Pride Fund 1 featured on VC list to watch in Columbus
Since Mark Kvamme and Chris Olsen left the Silicon Valley VC firm Sequoia Capital and formed Drive Capital in 2013, Columbus’ venture capital landscape has grown.
Successes like Root Insurance have turned heads from the coasts, and more local venture funds have formed.
Last year, Ohio tech companies were able to raise a record amount of venture capital—$1.5 billion, according to PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association.
Pride Fund
Specialty: Pride Fund specializes in early-stage startups led by members of the LGBTQ+ community
Leadership:Densil Porteous (CEO), Michael Smithson (Chief Growth Officer), Timothy Wolf Starr (Managing Partner), and Chase Petrie (Operating Partner); it is a joint venture between LOUD Capital and Atlas Venture Partners
Founded: 2020
Size of fund: $10 million fund
Portfolio highlights: Revry, a global LGBTQ+ content streaming network, and Optic Surg, a medical device company.
