Motivate Venture Capital
Venture capitalChicago · Pre-Seed–Series A · 6 people tracked
Also known as MOTIVATE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Investment thesis
Motivate focuses on the earliest stages of a company's lifecycle, targeting pre-seed and seed opportunities. It writes $250k-$1m checks at pre-seed and $1.5-3m at seed. The firm backs founders with strong domain knowledge who are addressing real, durable problems in large and growing markets with high growth potential. Beyond capital, Motivate provides experience and connections, works alongside high-caliber founders to co-create and launch new ventures, and actively invests in and supports emerging pre-seed and seed stage VC funds.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 54 of 75 portfolio companiesFintech ×26SaaS ×25AI & Machine Learning ×17Enterprise Software ×13Data & Infrastructure ×9InsurTech ×6Advanced Manufacturing ×4Crypto & Web3 ×4
HQs:United States×19Canada×2India×1Netherlands×1
Investments · 75 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 22023 · 12022 · 12021 · 15 dated
Abstract builds an AI-powered policy intelligence platform that tracks and interprets legislation and regulatory changes in real time.
AI & Machine LearningGovTechLegalTechSaaSNew York, US
Pat Utz(Founder)in
Co-investorsAspira CapitalBonfire VenturesCommunitas Capital PartnersHawk Hill VenturesPath VenturesAtlantic Vantage Point+3 more
Co-investorsHumba Ventures
Aption offers a way for startup founders and executives to diversify concentrated private equity holdings by pooling their positions with those of other companies, using a derivative structure that is asset-backed and securitized.
AI & Machine LearningFintech
Co-investorsCarthona Capital
Chicago fintech building institutional trading technology, US brokerage services and AX, a perpetual futures exchange on traditional assets.
Brett Harrison(Founder)in
Co-investorsCoinbase VenturesParaFi CapitalSolari Capital
Attain provides a consumer purchase-data platform built on permissioned, real-time transaction activity, letting marketers build high-intent audiences, target shoppers across channels, and measure the sales impact of media campaigns.
AdTechData & InfrastructureMarketing Tech
Co-investorsMercato PartnersStarting Line
Aucto operates an online marketplace for buying and selling used industrial equipment such as presses, forklifts, and metal fabrication machinery, offering auctions, buy-now, make-an-offer, and best-offer formats.
Advanced ManufacturingB2B MarketplacesCircular Economy
Co-investorsNFXTop Corner Capital
Banyan operates a privacy-first data collaboration platform that lets merchants, banks, fintechs, and their commerce partners enrich card transactions with item-level (SKU) receipt data through a single secure connection.
Data & InfrastructureFintechRetail Tech
Co-investorsElizabeth Street VenturesTTV Capital
Co-investorsB3 Capital
Mobile-only bank with no monthly fees and no minimum deposit
Clyr is an expense and spend management platform that automates receipt capture, transaction coding, employee reimbursements, and accounts payable using AI.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS
Co-investorsHetz VenturesWedbush Ventures
Corechain provides a B2B payments platform that streamlines paperless payments and supply chain financing to help suppliers unlock working capital from unpaid invoices.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSNew Haven, US
Christopher P Aguas(Executive Officer, Director)Chris Aguas(Founder)inRandy Shuken(Director)Thomas G Romary(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardSteve Reale(Director)inJoseph Giordano(Director)in
Co-investorsBloccelerate VCNext Coast VenturesUlu VenturesConnecticut Innovations
Dyania Health develops AI and natural language processing technology for clinical research and healthcare applications, serving healthcare systems and clinical trial management.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechNew York, US
Eirini Sloser(CEO)Eirini Schlosser(CEO & Founder)in
Co-investorsGenesis VenturesHealthX VenturesInnospark VenturesOutsidersTau VenturesTech Square Ventures+1 more
Hosta A.I. provides an AI-powered property assessment platform that uses spatial and material analytics to automate building assessments from photographs.
AI & Machine LearningInsurTechPropTechCambridge, US
BoardDennis Shelden(Former CTO and Co-Founder Gehry Technologies)
Co-investorsBrick Mortar VenturesTechstarsWayfinder VenturesMassive
Enklu develops Verse, a location-based attraction platform for venue, resort, and entertainment center operators to create social entertainment experiences.
