SeedRound Media
Rushed for time? Here is the top 5 Early Stage Venture investors for Venture Capital startups. Scroll down for more information on these investors or to view the rest of the investors.
Name | Website | Stages | Location | Socials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Beringea | Debt, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Seed | Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States, North America | ||
Ludlow Ventures | Convertible Note, Early Stage Venture, Seed, Venture | Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America | ||
Ann Arbor SPARK | Debt, Early Stage Venture, Seed | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America | ||
Fontinalis Partners | Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity, Seed | Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America | ||
Arboretum Ventures | Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America |
At SeedRound we track over 200,000 investors and over 1,000,000 people who hold key positions in these firms. We use this directory of investors to highlight top employees, LP’s and funding organisations we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
We’ve ranked the top Venture Capital Early Stage Venture investors in Michigan. The companies, startups and institutions listed in this article are all exceptional companies, well worth a follow. We have included links to their websites, socials and CrunchBase (if you’re interested in their financials).
We selected the organisations listed in this article based on:
- Track record
- Executive leadership
- Market share
- Innovation
- ESG rating
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Top Venture Capital Investors & Funds (Michigan)
Beringea
Beringea is an international venture capital and private equity firm dedicated to finding, funding and nurturing exceptional companies in growth industries. Founded in 1988, the firm currently has more than 60 portfolio companies in a range of emerging sectors, including media, health care and life sciences, Internet technologies, advanced manufacturing, clean tech and specialized consumer goods. With capital, experience and offices in the U.S. and U.K., Beringea is in a unique position to offer entrepreneurs and their management teams the resources to develop strategy, evaluate growth opportunities, solve problems and build value. Beringea is the co-manager of the Michigan Growth Capital Partners Funds in the U.S., as well as the ProVen VCT family of funds in the UK, among others.
Stages: Debt, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Venture Capital
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Ludlow Ventures
Ludlow operates differently because we’re a different kind of VC. We believe in VC without ego. We wear our hearts on our sleeves, avoiding the puffery and posturing that has given venture capital a bad name. We fund the dreams of entrepreneurs and startups, becoming close friends with all of the teams we invest in. Truly great companies are built on trust and friendship (and rainbows and luck). VC is a customer service business. Whether it’s testing product, leveraging our network, or forcing people to download your app, we’re here to help. You make our dream jobs possible and we’re forever thankful for that. Check out some of our other projects – www.carpool.vc and www.computer.show
Stages: Convertible Note, Early Stage Venture, Seed, Venture
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
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Ann Arbor SPARK
Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, offers programs, resources, and proactive support to businesses in the Ann Arbor region. Its products and services include provision of business accelerator and entrepreneur boot camp programs, online business planning, market and competitive landscape research, development of business model strategies, intellectual property validation and FTO reports, marketing and sales initiatives, identification of employee needs and opportunities, preparation of a business plan and financial analysis, and creation of a compelling case for attracting funding and other resources, as well as review of product plans, validation steps, and regulatory issues. The company also provides space/expansion and equipment; programs, resources, and educational opportunities for business growth and expansion; programs for recognizing excellence; tax-exempt industrial development revenue bonds to finance the acquisition, construction, installation, or rehabilitation of manufacturing facilities; site searches of industrial and office buildings, vacant land, and incubator space; workforce; educational forums; incentives; export assistance; financing; and university connections. It serves businesses in life sciences, automotive research and development, engineering and production, alternative energies, information technologies, homeland security/defense, information, print and online, and imaging/vision sectors. Ann Arbor SPARK was formerly known as SPARK. The company was incorporated in 1982 and is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Stages: Debt, Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Finance, Non Profit, Venture Capital
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Fontinalis Partners
Fontinalis Partners, with offices in Detroit and Boston, is a venture capital firm strategically focused on next generation mobility. Fontinalis’ mission is to leverage the team’s considerable management experience, market access, strategic relationships, international expertise, and background in transportation innovation to scale companies providing next-generation mobility solutions. Fontinalis invests as a strategic partner across all facets of the world’s mobility systems on a stage- and size-agnostic basis. Fontinalis is not affiliated with Ford Motor Company.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity, Seed
