The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Jan 2024

Haven Energy is a Los Angeles-based energy technology company that aggregates battery-based distributed energy resources (DERs) across residential and small commercial & industrial sites to build large-scale virtual power plants (VPPs). Its platform installs and manages behind-the-meter storage that can be dispatched to support grid stability and utility-run demand response programs. To date, Haven has installed more than 10 MW of distributed capacity and has over 50 MW slated for development in 2026, underpinning a project pipeline valued at more than $75 million. Existing utility and community choice aggregator partners include EPRI, Clean Power Alliance, San Jose Clean Energy, Clean Energy Alliance, and Peninsula Clean Energy. The company plans to deepen these partnerships while expanding a leasing model and Channel Partner Program targeting local installers. Proceeds from the latest financing will help accelerate these initiatives and scale its VPP footprint nationwide.

Participated · Equity · Dec 2023

Simply Homes is a Portland, Maine–based startup that acquires, renovates and manages single-family homes to provide long-term affordable rentals to very low-income families, the elderly, disabled and Section-8 voucher holders. Founded in 2020, the company spent its first years building a technology platform and began buying homes in January of this year. It uses machine learning and HUD data to underwrite acquisitions rapidly and claims predictable income through the Housing Choice Voucher program. By the end of the month it expects to have 108 units in its portfolio, and since its first-quarter launch it has seen revenue grow by more than 50% quarter over quarter. Simply Homes operates an operating company/property company structure, collects rents and charges a transaction fee plus a 3% ongoing portfolio management fee. The company says it underwrites for worst-case, high-interest-rate scenarios and plans to use new capital to build AI-powered virtual analysts and expand into new markets including Baltimore, additional Ohio markets and St. Louis.

Participated · Seed · Jun 2023

Danti provides an Earth data search engine that enables users to pose simple questions about physical places and receive answers drawn from satellites, drones, analytics firms, social media, news and other sources. The company incorporates AI tools, natural language processing and experience across different data types to deliver real-time information and an "AI Data Analyst" experience. Danti’s platform surfaces satellite imagery, computer-vision analytics, reports, news, shipping data, global events, and active fires from both government and commercial sources. The company has deployed its technology with government customers to support their missions. Danti is led by Founder and CEO Jesse Kallman and is based in Atlanta, GA. It intends to use the new funding to expand operations and development efforts. Danti offers a natural language search layer for location-based Earth data, enabling non-experts to quickly query and synthesize heavily siloed geospatial datasets. The product is designed to surface answers for use cases ranging from insurance underwriting to urgent battlefield damage assessments. The startup emphasizes solving the search problem rather than replacing low-level geospatial processing tools. Danti is led by Jesse Kallman and the team is fewer than 15 people and scarcely four months old. To accelerate development it closed a $2.75 million pre-seed round and has been running beta tests with commercial customers and government stakeholders. The company won an open challenge from the National Security Innovation Network and reports strong follow-on feedback from the NGA and other users, and is focused on deep user engagement to refine the product.

Participated · Series A · May 2023

Triumph provides a plug-and-play payments and compliance engine that enables game developers to run skill-based real-money tournaments. Its stack handles KYC, payments processing, gaming law and privacy compliance, anti-fraud, accounting, and player skill matchmaking. The product is intended to shield developers from legal and operational complexity while making real-money offerings viable. Triumph plans to use the new funding to expand to additional platforms beyond mobile and to offer novel real-money experiences. The company is currently operating in 37 states and Washington, D.C., and intends to continue expanding as the legal landscape evolves. To support scaled operations it has made key hires in legal, engineering, and product leadership. Triumph Labs offers a novel API and SDK that integrates real-cash competitions into fast-casual mobile games, handling tournament hosting, matchmaking, payment, arbitration, and compliance. The product can be integrated into mobile apps in as little as an hour and is reported to drive up to 10× greater gameplay monetization for developers. Triumph’s platform includes anti-cheating mechanisms and fair matchmaking to create a secure environment, and it positions itself as a skill-based gaming platform compliant with local and federal gambling regulations. The company was founded by Jake Brooks and Jared Geller. Flux Capital said it plans to work with Triumph to expand its offerings into new gaming verticals and consoles. The article reports a completed $2 million financing led by Flux Capital.

Participated · Seed · Dec 2022

Kapu is a social commerce B2C e-commerce startup founded in January that enables Kenyan consumers to buy groceries at lower prices by sourcing directly from manufacturers and supporting group bulk-buying. Its product combines an offline agent network—1,500 agent collection centers across Nairobi—with online channels (WhatsApp ordering coming soon) to let customers place orders through agents or directly. Agents collect orders, receive goods and notify customers, with next-day deliveries and many agents also offering home delivery. Kapu says its model can save consumers up to 30% on fresh produce and packaged goods. The startup was founded by Sam Chappatte, an ex-Jumia executive, and is focusing on fully penetrating Nairobi before expanding to new markets. Kapu recently raised $8 million in seed funding to support its growth and expansion.