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Fontinalis Partners

North America, Michigan, United States, Detroit

Description

Fontinalis Partners is a distinguished venture capital firm strategically centered on the rapidly evolving next-generation mobility sector. Co-founded by Bill Ford, the firm operates with offices in Detroit and Boston, positioning itself at the intersection of automotive heritage and technological innovation. Since its inception, Fontinalis has committed to investing across the entire mobility ecosystem, aiming to support companies that are redefining how people and goods move.

The firm's investment thesis is broad yet focused, encompassing critical areas such as autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, in-vehicle technologies, smart infrastructure, logistics, supply chain optimization, and vehicle electrification. Fontinalis typically invests in early to growth-stage companies, providing capital and strategic guidance to help founders scale their innovative solutions. Their deep industry connections, particularly within the automotive and transportation sectors, offer a significant value-add to their portfolio companies.

Fontinalis Partners has demonstrated a consistent commitment to the mobility space, having raised a total of $185 million across three dedicated funds. Their second fund, Fontinalis Partners Fund II, successfully closed with $100 million in commitments, underscoring investor confidence in their specialized approach. The firm typically deploys initial checks ranging from $1 million to $10 million, depending on the stage and capital requirements of the target company. With over 40 investments to date, Fontinalis has built a diverse portfolio of companies poised to shape the future of transportation.

Beyond capital, Fontinalis Partners prides itself on being an active, hands-on investor. Their team brings a wealth of operational experience and a robust network, connecting portfolio companies with potential partners, customers, and talent within the mobility landscape. This strategic support, combined with their deep domain expertise, enables them to identify and nurture disruptive technologies that are not only financially promising but also contribute to a more efficient, sustainable, and accessible mobility future.

Investor Profile

Fontinalis Partners has backed more than 103 startups, with 2 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 22 rounds, about 21% of its total and boasts 19 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Switzerland, Canada.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Transportation, Mobile.
  • Led 1 rounds in the past year.
  • Typical check size: $1M – $10M.

Stage Focus

  • Series A (27%)
  • Seed (25%)
  • Series B (16%)
  • Series Unknown (10%)
  • Series C (6%)
  • Pre Seed (5%)
  • Convertible Note (4%)
  • Angel (2%)
  • Series D (2%)
  • Private Equity (2%)

Country Focus

  • United States (90%)
  • Switzerland (4%)
  • Canada (3%)
  • United Kingdom (2%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Transportation
  • Mobile
  • Robotics
  • Automotive
  • Autonomous Vehicles
  • Logistics
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Apps
  • Manufacturing
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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 Fontinalis Partners frequently co-invest with?

BMW i Ventures
North America, California, United States, Mountain View
Co-Investments: 5
Techstars
North America, Colorado, United States, Boulder
Co-Investments: 10
Right Side Capital Management
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 9
8VC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 6
Eclipse Ventures
North America, California, United States, Palo Alto
Co-Investments: 5
Tectonic Ventures
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 5
Airbus Ventures
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 7
Presidio Ventures
North America, California, United States, Santa Clara
Co-Investments: 6
Alumni Ventures
North America, New Hampshire, United States, Manchester
Co-Investments: 5
Expansion Venture Capital
North America, New York, United States, New York
Co-Investments: 6

Which angels does Fontinalis Partners often collaborate with?

Shared Deals: 2
AW
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
JL
North America, Texas, United States, Austin
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 2
CN
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 2
SK
North America, New York, United States, New York
Shared Deals: 1
JF
North America, United States
Shared Deals: 1
TS
North America, Michigan, United States, Detroit
Shared Deals: 3
CC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
FE
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Fontinalis Partners?

zeroRISC

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

ZeroRISC operates as a stealth start-up making hardware security foundations transparent and trustworthy.

HardwareInformation TechnologySecurity
SeedJun 11, 2025
Amount Raised: $10,000,000
Hgen

Hawthorne, California, United States

Hgen provides affordable green hydrogen for deep decarbonization.

Clean EnergyEnvironmental EngineeringSustainability
SeedSep 17, 2024
Amount Raised: $5,000,000
Etched.ai

San Francisco, California, United States

Etched.ai is an AI chip startup that develops Sohu, a chip designed specifically for running transformer models.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)ComputerHardware
Series AJun 25, 2024
Amount Raised: $120,000,000
Vecna Robotics

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Vecna Robotics offers Automated Material Handling, Hybrid Fulfillment, and Workflow Optimization solutions.

LogisticsRoboticsSupply Chain ManagementWarehouse Automation
Series CJun 20, 2024
Amount Raised: $40,000,000
Swift Solar

San Carlos, California, United States

Swift Solar designs and manufactures photovoltaic cells that are lightweight and more flexible than conventional panels.

EnergyManufacturingRenewable EnergySolar
Series AJun 12, 2024
Amount Raised: $27,000,000
Condoit

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Condoit develops a modern platform for electrical design, analysis, and collaboration.

Electric VehicleElectrical DistributionEnergy ManagementInformation Technology
SeedApr 17, 2024
Amount Raised: $4,250,000
Carputty

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Carputty is a consumer automotive startup that provides car loan services to its clients.

AutomotiveConsumerFinancial ServicesFinTech
Series UnknownMar 6, 2024
Amount Raised: $5,000,000

Fused is a framework designed to facilitate interoperability between geographical datasets and contemporary data stack tools.

AnalyticsData VisualizationGeospatial
Pre SeedMar 5, 2024
Amount Raised: $1,000,000
Mitra Chem

Mountain View, California, United States

Mitra Chem is a lithium-ion battery material manufacturing company that innovates and commercializes iron-based cathode materials.

BatteryManufacturingRenewable Energy
Series BAug 16, 2023
Amount Raised: $40,000,000
Verity

Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland

Verity automates inventory checks in warehouses and DCs using autonomous drones for zero-error warehouses.

DronesIndustrial AutomationRoboticsSupply Chain ManagementWarehouse AutomationWarehousing
Series BJul 11, 2023
Amount Raised: $11,000,000