Gradient Ventures
Venture capitalActively deployingSan Francisco · Seed–Series B · 13 people tracked
Also known as Gradient · GRDNT LLC
Investment thesis
Gradient positions itself as a seed fund designed specifically for founders in AI. It emphasizes a founder-centric, collaborative approach, describing itself not just as an investor but as builders, mentors, and champions for its founders. The firm works alongside founders through challenges and successes, valuing transparency and long-lasting relationships grounded in trust. Gradient seeks to back bold, disruptive ideas with the potential to redefine industries. The firm recently announced its $220M Fund 5.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 13 people
from the firm's website & public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 189 of 269 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×95Enterprise Software ×90SaaS ×78Fintech ×46Data & Infrastructure ×33Developer Tools ×33Cybersecurity ×19Healthtech ×15
HQs:United States×100Mexico×4Canada×2Germany×2Bermuda×1United Kingdom×1
Investments · 269 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBlackBerry operates two divisions focused on security and innovation: one providing end-to-end encryption and zero-trust identity control for governments and critical industries, and another offering QNX embedded software and real-time operating systems used in over 275 million vehicles worldwide.
CybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareIoT
Duckly is an IDE plugin enabling real-time code collaboration and communication among developers using different integrated development environments.
Developer ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSan Francisco, US
Dragos Fotescu(Founder)inJohn Carnes Boggan(Executive Officer)Lee James Roberts(Executive Officer)
Meanwhile provides life insurance policies denominated and paid out in Bitcoin, allowing policyholders to build Bitcoin-based wealth through guaranteed growth rates and access policy loans against their accumulated value.
Crypto & Web3InsurTechHamilton, BM
Dover, US
Austin Hay(Executive Officer, Director)Ondrej Hrebicek(Executive Officer, Director)Patrick Thompson(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardMatt Garratt(Director)
Board seatZachary Bratun-Glennon· per SEC Form D · $15M raise · filed Jul 2025
Contractbook provides a platform for automated contract management using machine-readable data formats and AI/machine-learning capabilities.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLegalTechSaaSCopenhagen
Mary D'Onofrio(Director)Darian Shirazi(Director)Lars Floe Nielson(Director)Niels Martin Brochner(Executive Officer, Director)Jaroslaw Owczarek(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D · $30M raise · filed Jun 2021
Fondeadora is a financial platform in Mexico offering banking accounts and services for individuals, freelancers, and small businesses.
FintechMexico City, MX
Norman Müller(Founder)inRene Serrano(Founder)inNorman Muller Vergara(Executive Officer, Director)Darian Shirazi(Director)Rene Omar Serrano Ocampo(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D
San Francisco, US
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D · $69.9M raise · filed Dec 2024
San Jose, US
Ryan Sanders(Director)Robert Youngjohns(Director)Gaetano Crupi(Director)Zach Bratun-Glennon(Director)
Board seatZach Bratun-Glennon· per SEC Form D · $320M raise · filed Feb 2024
New York, US
Philippe Mizrahi(Executive Officer, Director)Denis Charrier(Executive Officer, Director)Boris Toledano(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D · $10M raise · filed Mar 2026
San Jose, US
Darian Shirazi(Director)Daniel Lindquist(Executive Officer, Director)Christopher Farmer(Director)Douglas Ludlow(Executive Officer, Director)Deok Keun Ahn(Executive Officer)Daniel Griffin(Executive Officer)
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D · $2M raise · filed Jan 2022
Boston, US
Zach Bratun-Glennon(Director)Peter Mahoney(Executive Officer, Director)Dan Faulkner(Director)Rudina Seseri(Director)
Board seatZach Bratun-Glennon· per SEC Form D
Mclean, US
Simon Wu(Director)Fahad Hassan(Executive Officer, Director)Haroon Mokhtarzada(Director)Alexander Niehenke(Director)David Cusatis(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D · $63.5M raise · filed Feb 2026
Spline is a web-based collaborative design platform for creating and shipping production-ready interactive 2D and 3D experiences to web, iOS, and Android.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkReston, US
Alejandro Leon(Founder)in
BoardCaroline Huskey(Director)Daniel Moskowitz(Director)
Board seatDarian Shirazi· per SEC Form D
Wise Systems provides an AI-driven routing optimization platform for delivery and fleet operations.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSCambridge, US
Charles Sims II(Executive Officer, Director)Ali Kamil(Executive Officer, Director)Layla Shaikley(Executive Officer, Director)Jemel Derbali(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardDr. Sandy PentlandEdgar Blanco
Board seatZach Bratun-Glennon· per SEC Form D
Philadelphia, US
Board seatZach Bratun-Glennon· per SEC Form D · $10M raise · filed Oct 2019
Aescape provides on-demand personalized massage and bodywork services through an app-based booking platform, allowing customers to customize session duration, pressure level, music, and muscle group focus.
