Featuring Anzu Partners and M13
Hola! Welcome back to another edition of Connect’s VC Connection, our Venture Capital newsletter. Where we showcase exceptional VC firms, giving you better insight into their areas of focus and investment criteria. We hope that this newsletter will shine some light in the deep waters of Venture Capital.
This week we are highlighting Anzu Partners, investing in breakthrough Industrial and Life Science Technologies, and M13, investing in Consumer Tech companies.
The VC Connection is a semi-regular, ongoing newsletter where we profile funds that we have developed relationships with. If you would like to see other firms we know, feel free to browse through our curated VC List, “Other VC Firms.”
Anzu focuses on five key areas – Manufacturing, Materials, Measurement & Monitoring, and Modeling. Within those pillars, the firm has invested in companies within additive manufacturing, robotics, bioprocessing, nanomaterials, molecular diagnostics, artificial intelligence, quantum and computational chemistry and much more.
Currently, Anzu manages approximately $1B in strategic assets across three venture funds, a mezzanine revenue-based investing fund (“RBI”), and a special purpose acquisition company (“SPAC”). Last year, the firm began investing from their ~$200M third venture fund. Anzu invests in companies from their pre-revenue stages to post- commercialization, from seed to IPO.
In addition to providing capital, Anzu works closely with its portfolio companies, tapping into its team of 12+ investment professionals, 260+ fund investors, and 40+ portfolio support staff to serve as a resource for business development, market positioning, global connectivity, operations and more.
Thesis: Breakthrough Industrial and Life Science Technology for Industrial Applications
Industry: Manufacturing, Materials, Modeling, Measurement & Monitoring
Location: Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Tampa, FL; and San Diego, CA
Stage: Seed, Series A+
Initial Investment Size: $3M-$10M
SD Portfolio Companies: NanoCellect Biomedical, South 8 Technologies, Xendee, ImmunoScape, Liquid Instruments
M13, also known as Messier 13 or the Great Globular Cluster, is home to 100,000 unique stars. Each one adding a little bit of light to the glow that the M13 cluster casts in the night sky. M13, the venture firm, has a similar outlook to how they support their portfolio companies. “When those stars come together, they create something that’s truly greater than the sum of its parts. That’s the M13 advantage.” M13 views the companies and founding members truly as partners and work together to solve the problems they come to face.
Founded in 2016, M13 started off as a consumer focused fund with investments in DTC tech companies. However, the firm has shifted from then to a consumer tech investment focus, investing in the future of work, finance, health, commerce, and in Web3 as a horizontal vertical that invests in each of these core areas.
In addition to capital, M13 has 15 dedicated members of their team focusing on operations and assisting their portfolio companies. If that might be acquiring talent, building out their team, marketing, finance, accounting, or go to market strategy. M13 has experienced operators ready to help their portfolio companies with any aspect of their business.
M13 is committed to building the future, investing in strong teams and enabling their founders through their innovative founder-centric approach. Earlier this year M13 closed their latest $400M fund, M13 Fund III, to lead deals and write up to $15M Seed to Series B checks.
Thesis: Consumer Tech companies
Industry: FinTech, B2B, SaaS, Marketplaces, Web3, Crypto, HealthTech, Commerce, Future of Work
Location: Santa Monica, CA and New York City, NY
Stage: Seed, Series A, and Series B
Initial Investment Size: $1M-$10M
SD Portfolio Companies: Cue Health, Hylete
Here at Connect, our mission is to help San Diego’s incredible startup companies grow and succeed. One way we do that is by connecting our startups to venture capitalists. If you are interested in getting connected with our network, we recommend you apply to our program, Springboard. In this program, you will get the opportunity to speak with expert advisors.
Keep on charging forward,
The Connect Team
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