Latest news with #FundI
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Venture gets a rare Native American-led fund in Betsy Fore's Velveteen Ventures
When Betsy Fore was five, her grandmother got her a gift she has never forgotten: A Velveteen Rabbit from Goodwill that Fore believed, with enough love, could spring alive. Decades later, that rabbit has lent its name to Fore's venture firm, Velveteen Ventures, which came to life on Tuesday. 'I realized after building companies for nearly two decades that I could make the greatest ripple in this one precious life by being on the other side of the table,' she told TechCrunch. Her companies include the baby food company Tiny Organics (for which she became the first Native American woman to raise a Series A) and the app builder Wondermento. 'Instead of building one thing, I can help other founders build dozens of life-changing companies,' Fore said. Fore declined to share what amount the firm's fund would aim to raise, but SEC filings show it started raising in October. The firm, based in the Midwest, will look to invest $500,000 to $4 million in seed and Series A companies, focusing on the healthcare, climate, consumer, and community sectors. It hopes to invest in at least 15 to 20 companies. More interestingly, however, with this launch, Fore becomes one of the few Native American women to launch a venture firm in the U.S. A few years ago, when TechCrunch looked for funding statistics for Native American founders, the numbers were so low that they almost couldn't be accurately pulled. Fore has been working to change that — she has a nonprofit that has worked to offer mentorship and opportunities to Native American founders. Describing the fundraising process, Fore said it was 'thrilling to have held institutional closes out the gate,' and says she has the 'support of purpose-driven institutions' that believe a strong ROI also exists in the Midwest. 'I have found that when we do bring on an LP, it's because they were searching for us,' she said. Joining Fore at Velveteen is Karla Brollier, also of Native descent, who hails from Patagonia and will lead climate investments at the firm. Katherine Stabler is joining the firm as chief operating officer, after decades as an attorney at private funds. Fore said she hopes to honor her ancestors as she runs the fund, adding that a portion of Fund I's carry will go to Native American tribes. 'While not an impact fund,' she said, 'Velveteen plans on proving that profits and purpose go hand in hand.' Fore previously worked at XFactor Ventures and LongJump Ventures (and is about to publish a book on entrepreneurship and venture capital).
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sarah Smith launches $16M fund, says AI can ‘unlock' so much for solo GPs like herself
Sarah Smith, founder and managing partner of the eponymous Sarah Smith Fund, announced Thursday the final closing of a $16 million Fund I. Smith launched her eponymous fund in 2022 and is a solo GP. She said she's 'stunned' by what AI can unlock for firms like hers, solo and next-generation. 'I can't imagine doing venture any other way now,' she said. 'While I believe company building still requires a team effort, I believe early-stage investing is best done solo.' She appreciates how she can make fast decisions that don't require committee approval. She's also taken to using AI to help her throughout this journey. 'Every day I'm dreaming of more ways to support my founders, combining my experience and network with AI,' she said. 'For example, just last week, I led a values articulation project for one of my founders,' Smith continued. 'It took me 2-3 hours of time when it previously would have taken 20. When you have an AI-native firm that can deliver 10x value in 1/10 of the time, you can scale up a large portfolio with just one person.' She said she previously had a $3 million rolling fund, and spent a year raising this Fund I. Fund I hopes to invest in 50 companies and has already backed 17, with the average check size standing at $250,000. Limited partners include Pear VC, Ulu Ventures, and Verdis Investment Management. Fund I focuses mainly on startups in the Stanford ecosystem (Smith is an alumna of the university). She has research there, too, to back up her focus. 'It has produced more unicorns and exit value than any other university in the world,' she said, citing the research done by Ilya Strebulaev that shows that 11% of unicorn founders have an association with Stanford. 'While much of the legacy Sand Hill firms spend of of their time up in SF, 45 minutes north, I'm doubling down on Stanford campus.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Keewaywin Capital Marks Initial Close of First Indigenous Housing-Focused Private Credit Fund
