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Founded in 2021, UP.Partners is a venture capital firm based in the United States, dedicated to enhancing mobility through strategic partnerships with entrepreneurs and corporations. With a total fund size of $230 million, UP.Partners focuses on seed and early-stage ventures that aim to develop technologies making transportation cleaner, faster, safer, and more cost-effective. The firm has established a reputation for driving innovation in the mobility sector by leveraging extensive corporate partnerships and industry expertise.
UP.Partners operates a multi-strategy platform that includes UP.Ventures, UP.Labs, and UP.Abundance, allowing them to support a diverse range of startups across various stages of development. The firm has successfully built a portfolio of over 40 companies, showcasing its commitment to transforming the movement of people and goods through innovative solutions. The leadership team, including Managing Partner Ben Marcus and Co-Founder Brian Adams, brings a wealth of experience from their backgrounds in aviation, corporate venture capital, and strategic partnerships.
UP.Partners has a broad investment focus that encompasses various sectors within the mobility ecosystem. Their primary areas of interest include mobility, logistics, energy, space-tech, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and fintech. The firm specifically targets seed and early-stage ventures that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of transportation across multiple modes, including land, air, sea, and space.
Investment check sizes range from $1 million to $5 million, allowing UP.Partners to support startups at different stages of their growth. The firm is particularly interested in companies that are innovating in sensing and perception technologies, automation, logistics optimization, energy systems, and space infrastructure. By focusing on these sectors, UP.Partners aims to foster advancements that will revolutionize how people and goods move, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable future.
UP.Partners boasts a diverse portfolio of over 40 companies that are making significant strides in the mobility sector. Notable investments include Kolors, an intercity bus network that enhances customer experience; Loft Dynamics, which focuses on improving flight training safety; and Teleo, a company converting fleets into teleoperated autonomous robots. Other key portfolio companies include Metropolis, known for its checkout-free payment solutions; Beta Technologies, which is developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles; and Aerialoop, the first commercial urban drone delivery airline.
Additionally, UP.Partners has invested in Range, a company electrifying commercial transportation; Skydio, a manufacturer of autonomous drones; and Axiom, which provides missions to the International Space Station. This diverse array of investments highlights UP.Partners' commitment to supporting innovative solutions that enhance mobility and logistics across various sectors.
Ben Marcus - Managing Partner & Co-Founder. Ben has a strong background in aviation and mobility, having previously founded Airmap, a drone airspace management company.
Brian Adams - Co-Founder of UP.Abundance. Brian brings extensive experience in corporate venture capital, having led Amazon's corporate venture capital arm.
To pitch UP.Partners, visit their website at up.partners. They welcome pitches that align with their focus on mobility innovations. Founders should be prepared to articulate how their solutions enhance transportation efficiency and sustainability.
UP.Partners operates several programs to support startups in the mobility sector. UP.Labs is a joint venture lab model that collaborates with corporate partners to co-create startups from scratch. This program allows entrepreneurs to leverage resources and insights from established industry players. Additionally, UP.Abundance is a dedicated energy and mobility fund that focuses on deep tech innovations in these areas.
UP.Partners has been actively engaging with the mobility ecosystem since its founding in 2021. Recent notable activities include investments in Pacific Fusion, Reliable Robotics, Space Kinetic, Eli, and Ashbrook Technologies through their UP.Abundance fund. The firm is also targeting a second fund of $230 million, indicating their commitment to expanding their investment capabilities in the mobility sector.
What stages does UP.Partners invest in?
UP.Partners invests in seed, Series A, and growth equity stages. This allows them to support startups at various points in their development, from early-stage ventures to more established companies seeking growth capital.
How do I pitch UP.Partners?
Founders can pitch UP.Partners through their website at up.partners. The firm encourages entrepreneurs to present their innovative mobility solutions and how they align with UP.Partners' investment focus.
What sectors does UP.Partners focus on?
UP.Partners focuses on a wide range of sectors, including mobility, logistics, energy, space-tech, artificial intelligence, healthcare, and fintech. They are particularly interested in technologies that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of transportation.
What is UP.Partners' typical check size?
The typical check size for UP.Partners ranges from $1 million to $5 million. This range allows them to provide meaningful support to startups at different stages of their growth.
Where does UP.Partners invest geographically?
While UP.Partners is based in the United States, they maintain a global perspective in their investments. This allows them to identify and support innovative mobility solutions from around the world.
What portfolio support does UP.Partners provide?
UP.Partners adds value to its portfolio companies through extensive corporate partnerships, industry expertise, and a multi-strategy operational model. This includes venture funding, co-creation through UP.Labs, and access to resources from established industry players.
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