Discover if this is a suitable investor for your startup. If they are we'll make a warm introduction for free. Otherwise, we'll connect you with matching investors.
Adverb Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2023 by April Underwood and Jessica Verrilli, both seasoned operators and investors. The firm is headquartered in the United States and has raised a debut fund of $75 million, which closed in July 2023. Adverb Ventures focuses on early-stage investments, particularly in sectors such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, and consumer technology. The firm has a portfolio of 10 companies, reflecting its commitment to backing innovative startups.
Underwood and Verrilli bring extensive experience from their previous roles at major tech companies, including Slack and Twitter. Their operational backgrounds inform the firm's investment strategy, which emphasizes the importance of how companies are built, not just the products they create. Adverb Ventures aims to co-build with founders, providing both capital and strategic guidance to help them scale effectively.
Adverb Ventures typically invests between $500,000 and $5 million in the earliest stages of a company's development, specifically targeting pre-seed, seed, and seed-plus rounds. The firm seeks to partner with founders who possess unique insights about their market, audience, or problem space. This focus on founder-driven insights allows Adverb to identify and support companies with the potential for significant growth.
The firm emphasizes investments in sectors such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, and consumer technology. Adverb Ventures is particularly interested in founders who are driven to scale their businesses effectively. The firm’s investment strategy is characterized by a deep operational angle, as both co-founders have backgrounds in product and growth leadership, enabling them to provide valuable insights and support to their portfolio companies.
Adverb Ventures has built a diverse portfolio that includes notable companies across various sectors. The following companies are part of their investment portfolio:
This portfolio reflects Adverb Ventures' commitment to investing in companies that leverage technology to solve complex problems and improve various aspects of life and business.
April Underwood: Co-founder & Managing Director. Underwood has a strong background in product management, having served as VP of Product at Slack and held positions at Google and Twitter. Her expertise lies in product development and growth strategies.
Jessica Verrilli: Co-founder & Managing Director. Verrilli previously served as VP of Corporate Development & Strategy at Twitter and has experience at Google Ventures. She brings a wealth of knowledge in corporate strategy and investment.
Liza Gurtin: Investor. Gurtin has a background in venture capital and has worked with various startups, focusing on early-stage investments.
Gary Pesola: Investor. Pesola has experience in investment management and supports the firm’s portfolio companies with strategic insights.
To pitch Adverb Ventures, founders should visit their website at Adverb Ventures. The firm prefers pitches that include a clear articulation of the market insights and the vision for scaling the business. Founders should prepare a comprehensive deck that outlines their business model, target audience, and competitive landscape.
Response times may vary, but founders can expect to hear back within a few weeks. Adverb Ventures values warm introductions, so leveraging connections within their network can enhance the chances of a successful pitch.
In July 2023, Adverb Ventures closed its debut fund of $75 million, marking a significant milestone for the firm. This fund will enable them to continue investing in early-stage companies across sectors such as AI, healthcare, and consumer technology.
As of April 2026, Adverb Ventures has made notable investments in a diverse portfolio of companies, including Accend, Cove, and Hypernatural. The firm remains active in identifying and supporting innovative startups that align with their investment thesis.
What are Adverb Ventures' investment criteria?
Adverb Ventures focuses on early-stage investments, specifically in pre-seed, seed, and seed-plus rounds. They typically invest between $500,000 and $5 million in companies led by founders with unique insights about their market or audience.
How can I apply or pitch to Adverb Ventures?
Founders interested in pitching to Adverb Ventures can visit their website at Adverb Ventures for more information on the application process. They encourage founders to present their unique market insights and vision for scaling their business.
What makes Adverb Ventures different from other VC firms?
Adverb Ventures emphasizes the importance of how companies are built, not just the products they create. Their founders, April Underwood and Jessica Verrilli, have extensive operational experience, which allows them to provide strategic guidance and support to their portfolio companies.
What is the geographic scope of Adverb Ventures' investments?
The firm primarily invests in companies based in the United States, focusing on early-stage startups that align with their investment thesis.
What is Adverb Ventures' approach to post-investment involvement?
Adverb Ventures aims to co-build with founders, providing not just capital but also operational support and strategic insights to help them scale effectively. Their deep operational experience allows them to engage meaningfully with portfolio companies.
What sectors does Adverb Ventures focus on?
Adverb Ventures invests primarily in sectors such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, and consumer technology. They are particularly interested in companies that leverage technology to address significant challenges in these areas.
All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks, and brands does not imply endorsement.