Santa Barbara Venture Partners

Santa Barbara Venture Partners (SBVP) is a California-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in high-growth software and AI companies. The firm is known for integrating deep go-to-market expertise into its investment model, offering an unusually hands-on approach in customer acquisition, marketing strategy, and revenue acceleration. Founded in 2020, SBVP aims to overcome traditional illiquidity and time horizon constraints in venture capital by targeting fast-growing, capital-efficient businesses with strong retention and clear product-market fit.

SBVP invests in software and AI companies with $2 million to $50 million in recurring revenue, growing at 75% to 200%+ annually. The firm typically invests in Series A through Series C rounds or directly purchases stock from founders and early shareholders. Its portfolio companies are expected to demonstrate strong client retention and scalable business models. SBVP specializes in backing companies that can benefit from enhanced sales and marketing execution and are already showing traction.

The firm has a unique value-add: its investor base, made up largely of global marketing executives, helps its portfolio companies with customer acquisition and marketing. This network includes seasoned marketing veterans with decades of experience in over 20 different B2B and B2C marketing channels and strategies, such as on/offline advertising, content marketing, TV and radio advertising, PR, conversion rate optimization, branding, email, affiliate, strategic alliances, B2B lead generation, B2B sales enablement, PPC search and SEO, among others. This hands-on support differentiates SBVP from traditional venture capital firms, providing portfolio companies with access to expertise that is typically unavailable through their investors.

SBVP's first fund, launched in 2022, focused primarily on investing in tech and tech-enabled firms. The firm has made nine investments to date, including Bark Technologies, Voltaiq, Specright, Classy, Nice Healthcare, Hydrosat, Jackpocket, Rad AI, and Curri. Notably, SBVP experienced its first exit with the acquisition of Classy by GoFundMe. In August 2025, SBVP closed its $25 million Fund II, following the top-quartile performance of Fund I and six full or partial exits over a five-year period. Fund II continues the firm's differentiated strategy of actively supporting revenue growth through a unique network of operator LPs and marketing professionals.

SBVP's investment strategy combines growth-stage capital with hands-on marketing and sales enablement, setting it apart from traditional VCs. The firm prioritizes companies that are already showing strong revenue growth and retention, then accelerates that momentum through tailored support in customer acquisition, demand generation, and revenue operations. It seeks to generate consistent returns by reducing execution risk and by investing in companies where limited partners can provide immediate strategic impact. The firm also addresses venture capital's traditional illiquidity problem by participating in secondary transactions and generating earlier return pathways, offering LPs exposure to value creation with greater flexibility.