Fundraising Fox
Workshop Venture Partners
Venture studioSan Francisco · Pre-Seed–Seed · 13 people tracked
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Investment thesis
Workshop operates as a venture studio at the intersection of purpose and profit, investing in and building companies alongside founders tackling problems in climate and education. The team, composed of engineers and operators experienced in scaling companies from zero to one, focuses on supporting founders through their earliest growth stages. Workshop believes many of today's most pressing challenges require scalable, self-sustaining businesses capable of attracting top talent and growth capital.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 7, 2026.
Team · 13 people
from the firm's website
Founding Partner at Workshop working across climate and education. Co-founded SimpliSafe and served as its CEO until 2020, overseeing engineering, product, supply chain, marketing, operations, and finance; an electrical engineer who built parts of the product and backend. He now serves as Chairman of the Board.
Founding Partner at Workshop working across climate and education. Co-founded SimpliSafe and led its strategy for 13 years, still serving on its board. She was CFO of the Boston Public Schools, overseeing a $1.4B budget, and has taught strategy and climate entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School.
Partner specializing in education. After graduate engineering research, he spent over a decade as a teacher and school leader, later supporting district leadership and building tech tools as a consulting manager at Education Resource Strategies.
Partner building across the stack from apps to infrastructure, with over a decade designing highly scalable, fault-tolerant products and systems serving millions of distributed IoT devices and app users.
Operating advisor supporting Workshop's co-founders in finance and accounting.
Operating advisor supporting Workshop's co-founders in design.
Operating advisor supporting Workshop's co-founders in recruiting.
Operating advisor supporting Workshop's co-founders in growth.
Principal Engineer with over 10 years building and leading startups in the IoT space, specializing in multidisciplinary work across firmware, backend, and app development.
Operating advisor supporting Workshop's co-founders on education trends.
Partner specializing in education. Spent 17 years investing in and operating ed-tech startups, including roles as Director of Strategic Initiatives at Macmillan New Ventures, Managing Director of Entangled Solutions, and Vice President at Guild.
Principal Engineer with over 15 years of full-stack experience across frontend, backend, mobile, and infrastructure, focused on guiding early-stage founders in product creation, delivery, and team building for their 0-to-1 journey.
Operating advisor supporting Workshop's co-founders in UX.
Founder mafia
3 people who came through Workshop Venture Partners went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 25 of 38 portfolio companiesEdTech ×14AI & Machine Learning ×9SaaS ×9Cleantech ×6Climate Tech ×5Enterprise Software ×5Energy ×4AgTech ×3
HQs:United States×18
Who they back
founder profiles across 16 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×82 founders×23 founders×44+ founders×2
Where their founders studiedfrom 16 founders with education data
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ×3Harvard University ×2UNSW ×2
What their founders studiedfrom 13 founders with field-of-study data
Business & Management ×4Economics ×3Design & Architecture ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 15 founders with career history
MIT Media Lab ×2NYC Department of Education ×2
Investments · 38 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12025 · 22023 · 25 dated
Alpaca provides teacher recognition programs, wellbeing initiatives, pulse surveys, and resources for school leaders to support educator welfare and school operations.
EdTechFuture of WorkHR TechSaaSWellness & Fitness
Karen Borchert(Founder & CEO)in
Co-investorsInvest NebraskaDrive Capital
Pricing intelligence for EV charging infrastructure
Palo Alto, US
Lucas Ackerknecht(Founder)Phil Stahlfeld(Founder)
Co-investorsStarshotTwine Ventures
Altus Thermal makes Cala, a heat pump water heater that adjusts water heating to a home's daily hot water usage and integrates with solar, batteries, and variable electricity pricing.
CleantechEnergyHardware
Bloomy is an adaptive learning platform that uses AI to teach ELA, Math, and Writing to K-12 students through personalized lessons, live AI tutoring, and mastery-based assessments.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSan Francisco, US
Alex Southmayd(CEO)in
Co-investorsTranspose Platform ManagementY CombinatorAndreessen HorowitzLyra Capital Pty LtdReach CapitalRobinhood
Butlr makes anonymous thermal sensors that measure occupancy and space utilization across offices, buildings, campuses, stores, and labs without cameras, badges, or Wi-Fi tracking.
