Cove Fund

The Cove Fund is a family of seed-stage venture capital funds that provides startup funding for promising new Southern California ventures. The Fund is headquartered in “The Cove” at UC Irvine Applied Innovation, a centrally located and vibrant gathering place for entrepreneurs, innovators and investors in the Southern California startup ecosystem. The $5.6M Cove Fund I began investing in 2015 and currently has 16 companies in its portfolio. Cove Fund II launched in early 2018 with $13.5M in capital. The funds invest in early stage technology and life science companies in Southern California that demonstrate the potential to address large markets with highly differentiated products and services, and that can achieve significant value-creating inflection points with their seed funding.

Mike Benvenuti

Fund Manager

PV

Paul Voois

Fund Manager

33 past transactions

CARLSMED, Inc.

Seed Round in 2020
Carlsmed leverages AI and predictive analytics to utilize prior outcomes data for personalizing the treatment of complex spinal deformities. Its mission is to improve outcomes and decrease the cost of healthcare for complex spine surgery and beyond. The company’s proprietary Aprevo platform makes surgical plans and devices tailored to the precise medical situation of every individual patient. This is transforming healthcare by finally giving spine surgeons the tools to obtain better results at a lower cost of treatment while helping adults regain their active lifestyles. Carlsmed was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

CARLSMED, Inc.

Series A in 2020
Carlsmed leverages AI and predictive analytics to utilize prior outcomes data for personalizing the treatment of complex spinal deformities. Its mission is to improve outcomes and decrease the cost of healthcare for complex spine surgery and beyond. The company’s proprietary Aprevo platform makes surgical plans and devices tailored to the precise medical situation of every individual patient. This is transforming healthcare by finally giving spine surgeons the tools to obtain better results at a lower cost of treatment while helping adults regain their active lifestyles. Carlsmed was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Dermala Inc.

Series A in 2020
Dermala is a biotech company focuses on human microbiome, data analytics, and behavior science to develop treatments for skin diseases.

OnSite Waste Technologies

Series A in 2020
OnSite Waste Technologies' mission is to reduce the cost, risk, and environmental impact of medical waste processing and disposal. The medical devices company is the developer of TE-5000, a desktop-sized processing unit that converts regulated medical waste into sterile garbage that can be placed in a practice’s regular trash. This presents a cleaner and cheaper option to small quantity waste generators and enables them to be more environmentally sustainable by eliminating the need for third-party medical waste haulers. It also offers Regulated Medical Waste Compliance Training that train staffs for a safe and compliant work-place environment. Jon Bricken established OnSite Waste Technologies in Newport Beach, California in 2013.

Osprey Data

Venture Round in 2017
OspreyData was founded within the Frost Venture Partner incubator. OspreyData harnesses the mass of sensor data generated by modern, high-value mechanical assets to predict and prevent failures, reduce downtime, and enhance operating efficiency. OspreyData analyses sensor data in real time using machine learning to continuously improve the insights and predictions it generates. By supplementing these capabilities with a full decision modeling platform OspreyData can produce accurate operational decisions to deliver optimal value from your high-value mechanical assets while preventing outages and accidents. OspreyData provides a missing layer in the architecture of modern mechanical systems. Existing control systems are unable to tap into the predictive insights hidden within the mass of sensor data generated by complex machines from jet turbines to oil platforms. OspreyData is a physical systems intelligence platform that operates alongside traditional monitoring, process control, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) to deliver deep, predictive insights into the behavior of complex mechanical systems. These insights drive the operation, servicing and management of these critical assets.

LynxBiosciences

Seed Round in 2021
LynxBiosciences(LynxBio)is a cytomics company focused on transforming the development of blood cancer therapies and delivering precise patient management by identifying the most promising therapeutic options. Many blood cancers are incurable; the standard of care is empirical treatment, typically through a trial and error process. Our initial focus is multiplemyeloma (MM) whereas patients ultimately relapse and undergo on average 5-7 treatments (ranging from $125,000 to $450,000 p.a.)

CARLSMED, Inc.

Series B in 2022
Carlsmed leverages AI and predictive analytics to utilize prior outcomes data for personalizing the treatment of complex spinal deformities. Its mission is to improve outcomes and decrease the cost of healthcare for complex spine surgery and beyond. The company’s proprietary Aprevo platform makes surgical plans and devices tailored to the precise medical situation of every individual patient. This is transforming healthcare by finally giving spine surgeons the tools to obtain better results at a lower cost of treatment while helping adults regain their active lifestyles. Carlsmed was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.

