Kern Venture Group
Venture capitalBakersfield · Seed–Series B · 19 people tracked
Investment thesis
KVG is built on the conviction that exceptional founders and transformational ideas can emerge across all industries, particularly in underserved regions like California's Central Valley. The fund believes in investing in startups that generate positive community impact while capitalizing on the region's unique strengths in agriculture, renewable energy, aerospace, defense, and manufacturing. By providing capital alongside deep local networks and operational experience, KVG aims to bridge innovation gaps and support growing industries rooted in Kern County's abundant resources.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 6, 2026.
Team · 19 people
from the firm's website & public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 32 of 48 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×10Hardware ×8Consumer ×6Deep Tech ×5SaaS ×5AgTech ×4Media & Entertainment ×4Medical Devices ×4
HQs:United States×16Canada×1United Kingdom×1
Investments · 48 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 12021 · 22018 · 14 dated
Cell therapy platform technology for improved cell isolation and activation.
Co-investorsWestern Technology Investment
Akadeum manufactures GMP-compliant ancillary materials for cell and gene therapy applications, specializing in microbubble-based negative selection products.
Advanced ManufacturingBiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesAnn Arbor, US
Kalyan Handique(Executive Officer, Director)John Younger(Executive Officer, Director)James Militello(Executive Officer)
BoardJeffrey S. Williams(Director)Paul D'Amato(Director)Dan Kidle(Director)in
Co-investorsArboretum VenturesBeringeaBerkeley CatalystBlueStone Venture PartnerseLab VenturesID Ventures+5 more
Auriga Space develops electromagnetic ground-based launch systems that use magnetic fields to accelerate payloads, powered by electric energy storage charged from standard power sources.
Deep TechDefense TechSpace Tech
Co-investorsAtas VCAutomotive Ventures MobilityNew North VenturesOTB VenturesSeraphim SpaceTrucks VC+2 more
Autio is a mobile app offering GPS-based, location-triggered audio stories about places across the United States, with a library of over 25,000 narrated tales covering history, culture, and landmarks.
ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentTravel & HospitalitySan Francisco, US
Kevin Costner(Co-founder)
Co-investorsAllied Venture Partnersblue 9 capital
BIOS develops neural digital therapy technology to deliver treatments for neurological conditions.
AI & Machine LearningBiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesCambridge, GB
Oliver Armitage(Founder)inEmil Hewage(Founder/Director)in
Co-investorsFifty YearsHeuristic Capital PartnersThe Venture CollectiveY Combinator
Cambium develops high-performance advanced materials—including thermal protection systems, high-temperature structural polymers, and laser/directed-energy protection—for extreme-environment applications across aerospace, space, defense, and industrial markets.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechNew Materials
Co-investorsJ17 CapitalMVP Ventures8VCSignalRankSilent VenturesVeteran Ventures Capital
Compression Works manufactures the AAJT-S, an FDA-cleared external abdominal tourniquet device for hemorrhage control used by emergency medical services, hospitals, and military personnel.
Defense TechHealthtechMedical Devices
Co-investorsAtlanta Technology AngelsNorth Texas Angel NetworkRockies Venture Club
Co-investorsRockies Venture ClubTrue Wealth Ventures
Co-investorsMiami Angels
Diesel Labs is a content intelligence company that provides data solutions for generative AI technologies and business intelligence tools serving the media and entertainment industry.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerData & InfrastructureMarketing TechMedia & EntertainmentBoston, US
Anjali Midha(CEO)
Co-investorsBeacon AngelsCentral Texas Angel NetworkExcelestar VenturesGolden Seeds
Drop Water builds smart refill stations that dispense water with customizable flavors, boosts, carbonation, and temperature control as an alternative to bottled drinks.
