UP Partners
Venture capitalSanta Monica · Seed–Series A · 15 people tracked
Also known as UP PARTNERS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
Investment thesis
UP.Partners invests where intelligence meets infrastructure, backing founders tackling the shift of AI from software into the physical world — from mechanical systems becoming intelligent to static ones becoming adaptive. The firm favors ambitious, technically hard problems and founders who deliberately choose difficult paths, aiming to move public perception from 'what if' to 'of course.' Its team is composed of engineers, pilots, and industrialists with experience spanning aerospace, robotics, energy, and defense, emphasizing operating and building experience over purely financial backgrounds.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
Team · 15 people
from curated & public directories
Founder mafia
2 people who came through UP Partners went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 47 of 49 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×22Hardware ×13Mobility & Transportation ×12SaaS ×11Deep Tech ×8Robotics ×8Logistics & Supply Chain ×6Advanced Manufacturing ×5
HQs:United States×23Mexico×2Ecuador×1South Africa×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 22 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×82 founders×103 founders×34+ founders×1
Where their founders studiedfrom 23 founders with education data
Cornell University ×3Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University ×2University of Maryland ×2University of Puget Sound ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 23 founders with career history
Federal Aviation Administration ×2Lyft ×2Stanford University ×2
7 founders hold a PhD · 3 hold an MBA (of 24 with degree data)
Investments · 49 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 42025 · 22021 · 12017 · 18 dated
BETA Technologies develops electric aircraft (including the ALIA eVTOL) and associated charging infrastructure for sustainable aviation.
CleantechDefense TechHardwareMobility & TransportationBurlington, US
Kyle Clark(CEO)inSean Donovan(Executive Officer)Herman Cueto(Executive Officer)
BoardCharles Davis(Director)Mike Stone(Director)Francesco Capretti(Director)
Co-investorsStone PointChaifetz GroupPreston-Werner VenturesVermont Center for Emerging Technologies (VCET)
Range Energy develops electrified powertrain technology for heavy-duty commercial transportation, focusing on industrializing and deploying next-generation electric vehicle systems.
CleantechHardwareLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationMountain View, US
Ali Javidan(Founder / Board of Directors)inFei Liu(CEO)inKyle Foley(Head of Engineering)inCollin MacGregor(Head of Product and Systems Engineering)inMichael Pearson(Finance Leadership)inChris Brown(Head of Legal, Regulatory & Government Affairs)in
Co-investorsQuorum Capital PartnersTrousdale VenturesYamaha Motor VenturesScale Venture Partners
Teleo provides a remote command center solution that enables a single operator to supervise multiple machines, improving site productivity and workforce attraction through enhanced safety and comfort, while offering real-time analytics for operational visibility.
Advanced ManufacturingConstruction TechRoboticsSan Francisco, US
Rom Clément(Co-Founder and CTO)inVinay Shet(Founder)in
BoardRoger Fradin(Director)
Board seatAdam Grosser· per SEC Form D
Co-investorsK9 VenturesTrousdale VenturesTrucks VCY Combinator
Aerialoop develops drone technology for urban logistics, surveillance, and delivery operations across multiple countries using a Hardware-as-a-Service business model.
HardwareLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationRoboticsQuito, EC
Pedro Meneses(Co-Founder & CEO)inAndreas Antener(Co-Founder & CTO)inSantiago Barrera(Co-Founder & COO)in
Co-investors640 OxfordCapria VenturesGENIUS NYSalkantay VenturesTechstars
Aionics uses artificial intelligence and physics-based simulation to design and screen new material formulations, focusing on high-performance battery chemistries and electrolytes.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechNew MaterialsPalo Alto, US
Venkatasubramanian Viswanathan(Director)Austin Sendek(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsAvilaTrousdale Ventures
Arteli is an AI platform that analyzes retail data to generate insights on product assortment, inventory optimization, and store layout for brick-and-mortar showroom retailers.
AI & Machine LearningRetail TechSaaS
Ashbrook Technologies is a venture builder that creates and scales companies focused on agricultural risk management across the insurance and reinsurance value chain.
AgTechFintechInsurTechAlbuquerque, US
Co-investorsCavallo Ventures
Autonomy is an automotive subscription platform that enables vehicle subscription services as a sustainable business model in automotive retail.
