Fundraising FoxBuilders + Backers
Funding platformPre-Seed · 17 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Builders + Backers focuses on developing entrepreneurs rather than only startups, arguing that the main obstacles to entrepreneurship are lack of access to capital and to high-caliber startup expertise. It pairs a venture studio process with an AI platform trained on thousands of hours of real founder-to-founder mentorship conversations. Through its Idea Accelerator and venture studio programs, the firm guides early-stage builders across the full journey: discovering problems, ideating, validating assumptions, running real-world experiments, building MVPs, and launching and growing companies. Human Builders in Residence provide targeted feedback at key moments, with AI amplifying rather than replacing human expertise. It has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs across the US.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 16, 2026.
Team · 17 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Donna Harris leads Builders + Backers as CEO and serves as a general partner of both Builders + Backers Capital and 1776 Ventures, alongside a venture partner role at Praxis. Previously Managing Director of the Startup America Partnership under the Obama Administration, she cofounded K Street Capital and invests actively as an angel, and was named among the top 25 female early-stage investors in the U.S. in 2021. She also sits on the board of the Global Entrepreneurship Network and the Economic Innovation Group's Policy Council, and holds a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from American University.
Erich Broksas is Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Builders + Backers. Over more than 25 years, he has held leadership roles across philanthropy, technology startups, and entrepreneurship ecosystem development, with experience in executive leadership, nonprofit management, and global operations. His work has included launching initiatives, improving operations, and advising organizations through growth challenges.
Kathleen Hale is a Partner and founding team member at Builders + Backers, where she leads the Idea and Venture Development Team working with early-stage founders and has overseen the deployment of non-dilutive funding and the validation of business models through structured experimentation. As an investor, she focuses on early-stage companies using technology to broaden access, with portfolio interests in consumer products, logistics, and outdoor recreation. She previously founded and scaled multiple consumer product companies, including an early U.S. treadmill and standing desk brand, and was a founding partner at a law firm before entering entrepreneurship.
Byron White is Co-Founder of Yaupon Brothers and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Oneday. He has over a decade of experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, native agriculture, and indigenous food system development. His work focuses on the intersection of environmental conservation and economic development.
Donald Smith is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, holding a BS in Accounting and an MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. He is the founder of two technology companies, serving as CEO of the HR tech startup WorkTalo and Executive Creative Director of the clothing company Founder Moda, and is currently an AI in Population Health Research Fellow at the AIM-AHEAD Consortium. He is active in the Birmingham technology and business community through organizations including Innovation Depot and Birmingham AI, and mentors portfolio companies at the Atlanta-based non-profit Goodie Nation.
Eric Sillies is the founder and consultant at Launch Atomic. He works in innovation coaching, product strategy, and no-code development, and is developing a platform for non-profits to run fundraising events. He also designs board games.
Gisele Gerry is Director of Marketing Solutions at Builders + Backers and the founder of Pink Fern. At Builders + Backers, she has advised hundreds of founders, delivered marketing curriculum across more than 100 workshops, and contributed to AI-enabled marketing education. Her work focuses on areas including positioning, messaging, customer understanding, and growth strategy.
Marquicia Pierce is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Ruby Leaf Media, where she works as a life science business consultant. Her work focuses on the technology commercialization field, assisting life science startups and entrepreneurs in developing actionable strategies from their ideas.
Victoria Krauchunas is the COO and co-founder of PropelAuth. She maintains Seed Investor List, a daily newsletter of active early-stage investors, and runs Starting Line, a community for early-stage startups.
William S. Cromarty is the CEO and founder of Kirkwall and a former CIA officer with a background in aerospace and satellite systems, space and counterspace weapons counterproliferation, and aerospace-sector geopolitics. Before his national security work, he held roles in emergency management and the technology sector focused on radio communications systems, and he holds degrees from New York University and the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. He has served on the boards of the F5 Project, the Midwest Manufacturers Association, the Red River Manufacturers & Engineers Association, and the North Dakota Unmanned Autonomous Systems Council, and in 2022 was appointed to Cass County Commission boards addressing education policy and named to the Prairie Business 40 Under 40 list.
