Router Ventures

Router Ventures is a Midwest-focused venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in Omaha, Nebraska at 1905 Harney Street. The fund invests at the seed stage in startups located in the Midwestern United States, positioning itself as a collaborative capital partner that leverages authentic, strategic relationships to advance founders beyond their home communities. The firm was founded and is managed by Jeff Slobotski, a nationally recognized entrepreneur and investor who previously launched Silicon Prairie News -- a digital media and events company covering the Midwest startup scene -- and organized Big Omaha, the flagship regional startup conference. Router Ventures connects portfolio founders with resources, talent and expertise via business strategy support, introductions to coast-based investors and national marketing and public-relations assistance. The fund draws its LP base primarily from coastal investors, with Slobotski working to expand Midwest LP participation as the firm matures. Across roughly 11 disclosed portfolio companies, notable names include High Alpha Studio, the Indianapolis-based venture studio, and Local Crate, which received a Seed VC-II investment in April 2018. Betterview, a property intelligence platform, was the portfolio's most recent exit in December 2023. Router Ventures reflects Slobotski's conviction that the Midwest produces exceptional founders who are systematically undercapitalized relative to their coastal peers. By providing seed capital alongside network access to national investors and media, the firm bridges the gap between Midwest entrepreneurial talent and the broader US venture ecosystem. Slobotski also serves concurrently as Entrepreneur in Residence at High Alpha in Indianapolis, deepening the firm's connections to one of the region's most active startup studios.