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AGO Partners

North America, California, United States, Los Angeles

Description

AGO Partners is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in entrepreneurs who are building companies that contribute to a "better world." Founded with a clear mission to support businesses with positive societal or environmental impact, the firm primarily focuses on the consumer sector, particularly direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands across various lifestyle categories. Their investment philosophy emphasizes supporting innovative companies that are not only financially promising but also align with their core values of impact and sustainability.

The firm's portfolio showcases a strong inclination towards high-growth consumer brands in areas such as home goods, beauty, food and beverage, and lifestyle products. Notable investments include companies like Ruggable, a popular washable rug brand, and Supergoop!, a leading skincare company focused on sun protection. AGO Partners typically engages with companies at the Seed to Series A stages, providing crucial early-stage capital and strategic guidance to help founders scale their operations and expand their market reach. Their expertise lies in identifying and nurturing brands that resonate with modern consumers seeking quality, convenience, and purpose-driven products.

AGO Partners operates with a focused fund size, having raised approximately $25 million for its inaugural fund, AGO Partners Fund I. This fund size allows them to make meaningful initial investments while also reserving capital for follow-on rounds to support their portfolio companies' continued growth. Based on their investment activity, which includes participation in over 15 distinct companies, their typical first check size ranges from approximately $500,000 to $3,000,000. This range positions them as a key partner for early-stage consumer startups looking for strategic capital and a partner aligned with their mission to create a positive impact. The firm's hands-on approach and deep understanding of the consumer landscape make them a valuable resource for the founders they back.

Investor Profile

AGO Partners has backed more than 29 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 7% of its total and boasts 5 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Convertible Note, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom.
  • Strong thematic focus on Financial Services, FinTech, Pet.
  • Typical check size: $500K – $3M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (45%)
  • Convertible Note (10%)
  • Series Unknown (10%)
  • Series B (7%)
  • Pre Seed (7%)
  • Series A (7%)
  • Debt Financing (3%)
  • Private Equity (3%)
  • Series C (3%)
  • Series D (3%)

Country Focus

  • United States (97%)
  • United Kingdom (3%)

Industry Focus

  • Financial Services
  • Fintech
  • Pet
  • Health Care
  • Internet
  • Banking
  • Social Impact
  • Software
  • Food And Beverage
  • Gaming
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does AGO Partners frequently co-invest with?

Tamar Capital
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Thrive Capital
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 2
Clocktower Technology Ventures
North America, California, United States, Santa Monica
Co-Investments: 2
SI
Europe, Bayern, Germany, München
Co-Investments: 2
Bessemer Venture Partners
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Alpha Edison
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Co-Investments: 2
Slow Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 3
Omidyar Network
North America, California, United States, Redwood City
Co-Investments: 2
Capricorn Investment Group
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 2
StartX (Stanford-StartX Fund)
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does AGO Partners often collaborate with?

KG
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 2
MO
North America, United States
Shared Deals: 1
KW
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
NC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
MS
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 2
BZ
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
FL
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
CH
Europe, United Kingdom
Shared Deals: 1
RK
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
OB
Europe, United Kingdom
Shared Deals: 2

What are some of recent deals done by AGO Partners?

Kappa Biosciences

San Francisco, California, United States

The next big solution for biotechnology and bioscience research

BiotechnologyLife Science
Pre SeedDec 5, 2023
Amount Raised: $8,500,000
Minimum

London, England, United Kingdom

Minimum has developed an Enterprise-grade climate impact modelling system, specializing in serving large, complex, distributed enterprises.

AppsEnvironmental ConsultingSoftware
Pre SeedJun 16, 2021
Amount Raised: $2,600,000
Aspiration

Marina Del Rey, California, United States

Aspiration offers retail banking and investing services that enable customers to spend and save their money in ways that protect the planet.

BankingFinancial ServicesFinTechSocial Impact
Series UnknownJan 28, 2021
Amount Raised: $50,000,000
Aspiration

Marina Del Rey, California, United States

Aspiration offers retail banking and investing services that enable customers to spend and save their money in ways that protect the planet.

BankingFinancial ServicesFinTechSocial Impact
Series CMay 21, 2020
Amount Raised: $135,000,000
Aspiration

Marina Del Rey, California, United States

Aspiration offers retail banking and investing services that enable customers to spend and save their money in ways that protect the planet.

BankingFinancial ServicesFinTechSocial Impact
Series BDec 7, 2017
Amount Raised: $47,000,000
Alloy

New York, New York, United States

Alloy is a developer of an identity verification platform used to detect fraud and make identity management effective and simple for banks.

ComplianceFinTechFraud DetectionIdentity ManagementSaaS
SeedOct 18, 2017
Amount Raised: $3,800,000
Bright Funds

Oakland, California, United States

Bright Funds partners with the world's leading companies to bring impact-focused workplace giving to employees on a global scale.

Financial ServicesInternetNon Profit
Convertible NoteJan 1, 2017
FairClaims

Los Angeles, California, United States

FairClaims is an online dispute resolution platform for enterprise.

EnterpriseLegalSaaSService Industry
SeedJul 31, 2016
Amount Raised: $285,000
Embark

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Embark offers dog DNA testing that ends preventable diseases in dogs.

Health CarePetVeterinary
SeedMay 31, 2016
Amount Raised: $1,800,000
Juicero

San Francisco, California, United States

Juicero is an inventor of a home cold-pressed juicing system.

Food and BeverageNutritionOrganic Food
Series BMar 31, 2016
Amount Raised: $70,000,000