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Builders + Backers went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 22 of 27 portfolio companiesSaaS ×12Enterprise Software ×7AI & Machine Learning ×6B2B Marketplaces ×4EdTech ×3GovTech ×3Impact & Social Good ×3Logistics & Supply Chain ×3
HQs:United States×19Australia×1Brazil×1India×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 25 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×122 founders×43 founders×34+ founders×6
Where their founders studiedfrom 35 founders with education data
Stanford University ×4INSEAD ×3University of California, Berkeley ×3Stanford University Graduate School of Business ×2The University of Western Australia ×2United States Military Academy at West Point ×2University of Pennsylvania ×2University of Virginia ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 36 founders with field-of-study data
Computer Science ×11Business & Management ×6Engineering ×6Politics & Policy ×4Physics ×3Economics ×2Finance & Accounting ×2Humanities ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 34 founders with career history
OpenAI ×9Google ×6Democratic National Committee ×2Google Deepmind ×2Heyzap ×2US Army ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
4 founders hold a PhD · 5 hold an MBA (of 37 with degree data)
Investments · 27 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 12024 · 12023 · 12018 · 14 dated
Anthropic is an AI safety research company that builds reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSan Francisco, US
Dario Amodei(Founder)inDaniela Amodei(Founder)inTom Brown(Founder)inJack Clark(Founder)inJared Kaplan(Founder)inChris Olah(Founder)in
Co-investors3Comma Capital7BC Venture Capital7GC & CoA.Capital VenturesAccelAkka+155 more
Noda offers an AI platform for commercial real estate owners and operators that monitors building systems around the clock to detect and resolve equipment problems, reduce energy use, and lower maintenance costs.
AI & Machine LearningEnergyPropTechWashington, US
Logan Soya(Executive Officer, Director)Bac Tran(Director)
BoardRevell Horsey(Director)
Co-investorsK Street CapitalMetaProp VenturesnoaThe Westly GroupFifth WallKiddar Capital+1 more
Autonomy is an automotive subscription platform that enables vehicle subscription services as a sustainable business model in automotive retail.
CleantechConsumerMobility & TransportationSaaS
Scott Painter(Founder)inGeorg Bauer(President & Vice Chairman)inFred Weick(Chief Executive Officer)
Co-investorsAngel Collective Opportunity FundCelesta CapitalFJ LabsFlucas VenturesGaingelsKube VC+17 more
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Babyscripts provides a maternity care platform with remote patient monitoring, risk screening, and care management services for pregnant and postpartum patients.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtechSaaS
Juan Pablo Segura(Founder)inAnish Sebastian(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsCU Healthcare Innovation FundMemorialCare Innovation FundPhilips VenturesAAF Management Ltd.Civilization Ventures Management, LlcIrishAngels+5 more
BitOasis is a Dubai-based crypto asset exchange and virtual asset broker-dealer serving the Middle East and North Africa.
Ola Doudin(Founder)in
Co-investorsDigital Currency GroupFinbergJabbar Internet GroupMerak CapitalPantera CapitalWamda Capital+4 more
Design platform; Blackbird invested when it was just an idea and in every round since.
SocialSurry Hills, Nsw, AU
Melanie Perkins(Founder)inClifford Obrecht(Executive Officer, Director)Cliff Obrecht(Founder)inCameron Adams(Founder)inIan LeeJeffrey Story
Co-investors3Spoke Capital500 GlobalAirTree VenturesAlkeon InnovationAlpha Square GroupAltra Venture+58 more
Civitech builds technology infrastructure for political candidates, social causes, and local governments to increase voter registration and engagement.
Enterprise SoftwareGovTechSaaSSan Antonio, US
Jeremy Smith(CEO and Co-founder)inDan Graham(Director)Stephanie Fisher(Executive Officer)inErin Fahy(Chief Technology Officer of Issuer)inSarah Jackel(Executive Officer)
BoardTamer Mokhtar(Director)
Co-investorsAIN VenturesGaingelsHigher Ground LabsMana VenturesMercury FundScout Ventures+1 more
Digiphy offers a connected packaging and contextual storytelling platform that uses QR codes and page building to enable brands to communicate product origin, traceability, and sustainability information directly to consumers.
AI & Machine LearningCircular EconomyMarketing TechRetail TechLos Angeles, US
Sarah Wagman Ellenbogen(CEO & Co-Founder)inSarah ((Founder)Chris Scott(CPO & Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsLightShed VenturesM13TechstarsALIAVIA VenturesAlumni VenturesGaingels+3 more
Dorsata builds clinical workflow software for healthcare providers, delivering point-of-care tools and content (including ACOG guidelines) that translate provider best-practices into structured workflows.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaSArlington, US
Mark Kolb(Former CEO & Founder of Taratec)inDavid S. Fairbrothers(Executive Officer, Director)inDan Gibson(Founder)David Fairbrothers(Founder)
BoardMiles Reidy(Director)inPeter Hotz(Director)
Co-investorsMotley Fool VenturesQED InvestorsGore Range Capital
Goodworld provides software for organizations and businesses to run fundraising, volunteering, and sustainability campaigns, including campaign pages, online events, and a CRM managed from one dashboard.
