Swift Ventures
also invests Β· investor profile3 known investors
Swift Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in and supports startups, providing operational and go-to-market help such as strategic early hires for its portfolio companies.
Also known as Swift Ventures Management LLC
Founders & leadership
Investors Β· 3
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Swift Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Lafayette, California, with an additional presence in San Francisco. It was founded in 2021 and invests in AI and automation companies with B2B business models, primarily across the United States. The firm positions itself as "founders backing founders," led by former operators who provide company-building support from early product stage through later stages, including IPO and acquisition outcomes.
The team is led by co-founders and General Partners Brett Wilson and John Hughes, who have worked together as co-founders since 2006. Other team members include Michelle Chen (Principal, also listed as Principal & Head of Operations), Melissa Demma (Principal, San Francisco), David Burch (marketer) and Daylan Swedlow (GTM recruiter, focused on helping portfolio founders make early hires in sales, marketing and operations). Beyond capital, the firm offers hands-on operational assistance in areas such as marketing awareness and go-to-market recruiting.
Swift Ventures manages multiple vehicles, including Swift Ventures Fund I, Swift Ivy I and Swift Ventures Fund II. Swift Ventures Fund I LP is structured as a venture capital fund managed by Swift Ventures Management LLC, with Swift Ventures GP I LLC as director, UBS Financial Services, First Republic Bank, Citizens Bank and JPMorgan Chase as custodians, and Frank Rimerman as auditor.
Founding story
Swift Ventures was created by former founders as the kind of fund they wished had existed when they were starting companies: a low-ego, hands-on firm offering practical "garage-to-IPO" building and scaling expertise. The "Swift" name reflects the partners' view that the strongest entrepreneurs build, learn and iterate faster than others believe possible.
Business model
Swift Ventures operates as a venture capital fund manager, raising pooled investment vehicles from limited partners and deploying capital into early-stage companies, alongside providing operational and go-to-market support to portfolio companies.
As a fund manager, Swift Ventures generates income from managing venture capital vehicles including Swift Ventures Fund I, Swift Ivy I and Swift Ventures Fund II.
Traction
Swift Ventures lists roughly 40 portfolio companies spanning AI agents, robotics, data infrastructure, healthcare and payments, including Arize, Superhuman, Estuary, LanceDB, Rill Data, Eko Health, WeTravel and Mindee. Three portfolio companies are marked as acquired on its site: Arize, Sieve and Superinterviews, plus Tubi. Swift Ventures Fund I LP reported 83 investors, and the firm has closed three funds.
Latest developments
Swift Ventures is highlighting the announced $1 billion acquisition of portfolio company Arize AI by Dynatrace across its website. Its most recent recorded fund closes were Swift Ivy I in February 2024 and Swift Ventures Fund II in May 2024.
βΈFull profile β market position, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Swift Ventures describes itself as a new firm with an entrepreneur-led team, competing in early-stage B2B AI and automation venture investing. Its portfolio includes companies with reported exits, including Arize AI (acquisition by Dynatrace announced at $1 billion), Sieve, Superinterviews and Tubi.
The firm emphasizes operator-led support from partners with two decades of entrepreneurial and product experience, including experience taking companies through IPO and acquisition, and dedicated in-house marketing and go-to-market recruiting resources for portfolio founders.
Go-to-market
The firm sources and wins deals through its partners' entrepreneurial networks and positions itself on hands-on company-building support, including strategic early hires in sales, marketing and operations, and marketing assistance for portfolio companies.
Founders of early-stage B2B companies in AI and automation, typically with an early, compelling product; the firm also serves institutional and other limited partners who commit capital to its funds.
Geography
Headquartered at 3620 Happy Valley Road, Suite 101, Lafayette, California 94549, with a second office and San Francisco-based staff; investments are made throughout the United States, and the portfolio includes companies with international operations.
History
The firm was founded in 2021, though its founding partners have worked together as co-founders since 2006. A Form D offering for Swift Ventures Fund I LP was filed in December 2020. Swift Ivy I closed in February 2024 and Swift Ventures Fund II closed in May 2024.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources β announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed β not independently audited.
Timeline Β· 4
launches, deals, and filingsSwift Ventures announced on its website that portfolio company Arize AI was acquired by Dynatrace in a deal reported at $1 billion.
$1B source β
An institution profile lists Swift Ventures Fund II as a closed fund with a close date of May 2024.
An institution profile lists Swift Ivy I as a closed fund with a close date of February 2024.
A Form D offering filing for Swift Ventures Fund I LP was made on 2020-12-21, with exemptions 506(b), 3(c) and 3(c)(1), $20,000,000 remaining and 83 investors.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
βΈResearch sources Β· 8
primary sources listed
- Swift Venturesswift.vc Β· web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Swift Ventures do?
- Swift Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm backing B2B AI and automation startups.
- Who founded Swift Ventures?
- Swift Ventures was founded by Brett Wilson.
- Who are Swift Ventures's investors?
- Swift Ventures's investors include FEMSA Ventures, Nimble Partners, Social Leverage.