Energy & Utilities VC Funds

Treehouse Investments is a family-owned impact investment firm, established in 2013, with a strong focus on decentralized infrastructure solutions that address climate change and promote social equity. The company is committed to supporting sustainable business models that foster long-term change in critical areas such as energy, water, and waste systems. It specifically aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, empower women, and shift capital towards sustainable investments. Treehouse invests in both public and private entities, targeting companies that provide scalable solutions to environmental and social challenges. The firm tracks several key performance indicators, including greenhouse gas reductions, gender diversity in management, and alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas like gender equality and sustainable energy. With its roots in Puerto Rico, Treehouse has grown into a global player, backing innovative projects in emerging markets, such as off-grid solar power in Africa and wind projects in the U.S. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to both financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact​.

Tribe Capital, established in 2018, is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. The firm manages over $1.6 billion in assets, focusing on investments from seed to growth stages across various sectors, including technology and cryptocurrency. Tribe Capital employs a data-driven approach to identify and amplify early-stage product-market fit, aiming to invest in companies with the potential to become category leaders. Founded by Arjun Sethi, Jonathan Hsu, and Ted Maidenberg, Tribe Capital leverages the extensive experience of its founders, who have previously built and invested in notable companies like Facebook, Gusto, and Slack. The firm emphasizes a bottom-up investment strategy, aiming to be the best capital allocators by iterating rapidly and maintaining a strong focus on product-market fit. Tribe Capital's portfolio includes companies such as Carta, Relativity Space, Shiprocket, Kraken, and Bolt. The firm also has a strong presence in the cryptocurrency market, investing in projects like Berachain, Akash, and Cyberconnect.

TRIREC is a Singapore-based venture capital firm that focuses on decarbonization investments, aiming to combat climate change through technology-driven solutions. Founded in 2015 by Melvyn Yeo and Lawrence Wu, the firm has grown into a key player in climate-focused venture capital, with around $150 million in assets under management. TRIREC targets early-stage companies that are leading the way in decarbonization across five core sectors: food and agriculture, mobility, buildings, industries, and energy. The firm's investment strategy is focused on supporting breakthrough technologies that either reduce, prevent, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. They have backed over 20 companies globally, including notable startups like Aether Diamonds (which creates diamonds from carbon in the air), Green Li-ion (pioneering battery rejuvenation), and Xpansiv (a global exchange for ESG commodities). TRIREC primarily invests in Pre-Series A to Series B rounds and tends to take a minority stake in their portfolio companies, fostering long-term partnerships. They emphasize both financial returns and positive environmental impact, positioning themselves as leaders in the rapidly expanding decarbonization sector​.

Trousdale Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2018 by Phillip Sarofim and is based in West Hollywood, California. The firm focuses on investing in transformative companies across several sectors, including space and mobility, climate tech, consumer goods, and deep tech. Trousdale Ventures looks for companies with the potential to disrupt industries and create long-term societal impact, aiming to build "forever companies" that leave a lasting legacy. The firm's investment strategy is centered on supporting visionary entrepreneurs who tackle large-scale challenges and redefine industries. Some notable portfolio companies include Solugen, which is revolutionizing sustainable chemistry, and CesiumAstro, a leader in satellite technology. Trousdale Ventures also emphasizes collaboration with its portfolio companies, providing more than just financial backing by offering strategic guidance to scale their innovations. Trousdale is particularly active in sectors driving societal progress, such as space exploration, sustainable technologies, and health and wellness. The firm's mission is to shape the future by investing in companies that align with its vision of improving quality of life and driving innovation that transcends generations.

Trucks VC is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, specializing in early-stage investments in the future of transportation. The firm focuses on supporting companies that are innovating to make transportation more decarbonized, safer, and more accessible. Key sectors include autonomous vehicles, electric vehicles, and transportation software. Notable investments from Trucks VC include Joby Aviation, an air taxi service; Bear Flag Robotics, which was acquired by John Deere; and Roadster, an e-commerce platform for vehicle dealerships acquired by CDK Global. The firm also invested in nuTonomy, an autonomous vehicle software company acquired by Delphi, and Zendrive, a driver safety analytics company acquired by Intuit. The firm was co-founded by Reilly Brennan, Jeffrey Schox, and Kathryn Schox, who bring extensive experience in the automotive and venture capital industries. The team is dedicated to identifying and supporting startups that align with their mission to transform transportation. Trucks VC recently launched their Trucks Growth Fund to invest in later-stage rounds of their portfolio companies, continuing their commitment to fostering innovation in the transportation sector​.

True North Venture Partners is an American venture capital firm with offices in Phoenix, Arizona and Chicago, Illinois, focused on early-stage cleantech and sustainability investing. Founded in 2011 with an initial $300 million fund, the firm has grown into a perpetual holding company capitalized in excess of $700 million as of 2025, a structure that allows it to make indefinite long-term holdings and provide ongoing support to portfolio companies rather than operating on a traditional fixed-life fund timeline. True North invests mostly in early-stage companies, with cheques ranging from roughly $100,000 to $25 million, and concentrates on the energy, water, agriculture and waste sectors, targeting technologies that address critical sustainability challenges such as low-carbon energy infrastructure, abundant and safe water solutions, waste harvesting, and advanced fuels and chemicals, willing to lead. The firm's roots trace back to the founding and scale-up of First Solar, Inc., one of the world's leading alternative-energy providers. Its founder, managing partner and chairman is Michael J. Ahearn, who co-founded First Solar in 1999 and served as its CEO from 2000 to 2009; partner Matthew S. Ahearn focuses on cleantech and impact deal sourcing, having previously worked at BDT Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs. Notable portfolio activity includes the wastewater-treatment company Emefcy, acquired by Fluence Corporation in 2017, and the 2025 merger of portfolio companies Nanostone Water and Solecta into Acuriant Technologies. By operating as a perpetual holding company, True North backs energy, water, agriculture and waste innovation with patient, long-horizon capital.

True Ventures is a distinguished venture capital firm that has been a significant player in early-stage investments since its inception in 2005. The firm has invested $3.8 billion across over 350 startups, fostering innovation in sectors such as personal wellness, robotics, therapeutics, climate technologies, and ocean exploration. Notable investments from True Ventures include companies like Peloton, Fitbit, Blue Bottle Coffee, Ring, and Sweetgreen. These investments showcase their ability to identify and support high-growth startups across various industries. The firm typically invests in the seed and Series A stages, providing initial funding and reserving capital for follow-on investments. Geographically, True Ventures focuses primarily on the United States, with headquarters in Palo Alto and additional offices in San Francisco. Their investment strategy emphasizes partnering with visionary founders who are tackling significant problems and bringing innovative solutions to market. True Ventures aims to take a collaborative approach, working closely with entrepreneurs to guide their growth and development. The firm is led by a seasoned team of partners including Jon Callaghan, Tony Conrad, and Om Malik, who bring deep expertise and a strong track record in venture capital. Founders looking to connect with True Ventures should demonstrate a clear vision and a compelling value proposition that aligns with the firm’s focus on transformative technologies and impactful solutions. True Ventures is renowned for its active involvement in the startup ecosystem, often leading investment rounds and providing substantial strategic support to its portfolio companies, helping them navigate the complexities of scaling their businesses.