Gaming
Raymond Kallmeyer(Founder)in
Co-investorsBrincEspt Ventures LlcIrishAngelsArtis Ventures
FeedbackNow provides real-time feedback collection and predictive analytics platforms for service-oriented businesses, using digital and physical touchpoints to capture customer sentiment and operational data.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaS
fin3 develops digital asset infrastructure including stablecoins, tokenized bank deposits, and digital negotiable instruments for financial markets.
Fintech
Co-investorsNycaNyca Partners
Finofo is an AI-powered accounts payable automation platform that ingests invoices, purchase orders, and shipping documents through multiple channels, then classifies, matches, and posts them to ERPs with minimal manual intervention.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintech
Co-investorsWatertower Ventures Management, Llc
Fulcrum is cloud-based manufacturing software that provides real-time job tracking, production scheduling, and job costing for manufacturing shops.
Advanced ManufacturingCloud ComputingSaaS
JeffSunny Han(Founder)in
Co-investorsBessemer Venture PartnersBread And Butter Ventures, LlcSchematic VenturesSocial StartsCRV (Charles River Ventures)Foundation Capital+2 more
Mahalo is an AI-native platform for warranty and claims management, offering customer self-service for onboarding, troubleshooting, and claims alongside a shared workspace for teams to triage, review evidence, and make decisions.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Hallow is a mobile app that offers guided contemplative and meditative prayer techniques rooted in Catholic tradition.
ConsumerWellness & Fitness
Alex Jones(CEO)Alessandro DiSanto(Founder)in
Co-investorsContraryDrive CapitalHomebrewIrishAngelsNarya CapitalNextView Ventures+4 more
HelixIntel offers HelixCMMS, a computerized maintenance management platform for maintenance and facilities teams to run work orders, preventive maintenance, and asset tracking, and HelixPrevent, a risk-prevention suite for insurance carriers, pools, and programs.
InsurTechPropTechSaaSBuffalo, US
Jonathan DeWald(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Mainier(Executive Officer, Director)Matt Rutter(Executive Officer)Brian Sullivan(Executive Officer)Emily Mainier(Executive Officer)
BoardPradeep Tagare(Director)
Co-investorsGreen Egg VenturesLAB VenturesLaunch NYStellifiMOTIVATE VENTURESMunich Re Ventures+1 more
Home Chef is a meal kit delivery subscription that ships pre-portioned fresh ingredients and step-by-step recipe cards, including traditional meal kits, Oven-Ready meals, and a Family Plan.
Direct to ConsumerE-commerceFoodTech
Co-investors1/1 CapitalConnexa CapitalJam Fund
HubiFi provides revenue recognition and accounting automation software that reconciles subscription and usage-based revenue streams from payment processors like Stripe and posts audit-ready entries directly to ERPs.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSColumbus, US
Jason Berwanger(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)William Kaper(Executive Officer)
BoardFrancis Donohue(Director)
iink operates a digital platform for processing multi-party insurance claim checks, letting users remotely capture checks, collect electronic endorsements, coordinate with mortgage companies, and disburse claim proceeds via ACH or RTP.
FintechInsurTechPropTechSaaSTampa, US
THOMAS MCGRATH(Executive Officer, Director)Ken Lollar(Co-founder)inRyan Holliday(Co-founder, President & Chief Revenue Officer)Tom McGrath(Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer)Ryan Wetzel(Co-founder & Head of Operations)inKENNETH LOLLAR(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsChartline Capital PartnersGrand VenturesMotley Fool VenturesGreen Egg VenturesHeadlineIU Ventures
Washington, US
Adam Zarazinski(Executive Officer, Director)Evgeny Dmitriev(Director)
Jawnt offers a commuter benefits platform for employers and organizations, including a mobile-optimized transit benefits card (Jawnt Pass) and a mapping tool (Jawnt Maps) for HR and transportation admins.
HR TechMobility & TransportationSaaS
Co-investorsCameron Ventures
Kangarootime provides an all-in-one childcare management platform (CCMS) that handles enrollment, lead management, billing, custody tracking, staff scheduling, and family communication for childcare centers and schools.
