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Kivu Venture Capital, established in San Francisco, is a venture capital firm founded by Seth Berman, who is also a co-founder of Susa Ventures. The firm is dedicated to investing in Series A and B companies, particularly those in the vertical AI and AI infrastructure sectors. Kivu's investment strategy emphasizes supporting founders who have demonstrated product-market fit and strong traction, providing not only capital but also strategic guidance and valuable connections to help them scale their businesses.
As of now, Kivu manages a portfolio of 10 companies and focuses on sectors such as healthcare, logistics, fintech, deeptech, and consumer technology. The firm is actively building its online presence and aims to enhance its visibility in the venture capital ecosystem. Kivu's commitment to fostering growth in its portfolio companies is evident through its flexible ownership thresholds and hands-on approach to supporting founders.
Notable milestones for Kivu include successful exits such as Expanse, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $800 million, and Robinhood, which went public under the ticker HOOD. The firm continues to seek out exceptional founders with deep domain expertise and a compelling vision for their products, positioning itself as a key player in the venture capital landscape.
Kivu Venture Capital specializes in investing in Series A and B companies, with a strong emphasis on vertical AI and AI infrastructure. The firm seeks to partner with exceptional founders who possess deep domain expertise and a compelling vision for their products. Kivu's investment strategy is designed to foster growth in sectors such as healthcare, logistics, fintech, deeptech, and consumer technology.
The firm typically invests between $1 million and $15 million per company, focusing on businesses that have demonstrated product-market fit, defensible business models, strong momentum, and clear market traction. Kivu's thesis centers on vertical AI and AI infrastructure, particularly in areas where founders have a credible path to category leadership. The firm values founders who are category-defining operators with a strong technical or domain moat, and it actively supports them through customer introductions, capital raising, and talent recruitment.
Kivu Venture Capital's portfolio includes a diverse range of companies across various sectors, highlighting its focus on vertical AI and AI infrastructure. Notable companies in their portfolio include:
This portfolio reflects Kivu's commitment to investing in companies that are at the forefront of technological advancement and innovation.
Seth Berman - Founder & General Partner. Seth co-founded Susa Ventures and focuses on AI, AI infrastructure, logistics, digital health, deeptech, and fintech at Kivu. His notable investment track record includes companies like Flexport, Expanse, Chapter, Pulley, Intercom, Nest, and Robinhood.
Emery Wells - Investment Partner. Emery is the co-founder of Frame.io, which was acquired by Adobe for $1.275 billion. He specializes in creative technology, AI, SaaS, media, and productivity tools.
Michael Stoppelman - Venture Partner. Michael previously served as SVP of Engineering at Yelp, where he played a key role in scaling the engineering team from 6 to 600 and leading the company to IPO. He focuses on AI, infrastructure, developer tools, and digital health.
Paul Sciarra - Venture Partner. Paul is the co-founder and first CEO of Pinterest and currently serves as Executive Chairman of Joby Aviation. He advises and invests in frontier technology and consumer products.
Kenny Joo - Head of Finance. Kenny leads fund operations and administration at Kivu, having previously worked on finance teams at Y Combinator and Sofinnova Ventures.
To pitch Kivu Venture Capital, founders should visit their website at kivu.vc. While specific details about the pitch process are not disclosed, the firm maintains an open pitch policy. Founders are encouraged to include key information about their business model, market traction, and growth strategy in their pitch materials.
Response times may vary, and Kivu does not specify a decision timeline. Founders should be prepared for a rolling application cycle and may benefit from warm introductions, although this is not a strict requirement.
As of May 2023, Kivu Venture Capital has been actively involved in the venture capital space, focusing on investments in vertical AI and AI infrastructure. The firm has made notable investments in companies such as HOPPR AI and Plenful, which have received backing from Kivu during their Series A and B funding rounds, respectively.
Recent portfolio highlights include the successful exit of Expanse, which was acquired by Palo Alto Networks for $800 million, and Robinhood's public listing under the ticker HOOD. These events underscore Kivu's commitment to identifying and supporting high-potential companies in the technology sector.
What are Kivu Venture Capital's investment criteria?
Kivu focuses on Series A and B companies that have demonstrated product-market fit, defensible business models, strong momentum, and clear market traction. The firm particularly emphasizes vertical AI and AI infrastructure sectors.
How can founders pitch to Kivu Venture Capital?
Founders can pitch to Kivu through their website at kivu.vc. The firm maintains an open pitch policy, although specific details about the pitch process are not disclosed.
What makes Kivu Venture Capital different from other firms?
Kivu adds value by providing flexible ownership thresholds, facilitating customer introductions, assisting in capital raising, and helping with talent recruitment. The firm connects founders with experienced operators and other founders to enhance their growth potential.
What is Kivu's geographic focus?
Kivu Venture Capital has a global investment approach, with a particular focus on North America. The firm seeks to partner with founders from various regions.
What is the typical check size for Kivu's investments?
Kivu typically invests between $1 million and $15 million per company, depending on the specific needs and growth potential of the business.
What kind of post-investment support does Kivu provide?
Kivu Venture Capital offers operational support, strategic guidance, and access to a network of experienced operators and founders to help portfolio companies scale effectively.
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