The VC Connection #3

Jun 30, 2022

Featuring Left Lane Capital and Serra Ventures

Goooooood morning! Welcome to The VC Connection, Connect’s 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 showcasing Left Lane Capital and Serra Ventures.  Two incredible firms that support SD companies all the way from the East!

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.”

Left Lane Capital

Left Lane Capital is a venture capital firm with offices in New York and London. The firm focuses on Series A to Series C rounds, preferring to be the lead investor, with checks ranging from $5M to a total of $75M. If you are a high growth internet or consumer tech company with MRR of $50k, Left Lane could potentially be a right fit for you.

Focused around internet and consumer tech, Left Lane targets companies in fintech, marketplace, ecommerce, foodtech, edtech, SMB tech, healthtech, software, and gaming & entertainment. They strive to partner with companies that challenge the status quo and have high-growth and retention.

This past April, the firm closed their second fund of $1.4B with the continued focus to invest in internet and consumer tech companies. Investments include GoSite, Masterworks, GoStudent, M1 Finance, Blank Street, Talkiatry, Tovala, Wayflyer, and more. 60% of their investments are based in North America, while 40% are Global.

Thesis: High-growth Internet and Consumer Technology Companies
Industry: FinTech, Marketplace, EdTech, Food, Ecommerce, SMB Tech, Health & Wellness, Software, and Gaming & Entertainment
Location: New York and London
Stage: Series A to Series C
Initial Investment Size: $5M-$75M
SD Portfolio Companies: GoSite

Serra Ventures

Serra has offices in both Chicago and San Diego.  The fund focuses on Seed and Series A rounds in Technology companies with a focus on Information Technology, Devices/Instrumentation, and Agriculture Technology.  Serra looks for companies with a demonstrated product-market fit, a team with strong industry or technical experience, referenceable customer base, a powerful technology or patent advantage, and a capital efficient business model. Preferably, companies that have finished an accelerator program, I-Corps program, or have raised a previous Seed Stage funding round.

Currently investing out of Serra Capital Fund III a $50M fund, the firm typically writes checks in the $250k to $1M range. Serra has recently raised an additional fund, approximately $40M in size, that is solely focused on the AgTech Sector.

Thesis: Technology companies in the Midwest and Underserved West Coast
Industry: Information Technology, Devices/Instrumentation, and Agricultural Technologies
Location: Champaign, IL & San Diego, CA
Stage: Seed and Series A
Initial Investment Size: $250k – $1M
SD Portfolio Companies: Blooma, Cardea Bio, CureMatch, Daasity, GoSite, Home Bay, SABIA, Ubiq, Wrapify, and Zerigo Health

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