EdTechFuture of WorkSaaSBuffalo, US
Scott Wayman(Executive Officer, Director)Bob Willer(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardStefan Szanto(Director)Heather Wood(Director)inAndrew Kaplan(Director)
Co-investorsMucker CapitalCultivation Capital
Lazarus AI researches, develops, and deploys artificial intelligence technology into operational environments.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureDeep TechEnterprise SoftwareInsurTechCambridge, US
Co-investorsJoyance PartnersOne Way VenturesTechstarsPlug and Play VenturesQBE Ventures
LiquidTrust provides an embedded payment infrastructure that lets platforms hold funds in dedicated transaction accounts and release them only when defined conditions are met, with built-in KYC, KYB, AML, and transaction monitoring.
Enterprise SoftwareFintechSaaS
Mesh operates a global crypto payments network that connects exchanges, wallets, and financial platforms into a single infrastructure layer, allowing users, businesses, and AI agents to send and receive payments from any wallet on any blockchain.
Crypto & Web3Data & InfrastructureFintechSaaSSilicon Valley, US
Bam Azizi(CEO & Co-Founder)inAdam Israel(CCO & Co-Founder)inArjun Mukherjee(Chief Technology Officer)inJeff Hendren(Chief Revenue Officer)inDacheng Zhao(SVP, Product)inDanny Villarreal(SVP, Customer Success)in
Co-investorsAltaIR CapitalB3 CapitalCoinbase VenturesEvolution VenturesFlorida FundersMirana Ventures+9 more
MKIII builds machine learning underwriting models and real-time monitoring systems that are validated and backed by A-rated insurance companies, helping lenders approve more borrowers while managing risk.
AI & Machine LearningFintechInsurTech
Moove.ai applies machine learning to real-time connected vehicle data to assess transportation risk and build mitigation tools focused on road safety and efficiency.
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureMobility & Transportation
Co-investorsCortado VenturesDolby Family VenturesUber
Lafayette, US
Jack Greco(Director)Salman Dhanani(Director)Abdur Rafay Khan(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardLauren Deluca(Director)in
NetNow provides a credit application and management platform that automates B2B credit operations, including onboarding, trade and bank reference collection, and tax compliance, giving credit teams real-time data for faster credit decisions.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSaaSToronto, CA
Nauman HafeezEli Costea(Founder)inSoroush Arghavan
Co-investorsCentre Street PartnersAntlerRipple Ventures
New Era ADR provides an online platform for arbitration and mediation, allowing legal teams to file and manage dispute resolution cases across all 50 U.S. states.
LegalTechSaaSChicago, US
Collin Williams(Founder & CEO)Richard Lee(Director)Rich Lee(Founder & Executive Chairman)inMichelle Tyler(Founder & VP, Operations)Shane Mulrooney(Founder & General Counsel)Kevin Drost(Chief Financial Officer)
Co-investorsNextView VenturesJump Capital
Nmbr provides an embedded payroll API and infrastructure that lets companies build and launch their own commercial payroll products in Canada.
FintechHR TechSaaS
Co-investorsGolden VenturesLuge CapitalPanache Ventures
Obviant is a defense acquisition data platform that combines thousands of structured and unstructured sources to provide budget, program, and organizational intelligence.
Data & InfrastructureDefense TechGovTechArlington, US
Brendan Karp(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsAloft VCShield Capital
Co-investorsRareBreed Ventures
Thrive is a loan servicing company that connects banks with consumers seeking financing options for home improvement projects.
Fintech
Path is an SEC-registered crypto robo-investment advisor offering automated, long-term digital asset investment strategies.
Crypto & Web3Fintech
Co-investorsStarting LineHyde Park Angels
Payall provides payment orchestration and automation solutions, including a universal payment account platform for processing transactions across multiple payment channels.