CleantechConsumerMobility & TransportationSaaS
Scott Painter(Founder)inGeorg Bauer(President & Vice Chairman)Fred Weick(Chief Executive Officer)
Co-investorsAngel Collective Opportunity FundBuilders + BackersFJ LabsFlucas VenturesKube VCMoonshots Capital+14 more
Axiom Space develops commercial space stations and provides access to low-Earth orbit microgravity environments for research, manufacturing, and innovation by governments, researchers, and organizations.
Defense TechEdTechHardwareSpace Tech
Dr. Kam Ghaffarian(Executive Chairman)inMichael Suffredini(Founder, former CEO and President)in
Co-investorsAlumni VenturesBasecamp FundBeyond Earth VenturesC5 CapitalChenel Capital PartnersDeclaration Partners+19 more
BeyondMath builds a foundational AI model trained on the laws of physics to run full-fidelity simulations and validate engineering designs at high speed with engineering-grade accuracy.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnterprise Software
Co-investorsCambridge Innovation Capital
Coram provides an AI-native physical security platform that unifies video security, access control, emergency management, and guest management for schools, hospitals, and multi-site teams.
AI & Machine LearningCybersecurityEnterprise SoftwareSunnyvale, US
Ashesh Jain(Co-Founder & CEO)Peter Ondruska(Co-Founder & CTO)in
BoardTOBY COPPEL(Director)inJAKE MEDWELL(Director)inBRYAN BAUM(Executive Officer, Promoter)in
Co-investors8VCAir Street CapitalAnsa CapitalBattery VenturesK5 GlobalMosaic Ventures
Eli is an AI-native energy program implementer that automates the steps between funding and installation, handling eligibility, qualification, verification, payments, and compliance for energy incentive and rebate programs (such as Mass Save).
AI & Machine LearningEnergyFintech
Co-investorsCity LightR/GA VenturesSpero Ventures
Havoc develops software for coordinating autonomous vehicles across air, sea, and land domains, enabling operators to supervise hundreds or thousands of autonomous assets simultaneously through a unified control platform.
AI & Machine LearningDefense TechRoboticsProvidence, US
Paul Lwin(Co-Founder & CEO)inJoseph Turner(Executive Officer)Andrew Gregg(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardPaige Craig(Director)in
Co-investorsB Capital GroupB4 CapitalDecisive PointNew North VenturesScout VenturesScout Ventures+8 more
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing unmanned, hypersonic aircraft for defense and national security missions.
Defense TechHardwareAtlanta, US
AJ Piplica(Founder)inSkyler Shuford(Founder)inErle Glenn Case IV(Executive Officer)Anthony John Piplica(Executive Officer, Director)Michael Smayda(Executive Officer)
BoardRichard Boyle(Director)
Co-investorsBling CapitalBrave CapitalCanaan PartnersCircadian VenturesFundamental VenturesHyperguap+4 more
InfinitForm is a physical AI platform that generates, optimizes, and validates thousands of manufacturable design candidates at once, outputting parametric CAD models that integrate with existing CAD/PLM tools like SolidWorks.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningDeep Tech
Co-investorsCounterpart VenturesSchematic VenturesYamaha Motor Ventures
Kolors offers premium economy intercity bus travel in Mexico, with online booking and payment by card or cash on boarding, pickup/drop-off at designated Kolors points, 24/7 customer support, and a rewards program.
ConsumerMobility & TransportationTravel & Hospitality
Rodrigo Martínez(Founder & CEO)Anca Gardea(Founder)in
Co-investorsCrunchFundManiv MobilityMGV.VCTuesday CapitalAMPLIFICABling Capital+8 more
Kolors operates a digital bus travel service in Mexico, offering premium economy intercity trips that passengers can book and pay for online or in cash on boarding.
ConsumerMobility & TransportationTravel & Hospitality
Rodrigo Martínez(Founder & CEO)
Co-investorsAmplifica CapitalBling CapitalK50 VenturesMGV.VCNorte VenturesWestern Technology Investment+10 more
LineVision provides a grid intelligence platform offering Dynamic Line Ratings and situational awareness for electric utilities, using contactless edge sensors to monitor transmission lines and forecast capacity.
