Participated · Seed · Jul 2024

BoldHue builds a countertop “Keurig for makeup” device that scans the face with a wand and dispenses a week’s worth of custom foundation blended from five pigments. The device is priced at $295 and pairs with a companion app that alerts users when pigment cartridges need refills (roughly $15–$20 each). A starter kit includes the first month of foundation and accessories; BoldHue will also offer a premium package for makeup artists. In the near term the company plans a nationwide roadshow and will ship 10,000 units to a 40,000-person waitlist before general availability. Longer-term plans include a virtual try-on app, broader personalization options, and expansion into other makeup categories and partner formulations. To date BoldHue has raised roughly $5 million in total capital.

Participated · Equity · Apr 2023

Community provides a hyper-personalized conversational SMS product that gives customers unique 10-digit numbers to engage audiences free of social-algorithm interference, spam, and ads. The platform serves celebrities, musicians, creators, small businesses, enterprises and Fortune 500 clients, and has expanded into sports teams, entertainment companies, and music labels. Community reports strong engagement metrics—98% open rates within the first five minutes, 45% average click-through rates, and 30% average response rates. The product includes integrations with Salesforce, Shopify, Zapier, ActBlue and others to support enterprise workflows. Leadership changes have accompanied its enterprise push: Diankha Linear was named President and CEO after joining as COO, and Robert Wolf became Executive Chairman in mid-2022. The company also runs Community Cares to improve equitable access and plans to leverage generative AI enhancements expected later this year. Community operates a text-messaging platform that enables Leaders (people, businesses and brands with a 10-digit Community number) to have one-on-one conversations with Members at scale. Since launching in July 2019 the platform has facilitated more than 3 billion text messages and has welcomed over 26 million Members. The company reports strong engagement metrics, including 95% open rates and 60% clickthrough rates on Leader messages. Community says the new funding will support accelerated growth, expansion, and additional marketing and communications avenues via text messaging. The business emphasizes privacy and direct connection free from social algorithms, unlawful data sharing, ads, or shortcode spam. Community is headquartered in Santa Monica and operates as a fully-remote organization with more than 130 employees across the U.S. and EMEA. Community (formerly Shimmur) pivoted from a Reddit‑style app to a direct‑messaging text‑marketing platform that supplies clients with 10‑digit phone numbers to message fans. The company charges monthly or annual service fees for audience reach, segmentation and text marketing campaigns rather than relying on ads. Community is currently in private onboarding with companies and celebrities and has not completed a public launch. Founders Matthew Peltier and Josh Rosenheck relaunched the business after attracting support from entertainment investors. TechCrunch reports the startup has raised nearly $35 million in two convertible notes following a recapitalization earlier this year, and earlier as Shimmur it raised roughly $7 million from VCs. Sources told TechCrunch the company has been valued at upwards of $200 million, though Community’s spokesperson said there is no valuation attached because of the nature of the recap and convertible notes.

Participated · Equity · Apr 2023

Fairly AI offers an oversight and risk-management platform designed to automate risk management in AI model development. Its software provides information reporting and testing, policy management, and built-in controls for fairness and bias testing. The platform is intended to help technology and policy experts connect and apply policies early in the development process and maintain controls throughout the product lifecycle. Fairly AI positions itself to help firms proactively comply with regulations and mitigate safety and privacy concerns. The company says the recent funds will be used to grow sales and marketing. Fairly AI was incorporated in April 2020 and operates globally with headquarters in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.

Participated · Seed · Sep 2022

Modern Picnic makes vegan-leather, handbag-style insulated lunch boxes and accessories priced from $59 to $250. The product is positioned as chic, functional, and sustainable with wipeable interiors, and has multiple use cases spanning working women, healthcare workers, parents storing breast milk, and people who travel with insulin. The brand sells primarily direct-to-consumer but also pursues wholesale and retail partnerships with accounts including Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt, and Dillard's, and supplements reach with pop-ups and events. Modern Picnic has built significant brand equity: over 350 press features, a 600-person organic brand-ambassador program, and a large TikTok following. Operating metrics disclosed in the pitch include a $138 average order value and a strong returning-customer rate; Insider verified that 2021 revenue tripled year-over-year and the business has grown into a multimillion-dollar company. The founder outlines growth plans across product, licensing, and distribution and is seeking additional capital to scale headcount, marketing, product development, and inventory.

Participated · Seed · Jul 2022

Guava is a mobile-first, connected banking and networking platform built by and for Black entrepreneurs. The platform combines digital banking features with an expansive community where entrepreneurs can connect, learn, and partner. Founder and CEO Kelly Ifill leads the company. Guava raised $650K as an extension of its pre-seed round. The company intends to use the funds to expand the product and its community aspects, supporting insights and sharing best practices with customers. Guava is based in New York. Guava offers digital banking services and a community platform built to address the specific needs of Black entrepreneurs, tackling the racial wealth gap by facilitating development, growth and resilience of small businesses. The company provides a combined banking and networking product aimed at creators and small business owners. Guava intends to use its newly raised funds to accelerate growth and expand operations. Founded and led by CEO Kelly Ifill in 2021, the company has pursued partnerships and recognition to grow its reach. Guava was selected for Mastercard’s Start Path startup engagement program and won first place in the NYC Recovery Challenge with Google, Cornell Tech and Tech: NYC. The recent $2.4M financing will support scaling of its product and community efforts.