Ulu Ventures

Ulu Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, California, specializing in seed-stage and early-stage investments in technology companies. Founded in 2008, the firm primarily targets opportunities in sectors such as enterprise IT, educational technology, legal informatics, and internet-enabled services. Ulu Ventures focuses on investments in the Bay Area, leveraging the market opportunities created by the Stanford and Silicon Valley communities. The firm typically co-invests with other investors, aiming for cumulative investments between $500,000 and $1 million. Ulu Ventures utilizes a disciplined decision-making process that emphasizes risk-reward trade-offs and logical principles of portfolio construction, distinguishing itself from other venture capital firms. Its investment strategy includes a preference for companies with viable exit strategies in subsequent stages of growth.

Kevin Hoffberg

Venture Partner

Clint Korver

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Stephen V. Reale

Venture Partner

Miriam Rivera

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

Nancy Torres

Principal

Trina Weller

VP, Analytics & Operations

Past deals in FinTech

FounderNest

Seed Round in 2022
FounderNest is an AI company born out of Stanford whose mission is to leverage artificial intelligence to connect founders and investors in a neutral, efficient, and transparent way. The most prominent founders and investors worldwide are already using our product and trusting our proprietary technology on a daily basis. Co-founded by Stanford, Wharton, and Columbia grads, FounderNest is based in California and Madrid and is backed by top Silicon Valley investors who have also invested in Paypal, Waze, Palantir, Square or Pinterest.

Finalis

Seed Round in 2022
Finalis is a modern broker-dealer and deal technology platform based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on enhancing private market transactions. Founded in 2017, the company provides compliance and technology solutions tailored for investment banks, placement agencies, and fintech firms. By streamlining the deal execution process, Finalis enables M&A professionals to efficiently manage due diligence, track checklists, and access pertinent information at any time. Its innovative approach aims to significantly improve the efficiency of deal-making for a range of financial services professionals, including investment bankers, fund managers, and corporate executives, ultimately saving them time and money.

Banyan Infrastructure

Series A in 2022
Blockchain-based financing, development, operations and securitization platform (DFOS) for infrastructure.

Formally

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Formally is a legal collaboration company seeking to use intelligent technology and accessible design to simplify legal processes and increase access to justice.

CoreChain Technologies

Seed Round in 2022
CoreChain Technologies is a business-to-business payments network built on blockchain technology.

Onuu

Seed Round in 2022
Onuu ensures financial stability. Founded in 2021 and is based in Austin, Texas.

Sika Health

Seed Round in 2022
Sika Health is a New York-based company founded in 2021 that specializes in payment solutions for the healthcare sector. The firm focuses on developing technology that facilitates the integration of health wallets, allowing users to manage expenses related to medical bills, dental services, and medications. By partnering with health and wellness brands, Sika Health's technology aims to enhance the customer experience at the point of sale, helping individuals discover and qualify for wallet purchases seamlessly. This approach not only minimizes the risk of cart abandonment but also encourages consumers to utilize their health benefits in a manner that aligns with their personal health needs and goals.

UPTIQ

Seed Round in 2022
Cion Digital’s proprietary Blockchain Orchestration Platform allows institutions to build innovative finance solutions quickly, and to seamlessly connect their legacy systems with the complex and ever-changing world of decentralized finance. We help clients grow and protect revenue opportunities by expanding and integrating their existing financial systems to succeed in the rapidly evolving digital asset economy.

FarmRaise

Seed Round in 2021
FarmRaise Inc. develops and operates a digital fund-raising platform for farmers. It offers FarmRaise, a digital platform that connects farmers to funding opportunities, such as grants, loans, cost-sharing programs, emergency and disaster relief programs, easement programs, and state-specific opportunities. The company also provides financial consulting services. FarmRaise Inc. was founded in 2020 and is based in Atherton, California.

Pontoro

Seed Round in 2021
Pontoro operates a digital asset securitization and liquidity platform aimed at addressing the significant shortfall in infrastructure debt financing, estimated at $20 trillion. By leveraging its blockchain-based technology, Pontoro facilitates the flow of infrastructure loans from major bank originators to institutional investors, enhancing access to these typically private market assets. The company has developed an initial infrastructure loan pipeline valued at $500 million through relationships with large banks. In addition to expanding its offerings, Pontoro is in discussions with several prominent financial institutions to explore distribution opportunities for its digital assets, targeting registered investment advisors, family offices, and ultra-high net worth investors. With a team experienced in underwriting and managing over $100 billion in large-scale infrastructure projects worldwide, Pontoro aims to foster broader investor participation and improve liquidity and price transparency in this sector.

