Firebrand Ventures

Mermaid Chart, founded by Knut Sveidqvist and Open Core Ventures, emerged from the Mermaid open-source project. Lead developers from Mermaid have joined, strengthening the project's connection. Mermaid Chart bolsters open-source Mermaid development, enabling professional usage, while maintaining open-source functionality. It supports Mermaid significantly, but also offers commercial services to fund project growth and expand the developer team.

Mermaid Chart is a developer of a digital visualization tool aimed at enhancing the diagramming capabilities of enterprise teams. The company focuses on simplifying the creation of complex diagrams by utilizing markdown-like text definitions, allowing users to generate and modify visual representations without the cumbersome design layers typically associated with traditional diagramming software. This innovative approach promotes collaboration among team members, enabling them to effectively convey complex information through dynamic, text-based diagrams. By prioritizing ease of use and functionality, Mermaid Chart seeks to transform how enterprise teams visualize and communicate their ideas.

HData is a RegTech company that develops and provides regulatory technology solutions for data-driven customers, including government regulators, regulated enterprises, markets, and investors. It delivers platforms that transform regulatory activities such as compliance, reporting, and regulatory analysis by integrating regulatory data with analytics and artificial intelligence. The company also offers services in relationship management, strategic counsel, and message support to help clients navigate regulatory needs and engage stakeholders. Founded in 2018 and based in Joliet, Illinois, HData focuses on building platforms that connect regulator-facing and enterprise-facing solutions, enabling efficient research, regulatory intelligence, and growth planning for its clients across energy, markets, and information sectors.

Handraise leverages AI to unlock insights from news data, helping businesses identify growth opportunities by tracking leads and targeting qualified prospects.

The Regis Company specializes in developing AI-driven learning platforms that enhance enterprise training through realistic scenario simulations. It caters to global clients seeking innovative, immersive learning experiences, offering personalized learning design, automated content creation, and real-time behavioral analytics to boost skill development and engagement.

Judy Security is a cyber security company servicing small and medium businesses. The company's technology Judy uses a secure and private vault to create, store and protect all their passwords, keeping unauthorized users out of their login data.

Founded in 2020, Edlink specializes in two-way connection integration platforms for learning management systems. Its platform facilitates single-sign-on, content integration, grade pass-back, and rostering, enabling seamless access to educational resources.

Realto is an online real estate investment marketplace that helps people invest in real estate properties. The company also offers a platform that facilitates secondary trading of traditionally illiquid real estate and alternative securities, helping investors to transform and democratize real estate assets through liquidity and transparency.

Crafty, LLC is a Chicago-based company that specializes in providing snacks, beverages, and event programs tailored for workplaces. The company offers a diverse range of products, including beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, perishables, and pantry supplies. Crafty focuses on enhancing workplace experiences through its services, which include managing kitchen and pantry provisions, organizing events and happy hours, catering, and setting up in-office cafes. By partnering with global brands, Crafty aims to support in-office, remote, and hybrid teams, serving over 260 offices and catering to approximately 300,000 employees each month.

8base is a software platform company offering a low-code/no-code development platform and serverless backend-as-a-service for building and operating enterprise-grade web and mobile applications. The platform includes an app builder, data management tools, a serverless backend, a CLI, and professional services, enabling developers to design, deploy, and scale software without managing infrastructure. It emphasizes an API-first, configurable backend that uses a query language to ensure portability of applications and intellectual property across environments. The company targets mainstream developers and digital teams, aiming to accelerate time to market for enterprise apps, and combines no-code/low-code tooling with AI-assisted design capabilities and ecosystem tooling; some descriptions note blockchain-based underpinnings to support its platform architecture.

Nivati facilitates accessible mental health support for employees through a comprehensive platform offering counseling, coaching, meditation, yoga, nutrition, massage, and financial wellness resources. It provides employers with wellbeing and utilization data to monitor employee progress.

Judy Security is a cyber security company servicing small and medium businesses. The company's technology Judy uses a secure and private vault to create, store and protect all their passwords, keeping unauthorized users out of their login data.

Videate automates the creation of software training and support videos using AI, RPA, and text-to-speech technology. It converts documentation into engaging video content, enabling easy updates with each release in multiple languages.

HData is a RegTech company that develops and provides regulatory technology solutions for data-driven customers, including government regulators, regulated enterprises, markets, and investors. It delivers platforms that transform regulatory activities such as compliance, reporting, and regulatory analysis by integrating regulatory data with analytics and artificial intelligence. The company also offers services in relationship management, strategic counsel, and message support to help clients navigate regulatory needs and engage stakeholders. Founded in 2018 and based in Joliet, Illinois, HData focuses on building platforms that connect regulator-facing and enterprise-facing solutions, enabling efficient research, regulatory intelligence, and growth planning for its clients across energy, markets, and information sectors.

