Ad Astra Ventures
Impact investor5 people tracked
Investment thesis
Ad Astra partners with visionary founders to unlock their authentic leadership potential and navigate business growth. The firm emphasizes pragmatism, creative thinking, and authenticity, helping founders move beyond traditional approaches. By backing diverse teams and removing barriers to entrepreneurial success, the firm seeks to support founders in building sustainable, impactful businesses.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 6, 2026.
Team · 5 people
from the firm's website & public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 20 of 22 portfolio companiesFemTech ×6Consumer ×5Digital Health ×5Wellness & Fitness ×5Direct to Consumer ×4Healthtech ×4E-commerce ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2
HQs:United States×10
Who they back
founder profiles across 8 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×42 founders×33 founders×1
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 22 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2021 · 12020 · 12019 · 12018 · 25 dated
Aqua AI builds underwater robots designed to help address ocean and marine environmental problems.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechRobotics
SimeonLianeSimeon P.(Founder)in
Co-investorsBackstage CapitalCreative Destruction Lab (CDL)
Aquacycl provides onsite industrial wastewater treatment using its patented technology to treat high-strength wastewater without dilution, offering energy-neutral operation, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and water reuse.
Circular EconomyCleantechClimate TechImpact & Social GoodEscondido, US
Orianna Bretschger(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Jones(Director)Anil Jha(Director)
Co-investorsCreative Destruction Lab (CDL)Next Wave Impact8090 Industries
Cooler Heads develops scalp cooling technology to prevent hair loss in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
HealthtechMedical DevicesSan Diego, US
Kate Dilligan(Founder & CEO)in
BoardMaria Gonzalez-Blanch(Director)inMICHAEL SCHOTZINGER(Director)LIZ TODIA(Director)LIZ ZAMBORY(Director)inJASON PESTERFIELD(Director)
Co-investorsAloft VCAstiaCALIFORNIA INNOVATIONGolden SeedsMutual Capital PartnersRobin Hood Ventures+1 more
Courtroom5 provides a litigation toolkit and guidance system for self-representing litigants (pro se parties) to navigate court procedures, interpret law, and prepare cases without hiring lawyers.
LegalTechDurham, US
Sonja Ebron(Executive Officer, Director)inDebra Slone(Executive Officer, Director)
Domaine Santé makes grape nectar sugar substitutes—low-sugar, low-glycemic sweeteners for use in food and beverages such as breakfast foods, desserts, sauces, and drinks.
ConsumerFoodTechWellness & FitnessSan Diego, US
Produces Grape Nectar, a California-grown sugar alternative that is healthier and better-tasting than traditional sugar.
ESAS is a personal care brand selling natural, non-toxic body products, including its Hamam probiotic full-body deodorant spray in the company's signature scents.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Frame provides personalized fertility care coordination and guidance for individuals at various stages of their fertility journey, including evaluation, expert care teams, and access to vetted medical providers and products.
Digital HealthFemTech
Jessica Bell van der Wal(Founder & CEO)inCorey van der Wal(Founder)in
Co-investorsCake VenturesCity LightFlare Capital PartnersKli CapitalStone Mountain VenturesThe MBA Fund+5 more
Frame is a virtual fertility care service that provides personalized evaluations, plans, and support from a dedicated team of medical providers, coaches, and care coordinators.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtech
Co-investorsGreat Oaks Venture CapitalTop Corner Capital
Hydrostasis develops optical sensor hydration technology, marketed as Geca, that detects hydration changes and notifies users when they need to drink water.
HardwareHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsigniteXL Venture
kegg is a medical-grade silicone fertility tracking device that measures changes in the vaginal environment and cervical mucus to identify a woman's most fertile days, paired with a companion app that provides daily fertility scores and ovulation probability.
Digital HealthFemTechHardware
Co-investorsQQ CapitalTexas HALO Fund
Childcare platform connecting parents with all child-related services from birth onwards, reducing costs and increasing access to quality care.
Lilu develops an app to support breastfeeding mothers and runs beta programs to gather user feedback on the product.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtechWellness & FitnessNew York, US
Sujay Suresh Kumar(Executive Officer, Director)Adriana Catalina Vazquez Ortiz(Executive Officer, Director)Adriana Catalina Vázquez Ortiz(Founder)
Co-investorsChloe CapitalLair East Labs
oneKIN operates a platform supporting a community of over 500 small businesses and entrepreneurs, offering site curation and retailer relationships.
E-commerceMarketplacesRetail Tech
Co-investorsCapital Innovators
Please Assist Me provides home management services through teams of W-2 employees called PAMs who help reduce household stress and tasks.
ConsumerFuture of WorkPropTechNashville, US
Stephanie Cummings(Executive Officer, Director)Seany Denson(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsBackstage CapitalBlack Tech Nation VenturesInnova Memphis, Inc.Techstars
Pumpspotting offers software and tools that blend emotional and informational support with practical resources to help parents with breastfeeding, pumping, and baby-feeding at home, at work, and on the go.
Digital HealthFemTechSaaSEliot, US
Amy Van Haren(Executive Officer, Director)Caitlin Wege(Director)
Seaesta Surf sells swimwear and boardshorts, including children's surf and swim apparel.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Seam Social Labs is an MWBE/DBE firm providing research studies, community engagement, and urban planning services across transportation, economic development, and public health.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechImpact & Social Good
Co-investorsNew Age Capital
The Sash Bag is a wearable bag with a patented design featuring 10 stacked pockets and a built-in wallet meant to distribute weight evenly and keep everyday items organized.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
TheControList is compliance software that manages audit preparation by assigning and tracking auditable items, storing documentation in a central repository, and giving auditors direct access to restricted materials.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS
Uqora develops consumer supplements and drink mixes focused on urinary tract and bladder health, using ingredients such as cranberry and D-Mannose.
Direct to ConsumerFemTechWellness & FitnessSan Diego, US
Spencer Gordon(Executive Officer, Director)Jennifer Ryan(Executive Officer, Director)
VERITY manufactures reusable and recyclable beauty packaging using precision engineering and circular material selection.
Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyNew Materials
Co-investorsInterlock Capital
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesFrame · fintech.global · May 12, 2026
Cooler Heads · femtechinsider.com · Jul 23, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Ad Astra Ventures made?
- Ad Astra Ventures has 22 tracked investments.
- What sectors does Ad Astra Ventures focus on?
- Ad Astra Ventures focuses on Sector Agnostic.
- Who does Ad Astra Ventures co-invest with?
- Ad Astra Ventures most often shares deals with Backstage Capital, Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), Techstars, among 31 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamEp #271 Funding for Women with Silvia Mah, Founding Partner Ad Astra Ventures
She Angels Series - Invest In Her · Silvia Mah
Highlight video with Silvia Mah the Founding partner of Ad Astra Ventures
Startup Steroid · Silvia Mah
Images
Co-investors · 1
Golden Seeds is an angel investment network founded in 2004 that focuses on funding women-led companies. It has invested more than $200 million in such companies since inception.
Firms observed investing alongside Ad Astra Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Ad Astra Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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