CleantechHardwareIoT
Co-investorsCardinia Ventures
EarthSense develops AI and robotics solutions for agriculture to address sustainability and productivity challenges.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningRobotics
Chinmay Soman(Founder)in
Co-investorsADB VenturesAg Ventures AllianceAgLaunch AcceleratorAurum Venture PartnersBread And Butter Ventures, LlcGen Capital+2 more
Edge Sound Research builds intelligent audio infrastructure based on patented technologies that capture, separate, and enhance sound, transform physical surfaces into sound emitters, and map audio into spatial experiences.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3Deep TechGamingHardwareMedia & EntertainmentRiverside, US
Co-investorsCartan CapitalElevate VenturesTechstars
Everyset provides a digital platform for managing background performers in film and television production, handling tasks from start work and extras breakdowns to payroll processing.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS
Rumala Sheikhani(Founder)inEbrahim Bhaiji(CEO)in
Co-investorsCrosslink CapitalHAVEN VENTURESBlumberg CapitalFoundersX VenturesGradient VenturesY Combinator
Evitado develops autonomous systems for airside operations at commercial airports and defense applications, addressing collision prevention, visibility, and labor shortages.
AI & Machine LearningDefense TechRobotics
Alex(Co-founder & CEO)Andrew(Co-founder, Head of Product & Operations)
Co-investorsDEPO Ventures
FanUp is a fantasy contest and gaming platform where users enter free-to-play, daily, weekly, and season-long contests across sports and pop-culture events such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, FIFA, F1, IPL, and reality TV shows.
ConsumerGamingSports Tech
Co-investorsAtland VenturesReno Seed FundService Provider Capital
Flume offers a home water monitoring system that tracks indoor and outdoor water usage around the clock and sends instant leak alerts to help homeowners prevent water damage.
ConsumerHardwareIoT
Co-investorsAllied Venture PartnersAugment Ventures
Sensate is a non-electrical wellness device and companion app that uses low-frequency vibration ("Somacoustics") and synchronized soundscapes placed on the chest to stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce stress, anxiety, and improve sleep.
HardwareMental HealthWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsExpert DOJOGeek VenturesMoai CapitalUnlock Venture Partners37 AngelsDangerous Ventures
Greenjets is a technology company developing electric propulsion products, initially targeting the drone market.
Deep TechHardwareMobility & Transportation
Co-investors7percent VenturesCoalitionExcellis HoldingMD One VenturesTanglin Venture PartnersBlossom Capital
Lumentra provides standards-based photometric, thermal, environmental, and electrical characterization and testing services for LED lighting manufacturers, along with standards compliance consulting for certification programs such as Energy Star and DesignLights Consortium.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechHardwareMississauga, CA
M8 Systems builds AI-driven irrigation automation combining proprietary hardware (its FarmLink controller), software, and a cloud platform to optimize water usage for growers, golf courses, and municipalities.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningIoTSan Juan Capistrano, US
Thomas Dewey(Executive Officer)Doug DeNardo(Director)
Market Wagon operates an online marketplace connecting independent local and regional food producers with consumers, delivering their products directly to customers.
E-commerceFoodTechMarketplacesIndianapolis, US
Daniel Brunner(Executive Officer)Nicholas Carter(Executive Officer, Director)Nick CarterDan BrunnerRob Eldridge(Director)
BoardGuy Turner(Director)in
Co-investorsElevate Venturesgener8torHyde Park Venture PartnersNew Stack VenturesHyde Park AngelsImpact Engine+1 more
Chalfont, US
Thomas Kramer(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJames Creech(Director)inDan Zitting(Director)
Co-investorsDelaware Crossing Investor GroupRobin Hood Ventures37 Angels
Mill It makes plant-based, dairy-free foods using ancient grains, including plant-based buttermilk and buttermilk dressings.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsReno Seed Fund
MIMOSA Diagnostics makes MIMOSA Pro, a pocket-sized imaging device that uses near-infrared light to non-invasively assess tissue and skin health at the point-of-care, with images uploaded to a secure cloud portal for clinician review and remote monitoring.
Digital HealthHardwareMedical Devices
Co-investorsFundersClub
Molten Cloud is a cloud platform for film and TV companies that combines rights, royalties, and content management, with AI features to automate back-office workflows and increase licensing revenue.