Dassity

Series A in 2022
We are a Data as a Service company specializing in helping e-commerce companies become data-driven by addressing their data integration, data management, data visualization and data analytics needs

Trubify

Seed Round in 2020
Trubify is a livestreaming music app that allows artists to monetize their live and recorded performances. The platform is a mobile-based application (web coming end of Q1:21) that connects artists and music superfans so everyone can experience music together. Trubify provides discrete modular revenue features with the higher payouts to artists than other platforms, enabling musicians and producers to earn their living doing what they love – MAKING MUSIC!

Beatshare, inc.

Seed Round in 2017
Beatshare, Inc. develops technology for mobile multimedia messaging. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Orange County, California.

GoShare, Inc.

Seed Round in 2021
GoShare, Inc. operates an online platform that connects people who have a truck or cargo van with people and businesses that need help moving, hauling, and delivering large items on demand. It helps users in small apartment moves, pallet delivery, furniture delivery, courier, donate to charity, junk removal, truck rental alternative, and small office moves. The company’s application also allows users to provide or receive delivery, relocation, moving, or messengering services. In addition, it helps users with appliance recycling, furniture removal, garbage disposal, garbage disposal, hauling, rubbish removal, truck rental, junk removal, mattress removal, TV disposal, and rent a pickup truck for moving; and waste disposal, trash removal, and home depot pickup truck rental. It serves its customers in New Jersey and California. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Diego, California.

VYRL

Seed Round in 2017
VYRL is building the global experiential commerce network. One piece of that system is called Carro. By onboarding hundreds of new brands every month, Carro helps each brand achieve the maximum possible reach, and gain the maximum amount of attention by working with their most influential customers & fans. www.GetCarro.com

Evasyst, Inc.

Seed Round in 2016
Evasyst Command Center™ enables the real-time visibility, communication, and management of teammates through audio, visual, and social solutions to help gamers craft and execute strategies during competitive game play. Evasyst is used for the same purpose that drones are used for, to give operators a greater field of awareness on the battlefield and strategic advantages that they can leverage.

Dassity

Seed Round in 2019
We are a Data as a Service company specializing in helping e-commerce companies become data-driven by addressing their data integration, data management, data visualization and data analytics needs

Dassity

Seed Round in 2021
We are a Data as a Service company specializing in helping e-commerce companies become data-driven by addressing their data integration, data management, data visualization and data analytics needs

ECFX

Debt Financing in 2019
ECFX, Inc. develops and offers software for legal industry. It offers ECFX Notice, an enterprise notice management system that uses intelligent automation to streamline the electronic court notice workflow. The company’s ECFX Notice automates repetitive manual tasks, such as processing electronic court notices, as well as provides firm-defined policies for profiling documents. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in Venice, California.

GoSite, Inc.

Seed Round in 2018
GoSite is a robust digital platform for the 12 million small businesses providing local services in the U.S. The platform helps these businesses make the transition from offline to online by giving them everything they need to connect with customers in the digital era. The all-in-one, cloud-based platform and mobile app transforms the way they run their business by making it easier for their customers to attract and transact with their business online.

OnSite Waste Technologies

Seed Round in 2019
OnSite Waste Technologies' mission is to reduce the cost, risk, and environmental impact of medical waste processing and disposal. The medical devices company is the developer of TE-5000, a desktop-sized processing unit that converts regulated medical waste into sterile garbage that can be placed in a practice’s regular trash. This presents a cleaner and cheaper option to small quantity waste generators and enables them to be more environmentally sustainable by eliminating the need for third-party medical waste haulers. It also offers Regulated Medical Waste Compliance Training that train staffs for a safe and compliant work-place environment. Jon Bricken established OnSite Waste Technologies in Newport Beach, California in 2013.

Modulated Imaging

Seed Round in 2016
Modulim is a leader in a breakthrough technology in tissue and vascular assessment,called, spatial frequency domain imaging or SFDI. Powered by SFDI, our Clarifi Imaging System helps identify patients at risk of complications such as diabetic foot ulcers and amputations due to potential compromised circulation so clinicians can provide more timely intervention and save patients' limbs and lives.

Bloom

Seed Round in 2020
Vessel is an at-home wellness tracker that helps in accessing, understanding, and optimizing health and wellness from the comfort of home. With Vessel, users can test 10 different health metrics in less than 10 minutes for around $10. Vessel works with some of the best doctors, nutritionists, and scientists to create its wellness cards and build food, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations tailored based on the results. A variety of membership plans enables one to see how diet, supplements, and lifestyle affect the body over time so users can start to feel and perform better. With Vessel, the science of feeling great fits in the palm of the hand.

