Commonweal Ventures
Venture capitalActively deployingNew York · Pre-Seed–Seed · 19 people tracked
Investment thesis
Commonweal focuses on early-stage companies positioned to leverage government partnerships and resources to address major challenges. The firm believes that companies can achieve competitive advantage by tapping into unique government strengths such as scale, credibility, regulatory authority, and access to public funding mechanisms.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 21, 2026.
Team · 19 people
from the firm's websiteFounder and Managing Partner of Commonweal Ventures who invested early in companies including Palantir, Robinhood, and Roivant. Previously served as Special Assistant to the President at the National Economic Council in the Obama White House, advising on emerging technology policy. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Aspen Ideas Fellow with published writing in major outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Former Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security with expertise in commercial and industrial policy.
Former President and CEO of the New York Energy Research and Development Authority, with expertise in energy policy and government innovation.
17th US Secretary of Transportation under President Obama and 54th Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina with government and transportation expertise.
Former Chief Information Officer for the City of Chicago with expertise in digital government and municipal technology.
Former Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency and Director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change under President Obama.
Advisor to the US Secretary of State on international strategy and foreign affairs.
Co-founder and CEO of Altana, a supply chain technology company backed by Google Ventures and other institutional investors.
General partner of real estate and finance-focused venture fund with expertise in real estate and financial services.
Co-founder and CEO of Astranis, a satellite communications company backed by leading venture investors.
Former Deputy Director for Policy in the Vice President's Office under President Obama with government and policy expertise.
36th Mayor of San Diego, California with local government and public administration experience.
Co-founder and managing partner of Streetlife Ventures, formerly Lyft's general manager for CitiBike with expertise in transportation and urban mobility.
President and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus with healthcare and regional economic development expertise.
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OpenGov, a government software company backed by top-tier venture firms.
Former Chief Technology Officer of Northrop Grumman with expertise in defense and homeland security.
Former Deputy Secretary of Health for New York State with healthcare policy and government experience.
What they invest in
from 9 of 48 portfolio companiesFintech ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2Data & Infrastructure ×2Enterprise Software ×2GovTech ×2Advanced Manufacturing ×1Cleantech ×1Climate Tech ×1
HQs:United States×5
Investments · 48 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathDeploying an AI research and analysis platform for communications teams across enterprise, firms, nonprofits, and government.
Revolutionizing the way local governments monitor and manage short-term rentals, vacant properties, foreclosures, and property appraisals.
Robinhood is a financial trading platform that enables users to manage portfolios across stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, options, futures, and prediction markets. The platform serves retail investors with low barriers to entry, offering portfolio management services and market insights.
Fintech
Using data and technology to help customers cut emissions, support renewable energy and live cleaner lives.
Making it easier and faster for people to apply for federal benefit programs via a TurboTax-style platform.
Building an ecosystem for project developers, corporate tax credit buyers, and financial institutions to transact and manage transferable tax credits.
Helping healthcare organizations identify mistaken claim decisions and reclaim vast amounts of lost revenue across complex administrative systems.
Providing software and tech-enabled services to clean energy developers and investors for the development, investment due diligence, and execution.
Crux is a capital platform that modernizes financing for clean energy and critical infrastructure projects through advisory, investment, technology, and intelligence services. The platform serves project developers, financial institutions, and investors seeking to deploy capital in the clean economy.
CleantechData & InfrastructureEnergyFintech
Farther builds technology for wealth advisors and ultra-high-net-worth clients, offering a platform for wealth management services including investment strategy, tax-efficient solutions, and family office operations.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Taylor Matthews(Founder & CEO)Brad Genser(Founder)
Enabling police departments to seamlessly share and analyze crime information across the US to keep communities and streets safe.
Building a go-to-market intelligence platform for businesses selling to state & local governments and education departments.
Greatly Health delivers evidence-based integrative medicine to cancer patients and survivors through virtual classes, one-on-one health coaching, and community support. The program, developed by oncologists and integrative medicine specialists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, combines conventional medical treatments with complementary mind-body therapies to reduce treatment side effects and improve health outcomes.
Digital HealthHealthtechWellness & Fitness
Helping credit unions and regional banks to lend for clean energy projects.
Building the first AI-native solution to help public entities and IT companies navigate government procurement processes.
Creating data analysis platforms to help organizations make decisions and solve problems.
Building the marketplace for utilities, contractors and homeowners seeking home electrification upgrades.
Building AI agents to help with data analysis and administrative work involved in criminal investigations.
Utilizing building data to enable owners and operators to cut waste and control operating expenses.
Expanding access to financial markets via commission-free investing and trading for individuals.
Providing satellites to bring connectivity to remote areas, support the US military, and provide critical capabilities like GPS.
Improving patients' lives by accelerating development and commercialization of medicines that matter.
Turning freight inventory into a tradable asset.
Sharp Performance provides performance coaching and stress management training for professionals in high-stress roles, drawing on expertise from military special operations and sports psychology backgrounds.
Enterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkMental Health
Starbridge provides enterprise sales enablement technology that helps business teams sell to government and public sector buyers. The platform serves as a bridge between private companies and government agencies across education, healthcare, public safety, and other sectors.
Data & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareGovTechSales TechNew York, US
Justin Wenig(CEO/Founder)
Deploying technology to provide personalized guidance and services to help clients manage their wealth.
Astranis manufactures small, high-powered geosynchronous satellites equipped with advanced digital processing technology for global telecommunications and connectivity services.
Advanced ManufacturingDeep TechHardwareSpace TechSan Francisco, US
Enabling nuclear producers to meet regulatory requirements far more efficiently than ever before by deploying advanced AI.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Commonweal Ventures invest at?
- Commonweal Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Commonweal Ventures's typical check size?
- Commonweal Ventures typically writes checks of $500K – $2.5M.
- What sectors does Commonweal Ventures focus on?
- Commonweal Ventures focuses on Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Energy, GovTech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Space Tech.
- Where is Commonweal Ventures located?
- Commonweal Ventures is headquartered in New York, US.
- Does Commonweal Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Commonweal Ventures leads investment rounds.
Similar investors
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that backs founders across all sectors and geographies. The firm invests in pre-seed and seed stage companies and is known for providing high-value support to founders through its active investor community of LPs who are themselves founders and operators.
DCVC is a deep tech venture capital firm with over a dozen years of experience backing entrepreneurs using computational approaches to solve trillion-dollar problems across industries including AI, climate, materials science, robotics, space, and biology.
ICI Fund is a US-based venture capital firm that invests in Israeli artificial intelligence and deep technology companies, partnering with them to scale operations and achieve market access in the United States.
Crosscut is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Los Angeles that invests in frontier technologies addressing critical global challenges. The firm focuses on energy transition, decarbonization, space economy, defense systems, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and supply chain reshoring.
Hyderabad Angels is a collective of experienced entrepreneurs, industrialists, and family offices founded in 2010 that provides mentorship, capital, and network access to early-stage founders. The organization invests in seed and pre-seed companies across sector-agnostic technology, healthcare, consumer, and other emerging sectors.