TRUMPF Venture is the corporate venture capital arm of the TRUMPF Group, the German high-tech machine-tool and laser manufacturer, established in 2016 and based at the company's headquarters in Ditzingen near Stuttgart. The unit invests globally in early-stage deep-tech startups whose technologies are complementary or adjacent to TRUMPF's core business, with a clear emphasis on photonics and laser technology, new laser concepts, optical systems, advanced and additive manufacturing, sensors and automation, connectivity and computing, electronics, quantum technologies and sustainability themes such as the circular economy and energy-conversion efficiency. TRUMPF Venture launched with an initial fund of around EUR 40 million and has since raised a second fund more than twice the size of the first. Cheque sizes typically run from roughly EUR 0.5 million to EUR 4 million for an initial investment, targeting a minority stake of between 5% and 25%, and the firm positions itself as an active, long-term partner that supports portfolio companies through subsequent financing rounds, willing to lead. Investment criteria centre on strategic fit, high innovation leverage and differentiation, an experienced management team and risk-adequate financial returns. The unit is led by Managing Director Dieter Kraft, a recognised corporate-venturing expert, and frequently co-invests, including a partnership with Unternehmertum Venture Capital. Notable portfolio companies span the quantum and photonics frontier, including Quside, kiutra, Q.ant and the optical gas-sensor startup Tunable AS, with around 28 investments made to date. By aligning its capital with TRUMPF's photonics and manufacturing expertise, TRUMPF Venture backs deep-tech founders building adjacent and complementary technologies.

Trust Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, that focuses on investing in startups tackling significant societal challenges in highly regulated industries. Founded in 2018, the firm has raised multiple funds, with its third and largest fund closing at $200 million. Trust Ventures primarily targets sectors such as clean energy, affordable housing, and quality healthcare, aiming to help startups navigate and overcome policy barriers that hinder innovation. The firm’s investment strategy is distinctive; it provides not just capital but also strategic guidance to help startups address regulatory challenges. This hands-on approach includes building relationships, developing strategies, and advocating for policy changes to level the playing field against larger, incumbent companies. Trust Ventures looks for startups with disruptive technologies that have the potential to solve pressing societal problems but are often stymied by outdated policies. Key team members include co-founders Salen Churi, who has a background in law and academia, and Brian Tochman, a seasoned entrepreneur and former private equity executive. Together, they leverage their expertise to support portfolio companies in achieving growth and navigating complex regulatory landscapes. Notable investments from Trust Ventures include companies like Sana Benefits, ICON, and Oklo, all of which are pioneering in their respective fields. The firm is dedicated to being an active partner, ensuring that their portfolio companies can reach their full potential and bring meaningful solutions to market.

Tsinghua Holdings Venture Capital Co., Ltd. is a Beijing-based venture capital firm founded in 2011 as a main investment arm of Tsinghua Holdings Co., Ltd., the wholly owned asset-management company of Tsinghua University. It serves as an important platform for Tsinghua University to industrialize its scientific and technological achievements, and is a professional enterprise engaged in the investment and management of hi-tech projects in their early and medium phases. The firm is committed to discovering and incubating prospective scientific projects that meet market demand, drawing on the deep experience accumulated by Tsinghua-related industries in information technology, energy and environment, and medical and health services. It sits within the broader Tsinghua Holdings investment ecosystem, which spans related vehicles and brands such as THG Ventures, the Tsinghua Science and Technology Park Incubator and Tus Ventures, as well as the larger growth-stage platform Tsinghua Holdings Capital. Across this ecosystem, focus verticals include advanced manufacturing, next-generation information technologies, decarbonisation and frontier technologies, alongside TMT, industrials and healthcare. The Tsinghua Holdings venture network has invested in roughly 205 companies, of which around 17 have completed IPOs and 38 have exited through M&A, reflecting a strong track record in early-stage technology investment and startup incubation tied to one of China's leading research universities. By industrializing university research and backing hi-tech projects in their early and medium phases, Tsinghua Holdings Venture Capital connects academic innovation with commercial scale across China's priority technology sectors.

TSVC, formerly known as TEEC Angel Fund, is a venture capital firm that specializes in deep technology investments. Founded in 2012, TSVC focuses on early-stage startups that leverage breakthroughs in science and engineering. The firm is based in Silicon Valley and has a strong track record of identifying and nurturing innovative companies. TSVC's portfolio includes notable investments in companies such as Quanergy Systems, a leading provider of LiDAR sensors and smart sensing solutions; Jasper Therapeutics, which develops novel therapies for hematologic disorders; and Valant, a behavioral health software company. The firm has been instrumental in helping these companies scale and achieve significant market success​​. The firm's investment strategy is centered on high-impact verticals, including enterprise SaaS, fintech, techbio, consumer tech, and crypto. TSVC aims to support founders with strategic counsel and hands-on expertise in areas like software engineering, data science, and quantitative modeling. This approach has enabled TSVC to build a diverse and robust portfolio of companies that are fundamentally transforming traditional industries​​. With over 100 companies in its portfolio, TSVC continues to drive innovation and support the next generation of entrepreneurs. The firm’s commitment to leveraging data science and computing advances positions it as a key player in the venture capital landscape, dedicated to fostering groundbreaking technologies and solutions​.

Twelve Below is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2021 and headquartered in New York, New York. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage, software-enabled businesses led by visionary founders. With a commitment to being the earliest believers in promising startups, Twelve Below seeks out companies that are building defensible technologies with the potential to disrupt their industries. The firm is led by Taylor Greene and Byron Ling, both of whom have extensive experience in the venture capital space, particularly within the New York City startup ecosystem. Their investment strategy is highly personalized, focusing on providing not just capital but also strategic support during the most formative phases of a company's development. This includes helping founders with critical tasks such as team building and strategic planning. Twelve Below’s portfolio includes a diverse range of companies, such as Accrue Savings, Odyssey Energy, and Croissant, spanning across fintech, productivity software, and other tech-driven sectors. The firm has a strong track record, with over 60% of its portfolio companies successfully raising follow-on funding. With nearly $160 million in assets under management, Twelve Below continues to actively seek new investments, particularly in companies that demonstrate a strong potential for growth and industry impact.

