Serra Ventures
Venture capitalChampaign · Seed–Growth · 17 people tracked
Also known as Serra Capital Ag Tech · SERRA VENTURES, LLC
Investment thesis
Serra Ventures focuses on early-stage technology startups across the United States, having backed more than 100 companies. Its portfolio and dedicated funds emphasize agriculture and food technology (via the Serra Grondex Ag & Food Tech Fund), alongside robotics, AI, fintech, life sciences, and enterprise software. The firm aims to catalyze innovation by supporting emerging technology companies from its bases in Champaign, Chicago, San Diego, and Park City.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 17 people
from the firm's website & public directories
What they invest in
from 47 of 103 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×18AgTech ×17Enterprise Software ×11SaaS ×10Biotech ×7FoodTech ×7Climate Tech ×6Fintech ×6
HQs:United States×43
Investments · 103 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathInprentus designs and manufactures custom blazed diffraction gratings using proprietary nano-scale lithography and mechanical ruling for high-efficiency precision optics.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsChampaign, US
Peter Abbamonte(Founder)Jeffrey MacDonald(Executive Officer, Promoter)Cynthia Ottemann(Executive Officer)Jonathan Manton(Director)Patricia Abbamonte(Director)
BoardKeith Molzer(Director)
Board seatDennis Beard· per SEC Form D
San Diego, US
Ross Bundy(Executive Officer, Director)Brett Goldsmith(Executive Officer, Director)
Board seatTim Hoerr· per SEC Form D · $9.2M raise · filed Sep 2020
Opendorse operates an athlete marketplace and NIL (name, image, likeness) technology platform, offering tools and services that help athletes understand, build, and monetize their brand value.
Creator EconomyMarketing TechMarketplacesSports TechLincoln, US
Adi Kunalic(Chief Operating Officer)Robert Schultz(Director)John Giuliani(Director)Blake Lawrence(President of Collegiate Operations)Steve Denton(CEO)
BoardThad Langford(Director)
Board seatJohn Giuliani· per SEC Form D
Agriculture technology company; sold to Monsanto.
BiotechPrairie Village, US
Maria Sainz(Director)James M. Schultz(Director)Nathaniel Hagedorn(Director)John Ayres(Executive Officer)Abhinav Shukla(Director)Frank Nicholas Franano(Executive Officer, Director)
Backstitch provides internal communications and employee engagement software for organizations across industries including non-profits, health systems, manufacturing, and hospitality.
Enterprise SoftwareHR TechSaaSKansas City, US
Stefanie M. Warzecha(Executive Officer, Director)Chris Seago(Director)Jordan P. Warzecha(Executive Officer, Director)
Barn2Door provides software for independent farmers across America to sell their products, manage sales, and reduce administrative work.
AgTechFoodTechSaaSSeattle, US
KATHY CHILL(Director)JANELLE MAIOCCO(Executive Officer, Director)JAMES MAIOCCO(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardDUNCAN DAVIDSON(Director)
Blooma provides intelligent automation software for commercial real estate (CRE) lending, automating data extraction, borrower profiling, loan scoring, and portfolio monitoring for national and regional banks, community banks, and debt funds.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareFintechSan Diego, US
Shayne Skaff(CEO)Tal Almog
Bonsai is an all-in-one platform for agencies and small businesses that combines project management, time tracking, invoicing, and client relationship management in a single integrated system.
B2B MarketplacesEnterprise SoftwareFintechFuture of WorkSaaSBoulder, US
Matt Nish(Founder)in
Bonsai Robotics develops software that manages autonomous fleets for agricultural and construction operations.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningRobotics
Built In Chicago is the Chicago edition of Built In, an online platform where tech professionals browse job listings, company profiles, and industry articles.
HR TechMarketplacesMedia & EntertainmentChicago, US
Bozeman, US
Nicolas De Castro(Executive Officer, Director)Eric Olden(Director)
BoardGregg Williams(Director)Robert Schultz(Director)Pat LaPointe(Director)Colin Gardiner(Director)
SpayVac develops single-dose, no-booster contraceptive vaccines for wildlife, livestock, aquaculture, and companion animals, using a proprietary liposome-based platform that produces a multi-year infertility immune response from one injection.
AgTechBiotechMadison, US
Conservation Labs develops H2know, a smart water monitoring system that uses machine learning to detect leaks and optimize water consumption through sound analysis in plumbing pipes for residential and commercial properties.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechInsurTechIoTBrownsville, US
Mark Kovscek(Executive Officer, Director)
HealthtechAndover, US
Lyle Hohnke(Director)Kevin Lindsey(Director)Neal K. Long(Executive Officer, Director)Richard Griffin(Director)
BiotechSan Diego, US
Ross Bundy(Executive Officer, Director)George Bonaros(Director)Paul Grint(Director)Kiana Aran(Director)Toby Richardson(Director)Chris Yoo(Director)
Dispatch Goods operates a reverse logistics platform that enables businesses to implement reusable container systems and circularity in their operations.
