Pivotal Ventures
Seattle · 2 people tracked
Investment thesis
An investment and incubation organization founded by Melinda French Gates focused on advancing social progress in the United States by incubating ventures that remove barriers holding people back.
Team · 2 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 23 of 36 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×6Fintech ×6Healthtech ×6Digital Health ×5Enterprise Software ×5Impact & Social Good ×4SaaS ×4Circular Economy ×2
HQs:United States×13
Investments · 36 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 42025 · 15 dated
An AI-native venture capital firm that uses machine learning and its own AI tools to identify and support AI companies.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise Software
Lan Xuezhao(Founder)in
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsFoundryBasis Set VenturesCowboy VenturesPeak XV PartnersPHX VenturesSequoia Capital+1 more
Supercircle operates a recycling infrastructure platform that lets apparel brands take back and recycle used clothing, turning recycling into a revenue channel rather than sending garments to landfill or incineration.
Circular EconomyClimate TechRetail Tech
Chloe Songer(Co-founder)Stuart Ahlum(Co-founder)Phong Nguyen(Co-founder)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsAtento CapitalNimble Partners
Cherryrock Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in underrepresented founders building software companies.
AI & Machine LearningSaaS
Stacy Brown-Philpot(Founder & Managing Partner)Saydeah Howard(Co-founder & Managing Partner)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Chingona Ventures is a venture capital firm.
Sector Agnostic
Samara Mejia Hernandez(Founding Partner)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsFoundry
FintechHealthtechInsurTechChicago, US
Osvaldo Montelongoin
Co-investorsNew Age CapitalTechstarsChingona Ventures
Define Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in health technology startups, backing founders building companies at the intersection of healthcare and technology.
Digital HealthHealthtech
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Ellevest is a women-founded, women-led SEC-registered investment advisor offering wealth management and financial planning services designed for women and their families.
FemTechFintechImpact & Social Good
Sallie Krawcheck(Founder)in
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsAloft VCAltra VentureAmplifica CapitalAstiaCleo CapitalContour Venture Partners+15 more
Female Founders Fund is a venture capital firm that invests in women-led, category-defining companies across digital healthcare, AI-first vertical software, beauty and personal care, pet care, and deep tech.
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsDopamine Ventures
Forage provides free job simulations designed by leading employers to help students build real-world skills and prepare for careers.
EdTechEnterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Pasha Rayan(Founder)inThomas Brunskill(Founder)in
Co-investorsBlackbird VenturesH2 VenturesTitanium VenturesY CombinatorFJ LabsLong Journey Ventures+2 more
Forage builds payment infrastructure that connects merchants, shoppers, and the U.S. government to enable acceptance of SNAP EBT and EBT Cash payments.
FintechGovTechRetail TechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Victor E. Fimbres(Co-Founder & CTO)in
Co-investorsActivant CapitalEqual Opportunity Venturesf7 VenturesMouro CapitalMucker CapitalNecessary Ventures+9 more
Natural builds financial infrastructure that lets AI agents move money autonomously, offering wallets, payments, usage-based billing, credit, and compliance with ACH, wire, RTP, and stablecoin support built in.
AI & Machine LearningConsumerCreator EconomyEnterprise SoftwareFintechMedia & Entertainment
Mikey ShulmanKahlil(Co-founder & CEO)Eric(Co-founder & CTO)Walt(CPO)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsForerunner VenturesFoundry
San Diego, US
KEN RUGGEIRO(Director)KIM T FOLSOM(Executive Officer, Director)MARVIN GRONER(Director)SHUAIB SIDDIQUI(Executive Officer, Director)BETH BAFFORD(Director)BEVERLY COLE(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Salt Lake City, US
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsAtento CapitalBeta Boom
Huue produces bio-based indigo dye for the denim industry using bioengineered microbes that convert sugar into pigment, replacing toxic chemical and petroleum-based processes.
BiotechCircular EconomyCleantech
Tammy Hsu(Principal Scientist & Co-Founder)
BoardCorinna Chen(CEO)in
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsiGlobe PartnersMaterial ImpactVectors Angel
Impact America Fund is a venture capital firm investing in technology companies led by and serving communities of color, backing startups at Seed, Series A, and Series B stages in the United States.
Impact & Social Good
Kesha Cash(Founder & General Partner)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Leadout Capital is a venture capital firm that leads, co-leads, or invests significantly in pre-seed and seed rounds, backing founders with world-class customer expertise and unique market insight.
