Fortify Ventures

Fortify Ventures is an early-stage technology investment fund based in Washington, D.C., focused on supporting portfolio companies through both community engagement and capital investment. Established in 2011 by experienced entrepreneurs and angel investors, the firm emphasizes a founder-friendly approach, actively assisting companies with challenges typical in their early stages. Fortify Ventures invests across various sectors, including cybersecurity, mobile commerce, enterprise technology, big data, social platforms, and analytics. The firm also facilitates follow-on funding to help emerging growth companies meet their capital needs. Recently, it announced LifeFuels as its final investment from its first fund.

Simon Rakoff

General Partner

44 past transactions

Social Tables

Series B in 2016
Social Tables, Inc. is a cloud-based software company that serves the hospitality, events, and catering industries. Founded in 2011 and based in Washington, D.C., the company provides a comprehensive platform that includes sales and catering CRM software, management tools, interactive floor plans, and lead capture services. Its solutions facilitate the booking and management of events for hoteliers and event managers, while also enhancing the connection between sales and operations for caterers. By streamlining the event planning process—covering aspects such as floor plan design, seating chart creation, and guest engagement—Social Tables aims to simplify and enhance the experience for event professionals. The company operates as a subsidiary of Cvent, Inc. since October 2018.

Introhive

Series B in 2015
Introhive, Inc. is a Canadian company based in Fredericton that specializes in developing contact mining software applications and a revenue acceleration platform. Founded in 2012 by Jody Glidden and Stewart Walchli, Introhive offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution aimed at enhancing customer experience management and increasing organizational revenues. The platform integrates relationship intelligence into customer relationship management (CRM) systems through data automation and sales acceleration features. It enables organizations to transform disorganized data into actionable insights, facilitating processes such as sales hiring, prospecting, territory assignment, renewals, and lead scoring. Through its enterprise relationship management solution, Introhive provides valuable insights that drive productivity and improve CRM adoption.

TalkLocal

Series A in 2014
Talk Local connects your business to consumers who are looking for your services! The consumer fills out a service request that includes a brief description, desired appointment time, and where they are located. Talk Local then broadcasts the consumer’s service request to you for free.

Social Tables

Series A in 2014
Social Tables, Inc. is a cloud-based software company that serves the hospitality, events, and catering industries. Founded in 2011 and based in Washington, D.C., the company provides a comprehensive platform that includes sales and catering CRM software, management tools, interactive floor plans, and lead capture services. Its solutions facilitate the booking and management of events for hoteliers and event managers, while also enhancing the connection between sales and operations for caterers. By streamlining the event planning process—covering aspects such as floor plan design, seating chart creation, and guest engagement—Social Tables aims to simplify and enhance the experience for event professionals. The company operates as a subsidiary of Cvent, Inc. since October 2018.

LePrix

Seed Round in 2014
LePrix Inc. operates an online marketplace specializing in pre-owned and new clothing, accessories, and shoes. The company connects designer consignment boutiques with consumers, offering a range of luxury products such as handbags, jewelry, and apparel. Founded in 2010 and originally known as SnobSwap Inc., it rebranded to LePrix in March 2018. The platform aims to modernize the $25 billion brick-and-mortar designer consignment industry by enabling curated consignment stores to establish an online presence and source wholesale inventory. Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, LePrix combines a B2C and B2B approach, facilitating transactions for both consumers and boutiques.

Handpressions

Seed Round in 2014
Handpressions, Inc. is a company based in Washington, D.C., that provides an online platform for parents to capture, store, and customize their children's handprints and footprints. The platform allows users to create a variety of personalized keepsakes, including wall art, birth announcements, and cards for special occasions, using images and prints. By integrating photos and unique markings, Handpressions helps families preserve memorable moments and milestones, reflecting a child's growth over time. The service enhances traditional memory-keeping by adding a tactile dimension to cherished memories, making it easy for parents to create meaningful gifts and keepsakes directly from their tablets.

