M25
Venture capitalChicago · Pre-Seed–Series A · 12 people tracked
Also known as M25 GROUP, LLC
Investment thesis
M25 focuses on pre-seed and seed stage technology startups headquartered in the Midwest, backing go-to-market founders. It applies a rigorous, data-driven scorecard that objectively scores team, market, product, traction, exit and growth, funding, and business plan to reduce risk while pursuing strong early-stage returns. The firm emphasizes its extensive networks and collaboration, helping syndicate deals, encouraging fair terms, and prioritizing relationships and founder-friendly advice. Its name draws on the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25), reflecting a philosophy of responsible stewardship of both its own capital and capital entrusted to it by investors.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
Team · 12 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Founder mafia
3 people who came through M25 went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 28 of 53 portfolio companiesSaaS ×14AI & Machine Learning ×10Enterprise Software ×8Consumer ×5Healthtech ×4B2B Marketplaces ×3Cybersecurity ×3HR Tech ×3
HQs:United States×25
Who they back
founder profiles across 9 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×42 founders×44+ founders×1
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
Investments · 53 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 32025 · 32024 · 22023 · 32022 · 12021 · 12020 · 12019 · 12018 · 12017 · 117 dated
Authenticx is a conversation intelligence platform that uses AI trained on healthcare data to uncover system-critical insights from customer interactions, helping healthcare organizations identify barriers to better outcomes and improve operational efficiency.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareHealthtechCarmel, US
Amy Brown(Founder & CEO)inMcKay Dunn(Director)Melanie Bella(Director)
Board seatVictor Gutwein· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsAllos VenturesBeringeaElevate VenturesHigh AlphaMutual Capital PartnersMiami Angels+1 more
Chicago, US
Board seatVictor Gutwein· per SEC Form D · $7.2M raise · filed Mar 2026
Bloomington, US
Michael Philip Trotzke(Executive Officer, Director)Jeffery Hamilton(Director)Marc Guyer(Director)Mikel Berger(Director)
Board seatVictor Gutwein· per SEC Form D · $1M raise · filed Jul 2017
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
Moonnox is an AI-powered operating system for system implementation and delivery teams, integrating with existing tools to codify team methodology and institutional knowledge into a persistent "Collective IQ." It serves systems integrators and internal IT/delivery teams, from boutique firms to enterprises, in the professional services and consulting delivery software market.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSChicago, US
David Cotten(Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder)inRobert Ong(CEO)inGlen Stoffel(Chief Revenue Officer)in
Board seatVictor Gutwein· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsService Provider CapitalEarly Light VenturesHyde Park Angels
Rentgrata operates a resident referral and ambassador platform that lets prospective renters chat with current residents before leasing, while automating referral programs and surfacing AI-generated insights from those conversations.
AI & Machine LearningPropTechSaaSChicago, US
Ben Margolit(Co-founder)inZachary Sloan(Chief Financial Officer)Sam McArtor(Co-founder & COO)inZach Sloan(Co-founder & Chief Sales Officer)in
Board seatVictor Gutwein· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsBread And Butter Ventures, LlcForefront VentureBigfoot Capital
FoodTechChicago, US
NICOLAS ANASTASIADES(Executive Officer, Director)JONATHAN ELRON(Director)ARIEL GAISLER(Director)
Co-investorsTechstarsHyde Park Venture Partners
86 Repairs provides a platform to help restaurants manage repairs and maintenance, removing the burden of equipment R&M so operators can focus on their core business.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS
Daniel Estrada(Founder & CEO)
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Cleveland AvenueConnetic VenturesID VenturesLightbankLofty Ventures+5 more
AMOpportunities operates a clinical training platform that connects medical, MBBS, and nursing students with clinical placements at U.S. and international healthcare sites, offering visa and immigration support.
