Top 10 VC Funds in Ohio
Ohio is home to some of the most innovative and successful venture capital firms in the United States. In this blog, we will give short overviews of the top 10 VC firms in Ohio that have made a significant impact on the state’s economy. We have gone through a lot of big lists and sorted these 10 based on various aspects. Here’s the list:
1. LOUD Capital
LOUD Capital is an alternative investment firm. It specializes in early-stage venture capital, private growth equity, and wealth management. Focused on addressing global challenges, particularly in human health, they go beyond financial support. Serving as hands-on partners, they navigate daily obstacles in company development. Offering tailored financing solutions and tapping into a vast network, they leverage collective operator experience for robust growth. Data-driven, results-oriented, and people-centered, LOUD Capital strives to deliver exceptional value to both the global community and investors.
Website: loud.vc
Founding Year: 2015
Investment Range: $1M - $5M
Stage: Early
Sector: Various
Investment Geography: Ohio
Notable Investments: Seamless.AI, Gemelli Biotech, Genetesis
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
2. Drive Capital
Founded in 2013, Drive, a Columbus-based venture capital firm, emerged from Silicon Valley's shadow, initially met with skepticism. Fast forward to today, the firm has successfully raised over $2 billion to support startups addressing crucial challenges in expansive markets. With investments in 80+ companies beyond Silicon Valley, including Duolingo, Path Robotics, and ApplyBoard, Drive stands as a key player nurturing the next wave of market-defining enterprises.
Website: drivecapital.com
Founding Year: 2013
Investment Range: Undisclosed
Stage: Seed, Early, Later
Sector: Financial Services, Healthcare, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Mobile, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence
Investment Geography: North America
Notable Investments: Duolingo, Root Insurance, and Comply365
Submit Pitch/ Contact: info@drivecapital.com
3. Heartland Ventures
Heartland Ventures is a venture capital firm that connects innovative startups with Midwestern industries such as manufacturing and logistics. They facilitate early adoption and investment by connecting startups with corporate partners. Heartland Ventures’ unique approach includes leveraging industry leaders as pilot customers, paving the way for successful partnerships. By bridging tech hubs and the Midwest, Heartland Ventures boosts the region’s economy. Ultimately, Heartland Ventures serves as a catalyst for regional innovation, drawing attention and creating a vibrant ecosystem for startups in the heart of the Midwest.
Website: heartlandvc.com
Founding Year: 2016
Investment Range: $500K - $2M
Stage: Seed, Series A
Sector: Startups with B2B strategies serving real estate, construction, manufacturing, and logistics
Investment Geography: United States
Notable Investments: Third Wave Automation, Parkade, ProjectMark12, Mimir, SpidrTech7
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
4. Bessemer Venture Partners
Bessemer Venture Partners is a big investment firm with $20 billion fund. They help business people make successful companies in different areas like business, customers, and health. They have a history of over 135 companies going public, and they support companies from the beginning to late. Some of the big companies they work with are Pinterest, Shopify, and LinkedIn.
Website: bvp.com
Founding Year: 1911
Investment Range: $100M - $100 million+
Stage: Early - Late
Sector: Across various sectors, with a focus on technology and healthcare
Investment Geography: Global, with a strong presence in the United States, Europe, and Asia
Notable Investments: Blue Apron, LinkedIn, Skype, Spotify, and Shopify
Submit Pitch/ Contact: info@bvp.com
5. Ikove Capital
Ikove is a venture firm based in Columbus that specializes in early-stage tech investments in the Midwest. They identify and support impactful technologies through their Startup Nursery and partnerships with U.S. research institutions, bridging the gap between R&D and VC funding. Ikove focuses on early-stage opportunities, fostering alignment among stakeholders for flexible business development. They engage with entrepreneurs to drive genuine growth with a hands-on approach. Ikove extends its influence globally with partners and advisors worldwide, and is headquartered at the Electro Science Lab.
Website: ikovecapital.com
Founding Year: 2014
Investment Range: Undisclosed (Invested $150M+)
Stage: Early
Sector: Robotics, IoT, AI, Medical devices, FinTech, FoodTech
Investment Geography: Midwest, United States, Brazil
Notable Investments: Coders4Future, RenovoDerm, AssetWatch, DiretoTech
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
6. Index Ventures
Index Ventures is a global venture capital firm. It is known for its collaboration with visionary entrepreneurs. It assists them in the growth and scaling of their businesses. The firm's primary focus lies in startups. It supports them from the initial stages to IPO and beyond. It results in long lasting partnerships. With an international presence, Index Ventures backs innovators across the globe.
presence, Index Ventures backs innovators across the globe.