Aquicore

Seed Round in 2014
Aquicore, Inc. is an information technology company that provides a smart building platform specifically designed for the commercial real estate sector. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Aquicore's cloud-based software offers comprehensive energy management and building connectivity solutions. The platform collects and analyzes building data, utilizing advanced analytics and artificial intelligence to enhance operational efficiency. It consolidates utility accounts for streamlined bill tracking and budgeting, automates meter readings and invoicing, and empowers property management teams to achieve measurable outcomes. Additionally, Aquicore supports businesses in their sustainability efforts by offering tools for ESG data collection, benchmarking, and reporting, which helps organizations identify opportunities for energy savings and meet emissions targets.

Hinge

Seed Round in 2013
Hinge, Inc. is a social discovery network that operates a mobile application designed to help users meet new people within their social circles. Founded in 2011 and based in New York City, Hinge offers an alternative to traditional dating app swipe culture by facilitating meaningful connections through smart matches and promoting natural conversations. Users can browse profiles that are validated through Facebook, allowing them to view photos, full names, and shared interests, as well as mutual friends. As of 2018, Hinge operates as a subsidiary of Match Group, Inc.

Speek

Seed Round in 2013
Speek Inc. offers web-based conference calling solutions that simplify the process of setting up and joining calls. Founded in 2006 and based in Dulles, Virginia, the company provides users with a personal link to facilitate conference calls without the need for dial-ins, PINs, or downloads. Participants can easily initiate or join calls by clicking the provided link, which can be shared via email, calendar invites, instant messages, or text messages. Speek also allows users to see who has joined the call, manage speakers, and share files during the conversation. As of June 2015, Speek operates as a subsidiary of Jive Communications, Inc., having raised a total of $2.6 million in funding, including $1.1 million in a recent bridge round.

Social Tables

Seed Round in 2013
Social Tables, Inc. is a cloud-based software company that serves the hospitality, events, and catering industries. Founded in 2011 and based in Washington, D.C., the company provides a comprehensive platform that includes sales and catering CRM software, management tools, interactive floor plans, and lead capture services. Its solutions facilitate the booking and management of events for hoteliers and event managers, while also enhancing the connection between sales and operations for caterers. By streamlining the event planning process—covering aspects such as floor plan design, seating chart creation, and guest engagement—Social Tables aims to simplify and enhance the experience for event professionals. The company operates as a subsidiary of Cvent, Inc. since October 2018.

Introhive

Series B in 2013
Introhive, Inc. is a Canadian company based in Fredericton that specializes in developing contact mining software applications and a revenue acceleration platform. Founded in 2012 by Jody Glidden and Stewart Walchli, Introhive offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution aimed at enhancing customer experience management and increasing organizational revenues. The platform integrates relationship intelligence into customer relationship management (CRM) systems through data automation and sales acceleration features. It enables organizations to transform disorganized data into actionable insights, facilitating processes such as sales hiring, prospecting, territory assignment, renewals, and lead scoring. Through its enterprise relationship management solution, Introhive provides valuable insights that drive productivity and improve CRM adoption.

TrendPo

Seed Round in 2013
TrendPo is an online platform that analyzes the political landscape by leveraging news, social media, and ranking metrics. Established in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company specializes in optimizing Facebook and Twitter advertising. TrendPo employs an automated system to rank social media conversations and identify the most recently engaged audiences. By targeting these specific demographics from the outset, TrendPo enhances the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, leading to improved performance and more accurate return on investment tracking.

RidePost

Seed Round in 2013
RidePost, Inc. operates an online platform that facilitates ride-sharing and carpooling, primarily targeting the university community. Founded in 2012 and based in Greenville, South Carolina, RidePost aims to connect travelers, allowing them to share rides and improve transportation accessibility. The company's specialized network, RidePostU, is designed to cater to the transportation needs of universities of all sizes, providing a solution that reduces the administrative burden associated with traditional transportation options. By enabling drivers to monetize their empty seats, the platform offers a cost-effective and sustainable travel alternative for faculty, staff, and students, promoting both affordability and environmental responsibility.

LegCyte

Seed Round in 2013
LegCyte is a Washington, D.C.-based company that operates an online platform focused on legislative analytics. The platform simplifies the complexities of legislation, assisting Congressional offices in making informed decisions and enabling lobbyists to stay well-informed. By providing tools that automate tasks, organize data, and enhance collaboration, LegCyte helps users identify trends and uncover relationships within legislative information. Its services allow clients, including congressional staffers and lobbyists, to efficiently collaborate on writing and modifying bills, ultimately streamlining the legislative process and enhancing understanding of legislative matters.

