Masthead Venture Partners

Masthead Venture Partners was a venture capital firm historically based in Danvers, Massachusetts, known for its focus on early-stage investments in the information technology and biotechnology sectors. The firm managed three distinct funds, accumulating a total of $425 million in committed capital. Their first fund, Masthead Venture Partners I, closed in 2000 with $100 million. This was followed by Masthead Venture Partners II in 2004, which raised $150 million, and their final fund, Masthead Venture Partners III, closing in 2008 with $175 million.

Throughout its active investment period, Masthead Venture Partners aimed to identify and support promising startups with disruptive technologies. Their portfolio included notable companies such as Endeca, an information access and discovery software company acquired by Oracle, and Veracode, a leading application security firm later acquired by Thoma Bravo. Another significant exit was Acquia, a digital experience platform that was acquired by Vista Equity Partners. These successful exits underscore the firm's historical ability to identify and nurture high-growth potential within its target sectors.

It is important to note that Masthead Venture Partners' last fund was raised in 2008. Given the typical lifecycle of venture capital funds, which usually spans 10-12 years for investment and harvesting, it is highly probable that the firm is no longer actively making new first-time investments. Their current operations appear to be focused on managing the remaining portfolio companies from their historical funds. Consequently, while they were active, their typical first checks for early-stage companies ranged from approximately $1 million to $5 million, often with significant reserves for follow-on rounds as companies matured.