Graphene Ventures
Venture capitalPalo Alto · Pre-Seed–Late Stage · 14 people tracked
Also known as GRAPHENE VENTURES LLC
Investment thesis
Graphene Ventures backs exceptional founders pursuing bold, world-changing ideas, positioning itself as an operator-minded investor that applies hands-on experience to help startups reach their goals. Its investment team brings over 50 years of combined operational experience across CEO, CFO and VC fund roles, which it credits for its ability to identify strong teams and innovative companies. With a global footprint spanning the US, Canada, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, the firm supports founders with international ambitions while focusing on the US and other markets.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 14 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 15 of 27 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×4Fintech ×3Hardware ×3IoT ×3Robotics ×3SaaS ×3AgTech ×2Biotech ×2
HQs:United States×10Brazil×1Canada×1United Kingdom×1Norway×1
Investments · 27 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathLyft is an on-demand ridesharing platform that connects passengers with drivers for various ride types, including standard rides, premium options, and other transportation services.
MarketplacesMobility & Transportation
Logan Green(Founder)inJohn Zimmer(Founder)inDavid Risher(CEO)in
Miami, US
Wei-Chun Tai(Director)Newton Porter(Executive Officer, Director)Taylor Auerbach(Executive Officer, Director)
Grand Cayman
Marcus Vinicius Scharra de Oliveira Paula(Director)Nabil Alnoor Borhanu(Director)Artur Roberto Medeiros Assed(Director)
Board seatNabil Borhanu· per SEC Form D · $9M raise · filed Sep 2022
Forerunner is a website template and creative engine designed for brands and creators to build portfolios, agency sites, and project launches with polished design systems and flexible components.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyDeep TechDeveloper ToolsHardwareLogistics & Supply ChainRoboticsSilicon Valley, US
HealthtechChicago, US
Michael Liang(Director)Blackford Middleton(Executive Officer)Michael Oltman(Executive Officer)Noah Lewis(Director)Paul Magelli(Executive Officer, Director)Brad Ryan(Executive Officer)
Aquabyte develops an AI-powered platform combining computer vision and machine learning to monitor fish health, welfare, behavior, and biomass for aquaculture farms at sea and on land.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningIoTNorway, NO
San Mateo, US
Phillip Raub(Executive Officer, Director)Vibhu Norby(Executive Officer, Director)William Mintun(Executive Officer, Director)Nicholas Andrew Mann(Executive Officer, Director)
Bear Flag Robotics developed autonomous technology for farming before being acquired by John Deere in 2021.
Advanced ManufacturingAgTechRoboticsNew York City, US
Built Robotics develops autonomous robotics systems for solar energy installation, specifically for piling, trenching, and safety applications in solar farm construction.
CleantechConstruction TechEnergyHardwareRoboticsUnited States, US
Noah Ready-Campbell(Founder & CEO)Forest Baskett(Director)
BiotechCharlottesville, US
Kevin S Eisenfrats(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Iris Van Alderwerelt van Rosenburgh(Director)Martin J Emerson(Director)Gurdane Bhutani(Director)Tom Thorpe(Director)Michael King(Director)
Decoda is a platform providing practice management and AI-powered clinical tools for wellness and medical aesthetic clinics, including scheduling, patient management, billing, and ambient charting capabilities.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechSaaSWellness & FitnessToronto, CA
A camera and messaging app that connects people to their friends and the world.
Bobby Murphy(Cofounder)Evan Spiegel(Cofounder)
Zum provides cloud-based software and logistics optimization for school bus transportation, serving school districts to improve route efficiency, vehicle utilization, safety transparency, and costs.
EdTechLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationSaaS<UNKNOWN>, US
Ritu Narayan(Founder & CEO)
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 Graphene Ventures invest at?
- Graphene Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is Graphene Ventures's typical check size?
- Graphene Ventures typically writes checks of $500K – $2M.
- What sectors does Graphene Ventures focus on?
- Graphene Ventures focuses on AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Deep Tech, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Graphene Ventures located?
- Graphene Ventures is headquartered in Palo Alto, US.
- Does Graphene Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Graphene Ventures leads investment rounds.
From the blog
visit blog ↗Graphene Ventures recently announced portfolio company milestones including Zum's $100 million fundraise backed by record revenue growth in student mobility, Contraline's acquisition of rights to advance a male contraceptive gel through Phase 3 trials, and Aquabyte's majority stake investment from Vitruvian Partners to scale its AI platform for sustainable aquaculture. AI summary
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