Twine Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, founded in 2021 by Leshika Samarasinghe. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in sectors like healthcare, climate tech, and financial empowerment, aiming to support mission-driven founders whose work ties purpose and profit. Twine invests primarily at the seed and Series A stages, offering check sizes ranging from $100,000 to $1 million. Their portfolio includes companies like Waltz Health, Rupa Health, and Alpha Grid, with a focus on leveraging technology such as AI and data science to drive improvements in healthcare and sustainability. Additionally, Twine is committed to diversity, with a strong emphasis on investing in ventures led by women and BIPOC founders. Twine operates with a hands-on approach, providing more than just capital by supporting founders with go-to-market strategies and scaling their companies through competitive fundraising.

Type One Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2019 and based in Malibu, California. The firm is deeply focused on investing in early-stage, seed, and Series A companies, specifically in sectors driving humanity toward technological advancement. These include space technology, robotics, AI, automation, and nanotechnology, with a mission inspired by the Kardashev Scale to help humanity progress toward a Type I civilization. Type One Ventures backs transformative companies such as Gravitics and Lunar Outpost, both leaders in space exploration and infrastructure. They also invest in groundbreaking ventures across diverse fields, including human longevity and the future of mobility. The firm typically takes a hands-on approach, offering not just capital but strategic guidance, leveraging a team of founders, operational experts, and technologists to support the long-term success of their portfolio. With investments ranging from space tech to human health and automation, Type One Ventures actively seeks visionary founders who are solving complex, high-impact problems. Their geographic focus is global, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, and they often co-invest with other major firms in the deep tech and space industries. Key members of the team include founding partner Tarek Waked and general partner Abdo John Hajj, both of whom drive the firm’s forward-looking investment strategy.

Uberis Capital is a Southeast Asia-focused impact investment firm supporting early-stage ventures that address critical social and environmental challenges. Founded in 2012, the fund emphasizes sectors like smart agriculture, renewable energy, water access, and gender equality. Based in Cambodia, Uberis Capital works closely with local entrepreneurs, offering both funding and technical assistance to help them scale. The fund's investment portfolio includes companies such as Azaylla, a Cambodian logistics firm promoting local food distribution, Tun Yat (Myanmar) in smart agriculture, and Wality (Vietnam), a clean water access startup. Uberis has achieved notable exits, including Wality to Danone and Sun-eee to TEPCO, highlighting its focus on social and environmental returns alongside financial growth. Uberis typically targets businesses with a clear impact on poverty alleviation, climate change, and women’s empowerment. Their investments range from $200,000 to $3 million, and they support ventures throughout their lifecycle, often collaborating with partners such as the UNDP and Toniic. The fund also runs the Uberis Impact Network (UIN), an angel investor network offering flexible investment opportunities to aligned impact investors​.

Übermorgen Ventures is a Zurich-based climate-tech venture capital firm founded in 2019, with an additional presence in London. The firm is dedicated to building a resilient, zero-carbon economy and invests at the earliest stages, predominantly pre-seed and seed, backing founders who treat climate as an opportunity to disrupt entire industries. It is agnostic across the climate-tech value chain, spanning novel science, deep-tech hardware and enabling software, with focus areas including clean energy, carbon capture and utilization, green transportation and mobility, sustainable agriculture and food technology, advanced manufacturing, resource efficiency and materials. Übermorgen typically writes initial cheques of CHF 0.3 to 1.0 million and reserves up to roughly CHF 2.0 million for follow-on rounds. The firm runs a distinctive semi-liquid, evergreen fund structure that enables long-term partnership with founders while offering flexibility to limited partners; it reached a first close of around CHF 55 million and in August 2025 launched a raise targeting CHF 75 to 100 million. Across roughly six years it has made around 49 investments, averaging about five new deals annually, with notable portfolio companies including Open Forest Protocol, Fermify, Companion.energy, Verna Earth Solutions and Ecair. The firm is led by a team of managing partners, co-founders Adrian Bührer, Alexander Langguth and Myke Näf, the founder of Doodle, alongside venture-capital lawyer Elena Walder-Schiavone, with Jonas Hornung as principal. Übermorgen backs climate founders as a hands-on, lead investor, combining early conviction with the patient capital its evergreen model allows.

The UCL Technology Fund (UCLTF) is a venture capital fund established in 2016 to commercialize cutting-edge research originating from University College London (UCL). Managed in partnership with AlbionVC and UCL Business, the fund focuses on investing in intellectual property arising from UCL's research in life sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. UCLTF plays a pivotal role in taking groundbreaking technologies from early-stage proof of concept through to commercialization, either via licensing or by forming spinout companies. With an emphasis on life sciences, the fund supports pioneering projects in areas such as gene therapy, oncology, and advanced materials. Notable investments include Orchard Therapeutics, a spinout specializing in rare disease gene therapies, and Bloomsbury AI, which developed natural language processing technology before being acquired by Facebook in 2018. The fund's portfolio is diverse, encompassing companies tackling global challenges like clean energy through firms such as Carbon Re, which is focused on decarbonizing heavy industries​. The fund’s mission is not only to support UCL's world-class academic research but also to deliver societal impact and substantial commercial returns. The first fund has seen impressive successes, including two Nasdaq IPOs and raising over £1 billion in external funding across its portfolio. Recently, UCLTF closed its second fund at £100 million, further strengthening its ability to back high-impact innovations in biotech, healthcare, and AI.

UL Ventures is the corporate venture investment and acceleration arm of UL Solutions, the Northbrook, Illinois-based global independent safety science company that has championed safety, security and sustainability for more than 120 years. Founded in 2017 by Simin Zhou, who also serves as UL Solutions' Global Head of Strategy, Development and Sustainability, the fund partners with entrepreneurs to foster innovation in emerging technologies and new markets that align with UL's mission. It backs early-stage digital and technology companies across healthcare, retail, manufacturing, supply chain, the built environment, energy and automotive sectors, looking for businesses whose products advance safety, security and sustainability and that can benefit from UL's deep technical expertise, testing capabilities and global customer network, typically as a strategic co-investor. Zhou and her team review close to 1,000 startups each year through conferences, networking and outreach, ultimately investing in only around 1% of the companies they meet, a highly selective approach that has produced a portfolio of roughly 21 investments. Notable portfolio companies include the healthcare-analytics startup KenSci; SkySpecs, which provides autonomous drone-based predictive maintenance and inspection for wind farms and raised an $8 million Series B alongside Statkraft Ventures and Capital Midwest; and Resilinc, a cognitive supply-chain risk-management platform that combines public-domain data with supplier intelligence to help customers manage disruptions. By pairing capital with UL's testing capabilities, technical expertise and global customer network, UL Ventures backs founders whose technologies advance safety, security and sustainability across critical industries.