Website: indexventures.com
Founding Year: 1996
Investment Range: $500k - $100M
Stage: Early - Late
Sector: Technology, FinTech
Investment Geography: Global
Notable Investments: Notion, Discord, Patreon, Wise, Trustpilot
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
7. Primus Capital
Founded in 1984, Primus is a private equity firm with an $800 million fund, operating from offices in Atlanta and Cleveland. Specializing in healthcare, software, and tech services, they've invested in 130+ companies. Their strategy focuses on flexible investments in growth-oriented firms within healthcare IT, services, financial and marketing technology, education technology, and human capital management. By collaborating with outstanding management teams, Primus accelerates growth, creating significant shareholder value through industry knowledge and financial expertise.
Website: primuscapital.com
Founding Year: 1984
Investment Range: $20M - $100M
Stage: Private Equity
Sector: Healthcare, Software, Technology
Investment Geography: Ohio
Notable Investments: Prendio, Ordergroove, Purple Lab, CORL Technologies, Ambition
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
8. River Cities Capital
RC Capital is a growth equity firm. It specializes in advancing promising healthcare companies within medical devices, healthcare services, and healthcare IT. Focused on enhancing patient care and outcomes, they prioritize strategic partnerships over mere capital provision. With over $1 billion raised and a 30-year history, RC Capital is a trusted source of growth capital, leveraging extensive expertise and a network of healthcare leaders.
Website: rccf.com
Founding Year: 1994
Investment Range: $5M - $25M
Stage: Growth-stage and later-stage
Sector: Healthcare and IT
Investment Geography: United States
Notable Investments: SPR Therapeutics, OnCall Solutions, Mindpath Health, Bolder Surgical, BardyDx
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
9. CincyTech
CincyTech is a venture capital firm that invests in innovative leaders who are passionate about addressing global challenges. They have a strong commitment to tackling complex problems and driving innovation by leveraging their deep knowledge and determination. Their goal is to bring about positive and impactful solutions that contribute to meaningful change on a global scale
Website: cincytechusa.com
Founding Year: 2006
Investment Range: Undisclosed ($100M+ Fund Size)
Stage: Early
Sector: Healthcare, SaaS, Big Data, B2B Payments, Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Cybersecurity, E-commerce, Industrials, Impact Investing
Investment Geography: Mid West, Ohio
Notable Investments: Amify, Tembo, IncludeHealth, Genetesis, XII Medical, TeamCentral, Enable Injections
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
10. Converge Ventures
Converge Ventures is a VC firm that helps new businesses grow and succeed. They have a unique approach to tackling common startup challenges, which has been proven to work time and again. They work with public and private partners to develop and market cutting-edge products. Converge Ventures provides a supportive environment for startups to flourish, which helps maximize returns on investment.
Website: convergevc.com
Founding Year: 2020
Investment Range: $5M - $10M
Stage: Seed, Early, Later
Sector: Business Services, Information Technology, SaaS, Big Data, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Technology-based sectors
Investment Geography: Ohio, United States
Notable Investments: Lighthouse Avionics, UbiHere, Matsaki Technologies
Submit Pitch/ Contact: Link
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Is Shark Tank a VC firm?
A: No, SharkTank is similar to Angel Investing, where rich individuals invest small amounts of money from their own savings into new businesses.
Venture Capital is different. It's when a group of professional investors, called Venture Capitalists, gather money from big investors and wealthy individuals (known as Limited Partners). Then, they invest larger sums into more established startups.
Q: What is the largest VC fund in the US?
A: The largest VC firm in the United States is Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with assets under management totaling $35 billion. They're in California and started in 2009. They put money into different kinds of companies, like tech and healthcare. Some famous companies they've invested in are Facebook and Airbnb.
Q: Do VC firms pay well?
A: Venture capital usually pays better than corporate development but not as much as private equity and hedge funds. At big VC firms, associates without an MBA can make $150K to $200K, while those with an MBA might rake in $200K to $250K. You might also ask, 'Do startups pay well?' Here's your answer.
Q: How many VC firms fail?
A: According to experts at The National Venture Capital Association, they believe that around 25% to 30% of startups supported by VC funding end up failing.
Best of luck with your amazing ventures.
Please note that this list is filtered by various metrics, and all the data are collected through various third-party websites, mostly the VC website. Since data such as ticket size or industry may change, you are requested to visit the official website given in the blog for the latest and updated information.
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