AI & Machine LearningDigital HealthHardwareHealthtechIoTPropTechSan Francisco, US
Honghao Deng(Founder)inJiani Zeng(Founder)inHonghao Deng Jiani Zeng(Founder)
BoardRaymond Stuart Stata(Director)Seth Levine(Director)inNaimish Patel(Director)in
Co-investors1Flourish Capital500 GlobalFounder CollectiveFoundryGS FuturesHDS Capital+17 more
Cartwheel delivers evidence-based mental health and clinical care services to students and families through partnerships with school districts.
Digital HealthEdTechHealthtechMental HealthCambridge, US
Joe English(Co-Founder and CEO)inDaniel Tartakovsky(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardHolly Maloney(Director)inGreg Yap(Director)inSteve Kupfer(Director)in
Co-investorsAble PartnersAlumni VenturesBoxGroupCraft VenturesGeneral CatalystMenlo Ventures+11 more
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Coral provides software that lets HVAC and home electrification contractors turn utility and government rebates into instant upfront discounts, handling eligibility validation, rebate filing, and follow-ups.
CleantechClimate TechFintech
Co-investorsEntrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator (ERA)Floating PointNew Climate VenturesResilienceVCTwelve BelowZ47+2 more
CourseMojo offers Mojo, an AI teaching assistant that converts texts and assignments from top-rated curricula into interactive, differentiated activities for students and real-time data for teachers.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaSWashington, US
Eric Westendorf(Executive Officer, Director)inJamie Forrest(Founder)inDacia Toll(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardEleanor Laurans(Director)Emily McGinty(Director)inWilliam R. Berkley(Director)
Co-investorsCambiar EducationUlu VenturesStreet Ventures
CyberNut provides a gamified security awareness and phishing training platform for K-12 schools, serving students, teachers, and administrators.
CybersecurityEdTechSaaS
Oliver Page(Founder)in
Co-investorsEdovate CapitalGrowth Street PartnersAvalanche VC
Drover develops virtual fencing technology for sustainable livestock management and farming.
AgTechHardwareIoT
Callum Taylor(Founder)inSamuel Aubin(Founder)in
Co-investorsAutotech VenturesRTP GlobalTarget Global
Edlink provides Single Sign On (SSO) functionality supporting over a dozen authentication providers, enabling education technology products to integrate seamlessly with school systems via LTI, Clever, Classlink, and other platforms.
Data & InfrastructureDeveloper ToolsEdTechSaaSSan Francisco, US
Dakota Gordon(CEO & Co-Founder)inAmanda Goodson(COO & Co-Founder)in
Co-investorsAllied Venture PartnersFirebrand VenturesPath Ventures
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Eddi provides AI agents for educational organizations that work across grants, finance, student success, analytics, compliance, and reporting, integrating with existing systems like CRMs, student information systems, and ERPs.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechGovTech
Co-investorsSamvid Ventures
Elephant Energy provides end-to-end home electrification services for homeowners, handling heat pump and heat pump water heater installation including sizing, contractors, rebates, inspections, and electrical work.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyBoulder, US
David Richardson(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inJoshua Lake(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)DR(Co-founder)Josh(Co-founder)
BoardTravis Conners(Director)Joseph Lipscomb(Director)in
Co-investorsArborview CapitalBuilding VenturesK Street CapitalWorkshop
Imio makes Re-Gen, a freeze-dried microbial powder applied to crop residue for row crops such as corn, helping farmers unlock NPK nutrient value and increase yields.
AgTechBiotechClimate TechChicago, US
Charles Frederick Smith(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)
BoardJeremiah Brewer(Director)Guillaume Baxter(Director)
Co-investorsNextwave [X] PartnersStarshotSerra Ventures
Making Space is a talent acquisition and learning platform that helps disabled professionals build skills, find community, and secure meaningful employment, while providing employers with accessible hiring and retention support.