SUMA, LLC

Seed Round in 2021
SUMA, LLC is a financial wellness company based in Los Angeles, California, founded in 2019. The company focuses on promoting financial inclusion within the Latino community by providing a comprehensive platform that combines digital media, financial technology, and virtual experiences. SUMA aims to educate and empower individuals by offering culturally relevant content and tools that simplify complex topics such as investment and debt management. Its mission is to help Latinos navigate financial challenges, enhance their economic knowledge, and build sustainable wealth, ultimately positioning itself as a trusted resource for fostering financial well-being and prosperity.

CoreChain Technologies

Pre Seed Round in 2021
CoreChain Technologies is a business-to-business payments network built on blockchain technology.

CoreChain Technologies

Pre Seed Round in 2021
CoreChain Technologies is a business-to-business payments network built on blockchain technology.

Savvy

Seed Round in 2021
Savvy operates as a versatile platform that enhances both the rental application process and cryptocurrency transactions. For the rental market, Savvy streamlines the application experience for renters and landlords by utilizing open banking technology. This approach provides a more transparent, secure, and efficient application process, allowing renters to build credit through their rent payments and access a wider range of housing options. For landlords, the platform simplifies tenant screening with a comprehensive end-to-end solution that saves time and reduces the risk of tenant defaults. In addition, Savvy features a cryptocurrency wallet that enables users to send, receive, and exchange various currencies securely. This wallet is designed with industry-standard encryption and includes a unique feature that consolidates dispersed ERC-20 token balances, making it easier for e-commerce merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments with minimal transaction fees.

Figure

Series D in 2021
Figure Technologies, Inc. is a fintech company based in San Francisco, California, established in 2018. It specializes in providing consumer financial solutions focused on home improvement, debt consolidation, and retirement planning. Figure offers a range of products, including home equity lines of credit, home improvement loans, home buy-lease back offerings, and mortgage refinancing. The company utilizes blockchain technology, along with artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, to enhance its services and enable customers to access capital quickly, often in as few as five days. Additionally, Figure provides Provenance, a blockchain platform designed for business applications.

Nowsta

Seed Round in 2021
Nowsta, Inc. is a technology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company offers an all-in-one software platform designed for hourly and event-based workforces, which includes features for scheduling, time tracking, and financial technology solutions. By leveraging advancements in machine learning and payment technologies, Nowsta aims to enhance the management capabilities of employers, enabling them to efficiently oversee their hourly workforce. The platform focuses on improving communication and payment processes for hourly wage employees, thereby transforming the way companies manage labor.

TomoCredit

Seed Round in 2021
TomoCredit LLC, established in 2018 and based in San Francisco, California, focuses on providing innovative credit solutions tailored for Millennials, particularly those with no credit history or credit score. The company manufactures electronic smart and credit cards that enable users to build credit and qualify for loans by utilizing a proprietary algorithm to analyze alternative data sources. In addition to its credit card offerings, TomoCredit has developed a mobile application that allows users to manage their accounts effectively. The founding team, composed of immigrant founders, aims to address the challenges faced by foreign nationals in accessing credit, drawing on their backgrounds from notable institutions such as Coinbase, The Kenetic Hedge Fund, and Google, as well as prestigious educational establishments like MIT and UC Berkeley.

Savvy

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Savvy operates as a versatile platform that enhances both the rental application process and cryptocurrency transactions. For the rental market, Savvy streamlines the application experience for renters and landlords by utilizing open banking technology. This approach provides a more transparent, secure, and efficient application process, allowing renters to build credit through their rent payments and access a wider range of housing options. For landlords, the platform simplifies tenant screening with a comprehensive end-to-end solution that saves time and reduces the risk of tenant defaults. In addition, Savvy features a cryptocurrency wallet that enables users to send, receive, and exchange various currencies securely. This wallet is designed with industry-standard encryption and includes a unique feature that consolidates dispersed ERC-20 token balances, making it easier for e-commerce merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments with minimal transaction fees.

Oyster

Seed Round in 2020
Oyster Financial, Inc. is a financial services company that offers an online application designed to manage capital and simplify financial management for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small to medium-sized enterprises. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices in Mexico City and Kathmandu, Oyster provides a comprehensive digital platform that allows business owners to conduct various financial tasks directly from their mobile devices. Services include a Mastercard debit card, fee-free fund transfers, bill payments to over 70 service providers in Mexico, invoice management, and access to discounts at numerous locations. By streamlining these processes, Oyster aims to empower entrepreneurs to achieve their business goals and make informed financial decisions.

