What stage does BootstrapLabs invest at?

BootstrapLabs invests at the Seed, Series A, Growth stages.

What is BootstrapLabs's typical check size?

BootstrapLabs typically writes checks of $100K – $6M.

Where is BootstrapLabs located?

BootstrapLabs is headquartered in Silicon Valley, US.

Does BootstrapLabs lead rounds?

Yes, BootstrapLabs leads investment rounds.

BootstrapLabs

Venture capital

Silicon Valley · Seed–Growth · 11 people tracked

Also known as Antares Capital Advisers Llc · Antares Capital Credit Advisers Llc · Ares Capital Management Ii Llc · Ares Capital Management Llc · Ares Commercial Real Estate Management Llc · Ares Management Llc

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✨ Fox Verdict

Investment thesis

BootstrapLabs invests exclusively in Applied AI, believing artificial intelligence is transforming every sector and represents one of the largest value-creation opportunities in modern times. The firm adopted an AI-first venture strategy in 2015, giving it early insights and a position among the leading AI-focused VC firms. Through its venture studios and venture capital funds, BootstrapLabs primarily backs companies in Future of Work/Productivity, Mobility, Health, Financial Infrastructure, Digital Infrastructure, and Climate & Energy, seeing significant opportunities to create efficiencies and value by applying AI in these domains.

Invests inAI & Machine Learning Climate Tech Cloud Computing Digital Health Energy Fintech Future of Work Healthtech Mobility & Transportation Silicon Valley United States

Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.

Stage

Seed–Growth

Check

$100K – $6M

Silicon Valley, California, US

Leads rounds

Leads

Instruments

Equity

Founded

2008

AUM

$458.8B

Tracked investments

Team · 11 people

from the firm's website & public directories

Benjamin Levy· Co-Founder and General Partner· San Francisco, Californiain 𝕏

Benjamin Levy, a repeat AI founder (Praedea Solutions) and ex‑investment banker behind $5B+ deals, mixes ML founder experience with Wall Street know‑how and advocates distributed R&D plus Silicon Valley scaling.

b•••@bootstraplabs.comreveal

Nicolai Wadstrom· CEO, Founder, and General Partner· San Francisco, Californiain 𝕏

Nicolai Wadstrom is a Swedish serial entrepreneur-turned-investor whose operator-centric, highly technical AI approach ties decisions to semiconductor and data-transfer shifts while favoring novel AI software and IP over capital-intensive infrastructure.

n•••@bootstraplabs.comreveal

Erik Starck· Managing Director

Erik Starck is a Managing Director in the Ares AI and Innovation Group, which he joined in 2024. Before that he led the BootstrapLabs Venture Studio for Future of Work, and he co-founded Essentor AB, GlocalReach Ltd, Lean Forward AB and Startup Studio Malmö AB Venture Studio. He previously consulted for IKEA and Sony on business development and digital transformation, hosted a YouTube show about startups called Hackernytt, and holds an M.Sc. in Software Engineering from Blekinge Tekniska Högskola.

Fabio Ficano· Managing Director

Fabio Ficano is a Managing Director in the Ares AI and Innovation Group, which he joined in 2024. He previously was a Managing Director at BootstrapLabs Venture Studio, where he led strategy and operations across its climate, energy, and future of work studios, and earlier worked as an investor at Baruch Future Ventures. His background also includes founding roles at Elettranova and LufraRise, co-founding Moncada Energy Group, and business development work as a Senior Fellow at Palantir.

Sam Rawstorne· Managing Director

Sam Rawstorne is a Managing Director at BootstrapLabs (an Ares company), where he works on venture capital investing. He joined Ares in 2024 after serving as an Entrepreneur in Residence at BootstrapLabs, and previously co-founded Myia Health, where he was Chief Operating Officer building a virtual care platform. Earlier roles include Entrepreneur in Residence at BCG Digital Ventures, Head of People Operations at Humble Bundle, and People Operations at Idle Games. He holds a B.F.A. (Hons) from University of the Arts London.

