We strive to help mission-driven founders build inspiring, valuable companies from inception to exit

Travis Montaque, Founder and CEO of Holler
Travis Montaque Founder & CEO Holler
Sea Briganti, Founder and CEO of Loliware
Sea Briganti Co-Founder & CEO Loliware
Dipanwita Das, Founder and CEO of Sorcero
Dipanwita Das Co-Founder & CEO Sorcero
Lauren Salz, Co-Founder of Sealed
Lauren Salz Co-Founder & CEO Sealed

Why We Exist

The famous “hockey stick graph” looks mythical and smooth from afar, but look closely, and the true story of entrepreneurship emerges. Throughout the daily mix of ups and downs, we are there with our founders, every step of the way.

Why We Exist

Founding Principles

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    Integrity, excellence, measurable performance, and hard work underlie everything we accomplish.

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    Growing great companies is all about people.

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    We believe sustainable companies and diverse founding teams make for more successful investments.

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    The structure and model of venture capital itself is changing.

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    Companies need more than money, especially in the early stages.

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    Core problems facing early stage entrepreneurs are largely the same, regardless of sector.

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    Most entrepreneurs – even the most brilliant – are facing challenges for the first time. We’ve been there.

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    Unicorns are great, but not every successful company needs to follow this particular narrative.

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    Our involvement is designed to help increase the chances of success for our founders

About Us

Positive impact makes for stronger companies

  • 100% High Impact Companies
  • 73% Diverse Founding Teams H/L Studio
  • 100% Diverse Founding Teams CityRock Ventures

We invest at the nexus of growth, impact and diversity.
We believe that impactful companies that solve real problems for real people yield better results. We also know that diverse founders build great companies and teams, but often lack ready access to funding and resources. For us, diversity includes underrepresented minority groups in tech, including by gender, ethnicity, economic situation, LGBTQ+, and military service, among others.

Click this footnote for disclosures

Statistics based upon current H/L Ventures Portfolio as of 3/31/21.

Positive Impact Makes for Stronger Companies

H/L Ventures is a Company Building Ecosystem

Since its founding in 2009, H/L Ventures has forged a new way to build companies. H/L Ventures’ unique approach combines Daily Active Engagement with every portfolio company and a focus on investing in growth, impact, and diversity. Today, H/L Ventures manages a family of companies and funds that together comprise a holistic company-building ecosystem.

Our Portfolio & Our Founders

Our Portfolio

  • CNote
  • Holler
  • KDCAg
  • Loliware
  • Sealed
  • Sorcero

Our Founders

  • Travis Montaque
  • Dan Nielsen
  • Marie Kloor
  • Andy Frank
  • Dipanwita Das
  • Carli Blum

Press & Media

Automotus Selected as a GovTech 100 Company in 2024

Automotus Selected as a GovTech 100 Company in 2024

The GovTech 100 is an annual list compiled and published by Government Technology as a compendium of 100 companies focused on, making a difference in, and selling to state and local government agencies across the United States.

Key Elements for a New Day in VC

Key Elements for a New Day in VC

Oliver Libby outlines the key steps the venture industry needs to take to ensure that we are behaving responsibly enough to avoid heavy-handed governance and regulation.

🎥 Down-to-Earth Venture Capital

🎥 Down-to-Earth Venture Capital

This interview was brought to you by Builder Nation, a community of engineering leaders developing world-changing products.

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For Starters

Company Wind Downs and Startup Failures

Company Wind Downs and Startup Failures

Company wind-downs and failures in the innovation ecosystem and valuable invaluable insights drawn from the challenges faced by founders and companies in recent times.

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The AI Landscape and Reality Wars

The AI Landscape and Reality Wars

Oliver Libby delves into the emerging challenges of the "Reality War." Addressing the shifting threat landscape, the impact of AI, and the democratization of dangerous tools encouraging deep fakes, and fragmented information ecosystems on individuals, businesses, and the environment.

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Check VS Checkmate - defining resilience in the startup economy

Check VS Checkmate - defining resilience in the startup economy

Resilience involves navigating through challenges and setbacks. Oliver Libby. Managing Partner at H/L Ventures distinguishes between being in "check" and being in "checkmate" during trying times. Being in "check" implies facing a setback or a tough situation where reasonable moves are left to make. Conversely, being in "checkmate" means reaching a point where no more reasonable options are available.

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Convertible and SAFE Notes

Convertible and SAFE Notes

Startups and early-stage companies require specific funding tools and round structures. Convertible notes are funding rounds designed to determine what a company is worth in the future, allowing startups to raise capital without a fixed valuation. A true Convertible Note is debt and is a form of protection for investors with the feature to convert into shares in the company at a later stage.

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