Fanitics

Seed Round in 2013
Fanitics is a Facebook application that is like fantasy football, but instead tracks politicians. Fanitics tracks political performance of Presidential Candidates, Governors, House / Senate members over a series of metrics such as fundraising, polling, bills, news media and more. Our aim is to create a fun platform that engages friends, family, and colleagues to compete and "play" politics in a whole new way.

Disruption

Seed Round in 2013
Disruption Corporation, acquired by 1776 Campus, Inc., was a venture capital firm specializing in startup and early-stage investments, particularly in the Internet sector. Based in Arlington, Virginia, with an additional office in Mountain View, California, the firm focused on post-seed companies and investments between seed and Series A rounds. Typically, it invested between $250,000 and $1 million in companies with average annual revenues of around $1 million. Founded in 2013 by Paul Singh, Disruption aimed to address the evolving needs of the private market, seeking to enhance data and insights for its participants. The firm emphasized investments in tech-enabled companies across various sectors, including communication, media, food, supply chain management, and information technology.

Uppidy

Seed Round in 2013
Uppidy, Inc. provides mobile application services. Its application lets users to save, search, and share their sms and text messages; backup, search, and view their sms messages in real time; and link Facebook and Twitter to share their status updates from texting app. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Columbia, Maryland.

Synapsify

Seed Round in 2013
Synapsify is the developer of CORE, a content analytical tool powered by machine intelligence and natural language processing, that helps marketers, researchers and insight professionals get to the heart of their customers' stories faster and more accurately by identifying and recommending the content that matters. Named by Forbes as one of the Top 10 Data Startups to Watch and awarded the GigaOm Structure Readers Choice Award for Text Analytics.

Speek

Seed Round in 2013
Speek Inc. offers web-based conference calling solutions that simplify the process of setting up and joining calls. Founded in 2006 and based in Dulles, Virginia, the company provides users with a personal link to facilitate conference calls without the need for dial-ins, PINs, or downloads. Participants can easily initiate or join calls by clicking the provided link, which can be shared via email, calendar invites, instant messages, or text messages. Speek also allows users to see who has joined the call, manage speakers, and share files during the conversation. As of June 2015, Speek operates as a subsidiary of Jive Communications, Inc., having raised a total of $2.6 million in funding, including $1.1 million in a recent bridge round.

Levee

Seed Round in 2012
Levee develops a platform that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to connect informal, unskilled workers to formal, more secure, and higher paying jobs in companies. It serves C-Level Executives, human resources, and operations of various sectors, including retail, outsourced services, food services, and laboratories and hospitals. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in São Paulo, Brazil.

Syntellia

Seed Round in 2012
Syntellia specializes in providing software products and services. It designs and develops keyboard application technology which makes typing text on a touch-screen easier.

Fleksy

Seed Round in 2012
Fleksy, Inc. designs and delivers keyboard software for mobile devices. Its keyboard systems are available on Google Play, App Store, and Galaxy Gear. Fleksy, Inc. was formerly known as Syntellia, Inc. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in San Francisco, California. As of June 15, 2016, Fleksy, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Pinterest, Inc..

Tistagames

Seed Round in 2012
Tistagames is pioneering a new genre of gaming that draws inspiration from favorite television shows.

Kahnoodle

Seed Round in 2012
Kahnoodle is a New York-based company founded in 2011 that designs and develops a mobile application aimed at helping busy couples strengthen and maintain their relationships. The app offers features that encourage couples to engage in enjoyable and thoughtful activities, reminiscent of the early stages of their relationship. Through its patent-pending technology, Kahnoodle enables users to express appreciation for their partners with "kudos" and provides access to the best offers for date-night activities in their local area.

Cont3nt

Seed Round in 2012
Cont3nt.com operates as a real-time marketplace for entrepreneurial media and visual journalism. The company’s Web-based tool allows freelancers and citizen journalists to connect with publishers to sell and distribute their content, such as photos and videos in real-time globally. Its platform also enables media distributors to upload multimedia content, determine licensing and pricing, and sell to publishers. The company was founded in 2010 and is based in Dulles, Virginia.
Hallway makes learning and connecting with your friends, classmates, and the world easier than ever. On Hallway you can ask questions, share notes, collaborate on assignments, and stay organized.

