The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Apr 2025

NetRise builds a platform that creates software asset inventories and generates software bills of materials (SBOMs) by analyzing compiled code and firmware to surface software supply chain risk. The platform is designed for device manufacturers, software producers, enterprise security teams, and federal government users to identify vulnerabilities, prioritize remediation, and enable rapid incident response. NetRise emphasizes analyzing compiled code rather than source code to deliver visibility into embedded and firmware-based systems. With the new funding the company plans to bring its solutions to a broader market and accelerate proactive, continuous monitoring of software components to identify and address threats. The company announced a $10M growth funding round that brings total funding to $24.8M. NetRise is based in Austin, Texas, and aims to improve compliance, third-party risk management, and operational efficiency for customers. NetRise is an Austin, TX-based company offering a cloud-based SaaS platform that provides visibility into the Extended Internet of Things (XIoT) security problem. Its platform analyzes and continuously monitors device firmware to enable device manufacturers and enterprise customers to detect, respond to, and prevent threats across supply chains. The company is led by co-founder and CEO Tom Pace. NetRise raised $8M in a funding round led by Squadra Ventures with participation from Miramar Digital Ventures, Sorenson Ventures and DNX Ventures. It plans to use the funds to expand platform capabilities, including coverage for Windows systems and containers, and to develop additional machine learning models for advanced analysis. By expanding coverage and analytics, NetRise intends to help customers understand what’s inside their devices and their entire software supply chain to identify risks and vulnerabilities.

Participated · Seed · Aug 2024

Wethos AI provides an AI-driven workplace solution that combines artificial intelligence and deep organizational psychology to give businesses insights into team dynamics. The system quantifies team ethos and leverages AI-driven analysis to help organizations unlock new levels of team performance and individual potential. Led by Founder and CEO Stuart McClure, the company is based in Newport Beach, CA. Wethos AI intends to use its new funding to further enhance its technology and AI capabilities. The company also plans to invest in go-to-market efforts to expand its customer base and accelerate adoption.

Participated · Equity · Oct 2022

NumberOne AI applies artificial intelligence and machine learning to start and launch new company ventures. Led by founder Stuart McClure, the Newport Beach, CA–based startup focuses on a core ML learning platform to programmatize the startup-building process. The company says it uses predictive AI to identify and prevent global problems in a predictive and preventative way. Management intends to use the new capital to build out that core ML platform and to systematize how startups are created. The article does not disclose revenue, users, or other operating metrics.

Participated · Seed · Aug 2014

Quettra was founded by Ankit Jain, the former head of search and discovery for Google’s Play Store. The company is building a product to help developers and ad networks understand mobile users more holistically; specific product details remain in stealth. Quettra’s immediate focus is improving mobile user understanding to enable publishers to show fewer, more effective ads and to help ad networks find and present the right ads and formats. The startup has begun preparations for early tests of its first product. Financially, Quettra announced a $2.9 million seed financing to fund its early work. The team currently comprises six full-time engineers with deep mobile backgrounds.