Ultra Capital is a venture capital firm accelerating the transition to sustainable infrastructure by providing equity and growth capital to businesses with a track record of deploying proven solutions. The fund focuses on renewable energy, distributed generation, battery storage, EV charging, and fleet electrification. Ultra Capital invests in execution-oriented companies, filling a market gap for management teams that deliver scalable, impactful solutions. Their notable investments include EnviroSpark, which provides EV charging infrastructure, Aspen Power’s distributed solar solutions, and Palladium Energy, a solar and storage development firm. Ultra Capital's investments generally range below $50 million, with a hands-on approach to ensure long-term success. The team brings extensive operational experience, having previously worked as developers, operators, and financiers of energy and infrastructure assets. The firm is based in Philadelphia, and its team, led by key partners such as Kristian Hanelt, Tom Ferraro, and Mike Reynolds, has a collective 40 years of expertise in sustainable infrastructure finance and development. They provide capital not only for growth but also for specific asset deployment, ensuring that companies in their portfolio receive comprehensive support to scale. Entrepreneurs seeking investment from Ultra Capital should have a demonstrated ability to deploy practical, clean-tech solutions at scale. The firm values strong, execution-oriented management teams and offers strategic guidance and financial backing to take companies through key growth stages, partnering closely with founders to access deeper capital pools and strategic partnerships.

Ulu Ventures, based in Palo Alto, is a leading seed-stage venture capital firm with strong ties to Stanford and Silicon Valley. They focus on funding diverse entrepreneurial teams, particularly those led by women and minority founders. Ulu Ventures has made over 200 investments, with notable exits including Proterra, Taulia, and Blue River Technology​​. Their investment strategy is data-driven, aiming to reduce cognitive biases and systematically identify key drivers of risk and uncertainty. They invest in sectors such as enterprise IT, EdTech, FinTech, healthcare, and sustainability​ (Ulu Ventures)​. With an emphasis on diversity, 76% of their funded companies have diverse founders​​. The firm is co-founded by Miriam Rivera and Clint Korver, who bring extensive experience in entrepreneurship and venture capital. Ulu Ventures is recognized for its thoughtful and rigorous approach to venture funding, which has resulted in a portfolio that includes companies like Guild Education, Genesis Therapeutics, and Lex Machina​

Union Labs, founded in 2018 and based in San Mateo, California, is a deep-tech venture capital firm focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage investments. Co-founded by Nate Williams and Chris Kim, Union Labs primarily invests in startups tackling big challenges across sectors like robotics, AI/ML, IoT, and smart infrastructure. The firm aims to solve complex global problems through innovative technology, often working directly with founders to de-risk the journey to product-market fit. Union Labs has made 28 investments, with notable companies like Pico MES, which develops factory operations software, and Urban Machine, focusing on forestry processing. The firm incubates many of its companies, having initially grown out of Kleiner Perkins with backing from Google Ventures, allowing it to offer both financial and hands-on operational support. This approach ensures that its startups benefit from Union Labs' extensive network and expertise. Union Labs is committed to advancing deep-tech solutions that contribute to a smarter, more connected world.

Union Square Ventures (USV), a venture capital firm based in New York City, focuses on investing in early-stage technology startups. Their investment philosophy is centered on finding companies at the edge of large markets being transformed by technological and societal pressures. USV looks for new behaviors and business models enabled by technology, rapid experimentation, and broadening access to resources and opportunities. USV’s portfolio includes a range of notable companies such as Twitter, Etsy, MongoDB, and Twilio. They have invested across various sectors including social media, marketplaces, developer tools, health, fintech, web3, and climate tech. Their approach involves maintaining relatively small fund sizes and collaborating closely as a team to make investment decisions and support portfolio companies.

Unshackled Ventures, founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a venture capital firm dedicated to supporting immigrant entrepreneurs. The firm focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in technology and innovation sectors. Unshackled Ventures aims to provide not only capital but also visa support, enabling immigrant founders to build successful companies in the U.S. Their investment portfolio includes a diverse array of companies. Notable investments include Lily AI, which uses AI to improve retail personalization, and Pod Foods, a B2B marketplace for food brands and retailers. Other significant companies in their portfolio are Plantible Foods, a sustainable food company, and Career Karma, a platform helping people find jobs through bootcamps. Unshackled Ventures has made a total of 86 investments and has seen 17 exits, highlighting their effectiveness in nurturing startups to maturity. Their approach involves investing at the very earliest stages, often at "day zero," to help founders navigate the complexities of building a business from the ground up. The team is led by co-founders Nitin Pachisia and Manan Mehta, who are committed to leveraging their own experiences as immigrants to support other immigrant founders. Their mission is to unlock the potential of these entrepreneurs by providing the necessary resources, guidance, and community support to achieve their visions.

Untapped Capital is a venture capital firm based in Bellevue, Washington, founded in 2020 by Jessica Jackley and Yohei Nakajima. The firm focuses on pre-seed investments, targeting unexpected and often overlooked founders who are pioneering the latest technologies to build a more abundant future. Untapped Capital operates as a generalist VC, meaning they do not limit themselves to specific industries but instead invest across a broad spectrum, with a particular interest in companies driving innovation in climate tech, healthcare, and productivity software. The firm is known for its hands-on approach, running itself much like a startup to better understand and support the challenges faced by the founders they back. Untapped Capital has made 36 investments to date, with notable companies in their portfolio including Covalent, a leader in climate tech, and Mars Materials, which focuses on sustainable environmental solutions. Their investment strategy is centered around early-stage companies, often being one of the first institutional investors to commit capital. The team at Untapped Capital leverages their deep expertise and network to provide strategic guidance, helping their portfolio companies scale effectively. They have also developed a reputation for integrating cutting-edge AI tools and methodologies to enhance the growth and development of the startups they support. This innovative approach has made Untapped Capital a distinctive player in the venture capital landscape, particularly in supporting founders who might otherwise be overlooked by traditional VCs​.

UP.Partners is a venture capital firm dedicated to transforming the mobility sector. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, UP.Partners focuses on investing in groundbreaking technologies that improve the movement of people and goods. The firm targets early-stage ventures in various mobility sectors, including air, land, sea, and space. The fund's strategy emphasizes investment in enabling technologies, such as software for precise positioning, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and sustainable aviation fuels. UP.Partners' notable investments include Skydio, a leader in flight autonomy; Beta Technologies, which develops eVTOL aircraft; and UnitX, a manufacturing quality assurance platform. UP.Partners manages a $230 million venture fund and collaborates with major corporations like Alaska Airlines, ARK Invest, and Woven Capital, the investment arm of Toyota's Woven Planet Group. The firm also hosts the annual UP.Summit, a pivotal event for the mobility community, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to drive innovation in transportation. The firm was co-founded by aviation and technology entrepreneurs Ben Marcus and Cyrus Sigari, along with Adam Grosser, a veteran investor with a strong background in climate-focused companies. They are supported by a team of experts, including Ally Warson and industry leaders like Brian McClendon and Eric Hirshberg. UP.Partners seeks out bold entrepreneurs with innovative ideas that can transform mobility, aiming to make transportation cleaner, faster, safer, and more cost-effective. The firm provides not only capital but also strategic partnerships and resources to help startups scale effectively.

