Participated · Seed · Mar 2025

Homeostasis develops a novel electrochemical process that converts CO2 into solid carbon materials, including graphite, using small, modular, portable reactors. The company produces carbon materials in the Pacific Northwest and conducts research through a partnership with the ASRC CAT program at City College of New York. Homeostasis also benefits from support at the University of Washington's Clean Energy Testbeds and backing from the Washington Department of Commerce. Led by co‑founders Dr. Julien Lombardi (Co‑Founder and Chief Science Officer) and Makoto Eyre (Co‑Founder and CEO), the startup plans to use recent funding to accelerate reactor development and make key technical hires in 2025. The company raised $600K in Pre‑Seed funding plus matching funds from the Washington Department of Commerce. Investors in the round included the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Kayak Ventures and angel investors.

Participated · Equity · Feb 2024

Niron Magnetics manufactures magnets that substitute iron and nitrogen for rare earth elements. The company is building a plant in Sartell, Minnesota, and is looking for a location for a second plant. It received a $150 million loan from the Pentagon announced by the White House and President Trump as part of broader mining-related funding. The administration framed the investment as a move to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign-produced magnets. Coverage did not disclose revenue, users, or prior funding rounds. The company’s near-term plans center on expanding domestic manufacturing capacity through the Sartell facility and a prospective second plant.

Led · Equity · Jul 2012

BringMeTheNews is a digital news delivery system founded in September 2009 by Rick Kupchella that curates and distributes news throughout Minnesota. Its journalists gather content from hundreds of sources and deliver it via Bring.MN, dozens of local digital media partners (including KFAN and mspmag.com), social media, and several dozen radio stations. The company employs nearly 20 people. It is sponsored by OptumHealth, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Children’s Hospitals, Explore Minnesota, Twin Metals and Flint Hills Resources. BringMeTheNews raised a $3M minority investment from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and intends to use the funds to enhance site user experience, improve content speed and relevance, hire additional staff including its first COO, and continue expansion in the state and into additional markets. BringMeTheNews is a local news service that collects content from hundreds of online sources and distributes it via websites, social media, and a network of radio newscasts. Founded in September 2009 by former investigative reporter and TV news anchor Rick Kupchella, the company employs a team of twelve. Its radio newscasts run on a growing list of stations, including several Clear Channel stations in the Twin Cities and others in Rochester, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Bemidji, Marshall and Warroad. The company produces 16 daily newscasts and maintains a network of online and social distribution channels. BringMeTheNews plans to broaden its content categories, will launch a sports division later this month, and intends to use the investment to expand beyond Minnesota.