Early Stage Partners, LP
Venture capitalCleveland · Seed–Series A · 3 people tracked
Investment thesis
Early Stage Partners focuses on backing promising early stage technology companies in the Midwest, based on the conviction that the region can produce a substantial number of attractive technology businesses. The firm provides much-needed capital along with advice and connections, aiming to generate success for entrepreneurs, investors, and the wider region. It has managed ESP Fund I (2002) and ESP Fund II (2008), both expected to reach top-quartile returns for their size and vintage. Notable exits include TOA Technologies (sold to Oracle), Simbionix, and Reverse Medical.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 7 of 12 portfolio companiesHealthtech ×4Medical Devices ×3Biotech ×2Deep Tech ×2New Materials ×2SaaS ×2AdTech ×1Advanced Manufacturing ×1
HQs:United States×5United Kingdom×1
Investments · 12 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2023 · 12020 · 12017 · 12015 · 14 dated
SeaStar Medical develops the Selective Cytopheretic Device (SCD), a therapy that targets highly activated neutrophils and monocytes to neutralize the hyperinflammatory immune response in critically ill ICU patients facing conditions such as infection, trauma, or surgery.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesDenver, US
Eric Schlorff(Executive Officer, Director)inAlvin Vitangcol(Director)Kenneth Van Heel(Director)Leslie Bottorff(Director)William White(Director)H David Humes(Director)
Co-investorsAphelion CapitalCapital Midwest FundWMU Biosciences Research & Commercialization Center
ICN is a privately-owned corporation with an experienced management team, backed by venture capital investment.
AdTechCloud ComputingMarketing TechRetail TechSaaSSector AgnosticNew Canaan, US
Richard Thibedeau(Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer)Jon Robertson(Co-Founder & EVP Marketing)Brian Schulte(Co-Founder & VP of IT)Gary Oakley(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJames Petras(Director)Jonathan Murray(Director)
Co-investorsConnecticut InnovationsLaunchCapital
Cleveland, US
David Neundorfer(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardPeter Ziebelman(Director)Ralph Carter(Director)
Board seatJim Petras· per SEC Form D · $1M raise · filed Apr 2015
Arisdyne provides process technologies for industrial applications, working with process engineers and plant managers to improve outcomes in areas such as biodiesel production, wastewater and biogas treatment, and graphene manufacturing.
CleantechDeep TechNew Materials
Blue Spark Technologies develops wearable continuous vital sign monitoring technology used for patient monitoring in hospitals and out-of-hospital settings, and for data collection in clinical trials.
Digital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesWestlake, US
ROBERT THOMPSON(Executive Officer)MATTHEW REAM(Executive Officer)JOHN GANNON(Executive Officer, Director)GARY TUCHOLSKI(Executive Officer)
BoardJAMES PETRAS(Director)inCECELIA CRUICKSHANK(Director)
HistoSonics develops a non-invasive medical device that uses histotripsy to mechanically destroy liver tumors, including unresectable ones, without surgery.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesAnn Arbor, GB
Wen Chen(Director)Tom Tefft(Director)Michael Blue(Executive Officer, Director)Fred Lee(Director)James Adox(Director)Thomas Davison(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsAlpha Wave GlobalAmzak HealthHealthQuest CapitalLumira VenturesMichigan Capital NetworkBezos Expeditions+2 more
OnShift provides workforce management software purpose-built for senior care organizations, covering talent acquisition, scheduling, payroll and HRIS integrations, employee engagement and retention, and compliance reporting.
HealthtechHR TechSaaSCleveland, US
Mark Woodka(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Stubler(Director)Claiborne Rankin(Director)Jonathan Murray(Director)David Inglis(Director)
Co-investorsHLM Venture PartnersJumpstart Ventures
OPTEM (Ovation Polymer Technology & Engineered Materials) develops proprietary specialty and performance polymers and composites, including electrically and thermally conductive compounds and high-performance masterbatches, and offers toll and custom compounding services.
Advanced ManufacturingNew Materials
Company sold to a strategic investor in 2014.
Company sold to a strategic investor in 2014.
Software company sold to Oracle; largest-ever exit for an Ohio-based software company.
Co-investorsDraper Triangle
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 portfolioSeaStar MedicalNASDAQ: ICU
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesSeaStar Medical · manilatimes.net · Aug 12, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Early Stage Partners, LP made?
- Early Stage Partners, LP has 10 tracked investments.
- What stage does Early Stage Partners, LP invest at?
- Early Stage Partners, LP invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Early Stage Partners, LP focus on?
- Early Stage Partners, LP focuses on Biotech, Deep Tech, Energy, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Healthtech, Medical Devices, New Materials, SaaS.
- Where is Early Stage Partners, LP located?
- Early Stage Partners, LP is headquartered in Cleveland, US.
- Who does Early Stage Partners, LP co-invest with?
- Early Stage Partners, LP most often shares deals with Alpha Wave Global, Capital Midwest Fund, HealthQuest Capital, among 11 tracked co-investors.
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