Phirst Market Ventures
Venture capitalPhiladelphia · Pre-Seed–Seed · 3 people tracked
Find your way into Phirst Market Ventures
Sign up to see every warm intro you have to Phirst Market Ventures
- Paths you didn't know you had: your email and LinkedIn already hold routes to the Phirst Market Ventures team. We find them for you
- 2nd- and 3rd-degree connections: the friend-of-a-friend routes that take hours to manually find through your inbox or LinkedIn
- Answers now, not in days: momentum is everything in a raise. Skip asking around whether someone knows someone
Days of research, done the moment you sign in, with every route ranked by how warm it is.
Investment thesis
Phirst Market Ventures backs early-stage (seed and pre-seed) companies led by underestimated founders, with a core focus on startups having at least one black or brown female founder or C-suite executive. The firm looks for diverse teams, big ideas targeting $1B+ markets, and companies pursuing product-market fit where it can be the first institutional capital. It is industry agnostic but concentrates where its team can add value. Geographically it invests along the central Atlantic coast from Washington, DC to New York City, giving preference to Philadelphia-based companies, and aims to support businesses that positively impact local economies. It offers integrated capital through grants, loans and patient equity.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 3 people
from public directoriesWhat they invest in
from 6 of 12 portfolio companiesConsumer ×4Direct to Consumer ×3E-commerce ×2AI & Machine Learning ×1Circular Economy ×1FoodTech ×1Future of Work ×1HR Tech ×1
HQs:United States×4
Investments · 12 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathAn innovation-focused venture founded in 2014 by an investor and executive coach with experience coaching venture-backed founders.
Lenore Champagne Beirne(Founder)in
Elari produces a fiber-rich breakfast cereal made from tigernuts (root vegetables) and rice, formulated to be allergen-free and naturally sweet without artificial ingredients.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechWellness & Fitness
KennySola
Provides analysis and strategic insight to the philanthropic and social sector through tools for collaboration, tracking, and data analysis.
Grant Blvd was a Philadelphia-based fashion company founded in 2017 that designed and produced garments using sustainably sourced materials while employing individuals facing barriers to work and paying living wages.
Circular EconomyConsumerImpact & Social GoodPhiladelphia, US
Kimberly
Honey Blowout is a direct-to-consumer hair care brand that sells branded hair products including the Honey Blowout and Melt product lines.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerE-commerceNew York, US
Carla Clarkson(Founder)in
Philly Experiences offers cultural tours, food experiences, and community events in Philadelphia that center Black history, art, and local businesses.
ConsumerMedia & EntertainmentSocialTravel & HospitalityPhiladelphia, US
Chrissy Watts(Founder/Experience Curator)in
Sledge Scarves sells scarves and offers "The Strand Sistah," an AI companion, on a subscription basis bundled with scarf purchases.
AI & Machine LearningDirect to ConsumerE-commerce
Tribaja is a talent marketplace and community connecting under-supported tech professionals with employers, training providers, and mentorship opportunities.
Future of WorkHR TechMarketplaces
Co-investorsLighthouse Network Ventures LlcVisible Hands
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
AshayBiolaticeElariTrapezium Math Club
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Phirst Market Ventures made?
- Phirst Market Ventures has 12 tracked investments.
- What stage does Phirst Market Ventures invest at?
- Phirst Market Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Phirst Market Ventures's typical check size?
- Phirst Market Ventures typically writes checks of $10K – $250K.
- What sectors does Phirst Market Ventures focus on?
- Phirst Market Ventures focuses on Consumer, Direct to Consumer, HR Tech, Impact & Social Good, SaaS.
- Where is Phirst Market Ventures located?
- Phirst Market Ventures is headquartered in Philadelphia, US.
- Does Phirst Market Ventures lead rounds?
- Phirst Market Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Similar investors
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that writes pre-seed checks and is backed by a community of founder and operator LPs.
Flucas Ventures is a solo GP fund led by Ashley Flucas, who simultaneously serves as COO of Summit Ventures while personally investing in 250-275+ startups and deploying over $75M through a syndicate of 2,000+ LPs in less than two years. The fund operates with true stage, sector, and geography agnosticism while democratizing access to top-tier venture deals by inviting diverse, nontraditional LPs to co-invest alongside marquee firms like Sequoia and Andreessen Horowitz.
Relic Inc. (株式会社Relic) is a Japanese 'co-innovation company' that supports new business development and open innovation for companies ranging from large enterprises to startups, having assisted over 5,000 companies.
Hyderabad Angels is an angel investment network founded in 2010, comprising entrepreneurs, industrialists, and family offices that back early-stage startups across India with capital and mentorship.
First Check Ventures is an early-stage venture firm that makes early, transformational investments in startups worldwide, backing visionary founders across sectors.











