Motivate Venture Capital

Motivate Venture Capital (Motivate VC) is a forward-thinking seed-stage investment firm known for backing ambitious founders tackling significant problems with high-growth potential. The firm has invested in notable startups such as Aucto, a marketplace for industrial equipment, and Dyania Health, which leverages AI for clinical research. They primarily focus on sectors including fintech, AI, SaaS, and industrial automation. Geographically, Motivate VC is based in the United States with a strong presence in major innovation hubs like New York and Chicago. They are early-stage specialists, often being the first institutional money in with average check sizes ranging from $250K to $750K for pre-seed and $1.5M to $3M for seed investments. Motivate VC does not target specific ownership percentages but typically aims for 10-15% equity at the seed stage. Motivate's investment strategy is built on supporting founders with strong domain knowledge and providing them with not just capital, but also connections and strategic support. They value early signs of product-market fit and favor startups with unique competitive advantages. Founders are encouraged to approach them through their extensive network, emphasizing warm introductions from co-investors and entrepreneurs they trust. The team at Motivate VC includes experienced professionals like Jackson Bubala, who focuses on fintech and enterprise software investments, bringing a wealth of knowledge from his time at Manifold Group. The firm's culture is entrepreneurial, aiming to balance active support with allowing founders the space to lead their ventures effectively.