B2B MarketplacesEdTechHealthtechMarketplacesSaaSTravel & HospitalityChicago, US
Benjamin Bradley(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Kyle Swinsky(President, Co-Founder)Daniel Flores(Executive Officer)Kevin Iverson(Executive Officer)John Danaher(Executive Officer)Mamta Patel(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsDreamit VenturesChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)HealthX VenturesLaerdal Million Lives FundOui CapitalPACE Healthcare Capital+1 more
APFusion is a B2B automotive marketplace that connects salvage yards with vendors to increase inventory availability and streamline parts ordering and management.
B2B MarketplacesSaaSUrbana, US
ALEX SMITH(Executive Officer, Director)Alex Smith(Founder)inROBERT A SMITH(Director)
Co-investorsFJ LabsLeft Lane CapitalBedrock Capital
Bizzy produces certified organic cold brew coffee sold in ready-to-drink form in select retail locations.
ConsumerFoodTech
Co-investorsBluestein VenturesBread And Butter Ventures, LlcConnetic Ventures
Elate is a strategy management platform that connects planning, execution, and reporting into a single system, with an AI layer that surfaces risks and automates updates.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSIndianapolis, US
William Brooks Busch(Executive Officer, Director)Abigail Parker(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardMike Asem(Director)
Co-investorsCapital Midwest FundConnetic VenturesElevate VenturesHyde Park AngelsSerra VenturesWestWave Capital
Entravia offers workflow software for the PEO (Professional Employer Organization) industry, letting PEOs and brokers collect employer and census data through one secure intake, normalize unstructured documents into quote-ready submissions, and distribute them to multiple providers in parallel.
AI & Machine LearningHR TechSaaSEdina, US
Kasey Devine(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsGROOVE CAPITALService Provider CapitalMatchstick Ventures
Co-investorsBluegrass Angel VentureRevUp CapitalStout Street CapitalWakestream Ventures
Joshin provides a workplace support platform offering personalized coaching, trained Navigators, and company-wide education to help employers support employees through accommodations, diagnosis support, caregiving, and disability/neurodivergence needs.
Future of WorkHR TechWellness & FitnessNorth Oaks, US
Melissa Danielsen(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Melanie Fountaine(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Matthew Jones(Director)Alexander Hansen(Executive Officer)
BoardRobert Sarrazin(Director)in
Co-investorsAIFCake VenturesClaritas Capital
Kin is a home insurance provider that offers both self-service and agent-assisted policy purchase and management for homeowners.
InsurTechChicago, US
Sean Harper(Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer)inLucas Ward(Executive Officer and Director)Sebastian VillarrealBret Bret HarperJason Heidkamp
BoardEric Carlborg(Director)in
Co-investors500 GlobalACTIVATE CAPITAL PARTNERSAlpha EdisonAugust CapitalAvanta VenturesBetter Tomorrow Ventures+18 more
Climate TechChanhassen, US
Co-investorsTechstarsMatchstick VenturesROUTER VENTURES
Oath is building a verification layer for financial infrastructure, aimed at finance teams responsible for confirming and validating numbers.
Data & InfrastructureFintechSaaS
Lucas Ward(Founder)in
Opscompass is a software asset intelligence platform that provides real-time visibility into cloud, on-prem, and database environments, tracking configuration drift, security and compliance checks, and software licensing costs.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareSaaSOmaha, US
John Grange(Director)inDavid Kerber(Executive Officer)Lee H. Hamann(Director)Manuel C. Quevedo(Executive Officer, Director)Scott Griffith(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsDundee Venture CapitalElsewhere PartnersInvest NebraskaNelnet
Pavewise builds construction management software for asphalt paving operations, centralizing jobsite data capture, automated reporting, and compliance documentation to reduce delays and rework.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechSaaSDover, US
Bryce Wuori(Executive Officer)Brittany Wuori(Executive Officer)
BoardMike Asem(Director)
Co-investorsConnetic VenturesExit Quotient VenturesGreen Egg VenturesService Provider CapitalC2 VenturesFar Out Ventures
Playbite is a mobile app offering a library of casual, simple games that anyone can play for free, monetized through ads.
