Columbus · Pre-Seed–Series A · 48 people tracked
Investment thesis
Rev1 Ventures operates as a Midwest venture studio combining investors, operators, builders, and corporate innovators. It partners with early-stage founders in SaaS/AI, deep tech, and life sciences, helping them move faster by validating markets, gaining traction, and becoming venture ready. The firm aims to make the Midwest a magnet for diverse, high-growth startups by providing both strategic capital and operational support, positioning itself as a nexus of the regional startup community that improves founders' odds of reaching market successfully.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 48 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 18 of 25 portfolio companiesHealthtech ×9SaaS ×7Medical Devices ×6Digital Health ×5AI & Machine Learning ×4Biotech ×3Deep Tech ×2Creator Economy ×1
HQs:United States×17
Investments · 25 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2025 · 22024 · 42023 · 12022 · 12021 · 12017 · 32016 · 22015 · 115 dated
smallTalk develops technology products that support early childhood brain development through language exposure.
Deep TechEdTechHealthtechMedical DevicesColumbus, US
Dean Koch(Chief Executive Officer)Dr. Nathalie Maitre(Chief Science Officer)
Co-investorsJumpStart EquityTechstars
Synota develops technology for decentralized energy systems.
AI & Machine LearningCrypto & Web3EnergyFintechPowell, US
Austin Mitchell(Chief Operating Officer & Director)inAlan Schroeder(Director)Lisa Scott(Executive Officer, Director)in
Co-investorsFulgur VenturesHivemind Ventures, LlcRecursive CapitalTrammell Venture Partners (TVP)
Columbus, US
Bruce Caldwell(CEO)
BoardRichard Maksimoski(Director)Rashmi Agnihotri(Director)
Board seatDavid Bergeron· per SEC Form D · $2M raise · filed Apr 2017
Clarametyx develops novel immune-enabling therapeutics targeting bacterial biofilms to modify disease progression in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
BiotechHealthtechMedical DevicesColumbus, US
David Richards(Executive Officer)Peter G. Kleinhenz(Director)Michael Layman(Director)Chuck Bramlage(Director)Larry Edwards(Director)Michael Triplett II(Director)
Board seatWayne Embree· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsCincyTechJobsOhio VenturesOhio Innovation Fund
Columbus, US
David Comisford(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardRick Ainsworth(Director)Gregory Ruf(Director)
Board seatGreg Pugh· per SEC Form D · $1M raise · filed Mar 2015
Invirsa is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing DNA damage response therapeutics, with lead compound INV-102 in development for ocular conditions including sulfur mustard gas injury and diabetic dry eye disease.
BiotechDigital HealthMedical DevicesColumbus, US
Robert Shalwitz(Executive Officer, Director)inRachael Wingo(Executive Officer)
BoardTim Willis(Director)Faith Voinovich(Director)inBethany George(Director)in
Board seatWayne Embree· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsCincyTechJobsOhio VenturesJumpstart VenturesOhio Innovation Fund
Powell, US
Brett P. Thornton(Executive Officer)Gary J. Ross(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDavid Bergeron· per SEC Form D · $430K raise · filed Sep 2016
HealthtechLexington, US
Alan Ezrin(Director)Todd Hembrough(Executive Officer, Director)Robert Saunders(Director)Matthew Dicken(Director)
Board seatBrian Brohman· per SEC Form D · $4M raise · filed Nov 2021
HealthtechChagrin Falls, US
Margaret Groh(Director)Margaret Barkett(Director)
BoardMatthew McFarland(Director)Dean Koch(Director)
Board seatWayne Embree· per SEC Form D · $640K raise · filed Aug 2025
Columbus, US
Stephanie Hughes(Director)James Shields(Director)Jim Karam(Director)Nicole Weidner(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatDavid Bergeron· per SEC Form D · $1.5M raise · filed Dec 2017
Co-investorsOhio TechAngel
Columbus, US
Stephen R. Jones(Executive Officer, Director)Bo Wang(Executive Officer)Prabir Dutta(Director)
Board seatDavid Bergeron· per SEC Form D · $800K raise · filed May 2017
Basking Biosciences develops therapeutics for thrombosis, vascular biology, and ischemic disease.
BiotechDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesCary, US
Shahid Nimjee(Co-founder, Chief Scientific Officer and Stroke Clinical Lead)inBruce Sullenger(Co-founder)Julia Owens(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Richard Shea(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in
BoardHannah Chang(Director)Aiden Aceves(Director)in
Co-investorsARCH Venture PartnersInsight PartnersBroadview VenturesSolas BioVenturesRTW Investments L.P.
CHAMP builds digital title and vehicle title management technology for government agencies, using state-backed infrastructure designed to work across jurisdictions.
GovTechMobility & TransportationSaaS
Co-investorsEos Venture Partners LimitedPoint72 VenturesW11 CapitalW. R. Berkley
Healthy Roster provides software for athletic trainers to document injuries, run concussion testing, and access continuing education.
Digital HealthSaaSSports Tech
Co-investorsConnetic VenturesJobsOhio VenturesJumpstart VenturesLevel EquityTamarind Hill
LENTECHS develops patented soft contact lens technology designed to deliver vision correction across all distances.
HealthtechMedical DevicesColumbus, US
Richard Lindstrom(Director)Robin Sears(Executive Officer, Director)inBrad Beasecker(Executive Officer, Director)inRichard Heinick(Director)Tyler Stowater(Director)
Co-investorsJobsOhio VenturesOhio Innovation Fund
Rev1 Ventures is a venture development studio and investor that helps startups scale and corporations innovate, providing funding, mentorship, connections, and workspace.
Sector AgnosticColumbus, US
Phillip George(Executive Officer)Andy George(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsCincyTechPlymouth Growth
Myoptechs develops treatments and interventions for myopia, a progressive eye disease that causes worsening distance vision and can lead to sight-threatening complications.
HealthtechMedical DevicesColumbus, US
Paul Grimm(Executive Officer, Director)inBrad Beasecker(Executive Officer)in
BoardWayne Embree(Director)Robin Sears(Director)in
Co-investorsJobsOhio Ventures
Nichefire offers a predictive cultural discovery platform that detects and forecasts emerging consumer and cultural trends, measuring their acceleration to help teams know when to act.
AI & Machine LearningMarketing TechSaaS
Co-investorsBluegrass Angel VentureCintrifuse CapitalIrishAngelsAllos Ventures
AI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaSColumbus, US
Richard C Wagner(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsM12 (Microsoft's Venture Fund)Norwest Venture PartnersPointguard VenturesFoundation CapitalGaingelsWorkday Ventures
Rapchat is a mobile-first music creation platform that enables artists to record songs, discover beats, and collaborate with other creators.
Creator EconomyMedia & Entertainment
Co-investorsBase Venture Management, Inc.500 Global
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 CapitalM25Refinery Venture
Updox provides digital charge capture and revenue cycle management solutions for medical practices, enabling automated billing and payment processing.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechSaaSDublin, US
PAT BICKLEY(Executive Officer)RITCH NEWPORT(Executive Officer)HEATHER MILLS(Executive Officer)SEAN RAMSEY(Executive Officer)MICHAEL WITTING(Executive Officer)MICHAEL MORGAN(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsJobsOhio VenturesSaaS Capital
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.
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioPrevedereacq. by Board
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesBasking Biosciences · insightpartners.com · Jan 21, 2026
Champ Titles · bizjournals.com · Dec 31, 2025
Invirsa Inc. · leadsontrees.com · Nov 6, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Rev1 Ventures invest at?
- Rev1 Ventures invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Rev1 Ventures focus on?
- Rev1 Ventures focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Deep Tech, SaaS, Sector Agnostic.
- Where is Rev1 Ventures located?
- Rev1 Ventures is headquartered in Columbus, US.
- Does Rev1 Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Rev1 Ventures leads investment rounds.
- Who does Rev1 Ventures co-invest with?
- Rev1 Ventures most often shares deals with CincyTech, Connetic Ventures, JobsOhio Ventures, among 6 tracked co-investors.
From the blog
visit blog ↗Rev1 Ventures recently highlighted how corporate partnerships strengthen regional startup ecosystems, reported $718.1M in economic impact from portfolio companies in 2025, and opened a downtown Columbus innovation hub that achieved rapid adoption with over 50 members. AI summary
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamClosing the Gap with Alicia Oddi, Rev1 Ventures
614startups · Alicia Oddi
Images
Co-investors · 1
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.
Firms observed investing alongside Rev1 Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Rev1 Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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