Enterprise SoftwareImpact & Social GoodSaaSWashington, Dc, US
DALE PFEIFER(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsAstiaNycaNyca Partners500 GlobalCamp One VenturesFenway Summer Ventures
GrubMarket is a food tech company operating a B2B and B2C marketplace in the U.S. and Canada, offering both wholesale produce delivery at discounted prices and AI-powered SaaS software solutions for food supply chain businesses including inventory management, warehouse operations, and eCommerce platforms.
B2B MarketplacesE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSSan Francisco, US
Mike Xu(CEO, , President)inYang WeiBrian Gallagher(Chief Of Staff)inJack Tao(CTO)Genevieve Wang(Product)Bryan Barsness(Vice President of Software Sales \u0026 Marketing)
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBascom VenturesBattery VenturesCastor VenturesCeltic House Asia PartnersDG Ventures, Inc.+57 more
Guild operates a global education benefits platform that connects employees to a curated learning marketplace, 1:1 coaching, and analytics so employers can develop talent, fill critical roles, and build internal mobility.
EdTechFuture of WorkHR TechDenver, US
Brittany Stich(Founder)inRachel Carlson(Cofounder)Chandler K.inGREG SIEGEL(Executive Officer)RACHEL ROMER CARLSON(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)NATALIE MCCULLOUGH(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsAbbhi CapitalBessemer Venture PartnersCowboy VenturesFelicis VenturesGeneral CatalystGSV Ventures+33 more
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HopSkipDrive operates a marketplace and software platform connecting students and other individuals needing support to vetted caregivers for transportation, while providing school districts with tools like RouteWise AI to optimize their transportation operations.
B2B MarketplacesEdTechLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationSaaSLos Angeles, US
Carolyn Yashari Becher(Founder)inJoanna McFarland(Founder)inJanelle McGlothlin(Founder)in
BoardGreg Bettinelli(Director)in
Co-investors1843 CapitalAlumni VenturesBascom VenturesBBG VenturesDisney AcceleratorEnergy Impact Partners+14 more
Iconic is a platform that partners with museums, artists, and cultural institutions to create and distribute digital and physical art collectibles to global audiences.
B2B MarketplacesCreator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
Aluan Wang
Co-investorsBoot64 VenturesInnovation CatalystAF VenturesCultivation CapitalStout Street Capital
Mclean, US
Matt Thompson(Executive Officer)inBlake Hall(Founder)inThomas Pouliot(Director)Alexander D. Perwich II(Director)
BoardNathan McKinley(Director)Kelly Perdew(Director)in
Co-investorsBoxGroupCapitalGFortify VenturesFTV CapitalJHH vcK Street Capital+11 more
Boston, US
Christopher Lustrino(Executive Officer, Director)Venkatachalam Sankaranarayanan, Jr.(Executive Officer)Sean O'Reilly(Executive Officer)James Bordewick, Jr.(Executive Officer)Andrew Gordon(Executive Officer)Howard Schneider(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsGlobal Millennial CapitalTribal VenturesUtopian Ventures
Mercury is an investor database listing venture capital investors and their sector focus areas.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSSector AgnosticSan Francisco, US
Immad Akhund(Founder)inJason Zhang(Founder)inMax Tagher(Founder)inMax Tazhitdinov(Founder)Max Tazhnudinov(Founder)
BoardTom Brown(Director)
Co-investors500 GlobalAndreessen HorowitzAngel Collective Opportunity FundAtaraxia CapitalBetter Tomorrow VenturesCapital B Private Holdings+51 more
MPOWER Financing provides loans and financial support to international students pursuing education in the United States and Canada, using a credit model based on future potential rather than credit history.
EdTechFintechImpact & Social GoodWashington, US
Co-investorsDreamit VenturesETS Strategic CapitalFresco CapitalK Street CapitalVARIV1776 Ventures+6 more
Pacaso enables fractional co-ownership of luxury second homes, allowing owners to purchase shares in vacation properties rather than owning entire homes individually.