FintechSector AgnosticPortola Valley, US
Alison Rosenthal(Founder & Managing Partner)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsAtento CapitalFoundry
Little Otter provides virtual, personalized mental health care for families, including children and parents, using clinicians and evidence-based treatment delivered through its telehealth platform.
Digital HealthHealthtechMental Health
Dr. Helen Egger(Co-founder, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer)Rebecca Egger(Co-founder & CEO)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsAble PartnersCoalition OperatorsNext Legacy PartnersTorch CapitalGratitude RailroadSpringbank
Magnify provides customer experience software for software companies, using AI and automation to deliver personalized customer interactions at scale.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechSaaSSeattle, US
Joshua Crossman(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardSudhir Steven Singh(Director)Barry Crist(Director)
Co-investorsDecibel PartnersMadrona Venture GroupOregon Venture Fund
Magnify Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests at the pre-seed and seed stage (typically $250K to $2M) in companies building technology for the care economy and family life.
AI & Machine Learning
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Millie is a maternity and women's health clinic offering midwifery-led care backed by OB-GYNs and specialists, covering pregnancy, birth, postpartum, gynecology, and hormonal/menopause care.
Digital HealthFemTechHealthtech
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsAmboy Street VenturesCoyote VenturesForeground CapitalIngeborg InvestmentsJoyance PartnersTMV+2 more
Mon Ami provides outcome measurement and impact documentation software for social service agencies, helping them prove program effectiveness, comply with regulatory requirements, and secure funding by centralizing evidence from assessments, service hours, and caseworker notes.
GovTechImpact & Social GoodPalo Alto, US
Joy Zhang(Co-founder)Madeline Dangerfield-Cha(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in
BoardClint Korver(Director)in
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsCity LightCowboy VenturesFelicis VenturesThe MBA FundUlu VenturesWestbound Equity Partners+2 more
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Planeteer Capital is a venture firm that invests in founders at the pre-seed and seed stage, focusing on climate-related startups globally.
Climate Tech
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
RETHINK Impact is a venture capital firm that invests in companies using technology to address large-scale social and environmental problems.
Impact & Social Good
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsRethink Education
Summer Health provides text-based, on-demand pediatric care that connects parents with doctors within minutes for their children's non-scheduled health needs.
ConsumerDigital HealthHealthtech
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investors7wire VenturesCoalition OperatorsCorewell Health VenturesIngeborg InvestmentsLux CapitalSequoia Capital+4 more
Tia is a healthcare platform that coordinates patient care by connecting care providers, clinical support, and care coordinators to manage appointments, prescriptions, billing, and procedures.
Digital HealthHealthtech
Carolyn Witte(Founder)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsACME CapitalCompoundHomebrewSeae VenturesThreshold VenturesTorch Capital+6 more
Ulu Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that finds and funds early-stage founder teams, using a data-driven investment approach with an emphasis on diversity.
Sector Agnostic
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsEcho River CapitalFarvatn VentureInvariantes Fund
Vesey is a venture capital firm focused on fintech, investing in and partnering with financial services and software startups.
Fintech
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsConnecticut InnovationsTruist Ventures
Webee provides enterprise IoT software focused on Industry 5.0 applications, helping industrial and manufacturing organizations adopt connected technologies.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareIoTFairfax, US
Lucas(Founder/CEO)Cecilia(Executive Leadership)
PartnerMelinda French Gates· solo GP
Co-investorsBDev VenturesDellin Investments
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Forerunner Ventures · restaurantbusinessonline.com · Aug 11, 2026
Summer Health · mobihealthnews.com · Jul 29, 2026
Ellevest · investmentnews.com · Jul 24, 2026
Magnify · techfundingnews.com · Jul 3, 2026
Magnify · techfundingnews.com · Jul 3, 2026
Forage · pulse2.com · Jun 8, 2026
Forage · pulse2.com · Jun 8, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What sectors does Pivotal Ventures focus on?
- Pivotal Ventures focuses on Fintech, Future of Work, Healthtech, Impact & Social Good, Social.
- Where is Pivotal Ventures located?
- Pivotal Ventures is headquartered in Seattle, US.
- Does Pivotal Ventures lead rounds?
- Pivotal Ventures typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamWant to work at Pivotal Ventures Melinda French Gates VC? Here’s how! #founder #vc #melindagates
Icons Communities + Podcast · Melinda French Gates
Melinda French Gates: Pivotal Ventures
Sammi Tannor Cohen · Melinda French Gates
How to Live Your Values with Melinda French Gates of Pivotal Ventures
Inc. · Melinda French Gates
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