eLab Ventures
Venture capitalAnn Arbor · Seed–Series A · 3 people tracked
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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.
Team · 3 people
from the firm's websiteWhat they invest in
from 27 of 29 portfolio companiesAI & 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 companiesFounding 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 pathBy year:2025 · 12024 · 12022 · 12017 · 12016 · 22015 · 17 dated
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 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
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
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
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
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
BUILD is a nonprofit organization that provides youth development programs and mentorship services.
EdTechImpact & Social GoodSocial
Co-investorsIndex VenturesW11 Capital
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 companiesDevplan · geekwire.com · Jun 18, 2026
Akadeum Life Sciences · biospace.com · Jun 4, 2025
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 teamFund 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
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