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
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Arboretum Ventures
Arboretum Ventures is a Michigan-based venture capital firm. It specializes in seed-stage, early-stage, mid-stage investments, and growth capital. The company seeks to invest in healthcare sector with a focus on services, medical devices, diagnostics; healthcare information technology, therapeutics, technology based healthcare services, and life science tools. The firm invests throughout the United States with a focus on Midwest and Michigan. It seeks to invest in companies with equity investment between $5 million and $15 million. Arboretum Ventures Jan Garfinkle in 2002 and is headquartered in Michigan.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Venture Capital
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RPM Ventures
RPM Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm with $750 million under management, has history of disrupting multi-billion-dollar markets within sectors where they are recognized as an industry thought leader. These sectors include FinTech, InsurTech, Real Estate Tech and they have a specific specialty in Mobility and Transportation.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Automotive, FinTech, InsurTech, Transportation, Venture Capital
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General Motors Ventures
GM Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of General Motors. The firm’s investment strategy includes growth-stage companies with focus on the areas of, advanced propulsion, connected vehicle , advanced materials, manufacturing technology, sensors, processors, & memory, and other automotive-related technologies. The firm was founded in 2010 and is based in Warren, Michigan.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Location: Warren, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Advanced Materials, Automotive, B2C, Sensor, Transportation, Venture Capital
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Detroit Venture Partners
We’re a Detroit-based Venture Capital firm on a crazed mission. We back seed and early-stage technology companies who have a purpose. Our purpose is to help rebuild the Detroit area through entrepreneurial fire. We view business building as a palate for creative expression and an opportunity to make a difference and change the world. If not, why bother? We are creative business builders, not money managers. We are entrepreneurs helping other entrepreneurs build and grow meaningful companies. It’s not just about the idea or the industry. To us, it’s about backing passionate entrepreneurs that can both dream and execute. Great thinking trumps fancy diplomas. Imagination beats pedigree. Looking for investment opportunities in these sectors: internet, digital media, marketing technology, direct-to-consumer, sports & entertainment, social media, e-commerce, software. Your biotech or advanced manufacturing idea may be groundbreaking, but that’s not our focus. We’d just screw it up if we got involved.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Venture Capital
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Wakestream Ventures
Wakestream Ventures is an early stage fund that backs founders working with physical products converging with the internet. Their region has a rich history in innovation, industrial design and manufacturing giving them a unique advantage in the IoT / technical physical product space. They consider themselves an early stage fund with deal sizes ranging from $100K–300K in initial investment size with follow-on commitments for 2nd and 3rd rounds up to $1.5M cumulative.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Financial Services, Internet of Things, Venture Capital
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Plymouth Growth
Plymouth Growth invests in Midwest B2B software and technology companies – with $3MM to $8MM in revenue, proven business models, and strong teams – that are ready to scale. The Plymouth team brings decades of experience as operators, advisors, and investors, and understands that while metrics matter, it’s people that are critical to growth. We look beyond the numbers to understand businesses, teams, and cultures, and we seek to partner with entrepreneurs that have accomplished a lot with a little. Based in Ann Arbor, MI and actively investing out of its fourth fund, Plymouth Growth helps teams achieve smart, proven growth. For more information on Plymouth and its investments, please visit www.plymouthgp.com.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Enterprise Software, Financial Services, Venture Capital
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EDF Ventures
EDF has cultivated a deep and productive network. They have put their network to work for present portfolio companies—from helping to build management teams and forge strategic partnerships to providing industry and functional expertise and securing additional funding. Their network allows us to see the most rewarding investment opportunities. EDF partners bring a wealth of direct experience that is essential to guiding young companies through their start-up and high growth phases to become mature, profitable companies.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Biotechnology, Health Care, Venture Capital
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BioStar Capital
BioStar Ventures is a venture capital company that offers private equity investment services to firms in the medical device technology services industries. It was founded in 2003 by Louis Cannon and is based in Michigan.