Ari Valtanen· Venture Partner· Cupertino, Californiain 𝕏

Ari Valtanen is Chief Technology Officer at Sfara, where he leads development and delivery of a sensor-based situational awareness platform for mobile devices in transportation and consumer services. He holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science and Engineering Physics from Helsinki University of Technology and brings over 30 years of software industry experience in data management, sensor systems, and cloud computing. Valtanen also serves as a Global Venture Partner at BootstrapLabs, advising portfolio founders in artificial intelligence, big data, and mobility.

Luigi Congedo· Venture Partner· Miami-Fort Lauderdale Areain 𝕏

Luigi Congedo is co-founder and board member of DataMasters.it, an artificial intelligence academy. He has prior experience in venture capital and was recognized by Forbes as one of the top 100 Italian leaders under 30.

Russ Lebovitz· Venture Partner· San Francisco, Californiain

Russ Lebovitz is CEO at Amprion Inc. His background spans technology-based product development, biotech commercialization, intellectual property, research and development, and corporate and capital structuring. He has experience in business development across the life sciences sector.

Mark Mavroudis· Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Ares Venture Capital and AI & Innovation Groups· San Francisco, California, United Statesin 𝕏

Mark Mavroudis is a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Ares AI & Innovation Group, and COO of the Ares Venture Capital Group (BootstrapLabs, an Ares company), where he supports the venture capital team's operations. He joined Ares in 2024 after serving as Vice President of Operations at BootstrapLabs, and previously held roles as an Engineering Manager at IBM and Siemens, a General Manager at Xerox, and executive positions at early-stage startups including Splash Technology, Artmachine, Keen Systems, WebDAM, and PITME. He holds a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

m•••@bootstraplabs.comreveal

Lorenzo Donati· Associate· San Francisco, Californiain

Lorenzo Donati is a Vice President at Ares Management Corporation, where he sources and evaluates early and growth-stage investment opportunities within the firm's Venture Capital Group, with a focus on applied AI. He also participates in Ares' AI & Innovation Group, working on the firm's digital transformation initiatives through the identification and implementation of AI-driven solutions.

Mark Strehlow· Venture Partner· San Francisco, Californiain 𝕏

Mark Strehlow is co-founder and CXO at Rainfall, an AI-native systems company. He brings over 20 years of product and design leadership experience across startups and established organizations, including prior roles at Truvalue Labs (acquired by FactSet), Flip Video (acquired by Cisco), and Yahoo. His background spans multiple technology cycles from early internet and mobile to blockchain and AI, with expertise in translating emerging technologies into user-facing products.

Founder mafia

2 people who came through BootstrapLabs went on to found or lead other companies.

Luigi CongedoVenture PartnerFounded Data Masters Russ LebovitzVenture PartnerFounded Ampriondx

What they invest in

from 18 of 31 portfolio companies

AI & Machine Learning ×14SaaS ×9Enterprise Software ×7Data & Infrastructure ×3Fintech ×3Logistics & Supply Chain ×3Developer Tools ×2Marketing Tech ×2

HQs:United States×12

Investments · 31 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2023 · 1 2022 · 2 2021 · 1 2019 · 15 dated

AEyeaeye.ai in 𝕏NASDAQ: LIDR

Next gen LiDAR enabling autonomous

Pleasanton, US

Luis Dussan(Director)inLuis C. Dussan(Executive Officer, Director)Matthew Fisch(Executive Officer, Director)Conor B. Tierney(Executive Officer)Andrew S. Hughes(Executive Officer)Ransom P. Wuller(Executive Officer)

Co-investorsBand of Angels HBS Alumni Angels Tri-Valley Ventures Trucks VC Tyche Partners Vektor Partners +1 more

CHARM Solutions US HoldingNov 2022SEC filingmedium confidence

Burlingame, US

Jacob Malmborg(Executive Officer, Director)Dag Syrrist(Executive Officer, Director)

Board seatNicolai Wadstrom· per SEC Form D · $5.6M raise · filed Nov 2022

Cargochiefcargochief.com in 𝕏

Cargo Chief offers C4, an AI-driven freight matching and capacity procurement platform that automates carrier outreach, real-time pricing, and load-carrier matching, integrating with brokers' TMS and other tools.

AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS

Kirk Franzen(Founder)in

Charmsolutionscharmsolutions.ai in

Charm Solutions offers CHARM Platform, an AI/ML software platform with API services and embeddable widgets that turn SMB financial data into credit scoring, underwriting optimization, and default-risk monitoring.

AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS

John Donovan(Founder)in

Fortellafortella.ai

Co-investorsMonta Vista Capital

GetAcceptgetaccept.com in 𝕏Jan 2019

GetAccept builds an AI-powered digital sales room that automates deal management for B2B sales teams, generating meeting summaries, business cases, and buyer-ready content to accelerate sales cycles.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSales TechSan Francisco, US

Samir Smajic(Founder/CEO)inCarl Carell(Founder)inMathias Thulin(Founder/Executive Partner)inJonas Blanck(Executive Officer)

BoardThomas Rubens(Director)in

Co-investorsAmino Capital Bessemer Venture Partners DN Capital Y Combinator

Haydenhayden.ai

Hayden AI develops artificial intelligence and spatial analytics software for governments and businesses, with a focus on transportation and public safety.

AI & Machine LearningGovTechMobility & Transportation

Marty Beard(CEO)in

Co-investorsAutotech Ventures Castor Ventures (an Alumni Ventures Fund)Costella Kirsch Doon Capital Foothill Ventures Global Brain +3 more

Indusindus.ai

Co-investorsFoundamental Millennium New Horizons Millennium Technology Value Partners

IUNUiunu.com in 𝕏

IUNU builds LUNA, an AI and computer vision platform that autonomously tracks plant development and turns crop data into real-time insights for growers.

AgTechAI & Machine LearningSaaSSeattle, US

ADAM GREENBERG(CEO)Adam Greenberg(Founder)

Co-investorsAstanor Ventures Ceres Partners S2G Investments Second Avenue Partners Taurus Ventures Serra Ventures

Kountablekountable.com

San Francisco, US

CHRIS HALE(Executive Officer, Director)Christopher Hale(Founder)inCatherine Nomura(Founder)in

BoardSTEVEN SCHOW(Director)

Co-investorsCapria Ventures MS&AD Ventures Lateral Capital

Load smartloadsmart.com in 𝕏

Loadsmart provides freight and logistics technology, including digital freight brokerage, managed transportation and consultancy, procurement and execution software, dock scheduling (Opendock), computer-vision yard visibility tools, and a carrier TMS.

AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSNew York, US

Ricardo Salgado(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsSoftbank Latin America Fund BlackRock Chromo Invest Kluz Ventures Maersk Growth New Ground Ventures +2 more

Looqlooq.ai in

Looq offers an AI-powered platform for field data capture and processing, using a handheld photogrammetry camera (qCam), a cloud processing engine (qAI), and a web viewer (qApp) to produce survey-grade 3D point clouds and 2D geospatial datasets from the ground without LiDAR or drones.

AI & Machine LearningHardwareSaaS

Mendelmendel.ai

Co-investorsDCM Ventures LaunchCapital Millennium New Horizons Millennium Technology Value Partners Oak HC/FT Olive Tree Capital

mParticlemparticle.comAcquired

mParticle provides a customer data platform that consolidates first-party data across channels to help businesses scale operations.

Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechNew York, US

Andrew Katz(Executive Officer, Director)inMichael Katz(Executive Officer, Director)inDave Myers(Executive Officer)

Co-investorsArrowroot Capital Bowery Capital Coelius Capital Eniac Ventures Golden Ventures Golub Growth +5 more

Navtracnavtrac.com

Michael Pivtoraikoin

Co-investorsBlumberg Capital Kluz Ventures Neer Venture Partners Silicon Valley Data Capital TenOneTen Ventures

Nodlenodle.io in 𝕏

Nodle operates a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) that uses smartphones and BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to provide crowdsourced location and tracking services.