CleantechEnergyIoTSomerville, US
Jonathan Marmillo(Executive Officer)G. Hudson Gilmer(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)Hudson Gilmer(Co-founder, Chair of the Board)Vishal Kapadia(Chief Executive Officer)John Biasi(Chief Technical Officer)Matt Mitchell(Chief Financial Officer)
Co-investorsNational Grid PartnersClean Energy VentureClean Energy VenturesClimate Innovation CapitalS2G InvestmentsMarubeni
llmda builds AI software for hardware and embedded systems development, using a data consistency engine to keep design data aligned across hardware-software workflows.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechSemiconductorsPalo Alto, US
Mahesh Umasankar(Founder)
Co-investorsEMERGENT VENTURES
Loft Dynamics builds virtual reality flight simulators (FSTDs) that combine a 360° panoramic view, a motion platform, a replica cockpit, and pose tracking to train pilots for a range of scenarios.
Deep TechHardwareMobility & Transportation
Lula provides maintenance coordination and vendor sourcing solutions for rental property managers dealing with labor shortages and supply chain constraints.
B2B MarketplacesPropTechSaaS
Co-investorsRET VenturesVictorumFMOGreen Circle Foodtech VenturesNZVCOutlander VC+1 more
Lula provides business funding to South African SMEs, offering a revolving Cash Flow Facility and Fixed-Term Funding of up to R5 million, plus Lulapay trade credit that pays suppliers instantly while giving buyers up to six months to pay.
FintechSaaS
Co-investorsAccionGreen Circle Foodtech VenturesNZVCOutlander VC
Lula provides a digital commerce platform focused on handling the operational side of online ordering, including integrations.
E-commerceLogistics & Supply ChainRetail TechSaaS
Co-investorsBroad Street Angels
Metropolis develops an AI-driven recognition platform that enables real-time understanding and personalized responses for physical world interactions.
AI & Machine LearningPropTechSanta Monica, US
Travis Kell(Executive Officer, Director)inAlex Israel(Executive Officer, Director)inCourtney Fukuda(Executive Officer)Peter Fisher(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investors01 AdvisorsAssembly VenturesBeyond CapitalHalogen Ventures Management Company LlcKing River CapitalSlow Ventures+6 more
Pacific Fusion is developing a high-gain pulsed magnetic inertial fusion system designed to achieve net facility gain, using a modular fast electric pulser, a meter-scale fusion chamber, and small fuel containers.
Climate TechDeep TechEnergyFremont, US
Keith LeChien(Founder)inWill Regan(Founder)in
Co-investorsAcario InnovationAlumni VenturesBasecamp FundBerkeley FrontierDCVC (Data Collective)Leitmotif+5 more
Panorama provides enterprise retailers with a platform that unifies customer data into a single view and uses AI to build personalized, omnichannel shopping experiences while addressing privacy and compliance concerns.
AI & Machine LearningE-commerceEnterprise SoftwareMarketing TechRetail Tech
Point One develops precision navigation technology for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and mobile systems.
AI & Machine LearningIoTMobility & TransportationRoboticsSan Francisco, US
Aaron Nathan(Co-founder/CTO)inMike KurdzielinKaren LeineweberinRyan DoughertyinBryan Galusha(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardJesse Beyroutey(Director)in
Co-investorsBaukunstComet LabsCoral CapitalHemi Ventures, LlcKhosla VenturesLudlow Ventures+2 more
Pull Systems builds AI coding agents for quality, test, and production engineers to conduct hardware investigations, surfacing findings across categories such as operators, methods, machines, and materials.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningHardware
Co-investorsProeza Ventures
Quincus builds an optimization and simulation engine for physical networks, handling problems like routing, stochastic modeling, estimation, and network design under uncertainty.
AI & Machine LearningEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply Chain
Co-investorsBoeing HorizonX VenturesNavigate VenturesTradeworks
Mountain View, US
Juerg Frefel(Founder)Robert Rose(Founder)
Co-investorsCoatue ManagementLightspeed Venture PartnersPathbreaker VenturesPresidio VenturesTeamworthy Ventures
REPOWR operates a marketplace connecting owners of underutilized trailers and equipment with carriers and brokers who need temporary capacity.