Upfront Ventures, founded in 1996 and based in Santa Monica, California, is a prominent venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments. With over $2 billion in total funds raised, the firm has supported more than 200 companies across various sectors, including digital media, SaaS, consumer internet, and retail innovation. Notable investments include well-known companies like PayPal Credit, thredUP, Apeel Sciences, and Ulta. The firm's investment strategy typically involves leading seed and Series A rounds, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and resources to help startups scale. They have a strong presence in the Los Angeles tech ecosystem, contributing to the growth of Silicon Beach. Upfront Ventures is also known for hosting the annual Upfront Summit, a major tech conference in Los Angeles that gathers industry leaders and innovators. Led by managing partners Yves Sisteron and Mark Suster, Upfront Ventures combines extensive industry experience with a commitment to transparency and long-term partnership with entrepreneurs. Their investments are global, with a focus on leveraging their strategic location in Los Angeles to support the thriving local startup scene. For startups looking to engage with Upfront Ventures, a clear demonstration of innovative solutions and strong market potential is key. The firm values introductions through its network and prefers pitches that align with its investment focus and ethos​.

UpHonest Capital, founded in 2015 and based in Santa Clara, California, is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments. They invest across various sectors, including consumer, enterprise, deep technology, and web 3.0, supporting companies from Seed to Series A stages. The firm has built a substantial portfolio, investing in over 400 companies, with 28 unicorns and 23 exits via M&A or IPO. Notable investments from UpHonest Capital include companies such as Checkr, an AI-based platform for employee background verification; Hims & Hers, a telehealth service; Rippling, a human capital management software; and Instacart, a leading online grocery platform. Other significant investments include Turing AI, Golden, and Substack. UpHonest Capital is known for its sector-agnostic approach and its active support for portfolio companies, often co-investing with major firms like Sequoia, Accel, and Andreessen Horowitz. The firm also emphasizes building a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurs and investors through initiatives like the UpHonest Scouts and Beta Fellowship programs.

Upper90, founded in 2018, is a hybrid investment firm based in New York City that provides a mix of credit and equity to technology startups. The firm focuses on e-commerce, fintech, and supply chain finance, offering capital solutions that enable founders to scale their businesses with less dilution. Upper90 has managed over $2.2 billion across 43 portfolio companies, supporting ventures like Thrasio, Clearco, Octane, and Crusoe Energy​. The firm's investment strategy involves leading with credit and participating in equity, with initial credit facilities ranging from $5 million to $30 million, scaling up to $50 million as companies grow. Upper90 targets companies with predictable revenue or asset collateral, allowing them to finance growth efficiently while retaining more ownership​. Upper90's team, led by co-founder and CEO Billy Libby, prides itself on providing operational support and strategic advice to its portfolio companies, helping them navigate complex capital challenges and optimize their growth strategies​.

Upside Partnership, founded by Kent Goldman in San Francisco, is a seed and pre-seed venture capital firm known for its early-stage investments in technology and software sectors. Some notable companies in their portfolio include Hims & Hers, Allbirds, and Life360, highlighting their ability to identify high-growth potential startups. Upside Partnership is industry-agnostic, focusing on purpose-built teams and companies with a strong vision and operational efficiency. They invest primarily in the U.S. market, often being the first institutional investor to commit, which allows them to shape the initial growth trajectory of their portfolio companies. Their strategy involves writing initial checks of around $500K, with 70% of their fund reserved for supporting founders in subsequent rounds. They place a high value on long-term partnerships and are known for their hands-on approach, guiding startups through their growth phases with a combination of mentorship and strategic advice. Kent Goldman, previously a partner at First Round Capital, brings extensive experience in early-stage investing. Christina Hunt, another key partner, has a strong background in both startup operations and venture capital, ensuring that Upside Partnership provides comprehensive support to its founders. This blend of expertise and a founder-first philosophy makes Upside Partnership a distinguished player in the venture capital space.

Urban Future Lab (UFL) is a premier climatetech innovation hub based in New York City. It supports startups developing sustainable technologies that address climate change and urban resilience. UFL operates five specialized programs, including the Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy (ACRE), Carbon to Value Initiative, Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, Innovate UK Global Incubator Programme, and Clean Start, providing comprehensive support to early-stage climatetech companies. Notable portfolio companies include Air Company, which converts carbon dioxide into sustainable alcohol; Amperon, specializing in real-time electricity demand forecasts; and NineDot Energy, focused on community energy solutions for a cleaner urban grid. These startups benefit from UFL’s robust ecosystem, which offers strategic guidance, industry connections, and access to funding opportunities. The Lab's mission centers around scaling impactful climate solutions, leveraging New York City's resources and financial networks to help startups commercialize their innovations. UFL has supported over 170 startups, securing more than $2.5 billion in funding and creating over 4,100 jobs. The organization boasts an 88% survival rate among its companies and has facilitated numerous successful exits. UFL’s strategic approach includes hosting over 100 events annually to foster community and collaboration among climatetech innovators. Founders gain valuable exposure and support through UFL's extensive network of corporate partners, government agencies, and non-profits dedicated to advancing sustainable technology. By fostering a founder-first culture, UFL ensures that startups receive the essential tools and mentorship needed to thrive in the competitive climatetech space, driving meaningful environmental impact while contributing to a resilient urban future​.

Urban Impact Ventures is a Dutch profit-with-purpose impact venture capital firm founded in 2020 and headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, operating with an international Bulgarian-Dutch team. The fund is on a mission to improve urban quality of life across Europe, blending capital with deep expertise in investing, innovation, impact entrepreneurship and sustainable urban development. It concentrates on two core themes within the urban environment, decarbonization and circularity, targeting the funding gap for the sustainable transformation of small and mid-sized cities and backing entrepreneurs who apply technology to urban infrastructure. Alongside attractive financial returns, the firm explicitly aims for a material net-positive contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and it backs innovative, scalable early- and expansion-stage businesses that accelerate the urban sustainability transition, generally as a co-investor. Urban Impact Ventures was founded by Hans van Houwelingen, former CEO of ACTIAM NV, a leading sustainable and impact asset manager with around EUR 65 billion in assets; its team of about 12, including three partners, also features venture partner Korstiaan Zandvliet, known for work on European liveability, social ventures and urban food solutions. Its first fund, UIV Fund I, targeted total commitments of EUR 30 million to roughly EUR 50 million. Portfolio companies include rooftop wind-and-solar energy firm IBIS Power, its most recent disclosed deal in August 2024, smart-mobility and fare-collection software company Modeshift, and hyperloop developer Hardt. By focusing on decarbonization and circularity in small and mid-sized European cities, Urban Impact Ventures backs the technologies improving urban quality of life.