Bridge Money

Seed Round in 2020
Bridge is a developer of a banking platform used to help achieve financial freedom. It aims to provide a path towards upward financial mobility for the millions of people left behind by the traditional banking system. It was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Fastforward.ai

Seed Round in 2020
FastForward.ai is a company that specializes in developing a social media engagement and commerce platform designed for enterprises. Founded in Mountain View, California, the company offers a software-as-a-service platform that facilitates digital marketing, commerce, and payments within social media and messaging applications. This platform allows businesses to modernize their customer engagement strategies by enabling 1-click digital commerce and payments, thereby enhancing the user experience where consumers predominantly spend their time online. FastForward.ai's patented technology supports efficient advertising and customer relationship management, allowing users to access personalized offers, make purchases, and view their transaction history, all while interacting with engaging content. The company aims to transform how enterprises connect with their customers in the evolving digital landscape.

TomoCredit

Seed Round in 2020
TomoCredit LLC, established in 2018 and based in San Francisco, California, focuses on providing innovative credit solutions tailored for Millennials, particularly those with no credit history or credit score. The company manufactures electronic smart and credit cards that enable users to build credit and qualify for loans by utilizing a proprietary algorithm to analyze alternative data sources. In addition to its credit card offerings, TomoCredit has developed a mobile application that allows users to manage their accounts effectively. The founding team, composed of immigrant founders, aims to address the challenges faced by foreign nationals in accessing credit, drawing on their backgrounds from notable institutions such as Coinbase, The Kenetic Hedge Fund, and Google, as well as prestigious educational establishments like MIT and UC Berkeley.

Wisetack

Series A in 2019
Wisetack is a financial technology platform that pays for purchases. They pay installments for the customer's purchases. They are transparent and no hidden fees are being charged. They have built for both scale and speed, using the latest technology. They are experts in finance, payments, and technology who are passionate about offering customer-friendly and fair financing products.

Provenance Blockchain

Seed Round in 2019
Provenance Blockchain, Inc. is a company that develops and manages blockchain solutions tailored for the financial services sector. Established in 2018 and based in San Francisco, it oversees the Provenance.io blockchain platform, which facilitates transactions for financial institutions. To date, over $1 billion in assets have been transacted on this platform, leading to significant cost savings of more than 130 basis points in areas such as loan origination, financing, and trading. Through its innovative use of blockchain technology, Provenance Blockchain aims to enhance operational efficiency and transparency within the financial industry.

Nowsta

Series A in 2019
Nowsta, Inc. is a technology company founded in 2014 and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company offers an all-in-one software platform designed for hourly and event-based workforces, which includes features for scheduling, time tracking, and financial technology solutions. By leveraging advancements in machine learning and payment technologies, Nowsta aims to enhance the management capabilities of employers, enabling them to efficiently oversee their hourly workforce. The platform focuses on improving communication and payment processes for hourly wage employees, thereby transforming the way companies manage labor.

Provenance Blockchain

Initial Coin Offering in 2019
Provenance Blockchain, Inc. is a company that develops and manages blockchain solutions tailored for the financial services sector. Established in 2018 and based in San Francisco, it oversees the Provenance.io blockchain platform, which facilitates transactions for financial institutions. To date, over $1 billion in assets have been transacted on this platform, leading to significant cost savings of more than 130 basis points in areas such as loan origination, financing, and trading. Through its innovative use of blockchain technology, Provenance Blockchain aims to enhance operational efficiency and transparency within the financial industry.

Figure

Series B in 2019
Figure Technologies, Inc. is a fintech company based in San Francisco, California, established in 2018. It specializes in providing consumer financial solutions focused on home improvement, debt consolidation, and retirement planning. Figure offers a range of products, including home equity lines of credit, home improvement loans, home buy-lease back offerings, and mortgage refinancing. The company utilizes blockchain technology, along with artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, to enhance its services and enable customers to access capital quickly, often in as few as five days. Additionally, Figure provides Provenance, a blockchain platform designed for business applications.

Wisetack

Seed Round in 2019
Wisetack is a financial technology platform that pays for purchases. They pay installments for the customer's purchases. They are transparent and no hidden fees are being charged. They have built for both scale and speed, using the latest technology. They are experts in finance, payments, and technology who are passionate about offering customer-friendly and fair financing products.