B2B MarketplacesLogistics & Supply ChainMarketplacesSaaSChattanooga, US
Chris Hines(CEO)Patrick Visintainer(Co-Founder)inTodd Waldron(CCO)Ron Lazo(COO)Arthur Cheek(Executive Officer, Director)Spencer J. Ware(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsKoch Disruptive TechnologiesNFI Ventures, LLCPerot JainBrickyard
Skydio designs and manufactures autonomous drones using computer vision and AI technology for consumer and commercial applications.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareRoboticsSan Mateo, US
Adam Bry(Co-founder & CEO)inAbe Bachrach(Founder)Abraham Bachrach(Co-founder & CTO)inMatt Donahoe(Co-founder)in
BoardT.J. Rylander(Director)David Ulevitch(Director)in
Co-investorsAccelAndreessen HorowitzIn-Q-TelIVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Khosla VenturesLinse Capital+7 more
Space Kinetic develops the Whirlwind platform, a system that deploys micro-payloads from a host spacecraft at high velocities without using a thruster by decoupling propulsion from the payload.
Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech
Co-investorsBalerion Space VenturesIndustrious VenturesBackswing VenturesCerraCap Ventures
Sunday Carwash operates car wash locations with a hospitality-focused experience, offering membership plans with unlimited washes, priority lane access, and complimentary beverages and seasonal treats.
ConsumerSan Luis Obispo, US
Edward Segel(Founder)
Co-investorsFloating PointWestern Technology InvestmentWonder Ventures
UnitX builds AI-powered visual inspection systems for inline quality control in manufacturing, serving automotive, lithium battery, electronics, and EV producers.
Advanced ManufacturingAI & Machine LearningRobotics
Co-investorsDoon CapitalSE VenturesWebb Investment Network
Veo develops an affordable AI-powered camera system that automatically records and live-streams sports matches, primarily football, for clubs and teams from grassroots to professional levels.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareSports Tech
Keld(Co-founder)
Co-investorsCourtside VenturesPSVSEED Capital DenmarkVentechAutotech VenturesFJ Labs+1 more
Veo operates a shared micromobility service, offering app-based electric bikes and scooters that riders unlock by scanning a QR code on the vehicle.
ConsumerIoTMobility & TransportationSanta Monica, US
Candice Xie(Founder)inLandon Xu(Founder)
Co-investorsElevate Ventures
VOOM is an insurtech company offering usage-based insurance products for mobility segments including drones, light aircraft, motorcycles, e-bikes, rideshare, and fleets.
FintechInsurTechMobility & TransportationSaaS
Tomer Kashi(Founder)in
Co-investorsArbor VenturesF2 Venture CapitalJAL Ventures Ltd.Kaedan Capital
Voyant Photonics builds chip-scale, solid-state FMCW LiDAR sensors using silicon photonics with on-chip beam steering, delivering 4D depth and velocity data without moving parts.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsNew York, US
Chris Phare(Co-founder & CSO)inSteven Miller(Co-founder & CTO)inCarlos Bhola(Executive Chairman)Clement Nouvel(Executive Officer, Director)Seth Benkov(Executive Officer)Clément Nouvel(CEO)in
Co-investorsContour Venture PartnersLDV CapitalRemarkable VenturesEntrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA)
WakeCap provides a connected knowledge graph system for construction sites that tracks safety incidents, worker and equipment productivity, and project progress in real time through a live dashboard.
Construction TechIoTSaaS
Co-investorsGraphene VenturesStreamlined Ventures
Warp offers a managed full-truckload (FTL) freight program that books dedicated capacity across a network of vetted carriers with ELD/GPS visibility on every load, avoiding load-board spot buying and double-brokering.
AI & Machine LearningB2B MarketplacesLogistics & Supply ChainSaaSLos Angeles, US
Daniel Sokolovsky(CEO)inTroy Lester(CRO)Diep Nguyen(CTO)
Co-investorsBlue Bear Capital PartnersBonfire VenturesFrontier Venture CapitalMaC Venture CapitalAmplify.LABattery Ventures
Westmag designs and manufactures drone motors and robot actuators for autonomous machines, with design and production based in South San Francisco using domestic and allied supply chains.