Crypto & Web3Deep TechIoT

Micha Anthenor Benoliel(Founder)in

Co-investorsChainfir Capital Mapleblock Capital

Pryonpryon.com in 𝕏

Pryon provides a memory layer platform that helps enterprises move AI projects into production by ingesting, governing, and securing content across multiple formats and sources.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise Software

Co-investors7BC Venture Capital Aperture Venture Capital Duke Capital Partners Good Growth Capital Greycroft IronGate Capital Advisors +4 more

Pryonpryon.ai in 𝕏Sep 2023 · $100M

Pryon builds tools for enterprise customers to create and deploy agents powered by OpenAI's language models, focusing on the underlying components and architecture rather than simple assembly-line approaches.

AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareRaleigh, US

Igor Jablokov(Executive Officer, Director)JD Vance(Director)

Co-investorsGreycroft Tech Square Ventures Aperture Venture Capital Breyer Capital Duke Capital Partners Good Growth Capital +2 more

Quarvishealthquarvishealth.com

Quarvis Health offers CARE Coaching, a workplace mental wellbeing program that provides 24/7 human coaching combined with AI-generated population insights on employee sentiment and behavioral trends.

Digital HealthHR TechMental Health

Co-investorsHealth Catalyst Capital

Quriousqurious.io

Rabotrabot.us in 𝕏

Rabot offers a Vision AI platform that mounts cameras above existing warehouse pack stations to record, verify, and analyze every order, linking each video to the order ID through the WMS.

AI & Machine LearningLogistics & Supply ChainRetail TechSan Francisco, US

Isura Ranatunga(Co-Founder)Channa Ranatunga(Co-Founder)Isura R(Founder)

BoardJay Eum(Director)

Co-investorsGFT Ventures Interlace Ventures Newfund Capital Valuestream Ventures

Rogerroger.ai in 𝕏

Corpay One (formerly Roger) is a spend management and bill pay platform that automates ACH, check, and wire payments, invoice scanning, expense approvals, and vendor management, with real-time accounting sync to QuickBooks Online.

Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS

Co-investorsFinancial Venture Studio Restive Ventures

Siblysibly.com

Co-investorsVision Ventures

Southie Autonomysouthie.ai in 𝕏Jan 2022

Boston, US

Rahul Chipalkatty(Executive Officer, Director)

Co-investorsOcean Azul Partners Techstars

Talkmaptalkmap.com in 𝕏

Talkmap provides conversation intelligence software that automatically analyzes customer conversations in real time to surface insights, monitor quality and team performance, and support compliance and strategic decisions.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS

Co-investorsStage 1 Ventures

Tlainnovationtlainnovation.com

TLA Innovation develops Boom ID, an identity verification and authentication platform that combines contactless palm biometrics with a risk-analysis engine to authorize transactions, confirm identities, and secure high-stakes actions.

AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityFintech

uBiome6sense.com

Account engagement platform helping B2B organizations achieve predictable revenue growth.

Amanda Kahlow(Founder)inJason Zintakin

Co-investorsB Capital Group B4 Capital Base Venture Management, Inc.Battery Ventures Field Ventures Harmony Partners +12 more

unitQunitq.com inJul 2021

unitQ provides a platform that aggregates customer feedback from support, reviews, and social channels and uses AI to categorize signals into a single real-time source of truth for product quality.

AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSBurlingame, US

Christian Wiklund(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardAnna Patterson(Director)inScott Weiss(Director)

Co-investorsAccel Gradient Ventures Time Zero Capital Creandum

Vidoravidora.com in 𝕏

Vidora offers Cortex, a machine learning platform focused on consumer data that automates parts of the ML pipeline such as feature cleaning, feature engineering, uplift modeling, and real-time behavioral modeling.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMarketing Tech

Co-investorsCore Ventures Group

Vivumvivum.ai

Aldo Carrascoso(Founder)in

Co-investorsChamaeleon Streamlined Ventures

Voicemevoiceme.ai

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.

