VC News | Socium Ventures seeking new investment opportunities
Connetic Venture Capital Access Fund is a closed-end interval fund that allows non-accredited investors to invest in privately owned technology and consumer product companies.
From Atlanta, GA:
With $300 million in new capital, Socium Ventures is actively seeking investment opportunities in the $3 million to $25 million range across industries and sectors experiencing technology-led growth, including enterprise and vertical software, advanced computer tools, public sector software, healthcare, fintech, Business-2-Business marketplaces and sustainability. The Socium Ventures team looks to support its portfolio companies across every stage of development with strategic and operational support as well as permanent capital over the long term.
“Cox Enterprises has built innovative businesses for 126 years,” said Dallas Clement, President and Chief Financial Officer of Cox Enterprises. “This second round of funding for Socium Ventures strengthens our ability to partner with the next generation of original thinkers to create solutions to big problems and prosperity for the next generation.”
Launched in June 2023, Socium Ventures, backed by Cox Enterprises, is looking to build on the strengths of the Cox platform, including its deep and permanent capital base as well as the strategic and operational expertise of Cox’s $23 billion family of businesses.
“This second fund recognizes what we’ve accomplished since launching Socium Ventures last year,” said Andrew Davis, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Investments, Cox Enterprises and Managing Partner of Socium Ventures. “Moving forward, we will continue our investing strategy to help early-stage businesses scale for a bigger impact. This is a formula that has worked well for us, and we are excited about our future prospects.”
From Colorado Springs, CO:
WaterStone, a Christian foundation renowned for its faith-based financial planning and charitable giving, has announced the launch of the WaterStone Impact Fund, established through an innovative partnership with The Tebow Group, founded by former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, and Caplin Ventures, a family office headed by Ricky Caplin.
According to the announcement, the fund was created to provide a unique opportunity for a broad range of investors —including traditional limited partners and those with Donor-Advised Funds—to contribute to faith-led investments in technology start-ups.
“WaterStone has always worked to support donors and amplify giving. That’s why we’re excited to partner with The Tebow Group in this new initiative and eager to watch it bear fruit,” said Ken Harrison, Chief Executive Officer of WaterStone. “The fact that our donors can do that while also supporting the work of the Tim Tebow Foundation and mentor faith-led founders makes this a fantastic opportunity from every perspective.”
Fueling tech start-ups is only a part of what makes the fund unique, however, a portion of the fund’s carried interest will be channeled to the Tim Tebow Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation, orphan care and prevention, profound medical needs, and special needs ministry in more than 95 countries worldwide.
“As technology evolves and impacts human flourishing worldwide, we believe faith-led founders have a unique role in advancing these initiatives,” said Joel Chakra, Managing Partner of the WaterStone Impact Fund and The Tebow Group. “The fund will serve as a bridge between faith and finance, enabling us to strategically invest in ventures that fuel faith, hope, and love, while also giving back to causes that align with biblical values. With AI (artificial intelligence), automation, and robotics at the forefront of innovation, this partnership is an exciting step forward to support both economic growth and the life-changing work of the Tim Tebow Foundation.”
From Covington, KY:
LINK NKY reports that Covington-based venture capital firm Connetic Ventures has launched an in-house investment product that has been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Named Connetic Venture Capital Access Fund, it is a closed-end interval fund that allows non-accredited investors to invest in privately owned technology and consumer product companies. The fund will be listed under the ticker $VCAFX.
Traditionally, investors cannot access private companies through public markets. Those markets are typically only accessed by institutional and high-net-worth investors. Brad Zapp, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Connetic Ventures, said the fund will expand his firm’s product offerings.
The fund is highly diversified and holds close to 100 private companies in the early growth stage.
From Washington, DC:
The NAACP, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, has announced the launch of NAACP Capital, a fund of funds that will invest in fund managers and start-ups that are focused on closing gaps facing communities of color. The fund, which seeks to raise $200 million, was conceptualized in partnership with Kapor Capital and Kapor Center, along with a team of nine venture fund managers.
“As an ever-evolving legacy organization, the NAACP knows that innovation is borne out of inclusivity,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and Chief Executive Officer. “Impact investing has the power to drive historic financial returns and uplift overlooked communities. Right now, deeply entrenched systemic barriers are curtailing the innovative progress necessary to breed healthy competition in a global economy. We’re seeking to change that. Investment is the backbone of impact, and impact investing will shape socioeconomics for generations to come. It’s time to invest in fund managers who share a forward-looking vision that invests in innovation and technology, ensuring the economy works for everybody, not just a select few.”
From San Francisco, CA:
A new venture capital firm, Chemistry, has raised $350 million for its debut fund, with plans to invest in early stage start-ups. The firm was co-founded by Mark Goldberg, previously at Index Ventures; Kristina Shen, formerly with Andreessen Horowitz; and Ethan Kurzweil, a former Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners.
Chemistry’s focus is on Series A and seed-stage investments in sectors such as fintech, infrastructure, and developer tools.
The founders aim to leverage their combined experience to offer hands-on support to startups. In a recent blog post, the firm emphasised its dedication to being “the portfolio services team,” highlighting that all three partners will be deeply involved in each investment. Kurzweil noted that the firm will focus on the fundamentals of venture capital by “stripping away the excess” and committing fully to its founders from the earliest stages.
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