/Investor DB

eLab Ventures

Venture capital

Ann Arbor · Seed–Series A · 3 people tracked

Find your way into eLab Ventures

Each arrow is one introduction. Sign up to fill in the first one.

564 people can intro you to Paul

Ask William McNeil to introduce you to Paul Brown

You →William · together at Wayne State University Law School →Paul

287 people can intro you to Bob

Ask Jamie Chen to introduce you to Bob Stefanski

You →Jamie · together at Observiq →Bob

213 people can intro you to Doug

Ask Sam Okafor to introduce you to Doug Neal

You →Sam · together at Lumetec →Doug

Sign up to find every way you can get introduced to eLab Ventures

  • Your email: who you already know at eLab Ventures, and who your contacts know
  • 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: people you know who worked, studied or invested with the eLab Ventures team
  • Your LinkedIn: the connections who can make the intro for you

We rank every route by how warm it is, so you raise on warm intros instead of cold emails.

✨ Fox Verdict
Sign up to see your fit

Investment thesis

eLab Ventures focuses on backing businesses in which AI serves as the differentiating factor for creating market disruption. The firm concentrates its investments on AI-driven companies positioned to reshape their markets.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.

Stage
Seed–Series A
Check
$25K – $100K
HQ
Ann Arbor, California, US
Leads rounds
Follows
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2012
Last 12 months
1 investment
Tracked investments
29

Team · 3 people

from the firm's website

What they invest in

from 27 of 29 portfolio companies

AI & Machine Learning ×13Enterprise Software ×7Data & Infrastructure ×5Hardware ×5Developer Tools ×4IoT ×4SaaS ×4Advanced Manufacturing ×3

HQs:United States×17Hong Kong×1

Who they back

founder profiles across 18 portfolio companies
39%
solo founders
7 of 18 mapped founding teams
24%
repeat founders
of 25 founders with career history

Founding team size:solo founder×72 founders×73 founders×34+ founders×1

Where their founders studiedfrom 24 founders with education data

University of Michigan ×3Stanford University ×2UC Santa Barbara ×2

What their founders studiedfrom 24 founders with field-of-study data

Engineering ×11Computer Science ×7Business & Management ×5Economics ×3Mathematics & Statistics ×2Politics & Policy ×2

Where their founders worked beforefrom 25 founders with career history

EnvoyNow (acq. 2017) ×2Google ×2Visteon ×2

3 founders hold a PhD · 7 hold an MBA (of 27 with degree data)

Investments · 29 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

By year:2025 · 12024 · 12022 · 12017 · 12016 · 22015 · 17 dated

Adrenaline Interactiveadrenalineinteractive.aiin

Adrenaline Interactive provides in-game advertising technology that places real brands into mobile games through proprietary reskinning software, serving both game publishers seeking new revenue and advertisers wanting to reach players.

AdTechGaming

Carson Mathews(CEO)Max Albert(Founder)

Co-investorsAntlerAntler AustraliaChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Michigan Rise

Akadeum Life Sciencesakadeum.comin𝕏

Akadeum manufactures GMP-compliant ancillary materials for cell and gene therapy applications, specializing in microbubble-based negative selection products.

Advanced ManufacturingBiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesAnn Arbor, US

Kalyan Handique(Executive Officer, Director)John Younger(Executive Officer, Director)inJames Militello(Executive Officer)

BoardJeffrey S. Williams(Director)Paul D'Amato(Director)inDan Kidle(Director)in

Co-investorsArboretum VenturesBeringeaBerkeley CatalystBlueStone Venture PartnersCANTILEVER INVESTORSHemisphere Ventures LLC+7 more

Alisiofialisiofi.comin𝕏

Alisio provides AI-powered data verification and workflow automation for manufacturers, turning fragmented email communications into structured, bankable data for supply chain financing.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningFintechDetroit, US

Nishant Dixit(Founder)inManuel Zamora(Founder)in

Aperiaaperiatech.com𝕏Nov 2016 · $16M

Aperia develops tire management technology that monitors and maintains tire inflation and predictive maintenance for commercial fleets and consumers.

HardwareIoTLogistics & Supply ChainBurlingame, US

JOSHUA CARTER(Executive Officer, Director)inBRANDON RICHARDSON(Executive Officer)in

BoardJACK FUCHS(Director)inHAL KRUTH(Director)ANDREW SMITH(Director)STEPHEN GRAND(Director)

Co-investorsAugment VenturesBlackhorn VenturesEnerTech CapitalTrucks VCLateral Capital

Bindplanebindplane.comin𝕏

Bindplane provides an observability platform that collects, processes, and routes telemetry data from IT infrastructure and applications.

