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

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
  • 84% Diverse Founding Teams H/L Studio
  • 90% 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

  • Aunt Flow Logo
  • Sorcero Logo
  • Vivvi Logo
  • Loliware Logo
  • Sealed Logo
  • GlacierGrid Logo

Our Founders

  • Dana Chermesh Headshot
  • DeVaris Brown Headshot
  • Manik Suri Headshot
  • Mike Russell
  • Claire Coder Headshot
  • Candace Mitchell Harris Headshot

Press & Media

Sorcero Among Newsweek’s World’s Best Digital Health Companies 2024

Sorcero Among Newsweek’s World’s Best Digital Health Companies 2024

Sorcero has received a very well-deserved ranking as a World's Best Digital Health Company by Newsweek!

#NYTechWeek Recap: H/L Ventures x Endeavor

#NYTechWeek Recap: H/L Ventures x Endeavor

We are thrilled to share that our NYTechWeek event, co-hosted with Endeavor, was a resounding success!

LOLIWARE Among America’s Top GreenTech Companies

LOLIWARE Among America’s Top GreenTech Companies

TIME and Statista named LOLIWARE, the world’s first seaweed resin company replacing single-use plastics through driven biomaterials, among America's top greentech companies.

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For Starters

Following Smart Money

Following Smart Money

The Changing Dynamics of AI Funding & 'Following Smart Money' and the key insights from Oliver Libby; Traditional VC Funding for Emerging AI Startups, The Decline of 'Following Smart Money' and Evaluating Opportunities with Care.

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Steps to Prepare for an Exit

Steps to Prepare for an Exit

5 essential steps for startups preparing for an exit: identify your ideal exit, build a potential buyer list, align KPIs with buyer priorities, clean up corporate structures, and boost exit value. Watch the full episode to learn how to be ready when the opportunity arises

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Reflection on AI Investments and the AI Boom

Reflection on AI Investments and the AI Boom

While AI saw unprecedented investment in 2022 with $123 billion poured into tech startups, that number halved to $66 billion in 2023. What’s even more striking is that over $40 billion of that went to just five companies in the large language model space. The future of AI investments lies in balancing power with purpose—ensuring that transformative technologies are deployed thoughtfully and inclusively to benefit society at large.

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CityRock Fund II Announcement

CityRock Fund II Announcement

In a challenging fundraising environment, we've successfully raised just under $25 million for our second CityRock fund. CityRock Fund II is focused on Series A investments in high-growth, impactful, and diverse companies. Our dedication to supporting underrepresented founder groups and companies with a positive impact on people or the planet remains stronger than ever.

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