Firebrand Ventures
Venture capitalActively deployingBoulder · Seed–Series A · 4 people tracked
Investment thesis
Firebrand Ventures invests early in exceptional founders, prioritizing trusted relationships and shared values such as integrity, transparency, and authentic leadership. Emerging from a Techstars background, the firm focuses on startups outside the coastal hubs, having backed companies in cities like Austin, Boulder, Denver, Chicago, Des Moines, and Kansas City. Now investing from its Firebrand II fund, the firm positions itself as a hands-on, responsive, long-term partner throughout the startup journey, seeking entrepreneurs who aspire to be self-aware, humble, and courageous leaders.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 4 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 20 of 41 portfolio companiesConsumer ×8B2B Marketplaces ×5SaaS ×5Enterprise Software ×4AI & Machine Learning ×3Cybersecurity ×3Fintech ×3Developer Tools ×2
HQs:United States×23
Investments · 41 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathTrelora is a real estate platform that connects homebuyers and sellers with agent specialists and provides closing services through its Newfound Title & Escrow subsidiary.
B2B MarketplacesMarketplacesPropTechSaaSDenver, US
Joshua Hunt(Founder)Rod Ward(Chief Executive Officer)Steffany Ayala(Chief Financial Officer)Garrett O. Kearbey(Director, Chief Marketing Officer)David L. Workman(Director, Chief Operating Officer)Keith Hunniford(Chief Technology Officer)
FINRA-registered broker-dealer and online exchange for trading secondary real estate investment vehicles.
Overland Park, US
Brian King(Executive Officer, Director)Annemarie Tierney(Executive Officer, Director)Jeremy Smith(Executive Officer, Director)Jeffrey S. Kinney(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardGary Fish(Director)
Board seatJohn Fein· per SEC Form D · $8M raise · filed Oct 2025
Chicago, US
Kathleen Wilson(Director)
Board seatJohn Fein· per SEC Form D · $4.3M raise · filed Feb 2020
Automox provides an IT automation platform that helps modern organizations manage and automate their IT operations.
CybersecurityDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSaaSBoulder, US
Rajat Bhargava(Executive Officer, Director)John Prassl(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardChris Marks(Director)
Crafty provides workplace pantry management services, combining expert-led food and beverage delivery with a proprietary platform to manage office snacking programs across multiple locations.
B2B MarketplacesFuture of WorkSaaSChicago, US
Faisal Masud(Director)Christopher Ritter(Executive Officer, Director)Cameron Lawrence(Executive Officer)Brian Hirsch(Director)Elaine Russell(Director)Nathan Rosenstock(Executive Officer, Director)
Qiming Weng(Cofounder)
Dwolla provides a modern API platform that enables businesses to connect to US payment networks and facilitate fast bank transfers.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSDes Moines, US
Craig Ibsen(Director)Ben Milne(Executive Officer, Director)Jonathon Triest(Director)
BoardAlbert Wenger(Director)
Enables edtech software companies to integrate with every major LMS in four weeks or less.
Ephemeral produces semi-permanent tattoo ink formulated to fade naturally over 2 years, offering an alternative to permanent tattoos that do not require laser removal.
ConsumerHealthtechWellness & FitnessNew York City, US
Benjamin Sun(Director)Jeffrey Liu(Executive Officer, Director)Brennal Pierre(Director)
Fluent Forever develops language learning tools and applications based on evidence-based methods centered on memory, motivation, and learning science.
EdTechChicago, US
Gabriel Wyner(Executive Officer, Director)
Handraise builds a real-time reputation intelligence platform that unifies narrative intelligence, media signals, and AI interpretation to help enterprise brands monitor, understand, and shape their reputation.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechAustin, US
Matt Allison(Founder)David Perdue(Chief Technology Officer)Nathan Walker(Head of Customer Success & Measurement)Justin Papermaster(Head of Revenue & Growth Strategy)Matthew Allison(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Morgan Flager(Director)
HData is an AI-native platform that digitizes and analyzes regulatory documents, data, and filings to support research and decision-making for utilities, regulators, and energy professionals.
Data & InfrastructureEnergyFintechGovTechJoliet, US
Anthony Mealey(Director)Hudson Hollister(Executive Officer, Director)Mithun Banarjee(Director)Yuval Lubowich(Executive Officer)
BoardJohn Fein(Director)Amy Francetic(Director)
Judy is a cybersecurity platform designed for MSPs and SMBs that combines AI threat detection with human security expertise to protect endpoints, emails, and networks.
CybersecurityReston, US
Omelas builds Atreus, an agentic AI intelligence workbench that synthesizes multilingual, multidomain intelligence to uncover patterns across datasets and generate reports and presentations from prompts.
AI & Machine LearningDefense TechGovTech
Next-generation urban planning tool that helps cities answer key transportation questions.
Overland Park, US
Daniel Doctoroff(Director)Nick Bowden(Executive Officer, Director)Scott Brady(Director)
Sheets & Giggles manufactures sustainable lyocell bedding made from eucalyptus wood pulp, using significantly less water and energy than conventional cotton production.
Circular EconomyCleantechConsumerDirect to ConsumerDenver, US
Colin
The Regis Company develops AI-powered simulation software for practice-based learning, helping organizations create training experiences that develop real skills.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechEnterprise SoftwareHR TechGolden, US
Threatcare provides educational resources about scams and fraud in plain language, covering how scams work, prevention strategies, and recovery steps for people who have been scammed.
ConsumerCybersecurityDigital HealthAustin, US
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.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Firebrand Ventures invest at?
- Firebrand Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Firebrand Ventures's typical check size?
- Firebrand Ventures typically writes checks of $500K – $1M.
- What sectors does Firebrand Ventures focus on?
- Firebrand Ventures focuses on Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Firebrand Ventures located?
- Firebrand Ventures is headquartered in Boulder, US.
- Does Firebrand Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Firebrand Ventures leads investment rounds.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamThe Journey From Principal to Partner, Seed Diligence Rhythms w/ Claire Hansen of Firebrand Ventures
Valor Ventures · Claire Hansen
#0060 - John Fein Chats About His Seed Stage Venture Fund, Firebrand Ventures
Established · John Fein
Co-investors · 9
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Foundry Group is a venture capital firm that describes its approach as network-driven investing. It maintains offices in New York and Boulder, Colorado.
Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) is an early-stage venture fund investing in AI, software, and tech-enabled services companies connected to the Midwest, Toronto, or the Southeast.
General Catalyst is a venture capital and investment firm that backs founders across industries, with a strong focus on AI-driven transformation, fintech, healthcare, and other sectors.
Innovation Endeavors is an early-stage venture fund that invests in founders and supports venture creation through pre-team and pre-idea programs. The firm provides portfolio companies with access to mentors, advisors, and an entrepreneur ecosystem.
Chingona Ventures is an early-stage venture firm backing founders building businesses in rapidly changing, often overlooked growth markets.
Ausum Ventures is a venture fund investing at the intersection of blockchain technology and social impact, backing both early-stage startups and cryptoassets.
Firms observed investing alongside Firebrand Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Firebrand Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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