
Zeno Partners
Description
Zeno Ventures, a subsidiary of Zeno Partners, is an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. Established in 2018, the firm primarily focuses on investing in technology companies across both consumer and enterprise markets. Their investment thesis centers on identifying innovative startups poised for significant growth, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and operational support to their portfolio companies.
The firm's investment strategy spans from Seed to Series A rounds, indicating a commitment to nurturing companies from their foundational stages through their initial growth phases. Zeno Ventures seeks out disruptive technologies and business models, with a particular interest in sectors such as SaaS, fintech, artificial intelligence, and broader consumer technology. In 2021, Zeno Ventures announced the closing of its inaugural fund, Zeno Ventures Fund I, with a total capital commitment of $20 million, underscoring their capacity to support a diverse portfolio of early-stage ventures.
Zeno Ventures typically deploys initial capital ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000 for their first cheques, depending on the stage of the company and the specific needs of the funding round. This range allows them to participate meaningfully in seed rounds and lead or co-lead smaller Series A investments, while also reserving capital for follow-on investments in their most promising portfolio companies. Their approach emphasizes long-term partnerships, aiming to leverage their network and expertise to help founders scale their businesses effectively and achieve market leadership.
Investor Profile
Zeno Partners has backed more than 55 startups, with 4 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 1 rounds, about 2% of its total and boasts 3 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada, Nigeria.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, E-Commerce, SaaS.
- Typical check size: $500K – $2M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (51%)
- Series A (27%)
- Pre Seed (7%)
- Series B (7%)
- Convertible Note (5%)
- Series Unknown (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (80%)
- Canada (9%)
- Nigeria (4%)
- Mexico (2%)
- Sweden (2%)
- India (2%)
- France (2%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- E-commerce
- Saas
- Information Technology
- Apps
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Logistics
- Internet
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
Frequently Asked Questions
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