UpVentures

Founded in 2014, UpVentures is a venture capital firm headquartered in Little Falls, New York. It invests primarily in early-stage technology companies across various sectors including software, fintech, healthcare tech, and cybersecurity.
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Melissa Pegus

Venture Partner

38 past transactions

UCM Digital Health

Series A in 2021
UCM Digital Health provides virtual care and emergency telemedicine tools for insurers, employers, patients, and providers. Its digital front door platform enables lower-cost, high-quality care through a single point of digital engagement with intelligent network routing, supported by 24/7/365 emergency medicine treatment, triage, and navigation. The company offers teleconsultation and healthcare management software that combines a digital front door platform with a multidisciplinary provider team and around-the-clock telehealth triage, treatment, and navigation to deliver emergent and urgent care, primary and specialty services, and behavioral health. Founded in 2014 and based in Troy, New York, UCM Digital Health focuses on integrating technology and clinical expertise to improve access to care and optimize care pathways for patients and providers.

SpaceX

Venture Round in 2021
Founded in 2002, SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. Its notable projects include Falcon Heavy, Dragon, Starship, and human spaceflight initiatives.

DocAuthority

Series A in 2020
DocAuthority is an Israeli company founded in 2013 that specializes in document control solutions for businesses. The company offers a data governance platform designed to protect sensitive documents by automatically discovering and accurately identifying unprotected information. This enables organizations to enforce viewing access and sharing policies based on the risk profile and business value of the documents. By allowing both IT professionals and business users to define security policies that align with their operational needs, DocAuthority facilitates enhanced control over regulated information exposure and the usage of high-risk documents.

Fluent Forever

Seed Round in 2020
Fluent Forever Inc. is a language learning application company founded in 2013 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The company's app is designed to help users learn and retain foreign languages effectively, offering courses in languages such as Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese. Fluent Forever provides a range of resources, including learning guides, pictures, animated templates, grammar books, and voice training tips, allowing users to customize their learning experience. The platform emphasizes improving pronunciation and fluency, making it a comprehensive tool for language acquisition.

Leena AI

Series A in 2020
Leena AI develops an artificial intelligence-powered HR assistant that automates routine tasks such as answering policy-related questions, generating documents, and managing employee tickets. Its platform integrates with over 20 HR management systems, including SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, Oracle, Workday, and Microsoft Office 365. Trusted by companies like Nestle and Coca-Cola, Leena AI aims to streamline HR workflows across the employee lifecycle.

Blueboard

Series A in 2020
Blueboard Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that specializes in an employee recognition and incentives platform designed for the modern workplace. Founded in 2012, Blueboard allows organizations to reward employees through a selection of curated experiential rewards, such as skydiving, wine tasting, and spa treatments, rather than traditional cash bonuses or gift cards. The platform simplifies the recognition process, enabling employers to acknowledge their employees' contributions with just a few clicks. Additionally, Blueboard develops a mobile application that facilitates the seamless delivery of these rewards. The company aims to enhance employee engagement and recognition, making the process both memorable and meaningful.

RealEats

Venture Round in 2020
RealEats is a food technology company specializing in premium meal prep delivery services that focus on providing healthy, convenient meals while minimizing food waste. The company offers a range of chef-designed meals made from whole, unprocessed ingredients, including vegetables, grains, meats, and fish. These meals are prepared using responsibly sourced components, with a significant portion obtained from local farms in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where RealEats operates its kitchen. Delivered directly to consumers in single portion sizes, the meals are vacuum-packed to ensure freshness and convenience, allowing customers to easily access nutritious and handmade food options.

App Academy

Seed Round in 2020
App Academy is a software development school that offers immersive training designed to prepare professionals for software engineering roles. It runs a 12-week immersive coding and job placement program, and its graduates have an 98% placement rate in software development roles, with average salaries around $105,000 in San Francisco and $89,000 in New York City. In addition to immersive coding, the school provides courses in software design, algorithms, data structures, and code readings to broaden learners' technical skills.

