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IDEA Fund Partners

North America, North Carolina, United States, Chapel Hill

Description

IDEA Fund Partners is a prominent early-stage venture capital firm based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with a strategic focus on technology and business model innovations. Established in 2008, the firm primarily targets promising startups headquartered within the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Their investment thesis centers on identifying companies with strong potential for growth and disruption, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and access to a robust network. This regional focus allows them to deeply engage with the entrepreneurial ecosystems in these areas, fostering local innovation and economic development.

The firm's investment strategy is characterized by its commitment to early-stage companies, typically making initial investments ranging from $250,000 to $1,000,000. This initial capital is designed to help nascent companies achieve critical milestones, such as product development, market validation, and team expansion. Beyond the initial cheque, IDEA Fund Partners reserves significant capital for follow-on investments, demonstrating a long-term commitment to their portfolio companies' success as they mature and scale. Their hands-on approach involves active participation in the growth of their ventures, leveraging their team's extensive experience in entrepreneurship and venture capital.

IDEA Fund Partners has a track record of supporting diverse technology sectors, including software, healthcare IT, advanced manufacturing, and fintech. Their latest fund, IDEA Fund IV, successfully closed at $18.5 million in 2021, further solidifying their capacity to invest in the region's most promising startups. The firm's consistent presence and investment activity have made them a key player in the venture landscape of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, contributing significantly to the development of a vibrant tech economy outside traditional venture hubs. Their dedication to fostering innovation from the ground up positions them as a crucial partner for early-stage founders in their target geographies.

Investor Profile

IDEA Fund Partners has backed more than 90 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 24 rounds, about 27% of its total and boasts 14 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States, Canada.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Information Technology, SaaS.
  • Typical check size: $250K – $1M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (38%)
  • Series A (28%)
  • Series B (16%)
  • Series Unknown (7%)
  • Series C (4%)
  • Pre Seed (2%)
  • Series F (1%)
  • Convertible Note (1%)
  • Debt Financing (1%)
  • Series D (1%)

Country Focus

  • United States (96%)
  • Canada (4%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Information Technology
  • Saas
  • Analytics
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Finance
  • Mobile Apps
  • Fintech
  • Machine Learning
  • Predictive Analytics
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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 IDEA Fund Partners frequently co-invest with?

Triangle Angel Partners
North America, North Carolina, United States, Chapel Hill
Co-Investments: 6
Service Provider Capital
North America, Colorado, United States, Golden
Co-Investments: 4
Techstars
North America, Colorado, United States, Boulder
Co-Investments: 7
Bull City Venture Partners
North America, North Carolina, United States, Durham
Co-Investments: 8
Alerion Ventures
North America, South Carolina, United States, Charleston
Co-Investments: 12
Cofounders Capital
North America, North Carolina, United States, Cary
Co-Investments: 4
Salesforce Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 5
OCA Ventures
North America, Illinois, United States, Chicago
Co-Investments: 4
Grotech Ventures
North America, Virginia, United States, Vienna
Co-Investments: 7
VentureSouth
North America, South Carolina, United States, Greenville
Co-Investments: 6

Which angels does IDEA Fund Partners often collaborate with?

BV
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
JG
North America, California, United States, Los Altos
Shared Deals: 1
PJ
North America, California, United States
Shared Deals: 1
JR
North America, Vermont, United States, Burlington
Shared Deals: 2
BB
North America, North Carolina, United States, Raleigh
Shared Deals: 2
AO
North America, North Carolina, United States, Raleigh
Shared Deals: 1
SM
North America, North Carolina, United States, Raleigh
Shared Deals: 1
SW
North America, North Carolina, United States, Raleigh
Shared Deals: 1
RH
North America, Nevada, United States, Las Vegas
Shared Deals: 1
AD
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by IDEA Fund Partners?

Lucid Bots

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

Lucid builds robots for labor-intensive tasks.

DronesIndustrial AutomationRobotics
Series AMay 8, 2024
Amount Raised: $9,100,000
Keep Company

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Helping organizations care for, and keep, parents and caregivers.

Employee BenefitsHuman ResourcesProfessional ServicesWellness
SeedApr 24, 2024
Amount Raised: $1,400,000
Cognota

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The First and Only LearnOps Platform for L&D. Run Learning & Development like an Efficient, Data-Driven Business with Cognota.

CollaborationE-LearningEnterprise SoftwareInformation TechnologySaaSSoftwareTraining
Series ASep 27, 2023
Amount Raised: $4,500,000
EcoMap Technologies

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

We create data-drive platforms to power any ecosystem, from entrepreneurial communities, to industries, to corporate networks

AnalyticsArtificial Intelligence (AI)Business IntelligenceCommunities
SeedAug 14, 2023
Amount Raised: $3,500,000
RightRev

Santa Clara, California, United States

RightRev provides software for revenue recognition that helps to track revenue contracts, quote, orders, invoices, and management reporting.

FinanceInformation TechnologySoftware
Series AJul 11, 2023
Amount Raised: $12,000,000
Revcast

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States

Revcast enhances revenue performance, With more precise planning, real-time risk and opportunity assessment.

Risk ManagementSkill Assessment
SeedJun 28, 2023
Amount Raised: $3,000,000
Bionic Health

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Bionic Health is a company that provides preventative health services.

AnalyticsArtificial Intelligence (AI)Health CareHospitalMedicalPredictive Analytics
SeedMar 19, 2023
Amount Raised: $3,000,000
Nestment

San Francisco, California, United States

Nestment is a clear path to co-buying investment property with friends and family.

ConsultingProperty ManagementReal EstateReal Estate Investment
Pre SeedFeb 21, 2023
Amount Raised: $3,500,000
Get Spiffy

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Get Spiffy is an on-demand car wash and detailing service.

ConsumerInternetMobile Apps
Series CFeb 15, 2023
Amount Raised: $30,000,000
InsightFinder

Durham, North Carolina, United States

InsightFinder is a software company that provides monitoring and predictive analytics services for IT operations.

AnalyticsArtificial Intelligence (AI)Information TechnologyMachine LearningPredictive Analytics
Series ASep 13, 2022
Amount Raised: $10,000,000