1855 Capital Partners
Venture capitalState College · Seed–Series A · 6 people tracked
Find your way into 1855 Capital Partners
199 people in our graph share verified history with the 1855 Capital Partners team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
1855 Capital Partners is a seed and early-stage venture capital fund that invests in companies affiliated with Penn State University, its campuses, medical center, and alumni across the United States.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from curated & public directories
What they invest in
from 12 of 17 portfolio companiesAgTech ×4AI & Machine Learning ×4New Materials ×4Deep Tech ×3Enterprise Software ×3Hardware ×3SaaS ×3Advanced Manufacturing ×2
HQs:United States×9
Who they back
founder profiles across 7 portfolio companiesWhere their founders worked beforefrom 10 founders with career history
Penn State University ×3
Investments · 17 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2023 · 12019 · 12 dated
5Metis is a discovery-stage company developing boron-based molecules for crop protection, running medicinal/discovery chemistry and toxicity testing programs to invent new agricultural active ingredients.
AgTechBiotechNew MaterialsResearch Triangle Park, US
Brian Green(Co-founder, CEO & CSO)inRichard Gianni(Executive Officer)Steve Tuttle(COO & Board Member)in
BoardYogesh Mago(Director)Cindy Smith(Director)Roger Kemble(Director)
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsMountain Group CapitalOspraie Ag Science
Benefix is a digital platform that connects carriers, brokers, small businesses and individuals to simplify benefits enrollment and access.
Enterprise SoftwareHR TechInsurTechSaaSLancaster, US
Matt Ranauro(Co-founder)inLee Shand Snyder(Co-founder)in
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsActivate Venture PartnersLeading Edge Ventures
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Cove Fund is a venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups across various sectors.
Sector AgnosticIrvine, US
Mike Benvenuti(Fund Manager)inDr. Paul Voois(Fund Manager)J.C. Ruffalo(Partner)
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Croptix develops in-field optical sensor technology for detecting plant health and crop disease, aiming to replace traditional laboratory-based diagnostic practices.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareState College, US
Perry Edwards(CEO and Co-Founder)inZhiwen Liu(CTO and Co-Founder)in
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsBen Franklin Technology Partners
Daasity is an analytics and data platform for consumer brands that connects ecommerce, retail sales, marketing, and inventory data into a unified view without requiring data engineering.
Data & InfrastructureE-commerceRetail Tech
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsCove FundOkapi Venture CapitalSerra VenturesVMG Catalyst
ECI Solutions develops cloud and on-premises ERP software for job shops, discrete manufacturers, and batch & process manufacturers, with embedded AI for cost control, quality management, and compliance tracking.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Magnitude Instruments designs and manufactures transient absorption spectrometers for researchers and industries.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareNew Materials
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Maumee Ventures is the venture capital investment arm of The Andersons, focusing on early-stage ag innovation across plant nutrients, crop protection, grain supply chain, freight logistics, precision science, food safety, and renewable energy.
AgTechEnergyEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply Chain
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Phospholutions develops phosphorus fertilizer technology, including its patented RhizoSorb additive and RhizoSorb 8-39-0 product, designed to increase phosphorus efficiency and replace dry MAP and DAP fertilizers.
AgTechCleantechClimate TechNew MaterialsState College, US
HUNTER SWISHER(Executive Officer, Director)inRICHARD DEFLURI(Director)CHRIS ABBOTT(Director)ANDREW SPAHR(Director)
BoardMATTHEW RHODES(Director)in
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsAg Ventures AllianceOspraie Ag ScienceRadicle GrowthTekfen Ventures
Pledge It offers a crowdfunding platform for nonprofits to raise money for specific goals or projects through branded campaign pages with real-time donation tracking, gift matching, and donor communication tools.
Impact & Social GoodSaaS
Scott Shirley(CEO)inDave Costlow(COO)in
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsWhite Rose Ventures
Reflexion builds hardware devices and web-based software for cognitive training and tracking, using large touch-screen displays that measure and train functions like reaction time, decision-making, and short-term memory.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareHealthtechSports Tech
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsWhite Rose Ventures
spotLESS Materials develops nature-inspired liquid-entrenched smooth surface (LESS) coatings that repel liquids, sludge, and contaminants while enabling self-cleaning properties for industrial applications including sanitation, automotive, and medical sectors.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechConsumerDeep TechNew MaterialsState College, US
Birgitt Boschitsch(Founder)inTak-Sing Wong(Founder)in
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsY CombinatorZillionize
Teamology develops a platform to help schools build collaborative, interconnected learning environments that support student relationship building and social-emotional development.
EdTechFuture of WorkHealthtechMental HealthWellness & Fitness
Linsey Covert(Founder)in
PartnerMatt Rhodes· solo GP
Co-investorsBroad Street AngelsVC 414White Rose Ventures
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
Bliley TechnologiesData InventionsTEAMology
Exits · 2
2 acquisitionsBliley Technologiesacq. by KYOCERA AVXData Inventionsacq. by ECI Software Solutions
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesCove Fund · altss.com · Aug 11, 2026
Bliley Technologies · science-technology.news-articles.net · Jul 29, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has 1855 Capital Partners made?
- 1855 Capital Partners has 17 tracked investments, 2 of which have exited.
- What stage does 1855 Capital Partners invest at?
- 1855 Capital Partners invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What is 1855 Capital Partners's typical check size?
- 1855 Capital Partners typically writes checks of $100K – $500K.
- What sectors does 1855 Capital Partners focus on?
- 1855 Capital Partners focuses on EdTech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthtech, Medical Devices, New Materials.
- Where is 1855 Capital Partners located?
- 1855 Capital Partners is headquartered in State College, US.
- Who does 1855 Capital Partners co-invest with?
- 1855 Capital Partners most often shares deals with White Rose Ventures, Ospraie Ag Science, Activate Venture Partners, among 12 tracked co-investors.
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