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

CNote’s Yuliya Tarasava Named to Inc.’s Female Founders 200 List

CNote’s Yuliya Tarasava Named to Inc.’s Female Founders 200 List

Yuliya was recognized for helping close the wealth gap through financial innovation.

Fast Company: Do Good Foods among 10 most innovative in agriculture of 2023

Fast Company: Do Good Foods among 10 most innovative in agriculture of 2023

Do Good Foods upcycles surplus food into feed for its all-natural, cage-free chickens, each of which save four pounds of unused groceries from entering a landfill.

Fast Company: Group Black among 10 most innovative in media of 2023

Fast Company: Group Black among 10 most innovative in media of 2023

Group Black strives to create a sustainable and more equitable media ecosystem.

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