Participated · Seed · Jun 2024

Cardino operates a digital-first marketplace that helps private sellers list used electric vehicles for free and connects them with dealers across Europe. The platform provides complementary valuations based on real-time market data, screens sellers, inspects vehicle condition and battery reports, and manages logistics, pick-up and payment processing. Private sellers have an 80% likelihood of receiving a binding offer within 72 hours, and vehicles are collected within seven days. Cardino equips dealerships with tools to source high-quality EV supply from multiple markets and enables direct bidding between buyers and sellers. The company reported nearly 50% quarter-over-quarter growth in Q1 2024 and an annualized gross merchandise value (GMV) of €100 million. Planned 2024 initiatives include expanding consumer seller services to France and adding a proprietary online battery range check to enhance the platform. Cardino operates an online marketplace that connects EV sellers to dealerships through auctions, using a C2B model built around battery health analysis, digital inspections, and real-time market data. The platform provides dealers with tools to source and purchase EVs, including an Inventory Browsing feature with detailed EV profiles, technical details, photos, and seller verifications. Dealers can place bids directly on the platform, and Cardino assists in sourcing alternatives when specific models aren’t available. The company was established in December 2022 and is led by CEO Henrik Sachs and COO Lukasz Pajak. Cardino reports a community of over 1,000 EV sellers and more than 100 dealers, and managed nearly €4 million in GMV in August with a monthly growth rate exceeding 50%. It raised €1M in a Pre-Seed round and intends to use the funds to expand operations and broaden its business reach.

Participated · Seed · Dec 2022

Foundation produces Passport Prime, a programmable security device running KeyOS, a Rust microkernel operating system developed over three years. Passport Prime ships with a Bitcoin hardware wallet, FIDO security keys, 2FA storage, a secrets vault, and 50GB of encrypted file storage, and began shipping to pre-order customers in March before opening general availability in May 2026. KeyOS is open source and includes QuantumLink, a post-quantum-secure Bluetooth protocol; Foundation offers an SDK, simulator, CLI tooling, and a developer program to build apps and agent workflows for the device. The company plans a KeyOS app store rollout to all users by the end of Q2 and highlights integrations such as Cake Wallet for cold storage. Foundation's hardware is manufactured in the USA in an ITAR-compliant facility. The firm is expanding its remit from Bitcoin self-custody into identity, multi-factor authentication, and AI agent authorization, and has raised $16.5 million in total funding to date.

Participated · Series A · Jul 2022

Fyto builds an integrated hardware and software system—shallow water basins plus an automated robotic platform—to grow aquatic “superplants” in a controlled environment. Its technology uses farm waste streams (including manure) as inputs to increase productivity and improve nutrient management while cutting production costs, water use and greenhouse gas emissions. In some operations the company says it can reduce emissions by over 50%, and farms can generate 10–20× more protein per acre using 5–10× less water than traditional crops. The plants reproduce vegetatively (no seeds), double every few days, and can be harvested year-round, producing nutrient-dense biomass shown to be palatable and digestible for cows. Fyto is pre-revenue and plans to launch and sell its products later this year. The company was launched out of MIT in 2019 and is based in Petaluma, California.

Participated · Series B · Feb 2022

Brunt Workwear designs and sells modern work boots, clothing, and accessories targeted at construction, installation, maintenance, and repair professionals. The company began with boots and expanded its assortment six months after launch in 2021 to include jackets, pants, and accessories. Led by CEO Eric Girouard, the brand emphasizes product development and DTC e-commerce while planning broader retail distribution. Brunt raised $20M in a Series B to support inventory increases, team growth, additional product development, and expansion of retail channels beyond its digital storefront. The company positions itself to serve more than 17 million U.S. workers in relevant trades. Prior to Brunt, Girouard spent over a decade in e-commerce and direct-to-consumer roles at startups including Rue La La, M.Gemi, and Trade Coffee. Brunt Workwear is a modern work boot and apparel brand led by founder and CEO Eric Girouard that serves workers across the construction, installation, maintenance, and repair industries. The company launched with work boots and has expanded into clothing and accessories. Brunt plans to use proceeds from its Series A to increase production, grow its leadership team, and expand into new categories and classifications. It raised $8.4M in a Series A round led by TF Cornerstone with participation from Andrew Rosen and Ben Fischman. In the past year Brunt grew 63% month-over-month, recorded a 44% repeat purchase rate from its original customer cohort, and expects 150% growth in 2022.

Participated · Series C · Nov 2021

VergeSense offers an AI-driven Workplace Analytics Platform that uses intelligent sensors to collect real-time occupancy data, dashboards and insights to inform workplace strategy, and integrations with other workplace technologies. The platform is used by enterprises globally and analyzes over 40 million square feet, supporting customers across 29 countries, including 26 of the Fortune 500. Led by CEO and co-founder Dan Ryan, VergeSense combines hardware sensors with software analytics to transform static offices into dynamic, employee-centric workplaces. The company intends to use the new funding to accelerate platform innovation and growth. The business emphasizes enterprise deployments and integration with existing workplace systems to drive adoption across large customers. VergeSense builds machine-vision sensors and analytics that help businesses understand and optimize how office spaces are used. The company launched in 2017 and sells dedicated sensors and software that track occupancy and usage patterns. During the COVID-19 pandemic demand increased and VergeSense added features to help manage social distancing, guide cleaning intensity, and infer likely-occupied seats by detecting backpacks and other signs. Its customers include Shell, Quicken Loans, Roche, Cisco and Telus, and its tools now watch more than 40 million square feet across 29 countries. Financially, VergeSense has raised $22.6 million to date, including a $9 million Series A earlier this year and the new $12 million round. The company plans to use the funding to continue improving its core computer vision capabilities and hardware, pursue partnerships and integrations with desk/room booking and building-automation tools, and double headcount across departments. VergeSense is a U.S. startup offering a sensor-as-a-system platform for offices that provides real-time occupant counts, foot-traffic-triggered cleaning notifications and analytics. Its machine-learning platform and sensor hardware support features such as a Social Distancing Score, daily occupancy reports, a Smart Cleaning Planner and an open API for integrations. The company processes about 6 million sensor reports per day for nearly 70 customers, including 40 FORTUNE 1000 companies, covering 20 million square feet across 250 office buildings in 15 countries. VergeSense says bookings are on track to be up 500% quarter over quarter after an early COVID-19 aftershock, indicating accelerated demand for its tools to manage occupancy and safety. The startup plans to scale its software analytics, expand operations to meet increased demand, and invest in product development including smaller/faster sensor form factors and additional environmental data feeds such as air quality, temperature and humidity. VergeSense provides an AI-powered sensor-as-a-service platform that creates an information layer within commercial properties to give real estate investors, property managers, and workplace tenants actionable insights. Its sensors can be installed in minutes and feed a dashboard that delivers AI-powered recommendations to building managers. The platform improves over time as sensors collect more data and learn to detect new types of events via software updates. Led by founder and CEO Dan Ryan, the company plans to use the latest funding to accelerate platform development and build its team. VergeSense also intends to scale distribution through VergeSense API partners and its relationship with JLL. The company is based in San Francisco, CA and raised $1.5M in the latest funding round.