Watertower Ventures

Watertower Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California, established in 2021 by seasoned investor Jonathan Shieber. Shieber, a former partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, launched Watertower with the explicit mission to provide "first check capital" to promising pre-seed and seed-stage startups. The firm positions itself as a founder-friendly partner, leveraging Shieber's extensive experience to guide nascent companies through their critical initial growth phases.

The firm's investment philosophy is rooted in a "founders from founders" approach, emphasizing deep engagement and value-add beyond just capital. Watertower Ventures aims to be a strategic partner, offering operational insights, network access, and mentorship to help founders navigate the challenges of early-stage development. While primarily sector-agnostic, their portfolio demonstrates a broad interest across various technology and innovation-driven sectors, reflecting a belief in strong teams and disruptive ideas regardless of industry.

Watertower Ventures successfully closed its inaugural fund, Watertower Ventures Fund I, with $20 million in committed capital, a significant milestone for a new firm focusing on the earliest stages of company formation. This fund enables them to deploy initial investments typically ranging from $250,000 to $750,000. These first checks are designed to provide crucial runway for startups to achieve key milestones, attract follow-on funding, and validate their market fit. The firm often reserves capital for follow-on investments, supporting their portfolio companies as they mature and raise subsequent rounds.