Fundraising Fox
Agate Hound
Fund of fundsActively deployingSeattle · 6 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Agate Hound Fund positions itself as the first access fund of leading funds dedicated to the search fund / Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) micro-cap private equity asset class. It offers a diversified, index-fund-style approach by hand-picking established, successful portfolio funds in this space, which the firm says has historically returned net 35% over 40 years per a Stanford study. Focused on lower-market P/E acquisitions in North America, the fund argues search funds represent 'the new venture capital' and an attractive place to invest, targeting net returns of 20%+. A second fund (Fund II) is slated to launch in 2026.
Source: firm website, verified Oct 24, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website
An active private equity and angel investor for over 30 years, Jon has been a general partner in three funds managing over $325 million and a venture partner in three P/E funds, with more than 250 angel investments. He serves as general partner of Agate Hound Fund and was at Stanford GSB when the search fund asset class was forming.
A finance leader who served as CFO of Arrived overseeing 300 securities offerings on an SEC-qualified platform, and as Managing Director of LEHOKI handling VC, startup, private credit and private equity investments. He was also Principal and CFO at American Classic Homes and founded SeaLevel Properties. He holds degrees in Math and Computer Science from MIT.
Contact person associated with Agate Hound Fund, reachable via a firm email address. Only a first name is published.
What they invest in
from 1 of 1 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×1Digital Health ×1Healthtech ×1SaaS ×1
HQs:United States×1
Investments · 1 tracked
founders shown can be your intro path
TransformativeMed builds specialty-specific clinical workflow and care team communication tools that integrate directly into electronic health records (EHRs) through its CORES Platform.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechSaaSSeattle, US
Douglas Cusick(Executive Officer, Director)Erik Van Eaton(Executive Officer, Director)inDavid Stone(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardPeter Weiss(Executive Officer)in
Board seatJoel Mezistrano· per SEC Form D · $1.2M raise · filed May 2022
Co-investorsSwan Venture Fund
Rows marked “SEC filing” are inferred from directors named on the company's SEC Form D — public regulatory data, not a portfolio list published by the firm.
Frequently asked questions
- What sectors does Agate Hound focus on?
- Agate Hound focuses on Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Agate Hound located?
- Agate Hound is headquartered in Seattle, US.
- Does Agate Hound lead rounds?
- Agate Hound typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamSearch Funds Demystified: How Jon Staenberg (Agate Hound Fund) Nets 35% Annual Returns | EP 90
Fundraising Demystified Podcast - w/ Jason Kirby · Jon Staenberg
Jon Staenberg - Agate Hound Fund - What Fuels You
What Fuels You Podcast · Jon Staenberg
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