Vela Partners

Vela Partners is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm founded in 2015, specializing in innovative investments in startups through a proprietary approach known as Ventech, or venture technology. The firm utilizes an AI-enabled data platform to gather insights on markets and companies, enabling informed investment decisions and enhancing the performance of its portfolio. Vela Partners focuses on identifying and investing in seed-stage, early-stage, and later-stage companies, particularly within the B2B, artificial intelligence, and software sectors. The firm aims to support world-class entrepreneurs who are creating essential products that address real-world challenges through innovation, research and development, and scientific advancement.

Charlie Aaronson

Venture Partner

Fuat Alican

Co-Founder and General Partner

Sander Bogdan

Venture Partner

Yigit Ihlamur

Co-Founder, General Partner and CTO

Eli Koen

Co-Founder and Venture Partner

32 past transactions

DagKnows

Seed Round in 2022
Developer of a collaboration and automation platform designed for intelligent incident troubleshooting and remediation for site reliability engineering. The company's platform uses structured graphs to simplify the process and capture and organize knowledge that produces reusable automation run-books, enabling DevOps and site reliability engineers to diagnose and resolve reliability issues.

Promoted

Seed Round in 2022
Developer of a cloud-based software designed to make marketplaces run native promotions and advertisements. The company's platform provides software, infrastructure and real-time backend delivery systems for marketplaces to build self-service, native promoted listings business, also provides an advertisement technology for promoters, enabling enterprises to promote sellers in marketplaces by using the advertisement discovery engine.

Arena

Series A in 2022
Arena.im is a cloud-based marketing platform for live experiences. Their mission is to empower media companies to take back ownership of their audience from social networks and grow their community. With Arena.im, publishers, brands and broadcasting companies are capable to significantly increase traffic, engagement and earn revenue. Through an AI technology, Arena.im is capable to aggregate, curate and distribute content in scale to any device, anytime, anywhere. They enable a seamless live experience for sports, news, finance, tech and any other real-time events. Founded in 2016 by Paulo Martins and Rodrigo Reis, Arena.im is a disruptive marketing experience platform that empowers thousands of media companies to provide the best live experience for their audiences directly from their digital properties.

SKAEL

Series A in 2022
SKAEL, Inc. is a San Francisco-based company that operates a no-code digital workforce platform designed to automate processes across various applications, data sources, and documents. Founded in 2016, SKAEL's platform creates digital employees that assist human workers in streamlining routine tasks, thereby enhancing productivity. The platform features seamless integration with existing backend workflows and approval systems, enabling automated data management and benchmarking while providing predictive and prescriptive insights. This approach reduces human error, bias, and delays, allowing organizations to fully automate repetitive functions and improve overall operational efficiency.

Cerby

Seed Round in 2022
Cerby, Inc. is a cybersecurity company founded in 2020 and headquartered in Alameda, California. It specializes in providing tools and applications that help enterprises manage and secure Shadow IT, which refers to the use of unauthorized applications within organizations. Cerby's platform simplifies the onboarding process for end-users, allowing them to safely utilize applications of their choice while maintaining security protocols. By automating manual processes and identifying security vulnerabilities, Cerby empowers businesses to adopt zero trust principles, thereby enhancing overall brand protection and productivity.

Promoted

Seed Round in 2021
Developer of a cloud-based software designed to make marketplaces run native promotions and advertisements. The company's platform provides software, infrastructure and real-time backend delivery systems for marketplaces to build self-service, native promoted listings business, also provides an advertisement technology for promoters, enabling enterprises to promote sellers in marketplaces by using the advertisement discovery engine.

Axiom Cloud

Series A in 2021
Axiom Cloud Inc. specializes in artificial intelligence solutions tailored for commercial refrigeration in North America's supermarkets. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the company addresses significant energy and maintenance challenges in the $120 billion commercial cooling industry. Axiom Cloud offers a power management and maintenance platform that enhances the efficiency of systems with large cooling loads. Key applications include the Virtual Technician, which autonomously predicts and prevents failures, and the Virtual Battery, which emulates the benefits of traditional lithium-ion batteries by optimizing cooling processes and managing energy loads intelligently. Customers in the retail grocery sector engage with Axiom Cloud through an initial setup fee for onsite installation of the IoT platform, followed by recurring software-as-a-service fees for the cloud-based applications that operate on this platform.