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keewaywin Capital Inc., an Indigenous-led private credit investment firm focused on housing development for Indigenous communities across Canada, has announced the initial close of its inaugural Fund I, securing more than $10 million in commitments. With commitments from limited private-capital partners including Realize Capital, Rally Assets, Addenda Capital, and the Tachane Foundation, the fund will help launch on-reserve housing and related infrastructure projects in both on- and off-reserve communities. The initial close of Fund I marks the first public-private partnership focused on funding Indigenous housing construction under Canada's newly formed government, which has made addressing the country's broader housing crisis a top priority. Keewaywin Fund I will invest in scalable, community-led housing projects driven by and for Indigenous communities on and off reserve. Initial capital deployments are planned for this summer, with early projects set to include: A modular housing development of up to 30 homes in Northern Manitoba; A CMHC Section 95 project in Central Manitoba. 'Fund I offers private investors a meaningful way to connect with and invest in Indigenous communities, something that hasn't existed in this form in this country before,' says Tracee Smith, founder and CEO of Keewaywin and a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation. 'With a $44 billion shortfall to meet current housing needs, and another $16 billion required by 2040 to support population growth, it is imperative that governments and the private sector work together to ensure that future generations have the space and infrastructure to remain in and connected to their communities.' 'This fund, led by changemaker Tracee Smith, represents the kind of community-rooted innovation our Impact Fixed Income strategy is designed to support,' says Carl Pelland, Vice-President, Fixed Income, and Head, Corporate and Impact Bonds at Addenda Capital. 'It aligns closely with our community development theme by directing capital toward Indigenous led solutions that recognize housing as a foundation for broader social and economic outcomes.' Pelland adds: 'This investment opportunity represents a promising step toward scalable social impact, delivering value for investors while supporting the economic advancement of Indigenous communities both on- and off-reserve. We're proud to be partnering with Keewaywin Capital on this important initiative.' 'We're glad to contribute to this fund, which represents a much-needed opportunity to help accelerate the delivery of community-driven housing by Indigenous communities, creating long-term value and resilience,' says Lars Boggild, Portfolio Manager, Realize Capital Partners, a wholesaler for the Government of Canada's Social Finance Fund. Realize Capital is powered by Rally Assets. Keewaywin Capital anticipates full commitment of the proceeds raised for Fund I by the end of 2025. The firm is exploring additional potential projects that, pending scale, would seek to deploy additional capital and resources in 2026. About Keewaywin Capital Inc. Keewaywin Capital Inc. is a 100% Indigenous-owned private credit investment fund focused on dedicated housing development for Indigenous communities across Canada. The firm provides short-term construction loans to accelerate Indigenous-led development, and works in close partnership with community leaders, government agencies, and private capital to deliver sustainable housing solutions that best suit individual Indigenous communities. For more information, visit Keewaywin Capital.