Uppidy

Seed Round in 2012
Uppidy, Inc. provides mobile application services. Its application lets users to save, search, and share their sms and text messages; backup, search, and view their sms messages in real time; and link Facebook and Twitter to share their status updates from texting app. The company was incorporated in 2011 and is based in Columbia, Maryland.

NextGame

Seed Round in 2012
NextGame is an online platform that assists its users in finding and organizing sports and recreational activities. The platform enables its users to search for play locations and events. In addition, it allows its users to create events and share them with others. NextGame was launched in 2011 by Tareq and Shareef Tahboub and is based in Washington.

FID3

Seed Round in 2012
FID3 is a software-as-a-service company that specializes in mining and recovering hidden data from hard drives. The company offers a suite of three products designed to assist clients with various functions, including document management, data recovery, data security, electronic discovery, and data backup. By providing these services, FID3 aims to enhance the accessibility and protection of critical information stored on digital devices.

Hinge

Seed Round in 2012
Hinge, Inc. is a social discovery network that operates a mobile application designed to help users meet new people within their social circles. Founded in 2011 and based in New York City, Hinge offers an alternative to traditional dating app swipe culture by facilitating meaningful connections through smart matches and promoting natural conversations. Users can browse profiles that are validated through Facebook, allowing them to view photos, full names, and shared interests, as well as mutual friends. As of 2018, Hinge operates as a subsidiary of Match Group, Inc.

Feastie

Seed Round in 2012
Feastie Inc. operates a recipe search engine platform that allows users to discover healthy, delicious, and affordable recipes from various food blogs and websites. Founded in 2011 and based in Washington, D.C., Feastie's platform facilitates searches by ingredient, diet, allergy, dish, and holiday, making it accessible for a wide range of culinary preferences. Users can bookmark their favorite recipes, create grocery lists with a single click, and maintain a cooking history, enhancing their overall cooking experience. The company's focus on providing well-tested recipes ensures that users can find quality options to suit their needs.

Months Of Me

Seed Round in 2012
Months Of Me enables its users to make and share visual stories using images, texts, and videos collected from social networks. Months of Me was founded by RJ Johnston and Joshua Abraham in April 2011 and is based in Sterling, Virginia.

CoFoundersLab

Seed Round in 2012
CoFoundersLab is an online platform designed to facilitate connections among entrepreneurs. It enables individuals to find co-founders, advisors, and team members, hire freelancers, and engage in discussions on various topics. Users can participate in a low-fee, no-equity Virtual Accelerator and access a fully-vetted team for developing their minimum viable products (MVPs). Additionally, CoFoundersLab offers a Learning Center for skill acquisition and hosts in-person events to foster networking among entrepreneurs. By leveraging technology and AI algorithms, the platform aims to provide essential resources and support, helping entrepreneurs succeed in their ventures.

Lemur IMS

Seed Round in 2012
Lemur IMS, founded in 2011 and based in Arlington, Virginia, provides a cloud-based software platform designed for in-store retail management. The company specializes in helping retailers manage seasonal and slow-moving inventory through its flagship product, Lemur Retail. This application incorporates a Retail Intelligence Engine that analyzes a variety of data, including market, retail, customer, and community information, to enhance operational efficiency and optimize results at individual locations. With a team of experienced professionals from retail, design, and programming backgrounds, Lemur IMS focuses on delivering a straightforward and effective solution to mitigate the financial impact of aged inventory on retailers.

Venga

Seed Round in 2012
Venga, Inc. is a business intelligence and customer relationship management platform tailored for restaurants and fitness studios. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., Venga leverages data and analytics to help businesses understand and engage with their customers more effectively. The platform enables restaurants to track customer purchases, habits, and preferences, creating detailed profiles that facilitate targeted marketing and personalized service. Key features include VengaIntel Reserve, which integrates reservation systems with point-of-sale data, and Venga Instant Feedback, allowing guests to provide real-time feedback during their visit. Additionally, VengaIntel Engage connects guests through mobile devices, enabling them to track loyalty points and offer actionable feedback. With a database encompassing over 100 million customers and $6 billion in consumer purchases, Venga enhances customer satisfaction and retention through its comprehensive solutions. The company has established preferred partnerships with OpenTable and Mindbody, further solidifying its position in the industry. In 2019, Venga became a subsidiary of Booking Holdings Inc.

