South Loop Ventures

South Loop Ventures is a Houston-based venture capital firm that focuses on investing in diverse, early-stage founders across various sectors. The firm was founded in 2022 and has since closed a $21 million Fund I, with anchor investors including Rice Management Company and Chevron Technology Ventures. South Loop Ventures primarily invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies, with an average check size of $400,000. The firm emphasizes supporting founders of color and has made 13 investments since August 2023, aiming to invest in at least 30 companies. The sectors of interest include energy, climate tech, health tech, space tech, sports tech, and fintech. The firm's mission is to drive innovation, impact, and lasting societal change by institutionalizing a more expansive, insight-driven form of inclusive investing. They aim to ensure that all founders—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—are equipped with the capital, community, and conviction to build transformative companies. South Loop Ventures envisions a future where venture capital fuels innovation that benefits and reflects the full breadth of America, where success is not pattern-matched but powered by the benefits of diverse perspectives, experiences, cultural insights, and untapped genius. The firm's name is inspired by the southern half of US Interstate 610 (known locally as “The Loop”) in Houston, TX, encompassing the city’s 2nd and 3rd Wards, recognized as the historically Latino and Black communities of Houston. This name serves as a salute to these communities, their vibrance, resilience, and relentless pursuit of equity. The team is led by Zach Ellis Jr., the Founder and Managing Partner, who is responsible for managing all elements of fund strategy, investment, operations, and portfolio management. His previous experiences include Managing Director at Rev1 Ventures, corporate venture capital at PepsiCo, strategy consulting at Humana, and commercializing university research at The Ohio State University and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Zach is a member of Kauffman Fellows Class 30 and began his career as an active duty officer in the US Navy. He holds a BS from the United States Naval Academy, an MS in biotechnology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine, and an MBA from the Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business. South Loop Ventures is committed to partnering closely with founders to sharpen their insights and equip them with the resources to turn bold ideas into category-defining companies. They work with world-class partners to offer unparalleled resources and guidance, leveraging strong relationships with renowned and trusted institutions to benefit their portfolio companies. Through these connections, they offer client introductions, technological verification, and top-tier mentorship. The firm is intentionally generalist, investing across sectors, business models, and technologies—wherever vision and execution collide. They reject pattern-matching in favor of mold-breaking, focusing on breakthrough innovation wherever it exists. South Loop Ventures is dedicated to building with intention and welcomes partners who see what they see.