Rivet Ventures

Rivet Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm with a distinctive investment thesis centered on companies operating in women-led markets. Founded with the understanding that female consumers and decision-makers drive significant economic activity, the firm strategically backs businesses where female usage, purchasing power, and influence are critical to success. This focus extends beyond simply investing in women-founded companies, emphasizing market dynamics and consumer behavior. Rivet Ventures typically targets Seed and Series A stage companies, providing crucial early-stage capital and strategic support to help these ventures scale.

The firm has successfully raised two funds, demonstrating its commitment to this specialized investment niche. Their inaugural fund, Rivet Ventures I, closed in 2017 with $10 million in capital. Building on this initial success, Rivet Ventures launched its second fund, Rivet Ventures II, which closed in 2020 with $20 million. This brings their total capital under management to approximately $30 million, enabling them to support a growing portfolio of innovative companies. Their investment strategy is designed to identify and nurture businesses poised for significant growth by tapping into often overlooked or underserved segments of the market.

Regarding investment size, Rivet Ventures has adjusted its typical check sizes as its funds have grown. For its first fund, the firm generally wrote initial checks ranging from $250,000 to $1 million. With the larger capital base of its second fund, Rivet Ventures increased its investment capacity, typically deploying initial checks between $500,000 and $1.5 million. This flexibility allows them to lead or co-lead rounds, providing substantial early-stage funding to promising startups. Their portfolio spans various sectors, including consumer tech, health, and fintech, all unified by their core thesis of leveraging female market influence.