Urban Innovation Fund, founded in 2016 and based in San Francisco, focuses on investing in early-stage companies that enhance the livability, sustainability, and economic vitality of cities. The fund supports startups at the pre-seed and seed stages across various sectors including transportation, climate tech, proptech, edtech, fintech, public health, civic tech, and food systems. Notable investments include Electriphi, a software company for electric fleet management acquired by Ford, and codeSpark, an educational platform teaching kids to code, which was acquired by BEGiN. Other significant investments are BookNook, a tutoring platform for improving reading skills, and Jeeves, a global payment network for small businesses that has recently seen its valuation rise to $2.1 billion. The fund, co-founded by Clara Brenner and Julie Lein, provides not only capital but also regulatory support to help entrepreneurs navigate complex urban challenges. Their portfolio reflects a commitment to tackling key issues facing urban areas today, from sustainable finance to community health.

Urban Us, now rebranded as Third Sphere, is a venture capital firm specializing in early-stage investments focused on urban innovation and climate solutions. Founded in 2013, the firm supports nearly 90 companies in sectors like real estate, infrastructure, energy, water, waste, food, transportation, and public administration. Notable investments include Bowery Farming, Starcity, One Concern, Future Motion, SeamlessDocs (now Kofile), Evolve Energy (acquired by Octopus Energy), and Rachio. The firm is known for its partnership with BMW’s MINI in operating URBAN-X, an accelerator program that helps startups innovate sustainable mobility and urban living solutions. URBAN-X has a portfolio of 65 companies, with 85% of them successfully raising subsequent funding rounds. The accelerator focuses on startups addressing challenges in climate change, connectivity, mobility, and city living, providing access to a global network of over 2,000 partners. Third Sphere emphasizes the importance of reshaping global systems to ensure sustainability, focusing on sectors like affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities, clean water and sanitation, responsible consumption, and connected transportation. This approach reflects their mission to address broader climate actions and systemic improvements beyond merely reducing carbon emissions.

V1.VC is a venture capital firm based in Boulder, Colorado, founded in 2015. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in internet, B2B software, consumer, financial, crypto, and deep tech companies across North America. V1.VC focuses on being patient, long-term capital partners for ambitious founders, leveraging their experience as current and former operators to support startups from initial stages to successful exits. Co-founded by Brett Jackson and Benny Joseph, V1.VC aims to be the most supportive investor in a founder’s journey. Brett Jackson brings extensive experience from roles at AVX Aircraft and Crocs, while Benny Joseph is known for his tenure as CTO at Allbirds and his role in founding GoodApril, which was acquired by Intuit. V1.VC has a diverse portfolio that includes notable companies like Allbirds, DoorDash, and OpenSea. They have made over 86 investments and have achieved 27 exits. The firm is dedicated to helping startups navigate the critical early stages of development and scale successfully. The team at V1.VC emphasizes a collaborative approach, working closely with startups to provide strategic guidance, resources, and connections to ensure their growth and success in the competitive market.

Valley Growth Ventures (VGV) is a $6 million micro venture capital fund based in Youngstown, Ohio, launched in 2016 to generate strong financial returns by backing high-growth technology companies across the state of Ohio, with a particular emphasis on the Mahoning Valley region. The fund was capitalized by raising just over $3 million from private investors, which was matched with $3 million from the State of Ohio's Third Frontier Pre-Seed/Seed Plus Fund Capitalization Program, and was formed as a partnership between five area organizations including the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corporation, the Youngstown State University Research Foundation and the Tech Belt Energy & Innovation Center. VGV invests primarily at the seed stage in software and information technology, healthcare, energy, additive manufacturing and advanced materials, willing to lead, and also works to attract out-of-region companies to relocate to the Mahoning Valley. The fund is led by Managing Director Ernie Knight, a veteran investor with more than two decades focused on seed and early-stage companies who was previously a founding Managing Director of Nationwide Mutual Capital, where he invested across a national footprint and led three exits of over $100 million. VGV has made around 11 investments, including BIOHM Health, FenixPyre, TonDone and MedPilot, and has recorded one exit, MedPilot in 2021, with its most recent disclosed deal being FenixPyre in December 2023. By combining private capital with state-backed matching funds, Valley Growth Ventures backs high-growth technology founders in Ohio and works to grow the Mahoning Valley's startup ecosystem.

Valo Ventures is a thesis-driven venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, that invests in companies addressing global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and inequality. The firm focuses on three main areas: digitization, decarbonization, and adaptation. Valo Ventures targets early to growth-stage companies in North America and Europe, seeking to create a positive environmental and social impact while generating competitive financial returns. Their portfolio includes companies like XGS Energy, ARRIS, and Boston Materials, which leverage advanced technologies to tackle significant issues such as renewable energy, sustainable materials, and carbon reduction​​. Valo Ventures prides itself on fostering partnerships based on trust, reciprocity, and shared values, emphasizing the importance of diversity and long-term impact.

Valor Capital Group, founded in 2011, is a cross-border venture capital firm that focuses on bridging the US, Brazilian, and Latin American tech markets. Headquartered in New York, with significant operations in São Paulo, Valor Capital Group invests across various stages from seed to growth. Their portfolio spans multiple sectors, including fintech, B2B, consumer services, and technology. Some of Valor Capital Group's notable investments include companies like Nextdoor, Rubicon, and Satellogic. They have had a number of successful exits, with companies such as Udacity and Bitso achieving significant milestones. Valor Capital Group is known for supporting innovative startups like CloudWalk, which has achieved centaur status with over $300 million in annual recurring revenue, and Loft, valued at $2.9 billion as of April 2021. The firm’s team includes co-founders Clifford Sobel and Scott Sobel, with key partners like Michael Nicklas and Carlos Costa. They bring a wealth of experience and a robust network to their investment strategy, focusing on driving local innovation through global insights. Valor Capital Group’s unique cross-border approach and extensive portfolio underscore their commitment to fostering growth and innovation in emerging markets, particularly within the tech ecosystem of Brazil and Latin America.