StorySlab

Venture Round in 2020
StorySlab, Inc. is a sales enablement company based in Syracuse, New York, that specializes in a mobile tablet selling system designed to enhance the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts. Founded in 2012, StorySlab offers a custom-configured application that integrates web content management and secure cloud storage, enabling users to deliver tailored presentations both online and offline. The platform facilitates seamless sales interactions by incorporating features such as built-in web conferencing, data reporting, and file-sharing capabilities. By centralizing knowledge and resources, StorySlab empowers businesses to optimize customer engagement and streamline their sales processes. The company was previously known as Modern Industrial Marketing, LLC before rebranding in February 2019.

Drafted

Venture Round in 2020
Drafted Inc., founded in 2014 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, operates a network recruiting platform designed to streamline the hiring process for companies. The platform, Drafted, allows businesses to source, qualify, and hire candidates efficiently by leveraging their employee networks for referrals and sourcing. It also offers Layoff Network, which helps laid-off individuals connect with hiring companies through nominations from friends and colleagues. The company's solutions are utilized by recruiters, managers, and employees to track candidates and measure performance, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality of hires and support both companies and job seekers in their networking efforts.

People.ai

Venture Round in 2020
People.ai operates a predictive AI platform that automates sales training, coaching, and CRM sync. It helps sales, marketing, and customer success teams uncover revenue opportunities by capturing customer contacts and activities, driving actionable insights.

SleepSpace

Seed Round in 2020
SleepSpace is a pioneering company that has developed the first Sleep Operating System aimed at transforming the smart bedroom with integrated technologies. By harnessing the science of sound, vibration, and light, SleepSpace enhances the sleep experience and offers more accurate sleep measurements than traditional wearables. Its proprietary nearable sensing technology allows smartphones to function as smart beds, providing valuable insights for both users and clinicians. The company's platform enables healthcare professionals to deliver personalized sleep programs while gaining comprehensive data on patients' sleep patterns. SleepSpace has established partnerships with major mattress brands, hotels, and corporate wellness initiatives, underscoring its commitment to improving sleep health. Additionally, the company has received substantial funding through grants from the National Institutes of Health, further validating its innovative approach to sleep improvement.

BlocWatch

Seed Round in 2019
BlocWatch, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in monitoring, managing, and verifying activities on both public and private blockchains. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Reno, Nevada, the company offers two primary solutions: BlocMonitor and BlocTrust. BlocMonitor provides users with essential visibility and insights into blockchain activities, allowing them to detect suspicious behavior, receive critical alerts, and maintain overall chain health through comprehensive data aggregation and analytics. BlocTrust, on the other hand, focuses on providing third-party verification and assurance for private blockchains by maintaining an independent ledger of transactions and offering monthly attestations to ensure blockchain integrity. The company serves a diverse clientele, including service providers, enterprises, and government entities, by delivering tools that enhance blockchain security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Clerio Vision

Series D in 2019
Clerio Vision is a medical device company focused on refractive and ophthalmic technologies, including contact lenses and intraocular lenses. The company develops and commercializes next-generation products designed to address safety and performance concerns associated with current refractive procedures. Its laser-induced refractive index correction technology enables modification of the corneal refractive index to improve vision and treatment outcomes, offering physicians potential new options for vision correction. Founded in 2014, Clerio Vision is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

Carta

Series E in 2019
Carta is a software company that operates a SEC-registered transfer agent and equity management platform for private companies. The platform helps private firms manage cap tables, corporate governance, 409A valuations, and compliance, issue stock electronically, and share equity information among shareholders, employees, auditors, and counsel. It digitizes stock certificates, stock options, warrants, and derivatives to provide a real-time view of ownership and enables employees to track vesting and exercise rights. Carta serves venture-backed startups, pre-IPO companies, and other private enterprises in the United States and internationally. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Palo Alto, California, the company maintains additional offices in the United States, Brazil, and Canada.

