Tech Square Ventures

As a "first money in" investor, we support founders in gaining their first momentum. ROCKET FUEL We invest in DACH-based technology-driven B2B startups in pre-seed and early seed rounds. BIZDEV BOOST We catalyze your market entry with our network of more than 100 executives from Scale-ups, mid-sized and large enterprises. FAST-TRACK FUNDRAISING We streamline the communication with other Angel and VC investors for your current and future funding rounds. FAMILY ACCESS We multiply your social capital with access to our community of experienced founders, industry professionals and domain experts.

Founded in 2018 and based in Atlanta, GA, Knoll Ventures invests in Pre-Series A tech enabled B2B companies. In Spring 2022, we closed our second fund to support founders at the earliest stages of the growth process where we help drive value creation and increase the odds of success. Our‍ approach We lead or co-lead $500,000 to $3,000,000 investment rounds in B2B technology-enabled companies at the pre-seed, seed, and post-seed stages. We understand that no two early-stage companies take the same path from Point A to Point B, and we're adept at helping founders navigate their way. We look for passionate founders who see around corners, intimately understand customer pain points, and articulate a future vision that feels all but inevitable. Stage Expertise: By focusing on Pre-Series A companies, we've developed a unique perspective on the challenges encountered by founders at this stage. Whether starting a business or facing what feels like an insurmountable obstacle, we aspire to be the first call a founder makes when looking for actionable advice. Alignment: We align ourselves with founders through our deep knowledge of round objectives and a scalable investment structure, creating a dynamic where we win only if the founders win. Network: We make the right introductions at the right time knowing that meaningful connections during this critical stage in the growth process can dramatically improve a company's trajectory. Our impact Our commitment extends far beyond the dollars invested. We take a long-term perspective when partnering with founders to identify ways to add value beyond just writing a check. PRE-INVESTMENT Round Objectives Alignment of Interests Syndicate Construction POST-INVESTMENT Growth Strategy Execution Strategic Introductions Follow-On Fundraising

Building a company is hard. We’ve been there. And we want to make it easier. We join founders early on their journey and we stay by your side as you build, navigate the ups and downs, and go on to do great things. We’re a community of B2B SaaS experts, founders and operators here to support you every step of the way. Forum Ventures is the leading early-stage fund, program and community for B2B SaaS startups. Founded in 2014 as Acceleprise, we’re on a mission to make the B2B SaaS journey easier, more accessible and successful for early-stage founders, through pre-seed and seed-stage funding, high touch programming, corporate perks and introductions, and an active SaaS community. Forum For Founders, our pre-seed program, provides founders with $100k in funding and 15 intense weeks of talks, events, mentorship and 1:1 guidance focused on go to market and fundraising. Forum Seed, our seed fund, backs exceptional SaaS startups at the seed-stage both from within and outside of our pre-seed program. With over 250 portfolio companies, Forum founders have gone on to raise from NEA, Andreessen Horowitz, Uncork Capital, 8VC, Founders Fund, Menlo Ventures, Canaan, Bowery Capital, Susa Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, SV Angel, True Ventures and many more. Our private peer community for Innovation executives -- The Innovation Forum -- brings together like-minded intrapreneurs from all backgrounds to share best practices, insights, and advice, and support one another. In addition to our incredible peer community, members get access to industry trend reports, collaborative events, emerging technology, and startup introductions.

Our strategic alignment with AWS and cloud expertise provides unrivaled growth opportunities to early-stage businesses Our experienced management team has an intricate understanding of the challenges early-stage companies face at each stage of their journey. Our core value proposition is centered around a strategic alignment with AWS, complimented by our own in-house technical and commercial cloud expertise. This powerful combination provides unrivaled growth opportunities to early-stage businesses, transforming visions into reality. Our value proposition has been designed to offer value-added, programmatic services, encompassing the following areas: Technical: Access to a deep bench of cloud specialists who can be instantly deployed to help in areas such as information security, compliance, workload migration, cost and infrastructure optimisation, plus much more. Commercial: Enterprise go-to-market expertise and access to a carefully curated community of global Enterprise decision-makers. We go beyond surface-level Enterprise introductions to provide tangible growth opportunities through bespoke Innovation workshops. AWS Expertise: Underpinning the above is our in-depth knowledge of AWS teams, services, products, and programs, which foster the connections required for seamless growth.

