Eli Kia
InvestorGeneral Partner at Fortify Ventures
Los Angeles
Writes $100K – $2M checks · typically $250K
About
Eli Kia is an early-stage investor based in Los Angeles who spends most of his time building Fortify Ventures, a fund backing next-generation human health and performance products with checks of $100k to $2m targeting 7% ownership. He also writes small angel checks through Coral Tree Canyon, using personal investments to get operationally involved with founders outside Fortify's scope. Before investing, he worked at Seaside Ventures, Handle Delivery, Duffl, and Telos Capital Management. He publishes a newsletter called Two and Twenty aimed at helping emerging fund managers access information, news, and events.
Contact· published on Eli's own website
Beyond investing
- Founded
- Runs Fortify Ventures, a fund focused on human health and performance. Makes personal angel investments through Coral Tree Canyon.
- Communities
- Splits time between Los Angeles, New York, the Bay Area, DC, and Tel Aviv. Previously lived in New York and visits every few weeks.
- Hobbies
- Spends much of his free time cycling. Tinkers with small electronics like Arduinos. Obsesses over biometric data and biohacking. Surfs a 9'8 longboard. Enjoys chasing warm weather. Prides himself on making an excellent burger.
- More
- Has a VO2 max of 59. Traveled to Antarctica as a child just to see penguins.
From Eli's own website — common ground for a warm intro.
Experience
- Fortify VenturesGeneral Partnercurrent2025 — presentLos Angeles, California, United States
- Fortify VenturesInvestor2024 — 2025New York, New York, United States
- Seaside VenturesAssociate2023 — 2024
- Handle DeliveryChief Growth Officer2022Los Angeles, California, United States
- DufflSupply2021 — 2022
Skills & more
+4 more
EntrepreneurshipEvent PlanningCreative Problem SolvingFundraisingFrom Eli's professional profile.
Investments
Investor
alter (yc s25)boardyBOLD BARCurve ComplianceDifferent HealthhowieLyme AlertParalexrorrasamphire neuroSomble
Per the investor's own website.
Writing
All posts ↗Eli Kia has recently written for emerging venture fund managers about operational and legal topics: venture fund taxation (K-1s, carried interest holding periods, 83(b) elections), how to sell shares on the secondary market, and fund compliance tracking and policies.
Explains venture fund taxation for emerging managers, covering K-1 pass-through filing deadlines, the Section 1061 three-year carried interest holding period, 83(b) elections, and management fee deduction issues.
Walks through selling fund shares on the secondary market, including gathering documents, understanding transfer restrictions and ROFRs, and talking to the company before marketing shares.
Covers fund compliance practices, including tracking LP information, side letters, expenses and fees, regulatory filings, and adopting policies such as a valuation policy.
Colleagues at Fortify Ventures
Network1
Investors connected to Eli in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Eli Kia?
- Eli Kia is an early-stage investor based in Los Angeles who spends most of his time building Fortify Ventures, a fund backing next-generation human health and performance products with checks of $100k to $2m targeting 7% ownership. He also writes small angel checks through Coral Tree Canyon, using personal investments to get operationally involved with founders outside Fortify's scope. Before investing, he worked at Seaside Ventures, Handle Delivery, Duffl, and Telos Capital Management. He publishes a newsletter called Two and Twenty aimed at helping emerging fund managers access information, news, and events.
- Where does Eli Kia work?
- Eli Kia is General Partner at Fortify Ventures.
- What check size does Eli Kia write?
- Eli Kia typically writes checks of $100K – $2M.
- What companies has Eli Kia invested in?
- Investments tracked here include alter (yc s25), boardy, BOLD BAR, Curve Compliance, Different Health, howie, Lyme Alert, Paralex, rorra, samphire neuro, Somble.
- Where did Eli Kia go to school?
- Eli Kia studied at University of Southern California (Bachelor of Science - BS, Business Administration (STEM)); USC Marshall School of Business (Master of Science - MS, Entrepreneurship and Innovation).
- What has Eli Kia written?
- Eli Kia has 3 tracked posts on 2and20.vc, including "The Operating Manual: Week 31", "Week 30: We're so back", "Week 29: Making the lawyers happy".
Same school
Also attended University of Southern California490
+ 484 more
Also attended USC Marshall School of Business157
+ 151 more
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