What stage does SDL Ventures, LLC invest at?

SDL Ventures, LLC invests at the Seed, Series A stages.

What is SDL Ventures, LLC's typical check size?

SDL Ventures, LLC typically writes checks of $500K – $2M.

Where is SDL Ventures, LLC located?

SDL Ventures, LLC is headquartered in Reno, US.

Does SDL Ventures, LLC lead rounds?

Yes, SDL Ventures, LLC leads investment rounds.

SDL Ventures, LLC

Venture capital

Reno · Seed–Series A · 3 people tracked

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Investment thesis

SDL Ventures follows a simple investment philosophy centered on the belief that building great and lasting companies produces superior returns on investment.

Invests inBiotech Cleantech Consumer Data & Infrastructure Deep Tech Enterprise Software Hardware Healthtech Media & Entertainment Medical Devices SemiconductorsLos AltosNorth AmericaRenoUnited States

Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.

Stage

Seed–Series A

Check

$500K – $2M

Reno, California, US

Leads rounds

Leads

Instruments

Equity

Founded

2003

Team · 3 people

from the firm's website & public directories

Don Scifres· Managing Director, SDL Ventures, LLC; Chairman, SDL Capital, LP

Founder of SDL Ventures and SDL Capital (2003) and previously founder, CEO and Chairman of SDL, Inc., which merged with JDS Uniphase in 2001. A semiconductor laser pioneer with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, 140+ patents, and numerous IEEE and optical-society awards; member of the National Academy of Engineering.

d•••@sdlcapital.comreveal

Mike Foster· Vice President, Partner

Financial executive with decades of senior finance and planning roles at Silicon Valley companies, including CFO of SDL, Inc. and VP of Finance at JDS Uniphase. Holds AB Economics and MBA degrees from Stanford. Left SDL in 2024 but continues consulting for the firm.

m•••@sdlcapital.comreveal

Linda Lewis· Office Manager

l•••@sdlventures.comreveal

Frequently asked questions

What stage does SDL Ventures, LLC invest at?: SDL Ventures, LLC invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
What is SDL Ventures, LLC's typical check size?: SDL Ventures, LLC typically writes checks of $500K – $2M.
What sectors does SDL Ventures, LLC focus on?: SDL Ventures, LLC focuses on Biotech, Cleantech, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, Deep Tech, Enterprise Software, Hardware, Healthtech, Media & Entertainment, Medical Devices, Semiconductors.
Where is SDL Ventures, LLC located?: SDL Ventures, LLC is headquartered in Reno, US.
Does SDL Ventures, LLC lead rounds?: Yes, SDL Ventures, LLC leads investment rounds.

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