B2B MarketplacesConsumerWellness & FitnessNew York, US
Eric Litman(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Jonathan Shulkin(Director)Eric Chin(Director)John Lema(Director)
Airspace Intelligence develops predictive software for mission-critical operations in defense and infrastructure sectors, serving large airlines and US government agencies.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechDefense TechLogistics & Supply ChainBoston, US
Phillip Buckendorf(Founder & CEO)
AKUA develops cybersecurity solutions and IoT/supply chain SaaS platforms, serving enterprise customers in government defense and commercial markets.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityIoTLogistics & Supply ChainSaaS
Neil Furukawa(Founder and CEO)Rich Fiasconaro(VP of Operations)Ramkumar Rama Rao(Director of SaaS Engineering)
Seattle, US
Kenneth F. Daniel(Executive Officer, Director)Timothy Porter(Director)Diego M. Oppenheimer(Executive Officer, Director)Anna Patterson(Director)
Aliro provides a full-stack software platform for quantum networking, including simulation, orchestration, and operating system solutions that enable enterprises and government agencies to plan and deploy quantum networks for applications like QPU interconnection and quantum-secured communications.
CybersecurityDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareQuantum ComputingBoston, US
Amplify builds the infrastructure and distribution platform for life insurance, connecting consumers, agents, platforms, and carriers through a unified ecosystem.
FintechInsurTech
Anchor Browser provides tools that connect AI agents to web applications for browser-based automation.
AI & Machine LearningDeveloper ToolsEnterprise Software
Argospace provides launch and transportation services for spacecraft and satellites beyond low Earth orbit (LEO), including cislunar and interplanetary missions.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
Armory provides continuous deployment software that helps development teams automate and manage application releases across their infrastructure at scale, with built-in safety and security controls.
Data & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSan Francisco, US
Arro is a fintech platform that offers a credit-building credit card with cash back rewards and an AI-powered money coach to help users build credit, earn financial rewards, and improve their financial habits.
Fintech
AutoFi provides a sales platform for automotive retailers that integrates financing, incentives, and deal structuring into a unified AI-powered online and in-store experience.
AI & Machine LearningFintechRetail TechSaaS
Michael Mignano(Founder & CEO)Jonathan Palan(Executive Officer, Director)Kevin Singerman(Executive Officer, Director)David Silverman(Director)
Axle provides instant access to insurance data for fleet managers, asset lenders, and gig platforms, allowing them to verify coverage and reduce risk in seconds rather than hours.
Developer ToolsEnterprise SoftwareFintechInsurTechNew York City, US
Cameron Duncan(Co-Founder & CEO)inNihar Parikh(Co-founder & CTO)inArmaan Sikand(Founder)in
Benepass provides flexible benefits platforms that enable employers to offer personalized, choice-based employee benefits aligned with company values and DEI initiatives.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechHR TechSaaSNew York City, US
Jaclyn Chen(Founder)inMark Fischer(Founder)inKabir Soorya(Founder)inStephanie Choo(Director)Mohammad Islam(Director)
BoardMatthew Alfieri(Director)
Synopsys provides design automation tools and intellectual property for semiconductor and electronics companies to develop smart, connected devices.
