January Ventures

www.january.ventures

January Ventures backs moonshot founders transforming traditional industries and processes, focusing on the pre-seed stage and investing in exceptional founders before they have a product, customers, or revenue. They invest in the US and Europe, with particular emphasis on B2B startups pursuing digital transformation.

Check Size

Not specified

Stages

Pre Seed, Seed, Series A

Focus Areas

Ai Ml, Enterprise Saas, Healthtech

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Investment Thesis

January Ventures invests in ‘outlier founders’ who are transforming traditional industries through differentiated expertise, outsized ambition, and demonstrated tenacity rather than pedigree or network connections. They believe that ‘the next decade’s unicorns will come from an increasingly wide range of geographies, sectors and backgrounds’ and that ‘underdog founders with the grit to overcome obstacles will win.’ The firm rejects traditional venture capital gatekeeping, operating from the belief that great founders exist outside narrow venture networks and that experience outweighs privilege.

What Sets Them Apart

Founder-first approach emphasizing 'founder love' with roots as company builders and operators
Diverse portfolio: 80% have female founders, 31% have Black or Latino/a founders, 38% have immigrant founders, 68% headquartered outside Bay Area
Operator Network of 100+ members providing practical support and connections
Post-investment go-to-market support including first customer introductions and follow-on investor connections
Community-driven model creating 'a diverse founder community unlike anything else' per founder testimonials
Female-led management (co-founders Maren Bannon and Jennifer Neundorfer) with commitment to demystifying venture for underrepresented founders