Sway is a company focused on enhancing the online returns process for consumers and retailers. It aims to streamline the often cumbersome task of returning purchased items by providing a fully digitized solution. Sway enables users to arrange for the pick-up and drop-off of returns directly from their homes, eliminating the need for printing labels, packaging items, or visiting the post office. This service allows online shoppers to return products as easily as they can order them, significantly reducing the stress associated with online returns. By prioritizing convenience and efficiency, Sway supports online brands and retailers in improving their customer experience.

Founded in 2010, Dwolla is a leading provider of account-to-account payment solutions. It offers a modern API that simplifies bank transfers, customer management, and bank account verification for businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Replica is an enterprise data platform and urban planning tool that helps cities understand mobility, population, and land use. It ingests a wide range of data, including public datasets such as the US Census and land use regulations, as well as private sources like aggregate mobile location data, credit transactions, and real estate information, to deliver a synthetic representation of the built environment. The platform measures movement patterns, mode shares (car, transit, bike, foot), and trip purposes, and provides baseline travel metrics to answer key transportation questions. Replica serves public agencies, land developers, and communities, supporting planning decisions on transportation, schools, parks, and hospitals by combining demographic data with transit data and other inputs. Outputs are validated against ground truth such as auto counts or ridership where possible, with options for customers to supply their own ground-truth data to improve model accuracy. Founded in 2018, Replica is based in San Francisco, California.

Drop Mobility is a company that specializes in providing urban micro-mobility solutions through a bike-sharing platform. It offers a comprehensive service that allows municipalities and operators to introduce, manage, and expand fleets of shared electric bicycles. The company's innovative technology facilitates the booking and rental of bikes, utilizing a secure locking system that operates independently of traditional key systems. By proving the benefits of shared electric micromobility in various North American markets, Drop Mobility aims to address pressing challenges related to climate change and urban mobility. With a focus on expanding its services to new communities, Drop Mobility is committed to transforming urban transport and enhancing the overall experience of city dwellers.

Funnel IQ is a revenue operations platform tailored for RevOps teams within B2B SaaS companies, established in 2020 by Matt Volm and Ganesh Sridharan in Seattle, Washington. The platform facilitates integration among marketing, sales, and customer success teams, providing a unified source of truth for go-to-market data. It offers comprehensive insights and analytics that allow these teams to collaborate effectively and understand the channels and activities that drive recurring revenue. Funnel IQ's no-code software enables users to build and manage integrations across their entire technology stack, making it a versatile operating system for revenue management suitable for both large and small subscription-based businesses.

Founded in 2020, Assemble's mission is to showcase unique stories and career paths – exposing audiences to an increasingly diverse set of options. Our mission is to make knowledge accessible to anyone looking to learn and connect directly with a community of diverse experts across industries.

Telepath provides a social network application that enables users to discuss their interests. Its platform is secure and easier, enabling users to connect with each other very easily.

Judy Security is a cyber security company servicing small and medium businesses. The company's technology Judy uses a secure and private vault to create, store and protect all their passwords, keeping unauthorized users out of their login data.

Crafty, LLC is a Chicago-based company that specializes in providing snacks, beverages, and event programs tailored for workplaces. The company offers a diverse range of products, including beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, perishables, and pantry supplies. Crafty focuses on enhancing workplace experiences through its services, which include managing kitchen and pantry provisions, organizing events and happy hours, catering, and setting up in-office cafes. By partnering with global brands, Crafty aims to support in-office, remote, and hybrid teams, serving over 260 offices and catering to approximately 300,000 employees each month.

Notivize is a company that offers a platform designed to assist product managers and marketers in enhancing product experiences without requiring code modifications. The platform harnesses artificial intelligence to automate the creation of content and the personalization of marketing messages across multiple channels, including email, SMS, and social media. By generating content ideas and generating targeted marketing campaigns, Notivize enables businesses to deliver effective and relevant communications, ultimately saving time and reducing costs. Through its innovative solutions, Notivize empowers organizations to continuously optimize their marketing efforts, thereby improving customer engagement and product interactions.

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.

Threatcare is a provider of automated Breach and Attack Simulation solutions designed to enhance cybersecurity for organizations. Its proactive cyber defense platform simplifies security controls through continuous monitoring and intelligent simulations. By utilizing non-malicious attack scenarios, Threatcare tests an organization's security systems across personnel, products, and procedures. This approach allows security teams and incident responders to gain real-time insights and actionable recommendations, helping them to effectively measure and maintain a robust cybersecurity posture. The platform focuses on reducing the attack surface, ensuring that organizations can better prepare for potential threats.

PreFix is a home maintenance service provider and platform focused on preventive maintenance and on-demand repair for residential systems. It offers services for appliances, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems, including inspections, cleaning, replacements, and safety devices, primarily serving homeowners and landlords in Austin, Texas. The company operates a platform that facilitates booking and dispatch of maintenance and repair personnel for minor issues such as plumbing, HVAC failures, and appliance problems, with the aim of reducing maintenance-related hassles and costs for homeowners and property managers. Founded in 2013 and based in Austin, PreFix positions itself as a local, preventive maintenance provider that can handle routine tune-ups and urgent repairs to keep homes functioning smoothly.