Finalis

Seed Round in 2018
Finalis is a modern broker-dealer and deal technology platform based in San Francisco, California, that focuses on enhancing private market transactions. Founded in 2017, the company provides compliance and technology solutions tailored for investment banks, placement agencies, and fintech firms. By streamlining the deal execution process, Finalis enables M&A professionals to efficiently manage due diligence, track checklists, and access pertinent information at any time. Its innovative approach aims to significantly improve the efficiency of deal-making for a range of financial services professionals, including investment bankers, fund managers, and corporate executives, ultimately saving them time and money.

Figure

Series A in 2018
Figure Technologies, Inc. is a fintech company based in San Francisco, California, established in 2018. It specializes in providing consumer financial solutions focused on home improvement, debt consolidation, and retirement planning. Figure offers a range of products, including home equity lines of credit, home improvement loans, home buy-lease back offerings, and mortgage refinancing. The company utilizes blockchain technology, along with artificial intelligence and advanced analytics, to enhance its services and enable customers to access capital quickly, often in as few as five days. Additionally, Figure provides Provenance, a blockchain platform designed for business applications.

SnapCheck

Seed Round in 2018
SnapCheck, based in San Francisco, California, is a developer of a digital check payment platform that offers mobile check deposit services for banks and credit unions. The company aims to eliminate the reliance on paper checks, which number around 18 billion annually in the United States. By providing a secure and efficient solution, SnapCheck's platform allows businesses, consumers, and financial institutions to write and send digital checks, thereby reducing costs associated with check processing and significantly minimizing the risk of check fraud. The innovative approach not only streamlines payment processes but also contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing paper usage.

EarnUp

Series A in 2017
EarnUp is a consumer-first fintech platform that intelligently automates loan payments for the more than 200 million Americans with debt. They help you put a few dollars aside for your loans when you can afford it – then they make your loan payments for you, allocating funds in the way that gets you out of debt faster. They are dedicated to giving control back to everyone who is frustrated managing their finances

EarnUp

Series A in 2017
EarnUp is a consumer-first fintech platform that intelligently automates loan payments for the more than 200 million Americans with debt. They help you put a few dollars aside for your loans when you can afford it – then they make your loan payments for you, allocating funds in the way that gets you out of debt faster. They are dedicated to giving control back to everyone who is frustrated managing their finances

TeachFX

Seed Round in 2017
TeachFX, Inc. develops an application that gives teachers feedback on the dialogue that happens in classroom. The application uses machine learning to analyze and visualize for teachers what portions of their class are teacher talk vs. student talk. The company develops smartphone and web application that provides automated feedback and help students and teachers to identify problem areas and resolve the issues. TeachFX, Inc. was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California.

Juntos

Seed Round in 2013
Juntos Finanzas, Inc. is a company that provides a mobile communication solution aimed at enhancing the engagement between financial institutions and low-income consumers, particularly in emerging markets. Founded in 2010 in San Carlos, California, the company develops digital tools that empower individuals to manage their finances effectively and achieve their financial goals. By collaborating with banks and financial service providers, Juntos delivers engaging conversations through SMS, which helps build trust and confidence among customers entering the financial system for the first time. The company emphasizes the importance of understanding cultural and behavioral insights to motivate increased account usage and foster financial stability for low-balance customers.

SoFi

Series A in 2011
SoFi is a finance company that offers a range of lending and wealth management services. The company primarily caters to early-stage professionals and offers variable and fixed rate parent, personal, and MBA loans, mortgage refinancing, and more. They create modern financial products and services that help people borrow, save, spend, invest, and protect their money better so that they can achieve financial independence and realize their ambitions from owning a home to saving for retirement, paying off their student loans, and more. It was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

ProFounder

Convertible Note in 2011
ProFounder Financial, Inc. operates a crowd funding platform that enables entrepreneurs to raise investment capital from friends, family, and community members. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is based in Los Angeles, California.

Taulia

Series A in 2010
Taulia Inc. is a technology company specializing in supply chain management and financing software solutions, founded in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company offers a range of services for businesses, including dynamic discounting, supply chain finance, cash forecasting, invoice automation, and supplier management. Its platform enables organizations to convert invoices into revenue opportunities by facilitating early payments and providing access to electronic invoicing without imposing fees on suppliers. Additionally, Taulia empowers suppliers through self-service tools, enhancing their operational efficiency. With a presence in various global locations, including offices in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia, Taulia has formed a strategic alliance with KPMG to strengthen its offerings in the financial technology sector.