Stages: Debt, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Location: Petoskey, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Angel Investment, Finance, Venture Capital
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Michigan Angel Fund
Michigan Angel Fund specializes in investments in angel deals. The fund does not invest in gaming or real estate related ventures. It prefers investing in early-stage start-ups that are at or near revenue. The fund seeks to invest in IT, CleanTech, advanced manufacturing, and health care. The fund invests between $0.2 million to $2 million in its companies. It prefers investing in companies requiring less than $2 million to reach break-even or sustainability. Founded in 2011, Michigan Angel Fund is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Angel Investment, Financial Services, Venture Capital
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Conquer Accelerator
As a summer accelerator with a strong bench of experienced entrepreneurs, business leaders, and motivated investors, Conquer provides select teams with an intensive ten weeks tailored programming and mentorship. Our startups focus on goal-driven benchmarks, honing their ventures and bringing their solutions to the market. Conquer Accelerator is a collaborative effort at Michigan State University made possible through generous partnerships with the MSU Foundation, its subsidiary, Red Cedar Ventures, and Michigan State University Federal Credit Union. Any qualifying business may apply to program—an existing affiliation with Michigan State University is required. For those companies who are part of Michigan State University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Conquer Accelerator fills a crucial gap in their development cycle. Conquer’s selected teams receive an investment of $20k and work through an intensive ten-week season. In addition to capital investment, Conquer Accelerator teams receive one-on-one mentorship and support, a creative co-working space, and strategic resources. Startup applicants should reflect the following attributes: • products or services that solve problems for specific target customers • capital-efficient business, operational at less than $1M in external funding • scalable distribution or proven ability to scale sales • simple revenue model: transactions, subscriptions, affiliates • functional prototype or prior product success • measurable traction (engaged users, revenue, attractive unit economics) • three (or more) members in a cross-functional team • ability to be located in East Lansing, Michigan for the duration of the program Find our previous cohort teams, learn how to apply, and follow the journey: conqueraccelerator.com.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: East Lansing, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Angel Investment, Incubators, Venture Capital
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Huron River Ventures
Huron River Ventures invests in early-stage technologies for antiquated industries including Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Finance, Financial Services, Venture Capital
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eLab Ventures
eLab Ventures is an early stage technology venture capital fund created to capitalize on the growth of emerging entrepreneurial markets outside of Silicon Valley and to create bridges to those markets to seek startups with disruptive innovations, exceptional teams, and capital efficient business models that have the potential to serve large markets. eLab is strategically based both in Ann Arbor, to leverage innovation and talent in the Midwest, and in Silicon Valley, to leverage customers, business development, funding sources and a strong network of experienced advisors. We are passionate about nurturing world-changing ideas by connecting entrepreneurs to capital and expertise needed to build great, disruptive companies!
Stages: Early Stage Venture
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Automotive, Autonomous Vehicles, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Electric Vehicle, Robotics, Smart Cities, Venture Capital
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Grand Ventures
Grand Ventures is an early stage venture fund investing in seed stage B2B SaaS companies in emerging regions of the US and Canada focused on Supply Chain, Fintech, DevOps, and Digital Health. We have invested in some of the fastest growing companies in North America alongside some of the most prestigious venture funds. We pride ourselves on supporting great entrepreneurs from inception through rapid growth to maturity and helping out at each stage of the journey.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Enterprise Software, Information Technology, Venture Capital, Supply Chain, Fintech, DevOps, HealthcareIT
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Seneca Partners
Seneca Partners is a middle market focused investment banking and private investing firm. Their transaction and investing experience includes most industry sectors, however has strong experience in manufacturing, healthcare and business services.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Birmingham, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Finance, Venture Capital
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IncWell
We’re a private venture capital firm that offers a wealth of business experience to startup and seed stage companies. We have a mission to grow great ideas into great businesses by providing funding opportunities and strategic business support to the entrepreneurs and teams we believe in. IncWell LP offers seed stage investments to startups in the clean energy technology, medical technology, healthcare advances, transportation technology, and/or information/apps/software technology sectors. Our investments range in size from $100K- $250K. In addition to investments, we also provide startup consulting in the form of mentorships and introductions to strategic partners. The fund was launched in May of 2013 and founded by Tom LaSorda, former CEO of Chrysler LLC and Fisker Automotive. Other Limited Partners include Roger Penske, owner of the Penske Corporation, Ted Fuller, real estate developer in Birmingham, MI, John Melstrom, partner at Fenner Melstrom & Dooling PLC for 45 years, Wayne Sales, former CEO of Canadian Tire and Stephen Polk, former CEO of R.L. Polk & Co. In addition, there are eight other key Limited Partners.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Birmingham, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: CleanTech, Manufacturing, Venture Capital
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First Step Fund
The First Step Fund provides emerging companies with access to seed capital, focused mentoring in areas consistent with growing the business, and a network that will work to foster demand and create opportunities.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Enterprise Software, Gamification, Venture Capital
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Resonant Venture Partners
Resonant Venture Partners is an emerging venture capital firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Founded in 2010, Resonant makes seed stage investments in companies developing cloud infrastructure, software and services. Entrepreneurs in their own right, the managing directors partner with portfolio companies through challenging product, market and operational issues at the earliest phases.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Angel Investment, Finance, Venture Capital
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Peninsula Capital
Peninsula Capital Partners is an investment company specializing in subordinated debt and structured equity investments in superior middle-market companies. Through their management of four private limited partnerships, they control over $800 million of investment capital and have made dozens of investments in a wide range of industrial, consumer products, retail, food and distribution concerns. Founded in 1995 by its three senior partners, the Company is today owned entirely by its founders and senior management team members. Major investors include state and corporate pension funds, insurance companies, banks, funds-of-funds and wealth management firms. As their first three investment partnerships have been completely invested, they are currently focused on investing the $335 million of committed capital in Peninsula Fund IV.