We invest in the most ambitious and promising startups across all of New York State and in secondary markets across the Midwest. We focus on overlooked regions once home to the nation’s most resilient manufacturing centers and small businesses. We partner early with exceptional entrepreneurs confronting and solving core business challenges by building world-class, technology-enabled startups. We are entrepreneurs ourselves and seek founders as passionate as we are about changing the world through new business. We provide founders with capital, active counsel, mentorship and introductions to those in larger venture hubs, so their companies can grow. We identify talent, partners and investors to help young teams thrive, aiding them in their journeys and driving their regions forward. Our Philosophy We believe that creativity can come from anywhere. Overlooked industries can generate compelling opportunities for new businesses. Underestimated, solid industrial regions can host thriving and vital startup ecosystems. And regardless of background or location, entrepreneurs anywhere can succeed based on their abilities, passions and potential. Our Mission We aim to identify and support exceptional entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and encourage teams who may lack traditional access to capital and networks. We recognize startups need far more than capital to survive, scale and thrive. We help our startups elevate their operations to generate outsize returns. In doing so, we believe we are inspiring American cities of the future. Our Approach We are a returns-oriented fund that recognizes integrity and channels the power of community. From day one, we roll up our sleeves to have real conversations with our founders about what success could look like. We collaborate on all aspects of company growth - from recruiting senior talent, customers, and co-investors to providing general management support at every stage. Our Story We created Armory Square Ventures in 2014 out of one community’s desire to seed greater opportunities and jobs for those living in Upstate New York. We exist because a group of highly respected investors in Syracuse aspired to provide entrepreneurs with better access to funding and to return a sense of optimism to our region. As such, we invest in startup markets where we believe there may be untapped pockets of opportunity. It is an approach that has served our region. Over the past decade, our firm has catalyzed the creation of over 2,500 jobs here. We also value diverse views. Armory Square is enriched and nourished by individuals from a range of backgrounds, all of whom are passionate about uplifting and inspiring growth across America’s smaller cities. Our CultureStraightforward: Reputations matter, and honest communication is vital. We work hard to be the transparent, fair, and accessible partner that our entrepreneurs deserve. Results-oriented: We are proud of our work ethic, our track record, and our depth of expertise, which, dare we say it, is unparalleled for a firm of our size. We are methodical, analytical and passionate about affirming high standards. Collaborative: At ASV we make decisions as a team. We nurture real, long-term partnerships with our founders. We have been entrepreneurs ourselves and seek those who think deeply, in a structured manner, about building a business. Curious: Asking questions and constantly learning - that’s how we work. We have built our community of entrepreneurs, partners, investors, and local business leaders by seeking out those who share our close approach. Independent: Contrarian, ambitious thinking is central to who we are and what we appreciate. We honor diverse perspectives on our team and in our community. Accessible: We elevate and mentor entrepreneurs at every stage. We maintain an approachable ethic and strive to be clear and deft, always, in service to our companies and communities. Investment Criteria/FAQsWhat makes you any different from other VC firms your size? We are far more active in helping our startups scale. We also take a concentrated approach to investing in each company, deploying a much larger check at the earlier stages in a startup’s life cycle than other firms our size. At what stage do you invest? We focus on seed stage and Series A investments. We often provide the first round of institutional capital for startups operating across a range of industries, with a focus on B2B SaaS businesses for the most part. In the past, we have typically funded companies that demonstrated ongoing relationships with one or two large enterprise clients. What’s your target investment? Between $500K and $2M, initially, with considerable reserves for follow on investments.

We’ve spent our careers in the growth-stage software space and appreciate the importance of a company’s inflection point. With a dedication to the fundamentals, understanding of the software market and lessons learned in the operational trenches, we're focused on helping propel companies to the next level. People with perspective We’re powered by an energetic, collaborative community – a community made of the motivated people at PSG and the exceptional innovators who lead PSG portfolio companies. We find purpose together: by diving in, working as a team and capturing new opportunities. Built for growth We understand the unique opportunities and challenges of building a leading software company. With that foundation, we’ve built a tried and tested growth engine that helps software businesses unlock their full potential for growth, expansion and impact. A genuine partnership It’s in our DNA: building connections and trust with management teams. This collective effort forms the foundation that drives companies forward. Meet the businesses that we’re proud to call our partners and learn how their software is transforming industries.