ConsumerGamingMedia & EntertainmentSt. Louis, US
Stuart Feldt(Founder)Diego Kafie
Co-investors500 Global
Prediction Guard provides a self-hosted control plane that lets enterprises manage, govern, and deploy AI systems, agents, models, and MCP tools within their own security boundary.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareLafayette, US
Daniel Whitenack(CEO)Adam Cuzzort(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsK Street CapitalService Provider CapitalFlywheel Fund
Realync is a video platform for multifamily property teams to create virtual apartment tours, personalized follow-up videos, and resident communications.
Marketing TechMedia & EntertainmentPropTechSaaSVernon Hills, US
Matthew Weirich(Executive Officer, Director)Ani Rangarajan(Co-Founder)Matt Weirich(Co-Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsCapital Midwest FundCharmides CapitalElevate VenturesSusquehanna Growth EquityMeridian Street Capital
Redi Health builds patient access and affordability programs that connect pharmaceutical manufacturers to patients through targeted approaches designed to increase medication adoption and sustained use.
Digital HealthHealthtechSaaS
Luke Buchanan(Founder)inJaimin Gandhi(Founder)in
Co-investorsMutual Capital PartnersBlue Heron CapitalRefinery VentureRev1 Ventures
A team of product strategists, engineers, data scientists and designers building products and tools to advance life sciences and facilitate healthcare innovation.
Co-investorsNarrow Gauge VenturesStout Street Capital
Stagetime is an online platform for the performing arts where artists such as opera singers and musicians build professional profiles with headshots, video, credits, and training.
HR TechMarketplacesSaaSBloomington, US
Jennie Moser(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardScott Eisen(Director)
Co-investorsConnetic VenturesElevate VenturesIU VenturesFlywheel FundHyde Park Angels
Swept AI provides runtime supervision, policy enforcement, and monitoring for AI assistants, agentic workflows, and customer-facing AI features, giving security teams real-time visibility and control over AI behavior.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareFuture of Work
Co-investorsID VenturesService Provider CapitalSpark Capital
Top Tier Lessons is a booking platform that connects youth athletes with college athletes for sports lessons, camps, and clinics across various sports.
ConsumerMarketplacesSports Tech
Co-investorsIllinois VenturesMu Ventures
Trava is an AI-powered compliance platform that audits customs entries and product classifications for US importers to identify overpaid duties, recover refunds, and ensure compliance.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainSan Francisco, US
Pushkar Lanka(Founder)in
Co-investorsY CombinatorBlockchange VenturesGrit VenturesTDF Ventures
Upsie offers consumer protection plans for devices, positioned as an alternative to plans sold by retailers and manufacturers, with lower prices, transparent coverage terms, and 24/7 claims service.
ConsumerFintechInsurTechBurnsville, US
Clarence Bethea(Founder & Executive Chairman)inWill(CEO)Katie(VP of Customer Experience)Chad(VP Growth Marketing)Jame(VP of Engineering)Rob(VP of Repair Operations)
Co-investorsBread And Butter Ventures, LlcMatchstick VenturesTechstarsBackstage CapitalTrue Ventures
Zohr provides mobile tire replacement and repair services that come directly to customers at their location.
Advanced ManufacturingB2B MarketplacesConsumerMobility & TransportationKansas City, US
Co-investorsFirebrand VenturesKCRise FundTechstarsTrucks VC
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.
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesAMOpportunities · techcabal.com · Aug 17, 2026
Joshin · finance.biggo.com · Aug 4, 2026
Entravia · fortune.com · Jul 29, 2026
Trava · riverside.ac · Jul 6, 2026
APFusion · start-midwest.com · May 12, 2026
Swept · start-midwest.com · May 1, 2026
Pavewise · forconstructionpros.com · Nov 7, 2025
Kin Insurance · coverager.com · Sep 8, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has M25 made?
- M25 has 35 tracked investments.