Polymer

Seed Round in 2021
Polymer Search, based in the United States, operates an AI-driven business intelligence platform designed to enhance data exploration and analysis. The platform transforms raw spreadsheet data into an intuitive interface, allowing users to pose complex questions and uncover valuable connections quickly and efficiently. By eliminating the need for technical setup, Polymer enables clients to access structured data insights, facilitating informed strategic decision-making. This approach empowers users to become their own data experts, streamlining the data analysis process and providing actionable intelligence in seconds.

Cartken

Seed Round in 2021
Developer of an outdoor delivery robot designed to transport goods over short distances. The company offers delivery services for local neighborhoods and short distances via its robots that combine self-driving cars, AI-powered robotics and delivery operations, enabling local businesses and customers to get a safe and reliable delivery partner.

Axiom Cloud

Seed Round in 2021
Axiom Cloud Inc. specializes in artificial intelligence solutions tailored for commercial refrigeration in North America's supermarkets. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the company addresses significant energy and maintenance challenges in the $120 billion commercial cooling industry. Axiom Cloud offers a power management and maintenance platform that enhances the efficiency of systems with large cooling loads. Key applications include the Virtual Technician, which autonomously predicts and prevents failures, and the Virtual Battery, which emulates the benefits of traditional lithium-ion batteries by optimizing cooling processes and managing energy loads intelligently. Customers in the retail grocery sector engage with Axiom Cloud through an initial setup fee for onsite installation of the IoT platform, followed by recurring software-as-a-service fees for the cloud-based applications that operate on this platform.

CloudNatix

Seed Round in 2021
Developer of scalable hybrid and multicolored software products designed to be used for legacy and cloud-native applications. The company's platform monitors infrastructure utilization, automates optimization, across single and multiple cloud providers, and uses open-source technologies, enabling enterprises to adopt cloud environments efficiently.

WaveOne

Series A in 2020
WaveOne, Inc. specializes in developing advanced video and image compression software tailored to the digital media industry. Founded in 2016 and based in Palo Alto, California, the company leverages machine learning and artificial intelligence to enhance its compression solutions. WaveOne's technology includes a codec that operates significantly faster than traditional machine learning systems, allowing for rapid encoding and decoding of data sets at high speeds. This capability enables users in the digital media sector to efficiently process, print, upload, and share clear images, addressing the growing demand for high-quality digital content.

Golden

Series A in 2020
Golden is a developer of a self-constructing knowledge database used to accelerate discovery and education. The company uses and leverages human effort by using machine intelligence to make the process of gathering and communicating knowledge simpler. It combines a powerful search across several entities with fine-grain alerts to stay on top of changes, and semi-automatic research assistance for gaps in knowledge that enable people in organizations to stay current, understand and leverage the latest trends in their industry.

Meditopia

Series A in 2020
Meditopia is a mental health platform focused on improving individual well-being through guided meditations, music, and contemplative content. The app is designed to help users manage stress, enhance sleep quality, and cultivate inner peace in a fast-paced world. By integrating mindfulness with scientific principles, Meditopia offers a personalized and intuitive experience tailored to diverse audiences. The platform features numerous meditation sessions crafted by experienced mindfulness experts, allowing users to develop the mental resilience and happiness necessary for daily life. Meditopia's mission is to empower people globally to discover happiness within themselves and foster a healthier mindset.

Grabango

Convertible Note in 2020
Grabango develops checkout-free shopping technology for the retail industry, utilizing hardware tools and computer vision software. Founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, California, the company employs cameras and shelf sensors to track customer interactions with products. As customers add items to their carts, the system identifies and counts these purchases, allowing for a seamless checkout experience. Once finished, customers can pay via a registered payment method on their smartphones and leave the store without waiting in line. Grabango's technology is designed to integrate with existing brick-and-mortar stores, accommodating various retail formats from convenience stores to larger grocers, and aims to enhance the shopping experience by streamlining the payment process and eliminating queues.

