St. Paul Venture Capital

St. Paul Venture Capital (SPVC) was a major US early-stage venture capital firm founded in 1988 as the corporate venture capital arm of The St. Paul Companies, later St. Paul Travelers and today Travelers. Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota with additional offices in Minneapolis, Boston, and Silicon Valley, SPVC was one of the largest early-stage venture firms in the United States, with approximately $3 billion of committed capital across multiple funds. The firm specialized in early-stage investments in technology -- telecommunications, infrastructure, software, and enterprise -- alongside healthcare and medical devices, and made 270 total investments across its active life. The portfolio generated 94 exits across its history. Notable holdings included Santarus in specialty pharmaceuticals, Vendavo in pricing software, and EBR Systems, whose exit in November 2021 represents the firm's most recent disclosed portfolio outcome. Allan Will served as one of the firm's partners. SPVC's scale and breadth made it a formative institution in the Midwest venture ecosystem, with particular depth in healthcare and communications technology. St. Paul Venture Capital is permanently closed. In June 2004 the firm split into two independent successor firms: Split Rock Partners, focused on healthcare and growth-stage information technology, and Vesbridge Partners, focused on communications technology. St. Paul Travelers continued to back both spin-outs with new capital. Since the 2004 split SPVC has made no new primary investments; its continued public profile reflects legacy portfolio holdings and historical disclosures only. The two successor firms operate as distinct and active investment platforms.