Advanced ManufacturingHardwareRoboticsSouth San Francisco, US
Jordan Sanders(Founder)inDAVID HANSEN(Co-Founder & CEO)inJORDAN SANDERS(Co-Founder & COO)in
Co-investorsAndreessen HorowitzAntiMantis CapitalPathbreaker VenturesFounders FundLux Capital+2 more
Zanskar develops geothermal energy projects using AI and advanced geoscience to map subsurface resources and deliver utility-scale, carbon-free power.
AI & Machine LearningDeep TechEnergy
Carl Hoiland(Founder & CEO)inJoel Edwards(Founder)
Co-investorsAzolla VenturesClearvision VenturesFirst Star VenturesGVP ClimateLOWERCARBONLowercarbon Capital+6 more
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioBeta TechnologiesNYSE: BETA
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesPacific Fusion · nature.com · Aug 24, 2026
Veo · micromobility.substack.com · Aug 20, 2026
Eli · citybiz.co · Aug 18, 2026
Kolors · timesofindia.indiatimes.com · Aug 18, 2026
Kolors · timesofindia.indiatimes.com · Aug 18, 2026
Lula · bloomberg.com · Aug 17, 2026
Range · retailgazette.co.uk · Aug 4, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has UP Partners made?
- UP Partners has 43 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO, including 2 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does UP Partners invest at?
- UP Partners invests at the Seed, Series A stages.
- What is UP Partners's typical check size?
- UP Partners typically writes checks of $1M – $10M.
- What sectors does UP Partners focus on?
- UP Partners focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Deep Tech, Defense Tech, Energy, Hardware, Mobility & Transportation, Robotics, Space Tech.
- Where is UP Partners located?
- UP Partners is headquartered in Santa Monica, US.
- Does UP Partners lead rounds?
- UP Partners typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does UP Partners co-invest with?
- UP Partners most often shares deals with Trousdale Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, among 140 tracked co-investors.
Co-investors · 58
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies focused on technology, mobile, and clean energy sectors, including biotechnology applications. The firm provides capital and strategic support to entrepreneurs developing breakthrough technologies across multiple markets.
Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is a venture capital firm founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, known for pioneering the platform model with a large team of operators supporting founders across stages.
Lightspeed is a global venture capital firm that has spent over two decades backing innovative companies as an early and first investor.
Coatue Management is a technology-focused investment firm that invests in innovation across both public and private markets with responsible risk management.
Slow Ventures is a generalist early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2011, with offices in San Francisco, Boston, and New York, investing in the earliest rounds of companies across many sectors.
Lux Capital is a venture capital firm that backs founders building transformative deep technologies, having been among the first investors in category-defining companies across AI, robotics, biotech, defense, and infrastructure.
Revolution is an investment firm that has backed founders, communities, and ideas for over two decades, spanning venture capital, entrepreneurship advocacy, and real estate and hospitality investments.
Toyota Ventures is a venture capital firm headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area that makes early-stage investments in startups globally.
Maniv Mobility is a venture capital firm focused on the transformation of transportation and the broader economy of movement, backing startups across energy transition and the digitization of automotive, transportation and logistics.
Blue Bear is a venture capital and early growth equity firm investing in AI-powered digital technology companies addressing energy, infrastructure, and climate challenges.
Sequoia Capital is a venture capital firm that partners with founders to build technology companies.
GV (Google Ventures) is a venture capital firm that has invested in artificial intelligence and machine learning since its early days, building a global portfolio of more than 100 AI companies across infrastructure, life sciences, and applications.
▶46 more co-investors
Craft VenturesNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)Notable CapitalInsight PartnersSV AngelUberFoundation CapitalDST GlobalBalderton CapitalQuiet CapitalSOSVACME CapitalOffline VenturesUpHonest CapitalKapor CapitalCota CapitalAcrew CapitalHack VCOperator LPMatrixHomebrewWinklevoss CapitalNextGen Venture PartnersDraper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ)AlleyCorpComcast VenturesTransmedia Capitalxfactor venturesCP VenturesVitalStage VenturesBlueRun VenturesSLVCThink+ Ventures Management, LlcThirty Five Ventures (35V)G2 Venture PartnersRace CapitalCelesta CapitalAdams Street PartnersDarling VenturesFocalCervinGSR VenturesEvolve VC FundsMarathon Venture CapitalSmartStart FundLeadout Capital
Firms observed investing alongside UP Partners, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with UP Partners's recorded portfolio.
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