Huckleberry Labs

Seed Round in 2020
Huckleberry Labs is focused on enhancing children's sleep by making behavioral expertise accessible and affordable for families. The company has developed an evidence-based program that combines artificial intelligence with human expertise. Their mobile application tracks a child's sleep patterns over a week, providing insights into their sleep conditions. Based on this data, the app offers a straightforward program for parents to help improve their children's sleep habits. Through this innovative approach, Huckleberry Labs aims to support families in addressing sleep challenges effectively.

ProtoPie

Series A in 2020
Studio XID, Inc. develops ProtoPie, a prototyping tool for smart devices. Its ProtoPie allows users to compose elaborate interactions and animations, and build sensor-aided prototypes without any coding. The company’s ProtoPie solution comprises ProtoPie Studio, a software package that is installed on computers running Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X to allow users to explore design solutions, communicate designs, and research user feedback; and ProtoPie Player, an app that allows users to test prototypes created with ProtoPie Studio on smartphones. Its solution also supports the import of Sketch files. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.

Bear Robotics

Series A in 2020
Bear Robotics, Inc. designs and manufactures autonomous robots specifically for the food service industry. The company's flagship product, Penny, is an AI-based robot that autonomously transports food, dishes, and drinks within restaurants, enhancing customer service and operational efficiency. By addressing challenges related to labor supply, wage pressures, and cost management, Bear Robotics aims to transform the dining experience for customers while increasing job satisfaction for employees and profitability for restaurant owners. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, Bear Robotics is focused on leveraging robotics and artificial intelligence to innovate hospitality management.

CloudNatix

Pre Seed Round in 2020
Developer of scalable hybrid and multicolored software products designed to be used for legacy and cloud-native applications. The company's platform monitors infrastructure utilization, automates optimization, across single and multiple cloud providers, and uses open-source technologies, enabling enterprises to adopt cloud environments efficiently.

Polymer

Seed Round in 2020
Polymer Search, based in the United States, operates an AI-driven business intelligence platform designed to enhance data exploration and analysis. The platform transforms raw spreadsheet data into an intuitive interface, allowing users to pose complex questions and uncover valuable connections quickly and efficiently. By eliminating the need for technical setup, Polymer enables clients to access structured data insights, facilitating informed strategic decision-making. This approach empowers users to become their own data experts, streamlining the data analysis process and providing actionable intelligence in seconds.

Meditopia

Seed Round in 2019
Meditopia is a mental health platform focused on improving individual well-being through guided meditations, music, and contemplative content. The app is designed to help users manage stress, enhance sleep quality, and cultivate inner peace in a fast-paced world. By integrating mindfulness with scientific principles, Meditopia offers a personalized and intuitive experience tailored to diverse audiences. The platform features numerous meditation sessions crafted by experienced mindfulness experts, allowing users to develop the mental resilience and happiness necessary for daily life. Meditopia's mission is to empower people globally to discover happiness within themselves and foster a healthier mindset.

Polymer

Seed Round in 2019
Polymer Search, based in the United States, operates an AI-driven business intelligence platform designed to enhance data exploration and analysis. The platform transforms raw spreadsheet data into an intuitive interface, allowing users to pose complex questions and uncover valuable connections quickly and efficiently. By eliminating the need for technical setup, Polymer enables clients to access structured data insights, facilitating informed strategic decision-making. This approach empowers users to become their own data experts, streamlining the data analysis process and providing actionable intelligence in seconds.

Grabango

Series A in 2019
Grabango develops checkout-free shopping technology for the retail industry, utilizing hardware tools and computer vision software. Founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, California, the company employs cameras and shelf sensors to track customer interactions with products. As customers add items to their carts, the system identifies and counts these purchases, allowing for a seamless checkout experience. Once finished, customers can pay via a registered payment method on their smartphones and leave the store without waiting in line. Grabango's technology is designed to integrate with existing brick-and-mortar stores, accommodating various retail formats from convenience stores to larger grocers, and aims to enhance the shopping experience by streamlining the payment process and eliminating queues.

