Social Starts
Pacifica · Pre-Seed–Series A · 6 people tracked
Investment thesis
Social Starts employs a data-driven investment methodology to identify companies operating in strong market segments with substantial value creation potential. The firm has previously focused on e-commerce, employment platforms, digital brands, next-generation food, and education. Its current strategy concentrates on health and wellness startups that help people extend their lifespan or improve their quality of life through innovative solutions.
Source: firm website, verified Jul 20, 2026.
Team · 6 people
from the firm's websiteVeteran tech journalist and executive with four decades in technology, having helped found PC Magazine and served as Executive Vice President at Ziff-Davis. He held CEO positions at multiple startups, was a partner at Redleaf VC, and currently hosts a podcast on startup creation and funding.
Industry pioneer and early software entrepreneur who founded and sold TimeLine software to Symantec, later becoming publisher and president of PC Magazine and Ziff Davis Publishing. He founded Software Venture Partners angel fund and was instrumental in creating the Social Starts fund in 2012.
Technology leader with over a decade managing development in New York City. He founded Insert Culture to serve growing API and data development needs, and oversees special projects and technical support for portfolio companies. He holds an MS in Media Management and Theory from The New School.
Venture investor and operator with over a decade of experience including roles at Tusk Ventures and Morpheus Ventures. He built AI product roadmaps as an operator and was previously a principal at BMW iVentures leading VC investments, with early career experience on the technology equities desk at Morgan Stanley.
Active angel investor and operator since the mid-2000s with investments in multiple companies and board service experience. He founded Extension Entertainment, a social music discovery platform, and held senior roles at Etsy, Tacoda, and RealMedia.
Legal professional with broad transactional experience in project finance, capital markets, bankruptcy, and restructuring. He was previously an attorney at Latham & Watkins' New York office and studied law at University of Notre Dame Law School.
What they invest in
from 45 of 173 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×14SaaS ×14Healthtech ×12Enterprise Software ×11Digital Health ×8Consumer ×7Data & Infrastructure ×5HR Tech ×5
HQs:United States×26Canada×1Mongolia×1
Investments · showing 60 of 173
founders shown can be your intro pathFolia Health is a digital health platform that enables patients and caregivers to track symptoms, treatments, and health outcomes through personalized surveys, generating home-reported outcomes data used by life sciences companies and researchers to understand real-world treatment impacts. The company operates a data-sharing model where users receive Data Dividends in exchange for contributing their health information to clinical research programs.
Data & InfrastructureDigital HealthHealthtechMassachusetts, US
Founded by family caregiversNell Meosky Luo(CEO and Chairman)Dan Toffling(Co-Founder & CTO)
Attn: Grace develops plant-based, skin-safe incontinence pads, liners, and body care products designed for comfort and leak protection. The company focuses on eco-conscious manufacturing with sustainable materials and CO2 neutral production.
Circular EconomyConsumerFemTech
Bark builds parental control and monitoring software for families and schools to help keep children safe online. The company offers apps, smartwatches, and phones with features including content monitoring, location tracking, and alerts on 30+ platforms.
ConsumerDigital HealthSaaSRichmond Hill, US
Brian Bason(CEO)
Beam Health develops AI-powered workflow software that automates administrative tasks across the patient journey for specialty clinics and medical practices, including intake, documentation, billing, and care coordination. The platform integrates fragmented healthcare systems to reduce clinician administrative burden and burnout while improving operational efficiency.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechSaaSHolmdel, US
Sas Ponnapalli(Founder & CEO)
BloomTech is an online coding and technology bootcamp that teaches in-demand skills to help students secure well-paying jobs. The school operates on an income-based tuition model and provides comprehensive job search support to its learners.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechFintechSaaSAustin, US
Austen Allred(Co-founder & CEO)inBen Nelson(Founder)inZoran(COO)John(General Counsel)
BrainKey develops artificial intelligence and medical imaging analysis tools for neuroimaging data interpretation. The company serves physicians and patients by making brain anatomy measurable, visible, and more interpretable through advanced analytical software.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHealthtechMedical DevicesSan Francisco, US
Owen Phillips, PhD(Founder)inDr. Owen Phillips(Founder)
MediLedger is a blockchain-based platform that provides real-time contract pricing and customer eligibility alignment between pharmaceutical manufacturers, wholesalers, GPOs, and health systems to reduce chargebacks and revenue leakage.
Crypto & Web3Enterprise SoftwareHealthtech
SugarCRM is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform designed for sales teams to manage customer data, track deals, and streamline sales processes. It serves mid-market and enterprise sales organizations across multiple industries with flexible, customizable workflows and integrations with ERP systems.
Enterprise SoftwareSaaSSales Tech
Building a visual history of the world's events.
Epic! is a digital library platform that provides access to books and reading materials for educational institutions and individual readers.
Digital HealthEdTech
Fama provides AI-powered social media screening software to identify workplace-relevant behavioral risks during pre-employment and ongoing employee screening. The platform helps employers, background screening providers, and HR technology partners detect misconduct signals across 30+ languages in compliance with global standards.
AI & Machine LearningHR TechSaaS
Fulcrum is cloud-based manufacturing software that provides real-time job tracking, production scheduling, and job costing for manufacturing shops. It helps manufacturers optimize production decisions and reduce implementation time through integrated scheduling, labor tracking, and quality control tools.
Advanced ManufacturingCloud ComputingSaaS<UNKNOWN>
Jeff
Funnel is a property management software or platform serving multifamily real estate companies; it hosts a Customer Advisory Board (CAB) of senior leaders from major property management firms and REITs who shape its product roadmap and strategy.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechPropTechSaaSNew York City, US
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Social Starts invest at?
- Social Starts invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A stages.
- What sectors does Social Starts focus on?
- Social Starts focuses on Consumer, E-commerce, EdTech, FoodTech, HR Tech, Longevity, Wellness & Fitness.
- Where is Social Starts located?
- Social Starts is headquartered in Pacifica, US.
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