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Ulu Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2008 by Miriam Rivera and Clint Korver, based in Palo Alto, California. The firm is recognized as one of the largest Latina-led VC funds in the United States, with over $400 million in assets under management (AUM). Ulu Ventures has a strong commitment to supporting diverse founder teams, believing that such diversity significantly contributes to innovation and success in the startup ecosystem.
Over the past 14 years, Ulu Ventures has built a robust portfolio that includes multiple unicorns and notable exits, such as SoFi and Palantir. The firm employs a quantitative, bias-minimizing approach to investment, which allows them to identify promising opportunities in the market. Ulu Ventures has established itself as a key player in the venture capital landscape, focusing on sectors like software, fintech, edtech, and digital health.
Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, Ulu Ventures is strategically positioned to tap into the vibrant startup scene across the United States. The firm has cultivated a diverse limited partner base, including foundations and institutional investors, which further supports its mission to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Ulu Ventures specializes in seed-stage investments, including pre-seed, seed, and seed-plus rounds. The firm targets a wide range of sectors, including software, fintech, edtech, digital health, and sustainability. Ulu Ventures emphasizes the importance of diversity among founder teams, believing that such diversity enhances innovation and success. Approximately 80% of their portfolio companies have founders who are immigrants, women, or from underrepresented groups.
The firm employs a data-driven investment strategy that minimizes cognitive bias, allowing them to assess potential investments based on key business metrics such as market share and revenue. Ulu Ventures seeks to uncover opportunities in diverse and underrepresented founder teams, aligning their investment thesis with their belief that these teams are more likely to succeed. Their check sizes typically align with seed-stage funding, providing essential capital to help startups navigate early challenges and scale effectively.
Ulu Ventures has a notable portfolio that includes several high-profile companies, demonstrating its successful investment strategy. Key portfolio companies include:
This diverse portfolio showcases Ulu Ventures' commitment to investing in innovative companies led by diverse teams, further solidifying their reputation in the venture capital space.
Miriam Rivera - CEO/Cofounder/Managing Director. Miriam has a background as the former VP and Deputy General Counsel at Google. She is a Latina founder and has been instrumental in shaping Ulu Ventures' mission to support diverse entrepreneurs.
Clint Korver - Cofounder/Managing Director. Clint is a serial entrepreneur with a PhD in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University. His experience in technology and entrepreneurship informs Ulu Ventures' investment strategy.
Steve Reale - Managing Director. Steve brings extensive experience in venture capital and has a strong track record of supporting early-stage companies.
Maria Salamanca - Partner. Maria has a background in finance and venture capital, focusing on identifying promising investment opportunities.
Nancy Torres - Partner. Nancy specializes in supporting diverse founder teams and has a keen interest in social impact investing.
Summer Barghouti - Chief of Operations. Summer oversees the operational aspects of Ulu Ventures, ensuring efficient processes and support for portfolio companies.
Andrea Bogarin - Senior Associate. Andrea plays a key role in sourcing deals and supporting the investment team in evaluating potential investments.
To pitch Ulu Ventures, founders should visit their contact page at uluventures.com/contact. It is essential to include a comprehensive pitch deck that outlines the business model, market opportunity, and details about the founding team. Ulu Ventures prefers data-driven presentations that minimize cognitive bias.
While warm introductions can be beneficial, they are not strictly necessary. Founders can expect a response within a few weeks after submitting their pitch. Ulu Ventures encourages transparency and clarity in all communications, which helps facilitate a productive dialogue.
Ulu Ventures runs various initiatives to support founders, including the term Ulupreneurs, which refers to the founders of companies in which Ulu Ventures invests. This term emphasizes their role in driving innovation and change within their respective industries.
Additionally, Ulu Ventures participates in events such as the Latinx VC Annual Summit, aimed at increasing representation and support for Latinx professionals in venture capital. These programs and events reflect Ulu Ventures' commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial environment.
In February 2025, Ulu Ventures announced the closing of Fund IV at $208 million, further solidifying its position as a leading Latina-led venture capital firm. This fund will continue to focus on seed-stage investments in diverse founder teams across various sectors.
In January 2026, Ulu Ventures published a news recap highlighting their recent activities and insights within the venture capital landscape. This recap included updates on portfolio companies and their performance, showcasing the firm's ongoing engagement with its community.
What are Ulu Ventures' investment criteria?
Ulu Ventures focuses on seed-stage investments, primarily in sectors such as software, fintech, edtech, digital health, and sustainability. They prioritize diverse founder teams, believing that diversity enhances innovation and success.
How can I pitch to Ulu Ventures?
Founders can pitch Ulu Ventures through their website at uluventures.com/contact. It is recommended to include a clear business model, market analysis, and details about the founding team in the pitch deck.
What makes Ulu Ventures different from other VC firms?
Ulu Ventures employs a data-driven, bias-minimizing approach to investment, which sets them apart from traditional VC firms. They focus on supporting diverse founder teams, which they believe leads to better performance and innovation.
What is the geographic scope of Ulu Ventures?
Ulu Ventures primarily invests in startups based in the United States, particularly those emerging from various technology hubs across the country.
What kind of support does Ulu Ventures provide to portfolio companies?
Ulu Ventures adds value through strategic support, resources, and access to their extensive network, helping portfolio companies navigate challenges and scale effectively.
What is the size of Ulu Ventures' funds?
Ulu Ventures has over $400 million in assets under management, with their most recent fund, Fund IV, closing at $208 million in February 2025.
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