National Post
26-06-2025
- Business
- National Post
Keewaywin Capital Marks Initial Close of First Indigenous Housing-Focused Private Credit Fund
Article content Initial raise of $10 million to be used to accelerate on- and off-reserve housing projects Article content TORONTO — Keewaywin Capital Inc., an Indigenous-led private credit investment firm focused on housing development for Indigenous communities across Canada, has announced the initial close of its inaugural Fund I, securing more than $10 million in commitments. Article content With commitments from limited private-capital partners including Realize Capital, Rally Assets, Addenda Capital, and the Tachane Foundation, the fund will help launch on-reserve housing and related infrastructure projects in both on- and off-reserve communities. Article content The initial close of Fund I marks the first public-private partnership focused on funding Indigenous housing construction under Canada's newly formed government, which has made addressing the country's broader housing crisis a top priority. Article content Keewaywin Fund I will invest in scalable, community-led housing projects driven by and for Indigenous communities on and off reserve. Initial capital deployments are planned for this summer, with early projects set to include: Article content A modular housing development of up to 30 homes in Northern Manitoba; A CMHC Section 95 project in Central Manitoba. Article content 'Fund I offers private investors a meaningful way to connect with and invest in Indigenous communities, something that hasn't existed in this form in this country before,' says Tracee Smith, founder and CEO of Keewaywin and a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation. 'With a $44 billion shortfall to meet current housing needs, and another $16 billion required by 2040 to support population growth, it is imperative that governments and the private sector work together to ensure that future generations have the space and infrastructure to remain in and connected to their communities.' Article content 'This fund, led by changemaker Tracee Smith, represents the kind of community-rooted innovation our Impact Fixed Income strategy is designed to support,' says Carl Pelland, Vice-President, Fixed Income, and Head, Corporate and Impact Bonds at Addenda Capital. 'It aligns closely with our community development theme by directing capital toward Indigenous led solutions that recognize housing as a foundation for broader social and economic outcomes.' Article content Pelland adds: 'This investment opportunity represents a promising step toward scalable social impact, delivering value for investors while supporting the economic advancement of Indigenous communities both on- and off-reserve. We're proud to be partnering with Keewaywin Capital on this important initiative.' Article content 'We're glad to contribute to this fund, which represents a much-needed opportunity to help accelerate the delivery of community-driven housing by Indigenous communities, creating long-term value and resilience,' says Lars Boggild, Portfolio Manager, Realize Capital Partners, a wholesaler for the Government of Canada's Social Finance Fund. Realize Capital is powered by Rally Assets. Article content Keewaywin Capital anticipates full commitment of the proceeds raised for Fund I by the end of 2025. The firm is exploring additional potential projects that, pending scale, would seek to deploy additional capital and resources in 2026. Article content About Keewaywin Capital Inc. Article content Keewaywin Capital Inc. is a 100% Indigenous-owned private credit investment fund focused on dedicated housing development for Indigenous communities across Canada. The firm provides short-term construction loans to accelerate Indigenous-led development, and works in close partnership with community leaders, government agencies, and private capital to deliver sustainable housing solutions that best suit individual Indigenous communities. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
ASK Property Fund, ISIR-backed real estate AIF raises ₹500 crore for Investment in luxury housing projects
ASK Property Fund and India Sotheby's International Realty (ISIR) backed real estate fund has raised ₹500 crore to invest in luxury housing projects across major cities within three months of the launch of its Alternative Investment Fund platform, ASK Curated Luxury Assets Fund- I (ASK CLAF I), the company has said. "This fund, aimed at investing in luxury residential projects, has evoked interest from many of India's prominent family offices, Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNIs), securing an investment corpus of ₹500 crore within 3 months of its launch," ASK Property Fund said in a statement. The fund is primarily focused on capitalising on the expected growth of India's luxury real estate market. It plans to invest in early-stage developments at attractive entry valuations, with a focus on premium residential projects in major cities, as well as horizontal developments like second homes and holiday properties. As an equity-focused vehicle, the fund aims to capture the project's profit margin and is targeting a minimum return of 2x or more on invested capital, Ask Property Fund said. This fund plans to immediately start deploying funds as per its investment strategy and aims to raise a total of ₹1,500 crore, including a ₹500 crore green shoe option, towards its final close. Also Read: ASK Property Fund and India Sotheby's International Realty join hands to launch ASK curated luxury assets fund ASK Curated Luxury Assets Fund I is registered with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund under the SEBI AIF Regulations. "This collaboration and strategy present a unique proposition. The fund benefits significantly from SIR's capability to monetize projects through its extensive network, experience, and access to premium land parcels. We believe the fund can secure exclusive deals for our select developer partners via curated opportunities and maximize returns through well-structured investments," Amit Bhagat, co-founder, CEO and MD at ASK Property Fund, said. ASK Property Fund, the real estate arm of the Blackstone-backed ASK Asset and Wealth Management Group, is the investment manager and sponsor of the AIF, while India Sotheby's International Realty is co-sponsor and real estate advisor.