Valor Equity Partners, founded in 1995 and based in Chicago, is a leading private equity firm specializing in operational growth investments. The firm strategically invests across various stages of company development, with a keen focus on technology sectors. Valor Equity Partners is renowned for its hands-on approach, working closely with portfolio companies to enhance growth and scalability. The firm's notable investments include SpaceX, a pioneer in aerospace; Gopuff, an on-demand convenience delivery service; Misfits Market, a direct-to-consumer grocery delivery provider; and Zipline, a company revolutionizing autonomous drone delivery systems. Valor's investment strategy emphasizes providing strategic and operational support, ensuring that portfolio companies can achieve substantial growth. Valor Equity Partners manages multiple funds, with their recent Fund V closing at $1.7 billion, underscoring their strong position in the private equity market. The firm's ability to attract significant capital commitments highlights investor confidence in their strategic approach and track record of success. Key team members include founder and CEO Antonio Gracias, who brings extensive experience and leadership to the firm. Valor's team is known for its deep industry knowledge and commitment to driving operational excellence within their portfolio companies. This combination of strategic investment and operational support positions Valor Equity Partners as a pivotal player in fostering innovation and growth within the technology sector.

Vamos Ventures is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in diverse founders, particularly from the Latinx community. Founded by Marcos Gonzalez in 2018, Vamos Ventures focuses on early-stage, tech-driven companies with the potential for high financial returns and significant social impact. The firm's primary investment sectors include Health & Wellness, Future of Work, FinTech, and Sustainability​. Notable investments in their portfolio include Form Energy, a company revolutionizing energy storage; Suma Wealth, a fintech platform focused on financial inclusion for the Latinx community; and SweetBio, a health and wellness startup innovating in wound care​. Vamos Ventures' mission is to create alpha and impact by funding disruptive solutions led by Latinx and diverse founders. The firm emphasizes the importance of community empowerment, social mobility, and representation in the tech ecosystem. They are supported by notable partners such as Apple, Bank of America, and the Ford Foundation​.

Van Herk Ventures is the life-sciences investment arm of Van Herk Groep, the Rotterdam-based family investment group built by Dutch entrepreneur Adriaan van Herk and whose roots trace back to 1951. Operating with patient, evergreen family capital, Van Herk Ventures invests in the life-sciences sector through direct stakes in both private and publicly listed companies as well as commitments to specialist venture capital funds. For private companies it concentrates on the Benelux region and typically participates in businesses with an enterprise value of between roughly EUR 10 million and EUR 150 million at the time of first investment, while its public-market positions extend across the broader European and global biotech landscape, generally as a co-investor. The wider Van Herk Groep deploys across real estate, energy, financial services and construction, but the Ventures vehicle is focused squarely on life sciences, biotechnology and healthtech. Across roughly 28 portfolio companies it has produced eight IPOs and seven acquisitions, with a track record that includes some of Europe's most prominent biotech names, argenx, Merus, Galapagos, Zealand Pharma, BioInvent, DCprime and DermTech, alongside landmark exits such as Ablynx, acquired by Sanofi, and Crucell, acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The group runs a lean team of around ten people including two partners. Backed by patient, multigenerational family capital, Van Herk Ventures takes long-term positions across private and public European life-sciences companies and has built one of the region's most successful biotech investment track records.

Van Wagoner Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm led by Managing Member Garrett Van Wagoner, operating as a late-stage and early private-equity crossover investor focused on the transformation of the global transportation grid. The firm's mission is to lead the financing of what it calls the Fourth Generation Industrial Revolution by backing companies building a cleaner, more sustainable, connected and intelligent transportation ecosystem across land, sea and air, through mobility-connected technology spanning connected services, telematics and logistics, alternative fuels, infrastructure support and smart-grid solutions powered by AI and IoT. Its vehicles include the Silicon Valley Associates Impact 1 Fund, which began marketing in 2016 with a US$250 million target and a socially-responsible-investing mandate centred on green transportation and renewable power infrastructure, and the VW Crossover Fund III Transportation Infrastructure Fund; in July 2017 Van Wagoner Ventures acquired Silicon Valley Venture Group and its predecessor Silicon Valley Associates in an all-equity transaction. Garrett Van Wagoner brings a long public-markets pedigree: he began as an equity analyst in 1978, spent 1982 to 1993 at Bessemer Trust, founded the Van Wagoner Funds mutual fund family, won the Lipper Performance Achievement Award five times, and earlier deployed $340 million across 54 companies in a 1997-vintage crossover program. The earlier Van Wagoner Capital Management, an SEC-registered adviser since 1995, reached a 2004 SEC settlement over the valuation of private securities held by the Van Wagoner Funds. Today Van Wagoner Ventures focuses on financing the clean, connected and intelligent transformation of global transportation.

Vanedge Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm with offices in Vancouver and Silicon Valley. Founded by experienced technology entrepreneurs, the firm focuses on investing in companies that leverage deep technology and innovative solutions in areas such as hard tech, artificial intelligence, and analytics. Vanedge Capital aims to help visionary technologists build and scale their businesses through capital investment, operational expertise, and a robust network of industry connections. The firm has $390 million under management and has developed a repeatable investment process refined over a decade to deliver superior returns. Their portfolio includes a diverse range of companies such as Canalyst, Cogniac, and Echodyne, each known for their groundbreaking technologies and market impact. Key team members include Moe Kermani, who has extensive experience in cloud computing and machine intelligence, and Amy Rae, who focuses on SaaS businesses and applied analytics. The team provides hands-on support to their portfolio companies, helping them mitigate execution risks and attract follow-on capital from top-tier co-investors.

Valor Equity Partners, founded in 1995, is a Chicago-based private equity firm renowned for its operational growth investments in technology and technology-enabled companies. The firm has a history of tech-enabling industrial companies, streamlining warehouses, and optimizing production processes. Valor Equity Partners has invested in high-impact companies such as SpaceX, Addepar, GoPuff, and BitGo, driving innovation in biosciences, transportation, food, and health sectors. Their investment strategy includes significant hands-on support to enhance operational efficiency and scalability, exemplified by their $1.7 billion Growth Fund V. The firm operates with a philosophy of working side by side with entrepreneurs to solve the world’s biggest challenges, fostering a culture of innovation and efficiency. Notable portfolio companies also include Manduka, Fooda, and Dataminr, reflecting Valor’s commitment to backing transformative businesses. Their approach is deeply rooted in their own entrepreneurial beginnings, emphasizing an operational mindset to unlock growth and value creation

Vast Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in disruptive companies with a global impact. Founded in 2004 by Doug Chertok, the firm is headquartered in New York, New York. Vast Ventures has a diverse portfolio, investing in sectors such as healthcare, finance, AI, cloud software, and sustainability. They have a strong track record with notable investments in companies like Sweetgreen, Conductor, and Clover Health​. The firm's investment strategy centers on fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs who aim to create significant positive change. They emphasize long-term partnerships, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and support to help their portfolio companies grow and succeed​. Vast Ventures is managed by a team of experienced professionals, including Doug Chertok, Aniq Rahman, and Talia Zapolanski. The team leverages their extensive backgrounds in finance, entrepreneurship, and venture capital to help startups navigate the challenges of early-stage growth​. For startups seeking investment, Vast Ventures is particularly interested in companies that aim to improve health and happiness, promote resource sustainability, increase human potential and productivity, and foster knowledge and empathy. They prefer to lead investment rounds and take active roles in the development of their portfolio companies​.