B2B MarketplacesEdTechHR TechImpact & Social GoodLos Angeles, US
Keely Cat-Wells(CEO & Founder)in
Co-investorsMindshift CapitalOne Planet GroupOne Planet OpsSamvid VenturesTechstarsBeta Boom+1 more
Manifest provides AI-powered business intelligence and assistant tools designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), including metrics dashboards, personalized guidance, and community support.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSToledo, US
Sarah Horn(Founder)inZack Avshalomov(Founder)inAshley Bittner(Director)Renee Beaumont(Director)Daniel Bardenstein(Founder)Freddie McKenzie(Founder)
Co-investorsKalos VenturesBrass Ring VenturesAntlerBoxGroupCV VCDorm Room+4 more
Medley is a browser extension that scaffolds classroom content to match each student's English proficiency level, automatically fading support features like translations and visuals as learners progress while preserving grade-level rigor.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechSaaS
Monaire develops AI-powered systems to redefine commercial HVAC and refrigeration, delivering improved comfort, efficiency, and sustainability.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechEnergyEnterprise SoftwarePropTechWaltham, US
Rahul Subramany(Founder & CEO)inKedar(VP of Engineering, CISO)Nishant Kanapilly(Executive Officer, Director)
Co-investorsConstruct CapitalFounder CollectiveWorkshop
Once is an early reading program and curriculum designed for children ages 3-7 that uses structured phonics instruction combined with individual attention to help every child become a fluent reader by third grade.
EdTech
Co-investorsLong Term Impact
Paloma is an early reading and math program for PreK-2 students that equips parents with short instructional videos, coaching, and personalized decodable stories to reinforce district curriculum at home.
EdTechSaaSAlameda, US
Shane Chin(Founder)inAlejandro Gibes de Gac(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardBrian Dixon(Director)
Co-investorsKapor CapitalReach Capital
Sourgum provides technology solutions for the waste and recycling industry.
Circular EconomyEnterprise SoftwareLogistics & Supply ChainMarketplaces
Joe DiNardiinLuciano DiNardiinJoe DiNardi-Mack(Founder)in
Co-investors186 VenturesFounder CollectiveRiverPark VenturesSuffolk TechnologiesBroadway Venture PartnersHeadline+4 more
Timely is a software platform for school districts that automates student and staff scheduling while enforcing compliance requirements like IEP, 504, and English learner placement.
AI & Machine LearningEdTechEnterprise SoftwareSaaS
Paymon Rouhanifard(Co-Founder & CEO)inFaisal Anwar(Co-Founder & CTO)inEleanor Laurans(Co-Founder)in
Trellis Air develops technology aimed at drying air using less energy.
CleantechClimate TechEnergySomerville, US
Russ Wilcox(Executive Officer, Director)
BoardCraig Shapiro(Director)
Co-investorsOUP (Osage University Partners)Founder Collective
WorkHero offers back-office management for HVAC contractors, automating manufacturer equipment warranty registrations through integrations with job management platforms like Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, and Jobber.
AI & Machine LearningConstruction TechEnterprise SoftwareFuture of WorkHR TechSaaS
Christy
Co-investorsNavitas CapitalYork IE
Yardstick develops soil carbon measurement technologies to reduce the cost of measuring soil organic carbon and enable evidence-based climate-positive agriculture practices.
AgTechCleantechClimate TechData & InfrastructureDover, US
Christopher Tolles(Executive Officer, Director)Kevin Meissner(Founder)Chris Tolles(Founder)Evan Arnold(Founder)
BoardLisa Coca(Director)in
Co-investorsBreakthrough Energy VenturesCultivian Sandbox VenturesLowercarbon CapitalPetriPillar VCExtantia Capital+1 more
Other
Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.
AltusBeamCountOnDiffitEddiEdlinkJoincountonManifestPalomaPeerteachTimely
Exits · 1
1 acquisitionsDroveracq. by Cazoo
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesBloomy · ycombinator.com · Jul 1, 2026
CyberNut · fintech.global · Jan 22, 2026
Elephant Energy · elephantenergy.com · Dec 19, 2025
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Workshop Venture Partners made?
- Workshop Venture Partners has 38 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited, including 3 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Workshop Venture Partners invest at?
- Workshop Venture Partners invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Workshop Venture Partners's typical check size?
- Workshop Venture Partners typically writes checks of $3M.
- What sectors does Workshop Venture Partners focus on?
- Workshop Venture Partners focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Climate Tech, EdTech, Energy, Healthtech.
- Where is Workshop Venture Partners located?
- Workshop Venture Partners is headquartered in San Francisco, US.
- Does Workshop Venture Partners lead rounds?
- Yes, Workshop Venture Partners leads investment rounds.
- Who does Workshop Venture Partners co-invest with?
- Workshop Venture Partners most often shares deals with Founder Collective, Samvid Ventures, Starshot, among 70 tracked co-investors.
Images
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