Tech, Capital & Ecosystems — A Talk with Richard Munassi MD MBA
about dr. munassi
Richard Munassi MD MBA is a serial entrepreneur and investor and speaker. He has spoken at some of the largest technology conferences in the world, including Collision Conference in Toronto, Web Summit in Vancouver, SXSW, HLTH, Vive, CES, Amazon re:Invent, FIME/WHX Miami, Venture135, Third Coast Venture Summit, Florida Venture Forum, and more
As Managing Director, Dr. Munassi leads both the CORE and Accelerator programs for the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Wave, helping software and hardware startups from throughout the US and abroad build, launch, and grow their technology companies.
His background includes time with NASA as part of their iTech program, as Entrepreneur in Residence for Techstars, the University of South Florida (where he was also Adjunct Professor for the Graduate School of Business), and the University of Florida, and mentor for programs such as FedTech, UCSF’s Health Hub, MassChallenge and Founder Institute.
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talks that move ideas forward
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The Zero-to-One Mindset
Unlocking early-stage momentum: What founders need to know about product, positioning, and pace.
A can did look at what it really takes to move from idea to traction. This talk breaks down the early decisions that define startups—how to prioritize what to build, find clarity in your positioning, and build momentum before scale.
Conviction Over Consensus
A practical lens on evaluating early-stage startups before traction.
Great early-stage investments often don’t look great—at least not yet. This talk explores how to underwrite teams and ideas at the edge of clarity, how to distinguish signal from noise, and why conviction-based investing still wins in the long game.
Ecosystem as Infrastructure
Building environments where ambitious founders can actually thrive
Too many startup ecosystems chase hype without foundations. This session explores what Accelerators and programs can do to build long-term value: from mentorship and capital access to founder mindshare and real-world outcomes.
I believe the best companies are built by founders who are deeply connected to the problems they solve. I fund teams who understand their market intimately and move decisively to build lasting, scalable solutions, primarily at Pre-Seed and Seed stages
Sectors of Interest
I’m particularly excited about sectors undergoing rapid transformation and requiring urgent innovation
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Cybersecurity
Defending the digital frontier with smarter, adaptive infrastructure
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HealthTech
Empowering patients and providers through meaningful technology
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FinTech
Reimagining access, transparency, and efficiency in financial systems
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AI
Building practical, ethical, and domain-specific intelligence tools
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B2B SaaS
Streamlining complexity in the enterprise stack with purpose-built platforms
If you're a founder at the earliest stage, building something bold in one of these areas — or if your mission falls just outside the lines but the problem is real - I'd love to hear from you
Practical Guidance for StartupsAcceleratorsEmerging Funds
Dr. Munassi works closely with founders, Accelerator teams, and early-stage funds to provide hands-on guidance, strategic clarity, and real-world perspective. Whether as a formal advisor or a behind-the-scenes sounding board, he helps high-potential teams make smarter decisions—faster.
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Accelerator Consulting Accelerator Consulting
Dr. Munassi partners with Accelerators and venture studios to evaluate and evolve their curriculum, mentor networks, founder selection processes, and post-program support. The goal: deliver real value to startups, not just structure.
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Startup Strategic Consulting Startup Strategic Consulting
From refining go-to-market strategies to preparing for fundraising, Richard supports startups at critical inflection points—offering sharp outside perspectives on product, growth, capital strategy, and hiring.
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University and College Consulting University and College Consulting
Dr. Munassi works has worked with multiple universities across the world in standing up innovation programs, securing partnerships, establishing innovation curriculum, and helping with tech transfer to maximize licensing and acquisition and spinout opportunities.
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Strategic Advisory Roles Strategic Advisory Roles
Dr. Munassi selectively takes on strategic advisory roles with teams he believes in—offering consistent input on key decisions and acting as a bridge to capital, customers, and talent. These relationships are built on trust, alignment, and real contribution.