Venture Kick, a leading philanthropic initiative in Switzerland, has been instrumental in supporting early-stage startups since its inception in 2007. The program provides up to CHF 150,000 in pre-seed funding through a structured, three-stage process, aimed at helping science-based startups transition from innovative concepts to market-ready businesses. With a portfolio of over 1,000 supported startups, Venture Kick has contributed significantly to the Swiss startup ecosystem. Their efforts have led to the creation of more than 13,300 jobs and attracted over CHF 8 billion in investments. Notable successes from their alumni include Climeworks, a leader in direct air capture technology, which recently raised CHF 600 million to scale its operations, and YASAI, a vertical farming company that has secured investment from the Bell Food Group to boost its growth​​. The foundation’s focus spans various high-tech sectors, including ICT, life sciences, cleantech, and advanced manufacturing. In 2023 alone, Venture Kick reviewed 781 applications and supported 118 projects, demonstrating its robust selection process and broad industry impact. The initiative aims to scale its model further, with ambitious goals of supporting 3,000 high-tech companies and creating 100,000 jobs by 2033​.

Ventures Platform is a leading Pan-African venture capital firm, renowned for its founder-friendly approach and substantial investments in tech-driven startups. With notable portfolio companies like Paystack, PiggyVest, and Remedial Health, Ventures Platform has a keen focus on fintech, health tech, edtech, and agritech sectors. Their geographic focus spans across Africa, targeting high-growth potential in emerging markets. The fund's investment strategy is characterized by early-stage investments, usually taking the lead in funding rounds, with average check sizes ranging from $50K to $500K. Ventures Platform emphasizes a hands-on approach, offering extensive portfolio support through their Platform and Networks team. This includes market analysis, ecosystem engagement, and strategic communications to ensure their portfolio companies scale successfully. To approach Ventures Platform, startups are encouraged to demonstrate innovative solutions with clear market potential, preferably in sectors aligned with the fund's focus. Building connections through ecosystem events and demonstrating strong growth metrics can significantly enhance the chances of securing investment.

VentureSouq is a dynamic venture capital firm based in Dubai, specializing in early-stage investments with a focus on FinTech and ClimateTech. Launched in 2013, VSQ has become a cornerstone of the MENA region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, managing over 200 investments globally. Key investments include high-profile companies like Tabby, Sary, and Huspy, demonstrating their commitment to fostering innovation in diverse markets. VSQ targets sectors such as financial technology, climate technology, edtech, and digital media, emphasizing solutions that address critical economic, environmental, and societal issues. Their strategic focus includes sub-sectors like alternative proteins, carbon economy, energy storage, and supply chain technology, aligning with their mission of conscious investing. Geographically, VentureSouq invests across MENA and Pakistan, with notable ventures in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan. Their regional approach is complemented by a global perspective, reflecting their expansive investment reach. VSQ's investment strategy revolves around thematic funds, aiming to support transformative tech startups from seed to growth stages. They actively lead funding rounds, often with substantial follow-on investments, and leverage their extensive network to propel startups toward significant milestones. Their portfolio management is hands-on, providing operational support, strategic guidance, and valuable industry connections. The leadership team includes co-founders Sonia Gokhale, Tammer Qaddumi, and Sonia Weymuller, all bringing a wealth of experience from various prestigious financial institutions. Their diverse backgrounds and deep sector expertise underpin VSQ's robust investment framework.

Verdane is a specialist growth investment firm focused on tech-enabled and sustainable businesses across Europe. Founded in 2003, Verdane has raised nine funds and several co-investment vehicles, with total commitments exceeding €6 billion. The firm invests in both single companies and portfolios, targeting two core themes: digitalization and decarbonization. Notable investments include Babyshop, Banqsoft, Baum und Pferdgarten, Bellman Group, and Bemz. Verdane's flexible investment approach allows for both minority and majority stakes, supporting companies through growth capital and strategic guidance. Their portfolio spans diverse sectors such as B2B software, consumer digital services, and green technology. Verdane operates from seven offices across Europe, including Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Oslo, and Stockholm. Their in-house team of over 130 professionals provides deep sector expertise and hands-on support to help portfolio companies scale and achieve market leadership. In recent years, Verdane has been recognized for its performance, notably being named the top-performing mid-market investor in Europe in 2022 by HEC-Dow Jones. The firm is also a certified B Corporation, ensuring its investments align with high sustainability standards.

Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (VKAV) is a pan-African venture capital firm investing in tech-enabled, growth-stage companies across the continent. It was formed in 2021 as a joint venture between Kepple Africa Ventures, a Japanese VC active in African startups, and Verod Holdings, an African growth-capital private equity firm. The firm is headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with an office in Nairobi, Kenya. VKAV closed its inaugural fund at $60M in April 2024, with plans to back up to roughly 21 growth-stage companies. Its limited partners include SBI Holdings, Toyota Tsusho, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, JICA, the Japan ICT Fund and SCM Capital. The fund typically invests $1M to $3M per company with follow-on capacity, focusing on post-revenue, scalable startups at Series A and Series B, and it is willing to lead. By fund close it had deployed about $17.5M across 12 companies. Its investment thesis centers on three areas, Inefficiency Solvers, Homegrown Innovation and Infrastructure, spanning fintech, mobility, e-commerce, proptech, deep tech, insurtech, energy and healthcare. The firm offers operational support via Verod and exit and partnership opportunities in Japan via its LPs. Partners include Satoshi Shinada, Ryosuke Yamawaki and Ory Okolloh. Portfolio companies include Shuttlers, Ceviant and Navettes in Nigeria, NowPay, Nawy and Chefaa in Egypt, KOKO Networks and mTek-Services in Kenya, Chari in Morocco, Cloudline in South Africa, and Moove Africa and Julaya across multiple markets. By uniting Japanese and African investors, VKAV backs growth-stage African founders and bridges them to Japanese partners.

Version One Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on backing mission-driven founders at the earliest stages of their ventures. Established by Boris Wertz and Angela Tran, the firm is based in Vancouver and San Francisco. Version One invests in a diverse range of sectors, including SaaS, marketplaces, crypto, and climate/energy. Notable investments include companies such as Coinbase, Ada, Shippo, Uniswap, and Jobber. The firm has a reputation for identifying high-potential opportunities early, having successfully invested in vertical SaaS in the early 2010s, crypto since 2016, and climate tech starting in 2020. Version One Ventures is driven by a core belief in supporting founders who are creating transformational change and new market categories. They seek out opportunities that might seem fringe or emerging but have the potential to lead and define new industries. This approach has led them to invest in areas like AI, VR/AR, and hardtech/biotech.