Stages: Early Stage Venture
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Finance, Venture Capital, Virtualization
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Rockbridge Growth Equity
Rockbridge Growth Equity is a private equity investor. They have a deep industry expertise, the strategic benefits of “sister companies” , a long-term perspective and a different approach to investing.
Stages: Early Stage Venture
Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Angel Investment, Financial Services, Venture Capital
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CKM Capital Partners
CKM manages and invests in a diverse portfolio of alternative assets. As an investor, CKM seeks opportunities where our industry experience and strong network of partnerships will add meaningful value to the projects we undertake.
Stages: Debt, Early Stage Venture, Seed
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Enterprise Software, Financial Services, Gamification, Venture Capital
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Ardesta
Ardesta, LLC founded in 1999 Overview: Ardesta, LLC is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in investments in start up or seed, early stage, mid venture, or late venture, bridge, and mezzanine financing. The firm also seeks to invest in middle market companies. It seeks to invest in small technology products for the areas of communications, energy, environmental safety/security, and medical diagnostics and treatment. Ardesta, LLC was founded in 1999 and is headquartered at Ann Arbor, Michigan with an additional office in Hinsdale, Illinois. Did we know the bridge financing aspect? The Ardesta Ventures I, LP venture capital fund focuses on investments in nanotechnology, life sciences and alternative energy technology companies based in the Midwest. Co-founding partners of the new Ardesta Ventures I, Rick Snyder, Chris Rizik and Steve Johns, have together raised over $180 million since 1997 with two previous ventures, Avalon Technologies LLC and Ardesta LLC. They have a strong network of close relationships with universities, research institutions and companies in Michigan. Snyder, former President and COO of Gateway Computers, is a member of the University of Michiganâ€:tm:s Technology Transfer National Advisory Board and the Chairman of the Board of Ann Arbor SPARK. Rizik serves as President and Chairman of NextEnergy, the Detroit nonprofit alternative energy incubator and maintains strong ties with Wayne State University. The principals of Ardesta Ventures I have shown a commitment to building and growing technology companies in Michigan. To date, they have invested in 15 companies in the state and expanded employment at those companies more than ten-fold. Including this investment, a total of up to $62.5 million of investments in venture capital, mezzanine, and private equity funds have been approved through the 21st Century Investment Fund since January.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: CleanTech, Semiconductor, Venture Capital
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Level Eight Ventures
We live in an age characterized by accelerating advances in biochemistry, materials science, robotics and artificial intelligence. These enabling technologies are being combined in novel ways to create solutions that are cleaner, smarter and more sustainable than those they displace. Level Eight invests time and capital in the outstanding teams driving this disruption.
Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Venture Capital
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Stromback Ventures
Stromback Ventures is a Venture/Mentor Capital firm that supports the development and commercialization of early-stage disruptive new technologies and ideas. At Stromback Ventures, they provide more than money. They are actively involved with their portfolio companies, and have the energy, experience, and contacts to help take their companies to the next stage and beyond. Whether as a financial strategist, headhunter, investment banker, and corporate therapist, they provide support and confidence to the team. They believe that entrepreneurs are extraordinary individuals possessing exceptional intelligence, energy, vision and drive, and should have large stakes in their companies that can generate great wealth for those who make the early sacrifices. They bet on the ability of the founding team to develop their business, adapt to inevitable changes in their plans, and to grow with their companies. Successful founders will surround themselves with the best people they can.
Stages: Early Stage Venture
Location: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Venture Capital
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MSU Hatch
The Hatch is a co-working space for area college students, prospective, creative, and innovative entrepreneurs ready to develop their business ideas. Hatch members share a common workspace on the third floor of 325 E. Grand River Avenue, each working on their own project, but collaborating to increase the probability of each venture’s success. The program takes advantage of the resources and services provided by Spartan Innovations, including access to capital investment, conference rooms, office equipment, and business development support, free wi-fi, coffee and provides a the freedom and creativity to work at their own convenience. This setting enables a social work environment, an exciting alternative to the tenants’ basement, library, café shop, or kitchen. The Hatch is an attractive place for connecting, collaborating, and spontaneous creation of marketable business ideas, facilitating a community of like-minded student entrepreneurs
Stages: Early Stage Venture
Location: East Lansing, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Business Development, Financial Services, Management Consulting, Venture Capital
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UpRound Ventures
UpRound is a venture capital run by a student organization that helps startups with their target market and establish their brand. The firm works closely with early-stage startups to tackle fundraising and growth projects.
Stages: Early Stage Venture
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, North America
Industries: Financial Services, Social Entrepreneurship, Venture Capital
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