B2B MarketplacesConsumerMarketplacesPropTechCalifornia, US
Austin Allison(Founder)inDavid J. Willbrand(CLO)inCharles Tanner(Managing Officer)Nina Tran(Chief Financial Officer)in
BoardDan Levitan(Director)inLara Cumberland(Director)
Co-investorsAcrew CapitalAlumni VenturesBeyond CapitalCrosscut VenturesFlucas VenturesGreycroft+13 more
An AI-powered answer engine providing accurate, trusted, and real-time answers to questions.
San Francisco, US
Andrew D. Konwinski(Executive Officer, Director)Dzianis Yarats(Director)Aravind Srinivas Lakshminarayanan(Director, Executive Officer)Aravind Srinivas(Founder)inDenis Yarats(Founder)Andrew Konwinski(Founder)
Co-investors1435 Capital359 Capital7BC Venture CapitalAccelAdvaita CapitalAIX Ventures+63 more
Shippify is a logistics company that provides technology-driven last-mile, middle-mile, crossdocking, ship-from-store, and dedicated delivery operations for businesses.
Enterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSBelo Horizonte, Mg, BR
Miguel Torres Espinosa(Executive Officer, Director)Luis Elicio Loaiza(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsBuenTrip Ventures
SOAR AI Studio is a human-centered AI company building products on a proprietary multi-agent AI platform that turns conversations, meetings, and documents into usable insight while retaining memory of a user's work and preferences.
AI & Machine LearningFuture of WorkSaaSJameson, US
Paul Allen(Founder)in
Co-investors3Lines Venture Capital
Statt is an AI-powered policy intelligence platform that helps government affairs, legal, and regulatory teams monitor legislative and regulatory developments, analyze their impact, and produce decision-ready work products.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechSilver Spring, US
Steve Glickman(Founder)in
BoardAndrew Platt(Director)Aasim Hasan(Director)in
Co-investorsJHH vcMoneta VenturesNext Coast VenturesNextGen Venture PartnersClutch VC
SureBright provides product protection insurance solutions that merchants embed directly into their customer checkout experience.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareInsurTechRetail TechSaaSNew Delhi, IN
Manish Chauhan(CEO)inSanket Munjal(Founder)inManish C(Founder)Kunth Jain(Hiring Manager)Anbarasu S(Hiring Manager)Ankita Dewan(Hiring Manager (Marketing))
Co-investorsInsurTechMaiora Rebel VenturesMPG FundNeer Venture PartnersPanache VenturesPlug and Play Ventures+7 more
Swiftly provides a data platform for public transit agencies to track vehicle locations, generate real-time passenger information and arrival predictions, and analyze historical operations data.
Data & InfrastructureGovTechMobility & Transportation
Co-investorsJMI EquityPlug and Play VenturesRenewal FundsSHAKTIVia IDWind Venture+3 more
Grant Brooke(Founder)Peter Njonjo(Founder)
Co-investorsAHL Venture Partners1776 VenturesTLcom CapitalWamda Capital
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesGrubMarket · clay.com · Oct 16, 2026
Perplexity · perplexity.ai · Aug 6, 2026
Anthropic · Anthropic Newsroom · Aug 4, 2026
Mercury · thesaasnews.com · Jul 8, 2026
SureBright · natlawreview.com · Jul 6, 2026
Statt · statt.com · Jan 20, 2026
Pacaso · finsmes.com · Oct 2, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Builders + Backers made?
- Builders + Backers has 27 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Builders + Backers invest at?
- Builders + Backers invests at the Pre-Seed stage.
- What sectors does Builders + Backers focus on?
- Builders + Backers focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Consumer, Crypto & Web3, Data & Infrastructure, EdTech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Future of Work, Healthtech, InsurTech, Marketplaces, Media & Entertainment, SaaS, Sector Agnostic, Social.
- Who does Builders + Backers co-invest with?
- Builders + Backers most often shares deals with Gaingels, Alumni Ventures, Flucas Ventures, among 193 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamRon Schmelzer - Donna Harris, Builders + Backers
Small Team Big Scale · Donna Harris · linkedin.com
Ron Schmelzer's Post - Donna Harris, Builders + Backers
Small Team Big Scale · Donna Harris · linkedin.com
Why More Startups Are Creating Fewer Jobs: Donna Harris, ...
Small Team Big Scale · Donna Harris
Images
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