Raul Moas has been selected as the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s Miami program director. He starts in his new post March 1.
Moas, already a civic leader and social innovator, will lead Knight’s initiatives in Miami, which are primarily focused on the arts and entrepreneurship. He will take the reins from Chris Caines, who served as interim director since Matt Haggman resigned last year to run for U.S. Congress in House District 27.
Moas is currently managing director of AGP Miami, an angel investor network that brings together early-stage investors to support South Florida's most promising tech startups, a leadership role he assumed in 2016. In the last four years, AGP has grown to nearly 100 active investors and has made more than 24 investments in South Florida companies totaling more than $7 million.
Before joining AGP, Moas was executive director for Roots of Hope, an international nongovernmental organization focused on youth empowerment in Cuba where Moas led the creation of programs such as StartUp Cuba. Maos is also a member of the Global Shapers Miami Hub, the young professional arm of the World Economic Forum, and was a member of Class VIII of The Miami Foundation's Miami Fellows program.
“Raul has a strong track record supporting Miami’s innovators. His insight and commitment to this city will enable Knight Foundation to continue to invest in the people connecting and empowering the city’s burgeoning entrepreneurial community,” said Sam Gill, Knight Foundation vice president for communities and impact, in a news release.
Moas, who has also been a tax associate at global consulting firm EY’s Miami office, earned a Master of Science in taxation and a Bachelor of Business Administration at the University of Miami, and is a licensed CPA in Florida.
"As a Miami native, I am especially thrilled to be joining Knight Foundation in realizing our city's potential to be a global hub where exceptional people and ideas thrive,” said Moas, in a statement. “We are a complex and dynamic community, full of incredible entrepreneurs, artists and civic leaders, who are all eager to build a better Miami. I look forward to advancing this goal together.”
In the last five years, the Knight Foundation under Haggman's leadership has made building and supporting an entrepreneurial ecosystem an important focus of Knight's work. Knight has made more than 200 investments in entrepreneurship organizations and projects. It has funded the launch of organizations such as Endeavor Miami, the Miami Dade College Idea Center, LaunchCode Miami, StartupBootcamp Digital Health, Blacktech Week and AGP Miami.
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