Torchcapital

Torch Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in AI-powered companies aiming to change how consumers and businesses operate. The firm positions its investing around technology-led transformation of consumer and business activity, and maintains a portfolio of operating companies across sectors including fintech, healthcare, software tools and consumer services.

Alongside its investment team, Torch Capital organizes an "extended team" of entrepreneurs, operators and executives who work directly with portfolio founders. Advisors listed by the firm are grouped by domain and include MC Lader (former Chief Operating Officer of Uniswap Labs and BlackRock Innovation) for AI and infrastructure, Brynn Putnam (founder of Mirror, acquired by Lululemon) for health and wellness, Wes "Diplo" Pentz (musician and founder of Mad Decent) for culture and entertainment, Bob Hurst (former Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs and Vice Chairman of Clearview) for finance and governance, Bob Pittman (Chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia) for media and entertainment, Silas Chou (consumer investor associated with Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger and Aston Martin F1) for consumer and commerce, James Murdoch (former Chairman and CEO of 21st Century Fox/News Corp and Sky plc, and a Tesla board member) for media and commerce, and Jenny Fleiss (co-founder of Rent the Runway and co-founder/CEO of Jetblack) for ecommerce.

Business model

Torch Capital operates as a venture capital investor, deploying capital into technology companies and supporting portfolio founders through its network of entrepreneurs and executives, who provide access to customers, talent, industry insights and capital.

Traction

Portfolio companies highlighted by the firm include Arc, which is being acquired by Axos along with its AI technology; Acorns, in connection with Barclays' purchase of the GoHenry kids' debit card and money app; Math, Inc.; Ro, which offers Eli Lilly's Foundayo GLP-1 product; and Durable, which launched a discoverability tool helping small businesses appear in Google and AI search results.

Latest developments

Recent portfolio news cited by the firm covers Axos agreeing to buy San Francisco fintech Arc and its AI technology, Barclays agreeing to buy the GoHenry kids' debit card and money app in connection with Acorns, Ro offering Eli Lilly's Foundayo GLP-1 product and expanding its GLP-1 efforts with celebrity and pharmaceutical partners, Durable's launch of its Discoverability visibility tool for small businesses, and coverage of Math, Inc. relating to an AI-assisted mathematics result.