Next Coast Ventures

Next Coast Ventures, established in 2015 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, focuses on investing in high-growth startups located outside traditional coastal tech hubs. The firm targets early-stage investments, particularly in emerging platforms, enterprise solutions, and consumer-focused businesses. Notable companies in their portfolio include Everly Health, Enboarder, and Diligent Robotics, reflecting their commitment to innovative and transformative technologies. Next Coast Ventures employs a thematic research approach, identifying key investment themes rather than focusing on specific sectors. This allows them to partner with "glass-eating" entrepreneurs—founders who are resilient and driven to build category-defining companies. Their investment strategy is characterized by active involvement, with partners often taking board seats and providing strategic guidance to help portfolio companies scale rapidly. The firm has made 159 investments to date and has successfully exited several companies, including Stoplight and AlertMedia. Founders Michael Smerklo and Thomas Ball lead a team of experienced investors who bring deep industry knowledge and a hands-on approach to their portfolio companies. Startups seeking to partner with Next Coast Ventures should demonstrate strong growth potential and alignment with the firm’s thematic investment focus. The firm’s recent investments, such as in Diligent Robotics and Everly Health, showcase their interest in companies that leverage technology to solve significant problems in healthcare, enterprise software, and consumer markets​.