Exits · 1

IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolio

AEyeNASDAQ: LIDR

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

AEye at J.P. Morgan Automotive Conference: LiDAR push spans auto and defense By Investing.com

AEye · investing.com · Aug 14, 2026

Triangle Scores $15M Raise, Adds Live Nation Vet Roger Field

Roger · digitalmusicnews.com · Aug 6, 2026

Rokt mParticle's Performance Engine: Game Changer? - Investors Hangout

mParticle · investorshangout.com · Jun 25, 2026

Greenhouse automation 'becoming a necessity' says IUNU after raising additional $20m

IUNU · agfundernews.com · Apr 16, 2025

Frequently asked questions

What stage does BootstrapLabs invest at?: BootstrapLabs invests at the Seed, Series A, Growth stages.
What is BootstrapLabs's typical check size?: BootstrapLabs typically writes checks of $100K – $6M.
What sectors does BootstrapLabs focus on?: BootstrapLabs focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Climate Tech, Cloud Computing, Digital Health, Energy, Fintech, Future of Work, Healthtech, Mobility & Transportation.
Where is BootstrapLabs located?: BootstrapLabs is headquartered in Silicon Valley, US.
Does BootstrapLabs lead rounds?: Yes, BootstrapLabs leads investment rounds.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Episode #49 Nicolai Wadstrom, Founder, CEO and General Partner BootstrapLabs, AI focused VC

Andrew Romans · Nicolai Wadstrom

Co-investors · 39

Bessemer Venture Partners

Bessemer Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs across enterprise, consumer, and healthcare sectors from early stages through growth.

Both backed · 1

GetAccept

$5M – $100M

Gradient Ventures

Gradient is a seed-stage venture fund focused on backing founders building artificial intelligence companies, providing hands-on support as builders and mentors.

Both backed · 1

unitQ

$100K – $10M

Streamlined Ventures

Streamlined Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that partners with founders and invests at the seed stage to help build large-scale companies.

Both backed · 1

Vivum

$100K – $1M

Slow Ventures

Slow Ventures is a generalist early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2011, with offices in San Francisco, Boston, and New York, investing in the earliest rounds of companies across many sectors.

Both backed · 1

uBiome

$50K – $1M

Revolution

Revolution is an investment firm that has backed founders, communities, and ideas for over two decades, spanning venture capital, entrepreneurship advocacy, and real estate and hospitality investments.

Both backed · 1

Pryon

$100K – $1M

DN Capital

DN Capital is a global early-stage venture firm founded in 2000, investing in Seed, Series A and select Series B companies across Europe and North America.

Both backed · 1

GetAccept

$100K – $22M

DCM Ventures

DCM Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that leads rounds and partners with a small number of companies each year, backing innovative founders with a global, cross-border team.

Both backed · 1

Mendel

$250K – $15M

MS&AD Ventures

MS&AD Ventures is the corporate venture arm that invests in early-stage companies, partnering with entrepreneurs to build innovative solutions across insurance-adjacent and technology sectors.

Both backed · 1

Kountable

$500K – $3M

Foundamental

Foundamental is a venture capital firm focused on hardware and construction technology, providing strategic insights and investment perspective to founders building physical products for the AEC and construction industries.

Both backed · 1

Indus

$500K – $5M

Amino Capital

AMINO Capital is a global venture capital firm based in Palo Alto that invests around the theme of data moat and network effects, focusing on big data, machine learning, and exceptional products.

Both backed · 1

GetAccept

$100K – $10M

Foothill Ventures

Foothill Ventures is a technology-focused venture fund based in Los Altos, California, run by a team with founder and operator backgrounds. It makes early-stage investments in frontier technology, particularly infrastructure and AI applications.

Both backed · 1

Hayden

$100K – $10M

Newfund Capital

Newfund Capital is an early-stage venture capital firm operating out of Silicon Valley and Paris, backing entrepreneurs across technology sectors.

Both backed · 1

Rabot

$250K – $2M

▶27 more co-investors

Good Growth Capital Monta Vista Capital 7BC Venture Capital Aperture Venture Capital Andreessen Horowitz Sequoia Capital Founders Fund New Enterprise Associates (NEA)SOSV Mayfield Fund SciFi VC Kapor Capital Sierra Ventures Hack VC Two Sigma Ventures Accomplice Transmedia Capital Heartcore Capital Think+ Ventures Management, Llc BECO Capital FYRFLY Venture Partners Builders VC Blockchange Ventures Ingeborg Investments EVE Atlas Kain Capital Proton Enterprises

Firms observed investing alongside BootstrapLabs, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with BootstrapLabs's recorded portfolio.

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