FirstMile Ventures

FirstMile Ventures is a dynamic venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage technology investments. Notable portfolio companies include Section, CaliberMind, and Pax8, which recently achieved unicorn status. They focus on sectors such as enterprise software, developer tools, big data, and marketing technology (MarTech). Geographically, FirstMile is based in Colorado, with a strong presence across the United States, including active investments in Texas and Colorado. Their investment strategy is centered on being the first institutional investor, providing crucial early-stage funding typically ranging from $1M to $5M, and guiding startups to achieve product-market fit before Series A rounds. FirstMile avoids startups that have already raised over $2M, ensuring they invest at the optimal early stage for growth impact. The firm is co-led by Bill Miller, who founded FirstMile in 2014 to address the lack of early-stage funding in Colorado, and Aaron Stachel, who joined in 2013 and has a keen eye for emerging opportunities in healthtech, fintech, and logistics. Zaz Floreani, based in Austin, brings extensive experience from Next Coast Ventures, enhancing their investment footprint in Texas. FirstMile Ventures prides itself on a hands-on approach, providing not just capital but strategic support to help startups navigate their critical first mile. They prefer direct outreach from founders, emphasizing personal connections and a clear understanding of market needs and product potential. This proactive engagement ensures they build a robust investment funnel and foster strong, growth-oriented partnerships.