Developer ToolsEnterprise SoftwareSemiconductors
Doug Levin(Founder)
Bleacher Report is a sports media platform that provides news, highlights, analysis, and coverage of major professional and college sports leagues including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and WNBA.
Media & Entertainment
Bluefields is a technology-first insurance platform that builds specialized insurance programs for underserved market niches, combining loss control, program structuring, and proprietary data to accelerate time-to-market and improve underwriting outcomes.
InsurTech
Botkeeper provides an automated bookkeeping platform for accounting firms and professionals, using bots and AI to handle data entry, reporting, and analytics for small and mid-sized business clients.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaSBoston, US
Enrico Palmerino(Founder & Chief Executive Officer)Thomas Biggins(Director)Kellan Carter(Director)Mark Terbeek(Director)Angelina Palmerino(Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer)Sallie Halsey(Chief Operations Officer)
Stavvy provides an end-to-end digital default management platform that enables mortgage servicers to streamline loss mitigation processes and homeowners to access mortgage assistance remotely through mobile-friendly portals and automated workflows.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Eric Rachmel(Executive Officer, Director)David Silverman(Director)Robert Brueckmann(Director)Tripp Shriner(Director)
Britive provides identity access management for cloud environments, offering a cloud-native privileged access management platform that centralizes visibility and controls across cloud and SaaS applications.
Cloud ComputingCybersecurityEnterprise Software
Art Poghosyan(Co-Founder & CEO)Alex Gudanis(Co-Founder & CTO)Sameer Hiremath(Co-Founder, SVP of Product & GM)
BuildingConnected is a construction bid management platform that connects general contractors, subcontractors, and project owners to streamline bidding workflows and prequalification processes across a network of over 1 million construction professionals.
B2B MarketplacesConstruction TechSaaS
Browse all 269 investments with full details →
▶69 more tracked companies
RangeRebagrebitRecReclaimRecurateRedactableReltioRespanRevopsROERoe AIRoiRoofrRootlyRunhappy INCUBATED Marketing New YorkSabaSapiomSaplingSapling.aiScottySecureframeSendSend AISilverstreamSkipper HospitalitySonaSpadeSpectralSpotterSpringtailStack AIStairwellStepStreamStreamlitSyncariSyrupTelegraphTellaThe CoterieTheysaidTokutread.ioTypingDNAUbiquity6Unit 21unitQVanishidVaultplatformVecticeVennVera HealthVerahealthVijilVocodeVungleWeflowWritWriter AIX-Bow SystemsYaguaraYardstikyearendYoung AlfredYuma AIZivian HealthZooskZowie
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 Gradient Ventures invest at?
- Gradient Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B stages.
- What is Gradient Ventures's typical check size?
- Gradient Ventures typically writes checks of $100K – $10M.
- What sectors does Gradient Ventures focus on?
- Gradient Ventures focuses on AI & Machine Learning.
- Where is Gradient Ventures located?
- Gradient Ventures is headquartered in San Francisco, US.
- Does Gradient Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Gradient Ventures leads investment rounds.
From the blog
visit blog ↗Gradient has recently written about the emerging frontier of AI model capabilities, with open-source models closing gaps in procedural tasks but lagging in domain expertise; enterprise AI infrastructure for maintaining data trust through semantic meaning; and the infrastructure challenges of backing up and recovering AI agent-driven business operations. AI summary
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamAndrew Brackin, Partner at Gradient Ventures, on AI Startups & HealthTech
Grace Gong · Andrew Brackin
How Gradient Ventures is Shaping the AI Startup Landscape with Eylul Kayin
TechCrunch · Eylul Kayin
What Makes Mark Zuckerberg So Special? - Darian Shirazi, General Partner at Gradient Ventures
Miguel Armaza · Darian Shirazi
The Immigrant Mindset Created the World’s Most Techie Family - Darian Shirazi, Gradient Ventures
Miguel Armaza · Darian Shirazi
Facebook’s First Intern in 2005 - Darian Shirazi from Gradient Ventures
Miguel Armaza · Darian Shirazi
When to Build a Venture-Backed Startup | Darian Shirazi, Gradient Ventures
FlutterFlow · Darian Shirazi
Images
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