Ubiq Security

Seed Round in 2020
Ubiq is a technology company that has simplified the complex and messy world of encryption through a set of APIs, that are simple enough for any developer to use, yet scalable and extensible enough to encrypt data effortlessly across diverse applications and programming languages, cloud environments, and storage types. By enabling developers to quickly integrate encryption into their applications, Ubiq is empowering innovators around the world to efficiently build more secure products and experiences.

GoSite, Inc.

Series B in 2020
GoSite is a robust digital platform for the 12 million small businesses providing local services in the U.S. The platform helps these businesses make the transition from offline to online by giving them everything they need to connect with customers in the digital era. The all-in-one, cloud-based platform and mobile app transforms the way they run their business by making it easier for their customers to attract and transact with their business online.

Trackstreet

Seed Round in 2020
TrackStreet is a true brand partner. TrackStreet leverage deep industry expertise and advanced technologies to give you a significant competitive edge. Our platform saves you time and gives you actionable data that supercharges your decisions. We work closely with our clients to develop solutions that solve their business problems and accelerate their businesses.

FreightPOP

Seed Round in 2019
Multimodal TMS solution includes planning/optimization, execution, track and trace/visibility, & performance management features. Cloud software with connections to ERP, WMS, CRM, & more. Some of our features: -One login connects all your carriers for LTL, FTL, Parcel, Intermodal, Air & Ocean. -Quick & easy set up. Evaluate in minutes. -Centralized Tracking & Alerts. -Customizable reporting for data-driven decisions.

Cloud Spot

Seed Round in 2016
Cloud Spot Inc. develops an off-site storage solution for businesses. It offers Cloud Spot, an online photo sharing and backup solution for photographers that enables them to upload, store, and deliver JPEG, TIFF, PDF, PSD, GIF, Ai, and PNG files. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is headquartered in Irvine, California.

ThinkIQ

Seed Round in 2017
ThinkIQ Inc. operates a cloud-based platform that simplifies the creation of web-based applications and utilizes Internet of Things, big data, data science, semantic modeling, and machine learning. Its platform offers time-series data, supports sharing of data between enterprises, creates context to make the data useful, and makes the deployment of analytics. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Aliso Viejo, California.

Dassity

Seed Round in 2019
We are a Data as a Service company specializing in helping e-commerce companies become data-driven by addressing their data integration, data management, data visualization and data analytics needs

Bloom

Seed Round in 2021
Vessel is an at-home wellness tracker that helps in accessing, understanding, and optimizing health and wellness from the comfort of home. With Vessel, users can test 10 different health metrics in less than 10 minutes for around $10. Vessel works with some of the best doctors, nutritionists, and scientists to create its wellness cards and build food, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations tailored based on the results. A variety of membership plans enables one to see how diet, supplements, and lifestyle affect the body over time so users can start to feel and perform better. With Vessel, the science of feeling great fits in the palm of the hand.

Gengirl Media, Inc.

Seed Round in 2016
Gengirl Media is a toy and media company ​that aims to create brands that inspire and educate. The company's toys fashion dolls, decision making books, digital edutainment, and short-form content to inspire girls ages 6-10 by making business and technology as fun and relatable as fashion to pop stardom, enabling female kids to mogulize and learn entrepreneurship firsthand at an early age. Its flagship property, Middle School Moguls was originally launched as a doll and book line in 2016 and is currently in development at Nickelodeon. Gina and Jenae Heitkamp headquartered the company in Irvine, California in 2014.

Capillary Biomedical

Seed Round in 2018
Capillary Biomedical is a medical device startup developing technologies for diabetes management. They aim to dramatically simplify glucose monitoring and insulin delivery, reducing the burden on both patients and the overall healthcare system. The company is based in Irvine, CA and is a spin-out of the Artificial Pancreas Center at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.

icClarity, Inc.

Seed Round in 2016
icClarity, Inc. develops a 3-dimensional image capturing solution. Its solution includes a single imager, an illumination source, and a firmware stack that processes the raw sensor data to deliver usable 3-dimensional coordinates to an application layer via a user-friendly API. The company’s solutions are used in applications, including entertainment, automotive, wearables, security and surveillance, smart phones, and medical systems. icClarity, Inc. was founded in 2014 and is based in Irvine, California.