Windward Ventures

Windward Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 1999, headquartered in San Diego, California. The firm was founded with a strategic focus on identifying and investing in early-stage, high-growth companies, primarily within the technology and life sciences sectors. During its active investment period, Windward Ventures managed a fund totaling approximately $40 million, which it deployed to support promising startups. Its investment thesis centered on providing capital to innovative businesses poised for significant market disruption and expansion.

The firm's investment strategy involved providing initial capital to companies with strong management teams and scalable business models. Windward Ventures typically participated in early funding rounds, aiming to foster the development and commercialization of new technologies and services. For instance, the firm made a notable investment of $1.5 million in San Diego-based Gen-Probe Inc., a molecular diagnostics company, and also invested $2.5 million in Senomyx Inc., a company focused on taste technologies. These investments exemplify their commitment to supporting local innovation and high-potential ventures.

While Windward Ventures built a portfolio of successful companies, with some achieving significant exits through acquisitions, the firm appears to have significantly reduced its new investment activity in recent years. Most of its publicly disclosed investments date back to the early 2000s, suggesting that it may be operating as a legacy fund, managing its existing portfolio rather than actively seeking new portfolio companies in the current market. Consequently, information regarding its contemporary investment criteria or typical check sizes for new deals is limited.