Nick Grouf
InvestorManaging Partner at Alpha Edison · Board director at Novel Effect
Los Angeles
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
About
A serial entrepreneur and investor, Nick founded Firefly Network (collaborative filtering, sold to Microsoft), co-founded ISP PeoplePC (later merged with Earthlink), and launched Spot Runner. He later incubated companies including Loot Crate and Pluto TV. He holds an MBA from Harvard and an undergraduate degree from Yale, and began his career at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
ConsumerDeep TechFintechHardwareHealthtechInsurTech
Board director at Novel Effect
Intro paths
In turn, Nick can intro founders to Novel Effect's investors below.
Novel Effect's investors · 8
Co-founders at Novel Effect
Experience
- Yale School of ArtMember, Yale School of Art Deans Council Task Forcecurrent2023 — presentNew Haven County, Connecticut, United States
- Alpha EdisonManaging Partnercurrent2015 — presentLos Angeles, CA
- Clementine CapitalManaging Partner2012 — 2021Los Angeles
- MOJO Sports Inc.Board Member2020 — 2021Los Angeles, California, United States
- The RiveterBoard Member2019 — 2021Seattle, Washington, United States
- Pluto.TVFounder, Founding Investor2013 — 2019Los Angeles, CA
- Spot RunnerFounder CEO2005 — 2011
- PeoplePCFounder CEO1999 — 2003
- FireflyFounder, Chairman and CEO1995 — 1999
- Goldman SachsAssociate (Summer)1994New York, NY
- McKinsey & CompanyBusiness Analyst1990 — 1992New York, NY
Skills & more
+9 more
Social MediaProduct MarketingCreative DirectionDigital MarketingDigital StrategyMarketingOnline MarketingMergers & AcquisitionsStrategyFrom Nick's professional profile.
Deals · 5
United Dwelling HoldingsBoard seat
via Alpha Edison · filed Jan 2023 · $8.6M raise
Neural AnalyticsBoard seat
via Alpha Edison · filed Oct 2021 · $15M raise
Small Homes HoldingsBoard seat
via Alpha Edison · filed Aug 2021 · $3.3M raise
RiveterBoard seat
via Alpha Edison · filed Dec 2018 · $15M raise
Novel EffectBoard seat
via Alpha Edison · filed May 2018 · $4.5M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Investor
Loot CratePluto TV
Sources: SEC Form D filings · the firm's website.
Colleagues at Alpha Edison
Network2
Investors connected to Nick in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Nick Grouf?
- A serial entrepreneur and investor, Nick founded Firefly Network (collaborative filtering, sold to Microsoft), co-founded ISP PeoplePC (later merged with Earthlink), and launched Spot Runner. He later incubated companies including Loot Crate and Pluto TV. He holds an MBA from Harvard and an undergraduate degree from Yale, and began his career at Goldman Sachs and McKinsey.
- Where does Nick Grouf work?
- Nick Grouf is Managing Partner at Alpha Edison and Board director at Novel Effect.
- What does Nick Grouf invest in?
- Nick Grouf invests in Consumer, Deep Tech, Fintech, Hardware, Healthtech, InsurTech.
- What check size does Nick Grouf write?
- Nick Grouf typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- What boards does Nick Grouf sit on?
- Nick Grouf holds tracked board seats at Neural Analytics, Neural Analytics, Novel Effect, Riveter, Small Homes Holdings, United Dwelling Holdings.
- What companies has Nick Grouf invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Loot Crate, Pluto TV.
- Where did Nick Grouf go to school?
- Nick Grouf studied at Harvard Business School (Master of Business Administration (MBA)); Yale University (Bachelor of Arts (BA), American Studies).
Same school
Also attended Harvard Business School2,000
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at The Riveter2
Also worked at Pluto.TV5
Also worked at Spot Runner3
Also worked at Goldman Sachs1,505
+ 1,499 more