Circular EconomyClimate TechE-commerceFoodTechLogistics & Supply ChainSan Francisco, US
Lindsey Hoell(Founder & CEO)
EarthOptics builds a machine learning platform and remote-sensing system (GroundOwl and SoilMapper) that maps physical, chemical, and biological soil data to measure compaction, moisture, carbon, and nutrient content.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningClimate TechDeep TechArlington, US
Lars Dyrud(CEO)Todd Martin(Executive Officer)Stephanie Landa(Executive Officer)Hunt Bowers(Executive Officer)Adam Gerson(Executive Officer)John Dombrosky(Executive Officer, Director)
Eiwa provides a platform for agricultural research trials that automates field data collection using drone imagery and a mobile scouting app, including an analytics library for crop metrics such as canopy, plant counting, plant height, and crop senescence.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningData & InfrastructureSaaS
Elate is a platform for strategy and operations teams to align people, automate reporting, and track strategic execution, with an AI engine called Strategy Advisor for problem-solving.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareSaaSIndianapolis, US
William Brooks Busch(Executive Officer, Director)Abigail Parker(Executive Officer, Director)Mike Asem(Director)
Automates the entire contracting process from a single platform.
FloVision retrofits AI computer-vision inspection onto meat processors' existing conveyors and processing stations to measure yield, giveaway, defects, foreign bodies, and throughput in real time across beef, pork, and poultry lines.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningFoodTech
Hazel Technologies develops dry, atmospheric packaging inserts that extend the shelf life and preserve the quality of fresh produce without spray machines or residue coatings.
AgTechFoodTechNew MaterialsFresno, US
Parker R Booth(Chief Executive Officer, Director)Patrick Flynn(Chief Marketing Officer)Adam Preslar(Chief Technology Officer)Robert Beckler(Director)Aidan Mouat(Chief Executive Officer, Director)
BoardTimothy Bluth(Director)
HerdDogg develops technology solutions for the agriculture industry, focusing on livestock management and monitoring.
AgTechHardwareIoTSeward, US
Andrew Uden(Executive Officer, Director)THOMAS TRONE(Director)MELISSA BRANDAO(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Michael Peck(Executive Chair)Jonathan Moyes(VP of Engineering)
BoardJason Wrone(Director)
Brookhaven, US
Sam Jactel(Executive Officer, Director)Bruno Jactel(Executive Officer, Director)
Kypha develops clinical diagnostic tests for immune system biomarkers, particularly complement activity markers, and provides solutions for real-time immune insights across therapeutic areas.
BiotechDeep TechHealthtechMedical DevicesSt. Louis, US
Nick Staten(Executive Officer)T. Scott Glover(Executive Officer)James D. Marselis(Director)Peter Reinecke(Director)Jonathan Sackier(Director)David Smoller(Director)
St. Louis, US
Kyle Welborn(Director)Paul Schaut(Director)Anton Xavier(Executive Officer, Director)Dheeraj Patri(Executive Officer, Director)Blair Garrou(Director)
Leo Cancer Care develops upright radiotherapy systems, including patient positioning, imaging, and treatment solutions for photon and particle (proton) therapy.
HardwareHealthtechMedical Devices
LISNR is an ultrasonic proximity platform that enables contactless commerce and customer engagement through presence detection, secure authentication, targeted promotions, and gamified loyalty experiences across retail, finance, mobility, and education sectors.
AdTechDeveloper ToolsEnterprise SoftwareRetail TechCincinnati, US
Rodney Williams(Founder & CEO)
Mast combines forest restoration with biomass burial to remove carbon and restore wildfire-affected landscapes.
AgTechCircular EconomyCleantechClimate TechFintechImpact & Social GoodSeattle, US
Chicago, US
Ted Greene(Chief Operating Officer)Jeff Bocan(Director)Steve Westly(Director)Robin Berthier(Chief Executive Officer, President, & Director)William Sanders(Director)Robert Schultz(Director)
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.
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Serra Ventures invest at?
- Serra Ventures invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth stages.
- What is Serra Ventures's typical check size?
- Serra Ventures typically writes checks of $5M.
- What sectors does Serra Ventures focus on?
- Serra Ventures focuses on AgTech, AI & Machine Learning, Biotech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Digital Health, Enterprise Software, Fintech, FoodTech, Medical Devices, New Materials, Robotics.
- Where is Serra Ventures located?
- Serra Ventures is headquartered in Champaign, US.
- Does Serra Ventures lead rounds?
- Yes, Serra Ventures leads investment rounds.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the team389th 1Mby1M Entrepreneurship Podcast With Rob Schultz, Serra Ventures
1Mby1M Roundtables · Rob Schultz
Investor Connect - Episode 91 - Rob Schultz of Serra Ventures
Hall Martin · Rob Schultz
Interview with Tim Hoerr, CEO of Serra Ventures
Dr. Karen Y. Wilson-Starks, Executive Leadership · Tim Hoerr
399th 1Mby1M Roundtable May 10, 2018: With Steve Beck, Serra Ventures
1Mby1M Roundtables · Steve Beck
Serra Ventures Tim Hoerr Podcast Interview with Tony Shap | Serra Ventures Tim Hoerr Podcast Interview with Tony Shap | By Tony Shap
Tim Hoerr · facebook.com
Images
Co-investors · 1
Firms observed investing alongside Serra Ventures, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Serra Ventures's recorded portfolio.
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