Automation Intellect

Seed Round in 2019
Automation Intellect is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company founded in 2016 by Brad DeMarco in Matthews, North Carolina. The company specializes in asset performance management, utilizing data analytics to enhance industrial machine performance. Its platform leverages the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT), cloud technology, and advanced analytics to deliver real-time insights into asset performance. This enables users to monitor and improve key metrics such as output, downtime, and quality. By providing tools to analyze machine availability and performance, Automation Intellect helps customers identify issues and implement solutions that reduce costs associated with poor machine performance.

Bungee Tech Corporation

Seed Round in 2019
Bungee Tech Corporation designs geolocation data mining software that collects and analyzes publicly available data to map competitors' products, prices, promotions, and availability for retailers, airlines, and hotels. The platform uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to aggregate trusted data sources, track price variations, promotions, ad placements, and assortment opportunities, and deliver insights through dashboards and visualizations. By combining this intelligence with syndicated partner data, the company enables retailers and brands to monitor the competitive landscape, optimize pricing and product assortment, and support data-driven decision making. The company is based in Bellevue, Washington.

TAE Technologies

Venture Round in 2019
Founded in 1998, TAE Technologies is dedicated to developing clean fusion energy through advanced particle accelerator and plasma physics. Its mission is to create a sustainable energy source with no harmful byproducts.

LotMonkey

Seed Round in 2019
LotMonkey is an innovative company in the automotive sector that offers the first web-to-print application specifically designed for car dealerships. This technology enables dealerships to seamlessly synchronize their online and on-lot marketing efforts. With a focus on creating affordable and professional in-store visual assets, LotMonkey’s platform allows dealers to produce a wide range of merchandising materials, including vehicle stickers, hang tags, addendum labels, and showroom window signs. By providing an extensive library of designs, templates, and flexible printing options, LotMonkey transforms dealerships into strategic retail environments that enhance customer experience and drive sales. The application leverages proprietary technology, supported by two patents, to streamline the printing process, making it easier for dealers to implement effective visual merchandising both online and on the lot.

SAM.AI

Seed Round in 2018
Sam is a super connector - build trust network, get introductions, run CRM 402% faster SAM is a NYC based SaaS company with a missions to humanize the software experience leveraging proprietary voice based conversational AI. SAM's social CRM platform helps founders and their teams foster better business relationships with their trusted network of peers, advisors, customers, and investors.

Republic

Initial Coin Offering in 2018
Founded in 2016, Republic is a global equity crowdfunding platform headquartered in New York City. It provides access to startup, real estate, crypto, and gaming investments for over one million members worldwide, facilitating over $500 million in investments. Backed by prominent investors, Republic aims to create a diverse, sustainable, and connected world.

Session AI

Series A in 2018
Session AI, formerly known as ZineOne, is an innovative marketing platform focused on enhancing in-session ecommerce experiences. The company addresses the challenge of anonymous online shopping sessions by utilizing advanced machine learning models to analyze customer micro-behaviors at scale. This technology allows Session AI to deliver personalized, real-time interactions that drive conversions without relying on personal information or historical data. Renowned brands such as KOHL’s, Men’s Wearhouse, KEEN, and Advance Auto Parts have partnered with Session AI, achieving significant improvements in conversion rates and generating millions in attributed revenue. The platform is designed to facilitate real-time brand-to-user interactions across various digital channels, enabling businesses to engage customers contextually while maintaining the integrity of their existing applications.

ACV

Series C in 2018
ACV Auctions, Inc. is a wholesale automotive auction company headquartered in Buffalo, New York, founded in 2014. It operates a mobile platform that facilitates online auctions for used-car dealers, allowing them to view, bid on, and purchase car inventory directly from other dealers. The platform provides a digital marketplace that streamlines the buying and selling process, offering real-time alerts for available vehicles and enabling live auction participation. Additionally, ACV Auctions offers a pricing application tailored for franchise dealers, enhancing the auction experience and providing transparent and accurate vehicle information to users.