Firefly

Seed Round in 2018
Firefly Systems Inc., founded in 2017 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in street-level digital media through its innovative advertising platform. The company installs digital displays on rideshare vehicles and taxis, creating a unique out-of-home advertising network that leverages location-based technology and first-party data for precise audience targeting. Firefly's system enables the delivery of engaging, full-screen advertisements that are responsive to the surrounding environment, allowing brands to amplify their marketing efforts in real-time. By utilizing 4G and LTE cellular transmission, Firefly connects clients with flexible advertising solutions while providing measurable insights on campaign effectiveness and audience engagement.

Jobox

Series A in 2018
JoBox, Inc. is a stealth mode startup founded in 2016 and located in Palo Alto, California, specializing in artificial intelligence solutions for the on-demand economy. The company has developed a SaaS-based marketplace infrastructure that connects businesses with vetted home service professionals. This AI-driven platform provides home service providers with essential tools to establish and grow their small businesses. Simultaneously, it assists larger organizations in efficiently matching job requests with professionals based on specific criteria such as skill set and location. By streamlining this process, JoBox aims to enhance the delivery of home services, ensuring a seamless and low-risk experience for both companies and their customers.

FounderNest

Venture Round in 2018
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.

Interviewing.io

Seed Round in 2017
Interviewing.io is an anonymous technical interviewing platform. Its interviewers have worked at Google, Udacity, Square, Twitch, Microsoft, and other recognized companies.

Kuika

Seed Round in 2017
Kuika started its journey in 2015 to democratize software development. Not just for some. For all businesses. Kuika is headquartered in San Francisco with an R&D office in Istanbul, and obsessed with helping its customers solve software development problems. Kuika’s easy-to-use platform enables users to build apps rapidly for every form factor and for everyone. Kuika provides its platform as a software and turnkey solution as a service to its customers.

Firefly

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Firefly Systems Inc., founded in 2017 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in street-level digital media through its innovative advertising platform. The company installs digital displays on rideshare vehicles and taxis, creating a unique out-of-home advertising network that leverages location-based technology and first-party data for precise audience targeting. Firefly's system enables the delivery of engaging, full-screen advertisements that are responsive to the surrounding environment, allowing brands to amplify their marketing efforts in real-time. By utilizing 4G and LTE cellular transmission, Firefly connects clients with flexible advertising solutions while providing measurable insights on campaign effectiveness and audience engagement.

Grabango

Seed Round in 2017
Grabango develops checkout-free shopping technology for the retail industry, utilizing hardware tools and computer vision software. Founded in 2016 and based in Berkeley, California, the company employs cameras and shelf sensors to track customer interactions with products. As customers add items to their carts, the system identifies and counts these purchases, allowing for a seamless checkout experience. Once finished, customers can pay via a registered payment method on their smartphones and leave the store without waiting in line. Grabango's technology is designed to integrate with existing brick-and-mortar stores, accommodating various retail formats from convenience stores to larger grocers, and aims to enhance the shopping experience by streamlining the payment process and eliminating queues.

Jobox

Seed Round in 2017
JoBox, Inc. is a stealth mode startup founded in 2016 and located in Palo Alto, California, specializing in artificial intelligence solutions for the on-demand economy. The company has developed a SaaS-based marketplace infrastructure that connects businesses with vetted home service professionals. This AI-driven platform provides home service providers with essential tools to establish and grow their small businesses. Simultaneously, it assists larger organizations in efficiently matching job requests with professionals based on specific criteria such as skill set and location. By streamlining this process, JoBox aims to enhance the delivery of home services, ensuring a seamless and low-risk experience for both companies and their customers.

Copper

Series B in 2016
Copper, Inc. is a provider of web-based customer relationship management (CRM) software specifically designed for Google applications, integrating seamlessly with G Suite. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in San Francisco, the company offers a platform that captures data automatically, enabling real-time tracking of sales opportunities and deals. Users can customize their CRM experience with features such as sales forecasting reports, custom fields, and pipeline filters. The software allows for mobile management of sales pipelines, call logging, automated task reminders, and push notifications for new records. Copper serves various industries, including technology, consulting, real estate, and corporate development, focusing on enhancing productivity and fostering authentic relationships among teams. The company, which rebranded from ProsperWorks in 2018, emphasizes an intuitive user experience and instant functionality.
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