- What stage does M25 invest at?
- M25 invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is M25's typical check size?
- M25 typically writes checks of $500K – $3M.
- What sectors does M25 focus on?
- M25 focuses on Consumer, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Healthtech, InsurTech, Logistics & Supply Chain, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is M25 located?
- M25 is headquartered in Chicago, US.
- Does M25 lead rounds?
- Yes, M25 leads investment rounds.
- Who does M25 co-invest with?
- M25 most often shares deals with 500 Global, Bread And Butter Ventures, Llc, Connetic Ventures, among 52 tracked co-investors.
From the blog
visit blog ↗M25 recently invested in three AI-native platforms addressing fragmented, manual workflows: Immigify for legal immigration compliance, Oath for financial audit verification, and Stock for supply chain inventory management. AI summary
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamMidwest Startup City Rankings: Victor Gutwein, Founder and Managing Partner, M25
5 Lakes Institute · Victor Gutwein
#7 - Abhinaya Konduru (Associate @ M25) Tech Ecosystem - Working on a small team
ConfluenceVC: The VC Operating Playbook · Abhinaya Konduru
Abhinaya Konduru @ M25 on Life as a Junior VC, Chicago Collaboration, and Early-Stage Analysis
Chicago Capital Podcast · Abhinaya Konduru
Investor Series - Mike Asem, VC, M25 - RBL1 Live
Rebel One · Mike Asem
Victor Gutwein, Managing Director, M25
Victor Gutwein · vimeo.com
Investor Series - Mike Asem, VC, M25 - RBL1 Live | Investor Series - Mike Asem, VC, M25 - RBL1 Live Rebel One - RBL1.com - Accelerating Impact Founders & Investors https://www.rbl1.com/invest Link:... | By RBL1 - Rebel One
Mike Asem · facebook.com
Images
Co-investors · 22
True Ventures is a venture capital firm established in 2005 that focuses on early-stage technology companies, with operations based in Silicon Valley.
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Left Lane Capital is an investment firm focused on hyper-growth consumer and technology businesses that have enduring customer relationships, applying a data-driven, specialized approach to help companies scale.
Hyde Park Venture Partners (HPVP) is an early-stage venture fund investing in AI, software, and tech-enabled services companies connected to the Midwest, Toronto, or the Southeast.
C2 Ventures invests in early-stage companies and provides founders with content, networking opportunities, and operational support. The firm operates as an investment platform connecting entrepreneurs with capital.
Geodesic Capital is a venture firm that invests in multi-stage technology companies and helps them expand into Asian markets, starting with Japan, through strategic guidance and market access.
Blue Heron Capital is an early-stage growth equity firm based in Richmond, Virginia, with an additional presence in Washington, D.C. It funds companies in healthcare and enterprise technology, pairing its capital with operational support delivered through its network of operating advisors, the OA Collaborative.
Invest Nebraska is a Nebraska-based investor that backs early-stage companies showing early signs of product-market fit, typically writing a first check averaging $250k across all industries.
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm, backed by a community of founders and operators as LPs, that writes early checks (including pre-seed) into startups across many sectors and geographies.
Inovia Capital is a full-stack venture capital firm based in Canada with a presence in the EU, partnering with founders to build global technology companies.
Pareto Holdings is an early-stage investment and company-building firm headquartered in the United States that operates globally. It has never raised outside capital and is self-funded by design.
Tribe Capital is a venture firm that uses an AI and data-science engine for quantitative underwriting to invest in technology companies, and runs a co-investment program called Firstlook.
Cowboy Ventures is an early-stage venture firm focused on partnering with startups at the pre-seed and seed stages, offering hands-on support to help build enduring companies.
▶10 more co-investors
BedrockGE VenturesCultivation CapitalCambrian VenturesPreface VenturesEquity Allianceat.inc/Next Level VenturesVillage CapitalEvergreen Climate Innovations
Firms observed investing alongside M25, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with M25's recorded portfolio.
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