Data & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise Software

Co-investorsEdison PartnersLewis & Clark VenturesWakestream Ventures

BlastPointblastpoint.comin𝕏

BlastPoint provides software that transforms data into actionable intelligence for organizations, helping them drive growth while considering long-term impacts and protecting against unintended harms from data-driven decisions.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwarePittsburgh, US

Tomer Borenstein(Director, Executive Officer)inAlison Alvarez(Founder)inTony Cebzanovin

BoardDoug Neal(Director)inMichael Perrin(Director)inEthan Linkner(Director)in

Co-investors412 Venture FundAllos VenturesBTECH CONSORTIUMChloe CapitalCurql Collective, LLCIrishAngels+6 more

Buildbuild.orgin𝕏

BUILD is a nonprofit organization that provides youth development programs and mentorship services.

EdTechImpact & Social GoodSocial

Co-investorsIndex VenturesW11 Capital

Cobaltcobalt.ioin𝕏

Cobalt provides penetration testing as a service (PTaaS) and offensive security testing for enterprises, offering both on-demand pentests and continuous testing programs enhanced with AI-powered vulnerability detection.

CybersecurityEnergyEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSilicon Valley, US

Jacob Hansen(Founder)inChristian Hansen(Founder)inEsben Friis-Jensen(Founder)Jakob Storm(Founder)in

Co-investors500 GlobalbyFoundersHighland EuropeKima VenturesSparkland CapitalBloomberg Beta+7 more

Devplandevplan.comin𝕏

DevPlan delivers role-specific project briefings to team members via Slack and email, highlighting action items, risks, changes, and decisions relevant to their work.

Developer ToolsSaaSBoca Raton, US

Chris Bee(Founder)inAnton Safonov(Founder)in

Co-investorsAllen Institute for AI (AI2) IncubatorGrand VenturesMighty CapitalService Provider CapitalAcequia Capital (AceCap)AI2 Incubator

Gripfusiongripfusion.comin

GripFusion develops tactile measurement technology embedded in baseballs paired with analytics software to measure pitcher grip force, spatial distribution, and timing.

AI & Machine LearningHardwareSports Tech

Mason J. Ferlic(Founder & CEO)inMichael T. Freehill(Founder)in

Health Elementshealthelements.ai

A healthcare software company that uses AI to improve clinical registry data abstraction and patient care operations, combining domain expertise from healthcare with machine learning technology developed by former researchers at leading tech companies.

AI & Machine LearningDigital Health

Co-investorsAllen Institute for AI (AI2) Incubator

IP Authoripauthor.cominOct 2025

IP Author is a generative AI platform for patent professionals that enables drafting, searching, and responding to patent office actions.

AI & Machine LearningLegalTechHong Kong, HK

Samir Raiyani(Executive Officer, Director)in

BoardCynthia Padnos(Director)inRobert Stefanski(Director)in

Co-investorsIlluminate Ventures

LineLeaplineleap.comin𝕏

LineLeap operates a mobile app that allows nightlife customers to skip venue lines, purchase cover charges, buy event tickets, and order drinks at bars and clubs.

ConsumerFoodTechFuture of WorkMarketplacesNew York City, US

Nicholas Becker(Founder)inMax Schauff(Founder)inPatrick Skelly(Founder)in

Co-investorsAltaIR CapitalAlumni Venturesgener8torGoat Rodeo CapitalGreat Oaks Venture CapitalHelium-3 Ventures+19 more

Lumeteclumetec.comin

Lumetec develops an AI-powered monitoring platform that combines real-time data sources to detect and prevent threats to subsea cables and critical infrastructure.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense Tech

Jorge C. Castellanos(Founder)in

Co-investorsID Ventures

Lutelylutely.com

Lutely is a music platform where listeners buy albums directly from artists and keep permanent access to the music without a monthly subscription, and where artists can release new music ahead of streaming services like Spotify.

ConsumerCreator EconomyMedia & Entertainment

Co-investorsExit Quotient VenturesID Ventures

MemryXmemryx.comin

MemryX develops edge AI accelerator hardware and software solutions designed for efficient deployment across embedded systems.

AI & Machine LearningDeep TechHardwareSemiconductorsAnn Arbor, US

Dr. Wei Lu(Co-founder)

Co-investorsHemi Ventures, LlcM Ventures

Michiganhistorymichiganhistory.org

The Michigan History Foundation is a nonprofit that raises private funds to collect, preserve, and interpret Michigan's history, supporting the state's museum system, archives, publications, historic preservation, and educational programs.

Impact & Social GoodMedia & EntertainmentLansing, US

Motmotmotmot.aiinApr 2024

Motmot develops robotic systems to modernize how cities and water utilities manage and monitor their water infrastructure.

AI & Machine LearningCleantechData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareGovTechIoTRoboticsEast Lansing, US

Zack(Head of Brand, Marketing & Communications)inElliot Smith(Executive Officer, Director)in

Co-investorsAssembly VenturesMichigan Rise

Muuktestmuuktest.comin𝕏

MuukTest provides AI-powered quality assurance automation as a managed service, combining proprietary AI agents with expert QA engineers to design, execute, and maintain automated tests for software teams.

AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsSaaSRaleigh, US

Ivan Barajas Vargas(Founder)in

Co-investorsCalano VenturesContour Venture PartnersNC IDEASilicon Road VenturesTechstars

Pinnacleheypinnacle.com

Pinnacle provides text-based management coaching delivered via Slack, connecting managers with coaches for personalized guidance on leadership skills, team engagement, and conflict resolution.

Future of WorkHR Tech

Co-investors57Blocks CapitalSarah Smith

Pulsorapulsora.comin

Pulsora provides an ESG management platform that helps companies track, measure, and report on environmental, social, and governance performance.

Climate TechData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareImpact & Social GoodSaaSSan Mateo, US

Murat Sönmez(Co-Founder & CEO)inInderjeet Singh(Co-Founder & CTO)in

Co-investorsAligned Climate CapitalFINTOP CapitalAccenture VenturesAramco VenturesBow CapitalBuilders VC+5 more

Rachiorachio.comin𝕏Nov 2015

Rachio makes smart irrigation controllers that automatically adjust watering based on weather, season, and local conditions to reduce outdoor water waste for residential properties.

Climate TechConsumerHardwareIoTDenver, US

Franz Garsombke(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inChris Klein(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inMatt ReismanGary Stone(Executive Officer)in

BoardRobert Hawk(Director)Jonathan Hallett(Director)

Co-investors500 GlobalArborview CapitalBLH Venture Partners, LLCBonaventure CapitalEastside PartnersMetaProp+5 more

Sight Machinesightmachine.com

Sight Machine develops AI agents that optimize manufacturing operations by analyzing industrial data, connecting production systems, and providing autonomous recommendations to improve output and reduce waste.

Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSan Francisco, US

Jon Sobel(Chief Executive Officer and President)inNathan Oostendorp(Secretary and Treasurer)

BoardAdrian Fortino(Director)inMark Jacobsen(Director)Roger Ehrenberg(Director)

Co-investorsAsahi Kasei Corporate Venture CapitalDnx VenturesFundersClubFuture Energy VenturesHuron River VenturesMercury Fund+5 more

Traxentraxen.aiin𝕏

Traxen provides driver assistance and fleet management technology for truck drivers and fleet managers, delivering cost savings through improved fuel efficiency, reduced insurance claims, and enhanced driver safety.

AI & Machine LearningIoTLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & Transportation

Ali M.(Founder)in

Co-investorsID VenturesVoLo Earth VenturesImpact Engine

Vergeverge.aeroinMay 2017

Verge Aero develops and operates fully integrated drone show systems for professional production teams and entertainment events.

Creator EconomyHardwareManchaca, US

Chris Franzwa(CTO)inAnthony Merlino(CEO)inTony Samaritano(VP of Flight Operations)inNils Thorjussen(Executive Chairman)in

Co-investorsFall Line CapitalOsage Venture PartnersSP VenturesYamaha Motor Ventures

Voxel51voxel51.comin𝕏Sep 2022 · $12.5M

Voxel51 provides data and model management tools for computer vision and AI development.

AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeveloper Tools

Brian Moore(Founder)in

Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersDrive CapitalFoothill VenturesID VenturesShasta VenturesTop Harvest Capital+1 more

xospherexosphere.ioin

Xosphere offers the Xosphere IQ platform, which autonomously optimizes cloud compute, Kubernetes, and AI spending by migrating workloads to Spot capacity on AWS and GCP, scaling clusters, and attributing AI costs to business outcomes.

AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingEnterprise Software

Co-investorsIdealab

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

Blue MedoraPulsesg

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has eLab Ventures made?
eLab Ventures has 29 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
What stage does eLab Ventures invest at?
eLab Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
What is eLab Ventures's typical check size?
eLab Ventures typically writes checks of $25K – $100K.
What sectors does eLab Ventures focus on?
eLab Ventures focuses on AI & Machine Learning.
Where is eLab Ventures located?
eLab Ventures is headquartered in Ann Arbor, US.
Does eLab Ventures lead rounds?
eLab Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Who does eLab Ventures co-invest with?
eLab Ventures most often shares deals with ID Ventures, Michigan Rise, 500 Global, among 89 tracked co-investors.

Media · Podcasts & interviews

featuring the team

Fund Facts | Doug Neal, eLab Ventures | MEDC

Michigan Economic Development Corporation · Doug Neal

Bob Stefanski, eLab Ventures | Mobile World Congress 2017

SiliconANGLE theCUBE · Bob Stefanski

Fund Facts | Doug Neal of eLab Ventures | MEDC | How can #startups virtually engage with the venture capital community? Doug Neal of eLab ventures shares his advice for #entrepreneurs in our newest... | By Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Doug Neal · facebook.com

Images

eLab Ventures photo

Similar investors

Featured in lists