Enterprise SoftwareFintech
Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzPresidio VenturesPS27 VenturesThomson Reuters VenturesBat VCRRE Ventures+1 more
Polymer is a data security platform that identifies, analyzes, and mitigates real-time security risks across an organization's AI and SaaS ecosystem.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise Software
Co-investorsGreen Egg VenturesMaccabee VenturesStory VenturesTensility Venture PartnersFuture Food FundIndicator Ventures+2 more
Privacy Lock provides data privacy and compliance software for financial institutions, including GDPR/CCPA-compliant core conversions, AI-powered ETL and data transformations, data governance, and vendor management.
CybersecurityFintechSaaS
Co-investorscoreteq ventures
qBraid provides a cloud platform for quantum computing that includes a browser-based JupyterLab IDE, an open-source SDK, and a runtime that runs programs across 20+ QPUs and simulators from 11 providers through one API.
Cloud ComputingDeveloper ToolsQuantum Computing
Co-investorsBantam Group
Quiltt provides fintech infrastructure that connects builders to financial data aggregators and enrichment providers through a single integration.
Data & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsFintech
Ruben(Co-Founder & CEO)Mark(Co-Founder & CCO)Ruben Izmailyan(Founder)inZane Pickett(CTO)in
Co-investorsAbstraction CapitalEarly Light VenturesGranatus VenturesK Street CapitalNVP CapitalOvereasy Ventures+2 more
ReloShare provides software that enables social service agencies to book emergency hotel accommodations for vulnerable populations in need, including those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and health crises.
Impact & Social GoodSaaS
Co-investorsChicago Early Growth Ventures (CEGV)Lofty Ventures
Sarna provides cloud-based risk management, trading, and compliance software for clearing firms and broker-dealers, featuring real-time margin calculations, position management, and integrated brokerage infrastructure.
Fintech
Co-investorsWedbush Ventures
Smarty embeds an MIT-trained CTO ("Chief of AI") and senior engineering team into a client's business to identify, build, and maintain custom AI systems and automations.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Denzil Eden
Co-investorsSterling RoadAmplify.LAirrvrntVC
Co-investorsIron Prairie
SureBright provides product protection insurance solutions that merchants embed directly into their customer checkout experience.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareInsurTechSaaSNew Delhi, IN
Manish Chauhan(Founder)inSanket Munjal(Co-Founder)inManish C(Founder)
Co-investorsInsurTechMPG FundNeer Venture PartnersPanache VenturesY Combinator
The Swarm is a relationship intelligence platform that maps a company's extended network by importing connections from LinkedIn, Google Contacts, and CRMs.
Data & InfrastructureSaaSSales Tech
Co-investors500 Emerging EuropeAltaIR CapitalHubSpot VenturesTRAC (Third Round Analytics Capital)
Rowan (The Wealth Boom) prepares lower middle market industrial businesses for sale through a value creation system spanning financial reporting, documentation, and operational infrastructure, then runs a structured M&A sale process.
Advanced ManufacturingEnterprise Software
TradingView is a charting platform and social network used by over 100 million traders and investors worldwide to analyze and trade across global financial markets.
Data & InfrastructureFintechNew York City, US
Denis Globa(Executive Officer, Director)inKonstantin Ivanov(Director)Stan Bokov(Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer)inConstantin Ivanov(Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer)inSteven M Farsht(Director)
BoardSEBASTIEN ARTHUR M DUCHATEAU(Director)
Co-investorsAkkadian VenturesDRW Venture CapitalInsight PartnersIrishAngelsiTech CapitalTechstars+2 more
Upwell provides accounts receivable and order-to-cash automation software for logistics companies, including freight brokers, 3PLs, carriers, freight audit and pay providers, and factoring firms.
AI & Machine LearningFintechLogistics & Supply Chain
Co-investorsAutomotive Ventures MobilityInvest NebraskaNVP CapitalStage 2 CapitalVertical Venture PartnersAutomotive Ventures+5 more
Valiot builds software focused on manufacturing operations, offering measurable KPIs and adaptable onboarding for industrial decision-makers.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningIoTSaaSAustin, US
Oscar Federico Crespo(Executive Officer, Director)Adrian M. Rangel Araujo(Executive Officer)Adrian Araujo(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsFEMSA Ventures
Versus provides an interactive content platform that enables audiences to make predictions and express opinions about live and on-demand entertainment content like TV shows and sports.
