Motivate Venture Capital

Motivate Venture Capital is a Chicago-based firm specializing in early-stage investments, focusing on pre-seed and seed-stage companies across the United States and Canada. The firm primarily targets investments ranging from $250,000 to $1 million in pre-seed and $1.5 million to $3 million in seed opportunities. Their portfolio spans various sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, SaaS, insurtech, payments, B2B software, B2B marketplaces, crypto, DeFi, blockchain, and web3.

The firm's investment strategy centers on backing founders with strong domain knowledge who are addressing significant, enduring problems in large and growing markets. They seek opportunities with high growth potential, aiming to support companies that can reshape industries through innovative technologies. Motivate's approach emphasizes optimism, ingenuity, and a commitment to improving traditional industries.

Since its inception in 2019, Motivate has been actively investing in early-stage ventures, with a particular focus on B2B software and financial technology companies. Their portfolio includes companies like Lazarus AI, ReloShare, Valiot, Moove.ai, Fin3, Jawnt, Finofo, and Inca Digital. The firm has also supported emerging pre-seed and seed-stage VC funds, reflecting its dedication to fostering the next generation of trailblazing startups. In December 2023, Motivate launched its second fund, Motivate Venture Capital Fund II, an $81 million vehicle aimed at empowering the next generation of era-defining companies. This fund is strategically designed to foster technological innovation across North America, marking a significant milestone in Motivate's journey to support early-stage ventures with transformative potential.

Motivate's team comprises individuals with extensive entrepreneurial experience across financial services, IT, and SaaS sectors. Their collective expertise enables them to provide not only capital but also valuable connections and guidance to the founders they support. The firm's commitment to nurturing differentiated visions of the future aims to generate lasting market value for its network of founders, investors, customers, and advisors.