Stream

Venture Round in 2017
Stream.io, Inc. specializes in developing an open-source platform that enables the creation of customizable newsfeeds and messaging applications. The company provides a range of application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow product teams to implement chat features and activity feeds tailored to their specific needs. Its offerings include flat feeds for displaying followed content, aggregated feeds for grouping similar content, notification feeds for site alerts, and profile pages for user activity storage. Stream's solutions cater to various sectors, including finance, healthcare, dating, education, and social networking, facilitating community engagement. Established in 2014, the company is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with an additional office located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Stream’s products are recognized for their scalability and security, serving over a billion end-users globally.

HigherMe

Pre Seed Round in 2017
HigherMe is a recruiting platform designed for restaurants, retailers, and service businesses. It uses data and video to help employers find, screen, and hire candidates faster. The platform provides access to a candidate database, supports job posting, tracks applications, and digitizes onboarding paperwork, enabling automated recruitment workflows and assessments. It uses 30-second video profiles to highlight personality and interpersonal skills and applies data-driven behavioral and psychological matching to improve candidate fit. The solution functions as a one-stop system for posting jobs, screening applicants, onboarding new hires, and generating recruitment insights.

Cheribundi

Venture Round in 2017
Cheribundi, Inc. is a beverage company specializing in the production and sale of cherry juices and related products. Founded in 2004 and based in Geneva, New York, with additional offices in Boulder, Colorado, Cheribundi offers a variety of juices, including 100% Tart Cherry Juice, Tart Cherry Juice Light, and blended options that combine tart cherry juice with other fruit juices. The company emphasizes the health benefits of tart cherries, promoting their anti-inflammatory properties and potential support for muscle recovery. Cheribundi's products are distributed through retail channels and online platforms, catering to consumers seeking nutritious, antioxidant-rich beverages aimed at boosting immunity.

Clerio Vision

Series A in 2015
Clerio Vision is a medical device company focused on refractive and ophthalmic technologies, including contact lenses and intraocular lenses. The company develops and commercializes next-generation products designed to address safety and performance concerns associated with current refractive procedures. Its laser-induced refractive index correction technology enables modification of the corneal refractive index to improve vision and treatment outcomes, offering physicians potential new options for vision correction. Founded in 2014, Clerio Vision is headquartered in Rochester, New York.

Token

Seed Round in 2015
We have developed the next generation of MFA that stops phishing and unauthorized logins for organizations where ransomware must be stopped

BeneStream

Seed Round in 2014
BeneStream Inc., established in 2013 and headquartered in New York, specializes in facilitating access to government benefits for employees. It offers a web-based system that uses employee payroll data to determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid, food stamps, and child health insurance. BeneStream assists employers, particularly those with large low-income workforces, by providing outsourced enrollment services into Medicaid, helping them comply with the Affordable Care Act while reducing costs. The company's platform also includes digital screening capabilities and a multilingual call center for personalized assistance.

BrandYourself

Series A in 2014
BrandYourself is a company that specializes in online reputation management, offering tools and services designed to enhance individuals' online presence. Established in 2012, it was the first to launch a DIY reputation management tool that guides users through the process of monitoring and improving their digital footprint. The platform enables clients to identify and address negative online content, such as unwanted personal records or unflattering social media posts, while simultaneously promoting positive information that can advance their careers. Utilizing advanced technologies like machine learning and natural language processing, BrandYourself helps users create new content and websites to out-rank negative search results. In addition to its DIY tools, the company provides professional reputation management services, supported by a team of content creators, web developers, and brand strategists. BrandYourself has received recognition from various institutions, including accolades from Entrepreneur Magazine and appearances on the television show Shark Tank, where it declined a significant investment offer.

Librify

Seed Round in 2014
Librify, Inc. is a company based in New York that specializes in social-subscription services for e-books. It offers an online platform where users can read, buy, share, and discuss their favorite books, fostering a community among readers. In addition to its website, Librify provides a mobile application designed for reading e-books on iPads, enhancing accessibility and convenience for users. The platform encourages interaction and collaboration among readers, allowing them to connect over shared literary interests. As of 2015, Librify operates as a subsidiary of Scribd, Inc.

IntroNet

Seed Round in 2013
IntroNet is a platform that streamlines professional and personal introductions and referrals. It enables users to generate customized introduction emails using data from their social networks, email, and mobile devices. The platform also offers tracking features for referrals made by connectors or groups they are part of.