AI & Machine LearningMedia & EntertainmentSaaS
Co-investorsAshton KutcherMichael Ovitz
NeoCharge makes the Smart Splitter, a hardware device that lets homeowners add Level 2 EV charging by sharing an existing 240V outlet without a costly panel upgrade, plus an app that tracks charging cost per session and optimizes charging for the cheapest and cleanest grid hours.
EnergyHardwareMobility & Transportation
NIRA develops FDA-cleared at-home laser devices for wrinkle reduction that stimulate collagen in the deeper skin layers through short daily treatments.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Co-investorsBeacon Angels
PropTechAtlanta, US
Atticus LeBlanc(Executive Officer, Director)Kathryn Petralia(Director)
BoardArjan Schutte(Director)in
Co-investorsAlate PartnersBase Venture Management, Inc.Core Venture CapitalFlow CapitalKapor CapitalMetaProp+7 more
BiotechBethesda, US
Andrea Barthwell(Director)Behshad Sheldon(Director)Ashanthi Mathai(Executive Officer, Director)Serena Kim(Executive Officer)Kathryn Bowsher(Director)
Co-investorsMedMountain Ventures
Co-investorsEqual Opportunity VenturesHike Ventures
Sigo Seguros is a digital auto insurance agency that lets customers compare quotes from multiple insurers online and buy a policy in Spanish, with or without a US driver's license.
FintechInsurTech
Co-investorsNewlin VenturesRemarkable VenturesBlockchain Founders FundChingona VenturesListen Ventures
Sizzle.gg is an AI tool for Twitch and YouTube streamers that connects to their streaming accounts to automatically create clips and compilations from their streams.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyGaming
Co-investorsEterna CapitalID345Mindset VenturePlay VenturesSprint Vc
Storepass is a retail operations platform for trading card game and hobby stores, integrating buylist, point of sale, catalog management, and automated pricing, with built-in catalogs for games such as Pokémon, MTG, and One Piece.
E-commerceRetail TechSaaS
Tallyfor is a cloud platform for CPA firms that connects client books to the tax return, combining a cloud trial balance, tax workpaper organization, and line-by-line 1040 tax planning on a single source of client data.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS
Co-investorsExpert DOJO
Worksana provides employee time-tracking and California labor-law compliance software, offering a facial-recognition kiosk, offline mobile app, and web clock-in along with meal/rest break documentation, attestations, and payroll exports.
AgTechFuture of WorkHR TechSaaS
David Hergenroeder(Co-Founder / CEO)Trevor Smith(Co-Founder / CFO)
Co-investorsEntrada Ventures
Zeste Farms grows and sells living leafy greens and herbs—over 14 greens and 6 herbs—to chefs, grocers, and consumers, using an indoor vertical farming system called Anaconda.
AgTechFoodTechPaso Robles, US
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Sizzle · yourohionews.com · Aug 18, 2026
Greenjets · uktech.news · Jul 21, 2026
Everyset · fortuneindia.com · Jul 17, 2026
Market Wagon · morningstar.com · Nov 20, 2025
Auriga Space · nasdaqprivatemarket.com · Aug 3, 2025
Akadeum Life Sciences · finsmes.com · Jun 4, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Kern Venture Group made?
- Kern Venture Group has 48 tracked investments, including 1 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Kern Venture Group invest at?
- Kern Venture Group invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B stages.
- What sectors does Kern Venture Group focus on?
- Kern Venture Group focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, AgTech, Defense Tech, Energy, Logistics & Supply Chain, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Kern Venture Group located?
- Kern Venture Group is headquartered in Bakersfield, US.
- Who does Kern Venture Group co-invest with?
- Kern Venture Group most often shares deals with Allied Venture Partners, Elevate Ventures, Techstars, among 83 tracked co-investors.
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Kern Venture Group is an early-stage venture fund based in California's Central Valley that provides capital, network access, and operational experience to portfolio companies while aiming to foster economic growth in rural regions.












