Ariel Poler
Description
Ariel Poler is a highly regarded Internet entrepreneur, mentor, and prolific angel investor based in San Francisco. His career spans several decades, marked by a consistent track record of founding and scaling successful technology companies before transitioning into a significant role as an early-stage investor. Currently, he serves as the Co-Founder of Reveri Health, a digital therapeutics company focused on mental well-being, demonstrating his continued engagement in innovative ventures.
Poler's entrepreneurial journey includes founding IPRO, an internet infrastructure company acquired by NetScout for approximately $200 million. He also co-founded AdKnowledge, an online advertising network that was acquired by CMGI for around $190 million, and Topica, an email marketing pioneer. These ventures underscore his deep understanding of internet technologies and his ability to identify and capitalize on emerging market trends, providing him with substantial capital and experience to fuel his subsequent investment activities.
As an investor, Ariel Poler has established himself as a prominent "super angel" with a keen eye for disruptive technologies and exceptional founding teams. His investment portfolio is remarkably diverse, spanning areas such as enterprise software, consumer internet, health tech, and artificial intelligence. He is known for backing companies at their earliest stages, often participating in seed and Series A rounds. His impressive list of early investments includes industry giants like Stripe, Zoom, Palantir, Pinterest, and Cruise Automation, which was notably acquired by General Motors for over $1 billion.
Poler's investment strategy is characterized by a hands-on approach, leveraging his extensive operational experience to mentor founders. He typically focuses on companies with strong product-market fit potential and scalable business models. His long-standing presence and success in Silicon Valley have made him a sought-after partner for entrepreneurs seeking not just capital, but also strategic guidance and network access.
Investor Profile
Ariel Poler has backed more than 41 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 5% of its total and boasts 16 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Angel rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom, Mexico.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Social Media, Internet.
- Typical check size: $100K – $750K.
Stage Focus
- Seed (39%)
- Series A (32%)
- Angel (15%)
- Pre Seed (7%)
- Series C (2%)
- Series B (2%)
- Series Unknown (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (80%)
- United Kingdom (7%)
- Mexico (5%)
- Spain (2%)
- Chile (2%)
- Brazil (2%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Social Media
- Internet
- Mobile
- Apps
- E-commerce
- Fintech
- Payments
- Analytics
- Enterprise Software
Frequently Asked Questions
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