
Ascend Venture Group
Description
Ascend Venture Group is a New York-based venture capital firm established in 2000, specializing in early-stage investments within the technology sector. The firm primarily targets disruptive companies poised for significant growth, focusing on innovative solutions across various industries. With a long-standing presence in the venture capital landscape, Ascend Venture Group has cultivated a reputation for identifying promising startups at their foundational stages.
The firm's investment strategy centers on providing crucial capital and strategic guidance during the Seed and Series A funding rounds. Ascend Venture Group typically deploys initial checks ranging from $500,000 to $3 million, demonstrating their commitment to supporting nascent companies as they develop and scale. Beyond financial backing, Ascend is known for its hands-on approach, actively collaborating with founders to navigate challenges and accelerate growth. They often participate in subsequent follow-on rounds, reinforcing their long-term commitment to their portfolio companies.
Ascend Venture Group boasts an impressive portfolio of companies that have gone on to achieve significant success and attract substantial further investment. Their investments include well-known names such as Kabbage, Betterment, Warby Parker, Zocdoc, Oscar Health, Casper, and Compass. Collectively, Ascend's portfolio companies have successfully raised over $10 billion in follow-on capital from other investors, underscoring the firm's ability to pick winners and the market's confidence in their selections. Furthermore, the firm has facilitated over 20 successful exits, providing strong returns for its limited partners and validating its investment thesis.
Investor Profile
Ascend Venture Group has backed more than 43 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 10 rounds, about 23% of its total and boasts 16 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series B, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Nigeria, Japan.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Education, Service Industry.
- Typical check size: $500K – $3M.
Stage Focus
- Series B (26%)
- Series A (26%)
- Series Unknown (23%)
- Series D (12%)
- Series C (12%)
- Angel (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (95%)
- Nigeria (2%)
- Japan (2%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Education
- Service Industry
- Advertising
- Information Technology
- Internet
- Developer Platform
- E-commerce
- Business Information Systems
- Messaging
Frequently Asked Questions
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