What stage does Genius Guild invest at?

Genius Guild invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.

What is Genius Guild's typical check size?

Genius Guild typically writes checks of $10K – $100K.

What sectors does Genius Guild focus on?

Genius Guild focuses on Climate Tech, Consumer, Fintech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good.

Where is Genius Guild located?

Genius Guild is headquartered in Chicago, US.

Does Genius Guild lead rounds?

Genius Guild typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.

Genius Guild

Venture capital

Chicago · Pre-Seed–Seed · 1 people tracked

★ Follow + Add to CRM ⤳ Find an introduction

Find your way into Genius Guild

78 people in our graph share verified history with the Genius Guild team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Liam Donohueunlockedknows Kathryn Finney · together at Backpack Healthcare (overlapped)

knows the team · via Backpack Healthcare

×3knows the team · via Penguin Random House

×6knows the team · via Mount Holyoke College

knows the team · via Capitalize VC

✨ Fox Verdict

Investment thesis

Genius Guild backs high-growth companies that use innovation to build, grow, and promote healthy communities, with a focus on supporting founders the firm considers the most underestimated in the market. Its approach centers on capital, community, and conviction.

Invests inClimate Tech Consumer Fintech Healthtech Impact & Social Good Chicago United States

Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.

Stage

Pre-Seed–Seed

Check

$10K – $100K

Chicago, Illinois, US

Leads rounds

Follows

Founded

2020

Tracked investments

Team · 1 people

from public directories

Kathryn Finney· Managing General Partner· Chicago, Illinoisin 𝕏

Kathryn Finney is a founder and investor with over two decades of experience building companies and supporting entrepreneurs. She founded Digital Undivided, a social enterprise that produced the "#ProjectDiane" research on diversity in venture capital, and established Genius Guild, a multi-million dollar investment fund focused on underrepresented founders. Finney is also the author of two books published by Random House, including the Wall Street Journal bestseller "Build the Damn Thing," and currently leads BUILD, an AI-powered platform designed to help entrepreneurs launch businesses.

What they invest in

from 3 of 3 portfolio companies

Consumer ×1Crypto & Web3 ×1Digital Health ×1Fintech ×1Healthtech ×1Marketplaces ×1Mental Health ×1

HQs:United States×2

Investments · 3 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path

Backpackbackpackbang.comMay 2024 · $14M

Backpack is a peer-to-peer platform that connects travelers with shoppers, allowing travelers to earn money by purchasing and transporting items abroad while shoppers access products from overseas at lower costs by avoiding traditional shipping.

ConsumerMarketplacesNew York City, US

Fahim Aziz(Founder/CEOM)in

Co-investorsLoup Ventures Y Combinator Collab Capital Hopelab PACE Healthcare Capital Portland Seed Fund +2 more

Backpackbackpack.app in 𝕏May 2024 · $14M

Backpack is a crypto application offering futures and spot trading, lending, and a crypto wallet.

Crypto & Web3Fintech

Co-investorsK5 Global Collab Capital Hashed Hopelab PACE Healthcare Capital Portland Seed Fund +3 more

Backpack Healthcareyoumehealthcare.com inMay 2024 · $14M

YouMe Healthcare provides mental health therapy and counseling services for children, adolescents, and young adults aged 4 and up.

Digital HealthHealthtechMental HealthElkridge, US

Co-investorsTechstars Collab Capital Hopelab PACE Healthcare Capital Portland Seed Fund Rethink Education

Portfolio news

latest coverage across their companies

Atlanta Studio Raises $60,000 for Students at the Backpack Bash – Perkins&Will

Backpack · perkinswill.com · Aug 6, 2026

Purdue University Northwest backpack giveaway drive

Backpack · nwitimes.com · Jul 17, 2026

Frequently asked questions

What stage does Genius Guild invest at?: Genius Guild invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
What is Genius Guild's typical check size?: Genius Guild typically writes checks of $10K – $100K.
What sectors does Genius Guild focus on?: Genius Guild focuses on Climate Tech, Consumer, Fintech, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good.
Where is Genius Guild located?: Genius Guild is headquartered in Chicago, US.
Does Genius Guild lead rounds?: Genius Guild typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.

Images

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