Monaeo

Seed Round in 2013
Monaeo is a data-driven technology company that provides a cloud-based platform aimed at helping businesses manage tax risks associated with employee travel. The platform automatically collects and analyzes location data from various sources, including travel and expense records, mobile devices, and laptops, while prioritizing employee privacy and data security. By integrating seamlessly with existing workflows, Monaeo's solution allows organizations to effectively navigate multi-jurisdictional tax compliance challenges and offers significant returns on investment. The company focuses on delivering actionable insights that enable enterprises to make informed decisions regarding their tax exposure, addressing a substantial market need in the United States.

Impel

Seed Round in 2013
Impel is a software development company that specializes in providing advanced digital engagement solutions for the automotive industry. Its platform serves automotive dealers, wholesalers, original equipment manufacturers, and third-party marketplaces by offering an end-to-end omnichannel solution. Impel utilizes proprietary shopper behavioral data and artificial intelligence to create hyper-personalized experiences throughout the customer journey. The company’s suite of applications includes merchandising, communication, marketing, and imaging tools, which integrate seamlessly with various website, customer relationship management, and dealer management systems. To date, Impel has facilitated over 2 billion shopper interactions across more than 40 countries, demonstrating its impact on enhancing customer engagement in the automotive sector.

Entreda

Venture Round in 2013
Entreda, established in 2011, specializes in comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for the independent financial advice and healthcare industries. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, with an additional office in Birmingham, Alabama, the company offers its award-winning Cyber Risk Number platform, Unify. This platform helps regulated industries monitor and protect client information by automating cybersecurity compliance across devices, networks, and applications. Entreda's senior leadership team boasts over 100 years of combined experience in cybersecurity technology and 40 years in the financial services and healthcare sectors.

Violin Systems

Series D in 2012
Violin Systems is a developer of advanced flash memory-based storage systems tailored for enterprises and public sector organizations. Headquartered in San Jose, California, the company specializes in extreme performance storage solutions that enhance the efficiency and capabilities of information and application storage infrastructure. Utilizing its proprietary Concerto OS, Violin Systems offers a range of integrated data services that ensure data protection, business continuity, and effective data reduction. Their innovative flash fabric architecture enhances fault tolerance, enabling clients to achieve optimal storage performance aligned with high-speed applications, servers, and networks. Violin Systems aims to transform storage technology, delivering significant savings in both capital and operational expenditures while meeting the rigorous demands of cloud, enterprise, and mission-critical storage applications.

SponsorHub

Venture Round in 2012
SponsorHub, Inc. is an online marketplace dedicated to the event sponsorship industry, founded in 2011 and based in New York, New York. The company offers a platform that enables brands to discover, evaluate, and secure sponsorship opportunities, facilitating connections between marketers and event producers. By providing tools such as the SponsorHub Score, which quantifies the value of sponsorship opportunities, the platform enhances transparency within the industry. This user-friendly approach allows sellers to reach a diverse array of potential partners while helping sponsors effectively target their desired audiences. Ultimately, SponsorHub strives to improve return on investment for sponsors and optimize revenue generation for event producers. As of September 2015, SponsorHub operates as a subsidiary of Rentrak Corporation.

e2e Materials

Venture Round in 2011
e2e Materials, Inc. is a biocomposite manufacturer based in Ithaca, New York, established in 2006. The company specializes in designing, developing, and producing innovative biocomposites for the furniture, cabinetry, and other related markets. Its products are derived from sustainable materials, specifically soy flour and natural fibers such as jute, flax, and kenaf, which not only enhance strength but also offer biodegradability. e2e Materials aims to transform the industrial wood products marketplace by providing a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wood composites, significantly outperforming legacy products in performance and sustainability. The company serves a global customer base through distribution partners, focusing on enabling manufacturers to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency while adhering to stringent environmental regulations. By fostering a regional business model, e2e Materials contributes to job creation across agriculture, manufacturing, and technology sectors, promoting a greener economy.
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