BuildGroup
Venture capitalAustin · Series A–Late Stage · 8 people tracked
Also known as BUILDGROUP MANAGEMENT, LLC · BuildGroup Syndicate Three
Investment thesis
BuildGroup invests in AI-enabled workflow companies and focuses on helping founders through the 'awkward phase' of growth—the period after achieving initial product and customer traction when a company must build a sustainable business. The firm is a collective of former operators turned investors, some from Rackspace and OpenStack backgrounds, who take a high-touch, long-term approach. It deliberately limits the number of investments so its operators can dedicate time to each company. Rejecting the standard five-year exit horizon, BuildGroup aims to prime companies for sustainable growth over the timeline suited to each company's market conditions rather than an arbitrary expiration date.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 11, 2026.
Team · 8 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 10 of 13 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×5Enterprise Software ×5SaaS ×4Cloud Computing ×3AdTech ×1Advanced Manufacturing ×1Cybersecurity ×1Data & Infrastructure ×1
HQs:United States×7Canada×1
Investments · 13 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2023 · 12020 · 23 dated
SoundHound AI develops a voice AI platform that enables conversational interactions with products, services, and applications across industries.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSector AgnosticSanta Clara, US
Keyvan Mohajer(Co-Founder & CEO)Nitesh Sharan(Executive Officer)Timothy Stonehocker(Executive Officer)Majid Emami(Executive Officer)Larry Marcus(Director)James Hom(Executive Officer, Director)
Mesa, US
Noam Ohana(Director)Richard Counihan(Executive Officer, Director)Barry Libert(Director)
Board seatLanham NapierJim Curry· per SEC Form D · $10M raise · filed Jul 2020
Vidmob provides software to help brand marketing teams discover top-performing creative requirements, maintain consistent brand guidelines across advertising platforms, and manage creative data at scale.
AdTechAI & Machine LearningMarketing TechNew York, US
Alex Collmer(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Jason Donnell(Executive Officer, Director)George Rose(Director)Craig Coblenz(Executive Officer)James Kupernik(Executive Officer)Stephanie Bohn(Executive Officer)
Board seatKlee Kleber· per SEC Form D
Benefitfocus provides cloud-based software solutions for benefits and health care administration, serving employers, health plans, and brokers.
Cloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareHR TechCharleston, US
Francis J. Pelzer, V(Director)Joseph P. DiSabato(Director)Donald R. Taylor, Jr.(Chief Technology Officer)Raymond A. August(Chief Operating Officer)Milton A. Alpern(Chief Financial Officer and Secretary)Mason R. Holland, Jr.(Executive Chairman, Director)
CoCounsel is an AI platform designed for legal, tax, audit, compliance, and drafting professionals, offering fiduciary-grade AI grounded in authoritative content with enterprise-grade security and transparency features.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSan Francisco, US
Jake Heller(Founder/CEO)in
BoardJohn Buttrick(Director)
Cybrary provides online cybersecurity training courses, certification prep programs, and hands-on labs for individuals and enterprise teams.
CybersecurityEdTechSaaSRiverdale, US
Jeremy Gehring(Executive Officer, Director)Ryan J. Cory(Executive Officer, Director)Ralph, Jr. P. Sita(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardKlee Kleber(Executive Officer, Director)Ron Gula(Director)Jim Curry(Director)
DigniFi provides financing solutions for vehicle repairs, parts, and accessories to consumers through dealership partners.
Fintech
Fiix provides a cloud-based CMMS (computerized maintenance management software) for managing asset performance and maintenance operations, with IoT integrations to connect sensors, PLC, SCADA, and enterprise systems.
Advanced ManufacturingCloud ComputingEnterprise SoftwareIoTSaaSPerth, CA
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 portfolioSoundHound AINASDAQ: SOUN
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesCaseText · esgtoday.com · Jul 19, 2026
SoundHound AI · stocktwits.com · Jul 18, 2026
Vidmob · morningstar.com · Jun 10, 2026
Granicus · finance.yahoo.com · Mar 7, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does BuildGroup invest at?
- BuildGroup invests at the Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What sectors does BuildGroup focus on?
- BuildGroup focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is BuildGroup located?
- BuildGroup is headquartered in Austin, US.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamM&P Ep. 99: Lanham Napier, CEO of BuildGroup & Bud Scruggs, Managing Director of Cynosure Group
Silicon Slopes · Lanham Napier
Lanham Napier, CEO of BuildGroup
AIMatters · Lanham Napier
Lanham Napier the former CEO of Rackspace Hosting & Co-Founder of BuildGroup, took part in the CWRU Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship Speaker Series... | By CWRU Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship
Lanham Napier · facebook.com
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