AI & Machine LearningCreator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
John Vitti(Founder & CEO)
Co-investors7BC Venture Capitalalphabet angelsBeresford VenturesBrightstone Venture CapitalEvolution VenturesMoonshots Capital+5 more
Wilya provides workforce flexibility software for frontline workplaces, using skill-based scheduling and visibility tools to reduce absenteeism, retain talent, and lower costs.
Future of WorkHR TechSaaS
Co-investors25MadisonIron PrairieSchematic Ventures
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Moove · techcrunch.com · Aug 5, 2026
Abstract · finsmes.com · Jul 27, 2026
Fulcrum · investegate.co.uk · Jul 17, 2026
Mesh · venture5.com · Jul 10, 2026
SureBright · natlawreview.com · Jul 6, 2026
Upwell · opportunitiesforyouth.org · May 3, 2026
Kangarootime · buffalonews.com · Apr 21, 2026
Lazarus · thelastcaretakergame.org · Nov 14, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Motivate Venture Capital made?
- Motivate Venture Capital has 32 tracked investments.
- What stage does Motivate Venture Capital invest at?
- Motivate Venture Capital invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What is Motivate Venture Capital's typical check size?
- Motivate Venture Capital typically writes checks of $250K – $3M.
- What sectors does Motivate Venture Capital focus on?
- Motivate Venture Capital focuses on Consumer, Crypto & Web3, Data & Infrastructure, EdTech, Enterprise Software, Fintech, Hardware, Healthtech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Motivate Venture Capital located?
- Motivate Venture Capital is headquartered in Chicago, US.
- Does Motivate Venture Capital lead rounds?
- Motivate Venture Capital typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Motivate Venture Capital co-invest with?
- Motivate Venture Capital most often shares deals with Bessemer Venture Partners, Insight Partners, iTech Capital, among 33 tracked co-investors.
Images
Co-investors · 38
Led by investors including Gale Wilkinson, IrishAngels is an angel investing network affiliated with the University of Notre Dame that invests in B2B, consumer, and medical companies.
Techstars is a startup accelerator and early-stage investor that funds ambitious founders and provides capital, mentorship, and access to a global network of investors, operators, and corporate partners.
Wedbush Ventures is an early-stage investment firm that backs founders solving problems through technological innovation, positioning itself as hands-on partners focused on helping companies grow.
NextView Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that works closely with founders, providing hands-on support to help build companies from inception to scale.
Schematic Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on technology that makes and moves the world, investing in industrial hardware, supply chain, and related sectors.
Bessemer Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs across enterprise, consumer, and healthcare sectors from early stages through growth.
Social Starts is a group of early-stage venture funds that applies a data-driven, analytics-based methodology to identify and back promising companies in high-potential segments. Its current fund, Social Starts Health and Happiness, targets startups focused on helping people live longer and better.
A talent and research-driven investment firm that identifies and invests in entrepreneurs and their companies across funding stages from seed through scaling.
National Grid Partners is the venture capital unit of National Grid plc, a major investor-owned energy utility company. The firm invests in innovative energy-related technologies and business models.
Bread and Butter Ventures is a Minnesota-based venture capital firm investing in foodtech, digital health, and enterprise technology companies, leveraging the state's concentration of food, healthcare, and Fortune 500 industry leaders.
Amplify is a Los Angeles-based pre-seed fund that provides funding and guidance to technology entrepreneurs to help them build scalable companies.
Innospark Ventures is an early-stage investor backing technical founders building AI-driven solutions across healthcare, life sciences, and enterprise.
▶26 more co-investors
Bain Capital VenturesGreat Oaks Venture CapitalBattery VenturesForerunner VenturesStellar CapitalTodd and Rahul’s Angel FundFoundryAtlas VentureSocial LeverageQueensBridge Venture PartnersHustle FundAnthemis VentureBrand Foundry VenturesCapital FactoryPropeller VCEnsemble VCG20 VenturesAmino CapitalPJCAmerican Family VenturesCorazon CapitalRSCMJetBlue VenturesBehind Genius VenturesMAGIC FundRogue Venture Partners
Firms observed investing alongside Motivate Venture Capital, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Motivate Venture Capital's recorded portfolio.
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