UP Partners
Venture capitalSanta Monica · Seed–Series A · 17 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 3, 2026.
Team · 17 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 28 of 44 portfolio companiesAI & Machine Learning ×14Hardware ×10Robotics ×8Mobility & Transportation ×6SaaS ×5Advanced Manufacturing ×4Deep Tech ×4Defense Tech ×4
HQs:United States×13Ecuador×1
Investments · 44 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12021 · 12 dated
BETA Technologies develops electric aircraft (including the ALIA eVTOL) and associated charging infrastructure for sustainable aviation.
CleantechDefense TechHardwareMobility & TransportationBurlington, US
Charles Davis(Director)Mike Stone(Director)James McConville(Director)Dean Kamen(Director)Francesco Capretti(Director)Martine Rothblatt(Director)
Sensigo is an AI-powered platform that helps automotive service technicians and OEMs diagnose vehicle issues, predict component failures, and streamline parts procurement to reduce repair costs and turnaround time.
AI & Machine Learning
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
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
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
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)Michael Suffredini(Founder, former CEO and President)
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
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 TechRobotics
Paul Lwin(Co-Founder & CEO)
Hermeus is a high-speed aircraft manufacturer developing unmanned, hypersonic aircraft for defense and national security missions.
Defense TechHardwareAtlanta, US
LineVision develops grid-enhancing technology that provides transmission grid intelligence to help utilities and system operators optimize grid operations and planning.
CleantechEnergyIoTSomerville, US
Erik Levy(Director)Daniel Goldman(Director)David Bewster(Director)Adam Grosser(Director)Todd Gershkowitz(Director)Jonathan Marmillo(Executive Officer)
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
Metropolis develops an AI-driven recognition platform that enables real-time understanding and personalized responses for physical world interactions.
AI & Machine LearningPropTech
Courtney Fukuda(Executive Officer)Peter Fisher(Executive Officer, Director)Travis Kell(Executive Officer, Director)Alex Israel(Executive Officer, Director)
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 DoughertyinJesse Beyroutey(Director)Bryan Galusha(Executive Officer, Director)
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
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
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)Todd Waldron(CCO)Ron Lazo(COO)Arthur Cheek(Executive Officer, Director)Spencer J. Ware(Executive Officer, Director)
Skydio designs and manufactures autonomous drones using computer vision and AI technology for consumer and commercial applications.
AI & Machine LearningHardwareRobotics
Adam Bry(Founder & CEO)inAbe Bachrach(Founder)T.J. Rylander(Director)David Ulevitch(Director)Michael Slade(Director)
Voyant Photonics develops LiDAR and active sensing technology based on silicon photonics and nanooptics, aimed at enabling intelligent machines to perceive their environment.
Deep TechHardwareSemiconductorsNew York, US
Chris Phare(Co-founder & CSO)inCarlos Bhola(Executive Chairman)Edward J. Nicoll(Director)Clement Nouvel(Executive Officer, Director)Steven Miller(Co-founder & CTO)inSeth Benkov(Executive Officer)
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioBeta TechnologiesNYSE: BETA
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesAerialoop · citybiz.co · Jul 13, 2026
Westmag · intelligence360.news · Jun 16, 2026
HavocAI · therobotreport.com · May 15, 2026
Zanskar · ipoplatform.com · Apr 7, 2026
Point One Navigation · finsmes.com · Nov 21, 2025
Metropolis · axios.com · Nov 7, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- 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.
Co-investors · 59
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm known for backing bold, contrarian bets in world-class teams that can reshape entire industries.
Andreessen Horowitz's Strategic Partnerships page describes collaborations that connect its portfolio companies with established institutions to help scale and deploy their technology.
Lightspeed Venture Partners is a global venture capital firm known for backing AI and technology founders, emphasizing deep, hands-on partnerships with the companies it funds.
Slow Ventures is an early-stage investment firm backing curious founders at the intersection of technology and the edges of science, society, and culture, providing resources, connections, and support to build durable companies.
Lux Capital's portfolio page showcasing select companies across science and technology sectors including AI infrastructure, aerospace, biotech, and productivity software.
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.
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, with a strong current focus on artificial intelligence.
GV (formerly Google Ventures) is a venture investment firm that backs founders across many industries, aiming to build long-term relationships and support companies across multiple stages and milestones.
Craft Ventures is a venture capital firm founded and run by former founders, operators, and investors who provide startups with hands-on support, senior talent access, and proven scaling playbooks.
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) is a venture capital firm that invests in and provides long-term support to founders building new companies.
▶47 more co-investors
Insight PartnersNotable CapitalSV AngelUberFoundation CapitalCoatue ManagementDST GlobalBalderton CapitalQuiet CapitalSOSVACME CapitalOffline VenturesUpHonest CapitalKapor CapitalCota CapitalAcrew CapitalHack VCOperator LPFlatiron HealthMatrixHomebrewWinklevoss CapitalNextGen Venture PartnersDraper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ)AlleyCorpComcast VenturesTransmedia Capitalxfactor venturesCP VenturesVitalStage VenturesBlueRun VenturesSLVC35VenturesThink+ Ventures Management, LlcG2 Venture PartnersRace CapitalCelesta CapitalAdams Street PartnersDarling VenturesFocalCervinGSR VenturesEvolve VC FundsMarathon Venture CapitalSmartStart FundManiv MobilityLeadout 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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