Introhive

Seed Round in 2012
Introhive, Inc. is a Canadian company based in Fredericton that specializes in developing contact mining software applications and a revenue acceleration platform. Founded in 2012 by Jody Glidden and Stewart Walchli, Introhive offers a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution aimed at enhancing customer experience management and increasing organizational revenues. The platform integrates relationship intelligence into customer relationship management (CRM) systems through data automation and sales acceleration features. It enables organizations to transform disorganized data into actionable insights, facilitating processes such as sales hiring, prospecting, territory assignment, renewals, and lead scoring. Through its enterprise relationship management solution, Introhive provides valuable insights that drive productivity and improve CRM adoption.

HugeFan

Seed Round in 2011
HugeFan is an e-commerce platform that connects fans with celebrities from various fields, including sports, music, television, film, and technology, through the sale of personal experiences. The company allows celebrities to design and share unique experiences with their fans, which can be purchased via auctions or fixed prices. HugeFan manages the logistics involved in these experiences, including set-up, invitation, ticketing, promotion, and the collection of proceeds. The platform supports fan activation campaigns that enable touring performers to generate revenue while engaging with their audience. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, HugeFan facilitates memorable interactions between fans and their favorite celebrities.

HugeFan

Seed Round in 2011
HugeFan is an e-commerce platform that connects fans with celebrities from various fields, including sports, music, television, film, and technology, through the sale of personal experiences. The company allows celebrities to design and share unique experiences with their fans, which can be purchased via auctions or fixed prices. HugeFan manages the logistics involved in these experiences, including set-up, invitation, ticketing, promotion, and the collection of proceeds. The platform supports fan activation campaigns that enable touring performers to generate revenue while engaging with their audience. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, HugeFan facilitates memorable interactions between fans and their favorite celebrities.

StarShooter

Seed Round in 2011
StarShooter Entertainment, Inc. is an animation studio based in Washington, D.C., that specializes in creating interactive animated children's films. The company focuses on developing original characters and compelling narratives, combining animation, storytelling, and interactivity to enhance audience engagement. StarShooter produces a variety of media, including video games, animated series, short films, and interactive applications, all designed to provide unique consumer experiences. Through its innovative approach, the company aims to build lasting relationships between audiences and its characters.

TalkLocal

Series A in 2011
Talk Local connects your business to consumers who are looking for your services! The consumer fills out a service request that includes a brief description, desired appointment time, and where they are located. Talk Local then broadcasts the consumer’s service request to you for free.

TalkLocal

Seed Round in 2011
Talk Local connects your business to consumers who are looking for your services! The consumer fills out a service request that includes a brief description, desired appointment time, and where they are located. Talk Local then broadcasts the consumer’s service request to you for free.

FastCustomer

Seed Round in 2011
FastCustomer, Inc. offers FastCustomer, a mobile application that enables users to skip hold and talk directly with a human in customer service at various companies, including Fortune 500 companies. Its application works on iPhones and Android phones. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Washington, District Of Columbia.

410 Labs

Series A in 2011
410 Labs, Inc. is a technology company based in Baltimore, Maryland, founded in 2010. The company develops innovative applications aimed at enhancing communication and information access. Its flagship product, Chuck, is an iPhone application designed to streamline email management on mobile devices. Additionally, 410 Labs has created Replyz, which facilitates connections with helpful individuals, and Shortmail, which simplifies the email experience for users, making it more effective and enjoyable. Through these tools, 410 Labs aims to improve the overall productivity and satisfaction of digital communication.

Months Of Me

Seed Round in 2011
Months Of Me enables its users to make and share visual stories using images, texts, and videos collected from social networks. Months of Me was founded by RJ Johnston and Joshua Abraham in April 2011 and is based in Sterling, Virginia.
Spot something off? Help us improve by flagging any incorrect or outdated information. Just email us at support@teaserclub.com. Your feedback is most welcome.