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Ascend Venture Capital

North America, Missouri, United States, Saint Louis

Description

Ascend Venture Capital, established in 2013 and headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri, is a specialized venture capital firm dedicated to investing in data-centric companies. The firm's core thesis revolves around supporting enterprises that leverage data, advanced analytics, and artificial intelligence to develop innovative products and services. Their strategic focus is on identifying and nurturing early-stage companies poised to disrupt various industries through intelligent data utilization.

The firm primarily targets Seed, Series A, and Series B funding rounds, demonstrating a commitment to supporting companies through critical early growth phases. Ascend Venture Capital typically deploys initial investments ranging from $1 million to $5 million, often taking on roles as lead or co-lead investors in these rounds. This approach allows them to actively engage with their portfolio companies, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and operational support to accelerate their development and market penetration.

Ascend's investment mandate spans several key sectors where data intelligence offers a significant competitive edge. These include Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthcare IT, Supply Chain & Logistics, and the Future of Work. Their deep expertise in these verticals enables them to identify promising technologies and teams. A testament to their growth and commitment to the ecosystem, Ascend Venture Capital successfully closed its third fund, Ascend Venture Capital Fund III, with $80 million in 2021, further solidifying their capacity to support a robust pipeline of data-driven innovators. The firm's consistent focus on data-centricity positions it as a key partner for startups aiming to harness the power of information for transformative impact.

Investor Profile

Ascend Venture Capital has backed more than 43 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 3 rounds, about 7% of its total and boasts 0 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Convertible Note, Seed, Pre Seed rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Artificial Intelligence (AI), SaaS.
  • Typical check size: $1M – $5M.

Stage Focus

  • Convertible Note (40%)
  • Seed (23%)
  • Pre Seed (12%)
  • Series A (12%)
  • Series B (7%)
  • Series Unknown (7%)

Country Focus

  • United States (100%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Saas
  • Agriculture
  • Information Technology
  • Blockchain
  • Insurance
  • Cloud Data Services
  • Telecommunications
  • Gaming
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Ascend Venture Capital frequently co-invest with?

FF
Europe, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands, 's-gravenhage
Co-Investments: 2
Space Capital
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 2
Sumitomo
Asia, Tokyo, Japan, Tokyo
Co-Investments: 2
Techstars
North America, Colorado, United States, Boulder
Co-Investments: 2
Co-Investments: 1
monashees
South America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo
Co-Investments: 2
Atlantico
South America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo
Co-Investments: 2
Digital Currency Group
North America, Connecticut, United States, Stamford
Co-Investments: 2
Shell Ventures
Europe, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands, Rijswijk
Co-Investments: 2
Multicoin Capital
North America, Texas, United States, Austin
Co-Investments: 3

Which angels does Ascend Venture Capital often collaborate with?

Shared Deals: 1
KB
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
AG
North America, Oklahoma, United States
Shared Deals: 1
David Mytton
North America, United States
Shared Deals: 1
AG
North America, California, United States, Stanford
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Ascend Venture Capital?

Applied Bioplastics

Austin, Texas, United States

Applied Bioplastics manufactures bioplastics in retail, packaging, and medical industries to improve plastic recycling.

AgricultureManufacturingPlastics and Rubber Manufacturing
Convertible NoteSep 16, 2024
Boat Planet

St Louis, Missouri, United States

An online community of passionate boaters and trusted marine professionals.

BoatingCommunitiesE-CommerceInternetLeisureMarketingTravel
SeedFeb 13, 2024
Amount Raised: $1,200,000
REFASHIOND OS

New York, New York, United States

REFASHIOND OS is an operating system that is designed to manage and connect the fashion value chains from fibers to finished goods.

Operating SystemsSoftware
Convertible NoteDec 3, 2023
Applied Bioplastics

Austin, Texas, United States

Applied Bioplastics manufactures bioplastics in retail, packaging, and medical industries to improve plastic recycling.

AgricultureManufacturingPlastics and Rubber Manufacturing
Convertible NoteNov 3, 2023
Boat Planet

St Louis, Missouri, United States

An online community of passionate boaters and trusted marine professionals.

BoatingCommunitiesE-CommerceInternetLeisureMarketingTravel
Convertible NoteJun 14, 2023
Sojourn

Portland, Oregon, United States

Sojourn delivers a breakthrough computer vision platform that solves drone delivery's last-meter navigation challenge.

Computer VisionHardwareVirtual Desktop
Convertible NoteMar 31, 2023
Applied Bioplastics

Austin, Texas, United States

Applied Bioplastics manufactures bioplastics in retail, packaging, and medical industries to improve plastic recycling.

AgricultureManufacturingPlastics and Rubber Manufacturing
Convertible NoteMar 31, 2023
Arbol

New York, New York, United States

Arbol is a climate risk coverage company that offers solutions to analyze .and mitigate exposure to climate risk.

AgricultureAgTechArtificial Intelligence (AI)Big DataBlockchainInformation TechnologyInsuranceInsurTechMarketplaceSoftware
Convertible NoteJan 31, 2023
StoryFit

Austin, Texas, United States

StoryFit utilizes the power of artificial intelligence in the hands of publishers and studios.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)ComputerMachine LearningMedia and EntertainmentSoftware
Series AOct 20, 2022
Amount Raised: $5,500,000
DeFi Devs

Miami, Florida, United States

DeFi Devs is a community developer of a blockchain protocol for distributed decentralized finance.

BlockchainDecentralized Finance (DeFi)Financial ServicesFinTechIdentity Management
Series AMay 1, 2022
Amount Raised: $150,000