We back companies building innovative B2B SaaS products. We’re always in search of entrepreneurs pursuing bold solutions to complex problems.
Who we are
Passionate about supporting business growth in emerging venture markets
Since the fund’s launch in 2017, one of our guiding principles has been a desire to support entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds who often face unfair obstacles to obtaining institutional funding. Although only roughly 30% of US venture funding is allocated to companies based outside of California, Boston, and NYC each year, other cities contain no shortage of capable founders.
When we began searching for talent in our own backyard, we learned that the best companies are often found where you might least expect. Silicon Valley no longer holds a monopoly over entrepreneurial talent. We know that startups thrive in commonly overlooked regions which provide access to untapped markets and lower operational costs. Our portfolio companies are based in a wide variety of fast-growing venture markets, including cities like Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Toronto, among others.
What we look for
Strong, diverse teams building the future of B2B technology
When evaluating new investment opportunities, there are several key elements we value most highly. We like to work with scrappy, self-aware teams who are open to receiving feedback and guidance. We prefer to see some level of product-market validation in the form of contracted recurring revenues. We invest broadly in the B2B SaaS space, with particular interest in verticals including digital health, IT/development tools, industrial, human resources, marketing technologies, and more.
We weigh the merits of diverse leadership heavily when evaluating new investments. While we certainly always have room for improvement in our mission to support entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, we’re proud that half of our current portfolio companies are led by female and/or nonwhite founders.
We’re always eager to meet bold, driven teams who are creating disruptive technologies. Think that could be you? Please contact us.
How we help
A world-class Advisory Board and ongoing mentorship
The Grand Ventures team is supported in our efforts by our extensive Board of Advisors. The board consists of over 50 of the fund’s LPs. Our advisors have extensive experience building successful tech companies - including the likes of US Robotics, Hagerty, Monster.com, and Facebook – and they are always eager to share their learned lessons with our portfolio CEOs.
We get excited about supporting founders through the earliest, most challenging stages of building successful businesses. We often provide the first institutional check to companies and remain actively engaged as needed to promote growth and strategic focus. We’re ready to roll up our sleeves and help with everything from customer introductions to leadership coaching to sales and culture development. But don’t just take our word for it-- you can ask our CEOs.