OneSixOne Ventures

1.61 is known as the golden ratio — naturalists claim it is the most efficient ratio for growth to occur. Inspired by the ratio, we are building a community for startups to grow organically and efficiently. Pablo Casilimas and Justis Mendez met at the University of Florida in 2016, where they recognized a significant gap in early-stage capital across Florida. Despite UF’s robust talent pool—over 60,000 students and 13,000 engineers—resources for learning how to build startups and secure funding were scarce. Witnessing many talented peers leave the state to pursue their ventures elsewhere, they took action by hosting meetups, workshops, and roundtables to strengthen the local startup ecosystem and support founders. By 2020, OneSixOne had become the hub for the largest startup events between Orlando and Atlanta. When the pandemic shifted the world to virtual, they adapted by launching a Zoom-based accelerator, helping 40+ startups raise over $13M in just two years, with one startup being acquired. In February 2022, OneSixOne Ventures launched its flagship fund, focusing on early-stage startups in AI and cloud infrastructure, dual-use technology, and standout founders across industries. Today, OneSixOne Ventures manages over $4M in assets with a portfolio of 15+ active companies. The firm continues to build communities through curated events, hosting 150+ gatherings across 8 cities and connecting over 6,000 founders, tech leaders, and investors.