Higher Ground Labs
Venture capitalActively deployingChicago · Pre-Seed–Late Stage · 64 people tracked
Investment thesis
Higher Ground Labs backs technology companies that advance political progress for Democrats and progressives, with a mission focused on strengthening democracy and improving electoral outcomes. It invests across stages from pre-seed to exit and functions as both an investor and ecosystem builder, supporting a portfolio of political and campaign technology tools. Since 2017 it has invested in more than 80 startups across five funds, deploying over $50 million. Its companies span areas such as message testing, voter mobilization, donor advising, and influencer engagement, and it also produces research like the Political Tech Landscape Report to inform the progressive tech ecosystem.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 64 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 6 of 79 portfolio companiesGovTech ×4SaaS ×4Enterprise Software ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2LegalTech ×2AdTech ×1Advanced Manufacturing ×1Consumer ×1
HQs:United States×9
Investments · 79 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBallotReady provides an online voter guide and API that lets people research their ballot, register to vote, find polling places, and see their elected representatives.
ConsumerGovTechSaaSChicago, US
Aviva Rosman(Founder)Alexandra Niemczewski(Founder)
Board seatBetsy Hoover· per SEC Form D
Lexington, US
Michael Frias(Board of Directors)Jason Rosenbaum(Board of Directors)Nathaniel Pearlman(Board of Directors)Betsy Hoover(Board of Directors)Josh Wolf(Board of Directors)Nicholas Angelo Mele(CEO)
Board seatBetsy Hoover· per SEC Form D · $3.5M raise · filed May 2026
Accelerator company that built and piloted a revamped product during the HGL program.
Civitech builds technology infrastructure for political candidates, social causes, and local governments to increase voter registration and engagement.
Enterprise SoftwareGovTechSaaSSan Antonio, US
Jeremy Smith(CEO and Co-founder)Dan Graham(Director)Tamer Mokhtar(Director)Samantha Lewis(Director)Kurt Abrahamson(Director)Stephanie Fisher(Executive Officer)
Campaign tools platform where users performed 3.5 percentage points better than non-users in 2020.
Chicago, US
Eli Stonberg(Executive Officer, Director)Jeff Greco(Executive Officer, Director)
Volunteer engagement platform that resulted in 4% more vote share for campaigns in 2020.
JusticeText builds technology solutions for the criminal justice system, serving public defenders and marginalized communities to improve legal representation access regardless of income.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechLegalTechMedia & EntertainmentIrvine, US
Devshi Mehrotra(CEO)Leslie Jones-Dove(CTO)
Campaign platform where users earned 3.6% more vote share in the 2020 cycle.
Political donor advising platform that directed over $37 million and 300,000 donations to 750+ candidates in 2024.
Wilmington, US
Rene Rechtman(Director)Russell Buckley(Director)Santo Politi(Director)Christopher Kahler(Executive Officer, Director)Gerald Mueller(Executive Officer)Abraham Mueller(Executive Officer, Director)
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 Higher Ground Labs invest at?
- Higher Ground Labs invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is Higher Ground Labs's typical check size?
- Higher Ground Labs typically writes checks of $100K.
- What sectors does Higher Ground Labs focus on?
- Higher Ground Labs focuses on AI & Machine Learning, GovTech, Impact & Social Good.
- Where is Higher Ground Labs located?
- Higher Ground Labs is headquartered in Chicago, US.
- Does Higher Ground Labs lead rounds?
- Higher Ground Labs typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamWatch: Betsy Hoover shares Insights on the Role of A.I. in the 2024 Election - Higher Ground Labs
Betsy Hoover · highergroundlabs.com
Betsy Hoover, Higher Ground Labs | #fortheWIN2018 NewFounders Conference
NewFounders · Betsy Hoover
Higher Ground Labs' Shomik Dutta: "Nothing clarifies the mind like losing” | Danny In The Valley on Acast
Shomik Dutta · play.acast.com
Images
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