Replica is an enterprise data platform and urban planning tool that helps cities understand mobility, population, and land use. It ingests a wide range of data, including public datasets such as the US Census and land use regulations, as well as private sources like aggregate mobile location data, credit transactions, and real estate information, to deliver a synthetic representation of the built environment. The platform measures movement patterns, mode shares (car, transit, bike, foot), and trip purposes, and provides baseline travel metrics to answer key transportation questions. Replica serves public agencies, land developers, and communities, supporting planning decisions on transportation, schools, parks, and hospitals by combining demographic data with transit data and other inputs. Outputs are validated against ground truth such as auto counts or ridership where possible, with options for customers to supply their own ground-truth data to improve model accuracy. Founded in 2018, Replica is based in San Francisco, California.

ScaleFactor provides automated accounting and finance software, offering features such as bookkeeping automation, proactive alerts, and business insights translation. It formerly offered additional services like IT integration, HR/payroll, compliance, and CFO advisory. ScaleFactor served various industries including professional services, restaurants, retail, technology, and wellness. The company was founded in 2014 and had offices across North America before ceasing operations.

Sheets & Giggles, Inc. is a Denver-based company that specializes in manufacturing and selling sustainable bedding products, particularly eucalyptus lyocell sheets and comforters. Founded in 2017, the company has established itself as a direct-to-consumer brand known for its eco-friendly approach and commitment to sustainability, having planted tens of thousands of trees as part of its initiatives. Sheets & Giggles has gained recognition for its innovative products, including being awarded "Best Overall" sheets by Good Housekeeping in March 2021. The company’s offerings also include pillows and mattresses, all designed to provide comfort while promoting environmentally responsible practices. By selling its products online, Sheets & Giggles aims to enhance customers' sleep experiences with high-quality, plant-based bedding solutions.

Headnote Parent Inc. is a technology company founded in 2016 and based in San Francisco, California, specializing in software solutions for the legal industry. The company develops payment and accounts receivable automation software designed to streamline the financial processes of law firms. Headnote's platform simplifies e-payments, enabling law firms to receive payments more quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing the time taken to collect fees from an average of 60 to 94 days to just 4 days for its customers. In addition to payment processing, the software automates the tracking and management of accounts receivable, replacing outdated manual methods with real-time dashboards that enhance operational efficiency and client satisfaction. Headnote serves a diverse range of law firms across the United States, ensuring compliance with all relevant payment regulations.

8base is a software platform company offering a low-code/no-code development platform and serverless backend-as-a-service for building and operating enterprise-grade web and mobile applications. The platform includes an app builder, data management tools, a serverless backend, a CLI, and professional services, enabling developers to design, deploy, and scale software without managing infrastructure. It emphasizes an API-first, configurable backend that uses a query language to ensure portability of applications and intellectual property across environments. The company targets mainstream developers and digital teams, aiming to accelerate time to market for enterprise apps, and combines no-code/low-code tooling with AI-assisted design capabilities and ecosystem tooling; some descriptions note blockchain-based underpinnings to support its platform architecture.

ScaleFactor provides automated accounting and finance software, offering features such as bookkeeping automation, proactive alerts, and business insights translation. It formerly offered additional services like IT integration, HR/payroll, compliance, and CFO advisory. ScaleFactor served various industries including professional services, restaurants, retail, technology, and wellness. The company was founded in 2014 and had offices across North America before ceasing operations.

The Minte is a Chicago-based company that provides hotel-style housekeeping services primarily for residents of high-rise apartment buildings. Established in 2017, the company employs a building-centric model for staffing housekeepers, ensuring consistent and trusted cleaning services. The Minte's offerings include a range of cleaning tasks, such as floor sweeping, countertop wiping, dishwashing assistance, decluttering, and comprehensive bathroom refreshing. Its services can be conveniently booked through a mobile app or by utilizing a dash-like button located at the apartment entrance, allowing residents to maintain a professionally clean living space akin to that of a hotel room.

Local Crate is a meal kit delivery service that offers fresh, locally sourced ingredients along with chef-designed recipes. Customers can subscribe for regular deliveries to create restaurant-quality meals at home with minimal effort.

Zohr, Inc. is a retail and service company specializing in tires, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company provides a range of services, including tire replacement, tire rotation, tire pressure monitoring system checks, flat tire repair, and fleet services. Zohr operates multiple locations across Kansas and Missouri, making it accessible to a broad customer base. The company has developed an online platform that simplifies the tire purchasing process, allowing customers to order tires for delivery and installation at their home or office. This service-oriented approach aims to enhance convenience for vehicle owners while ensuring competitive pricing for quality tire services.

Locomation develops an AI-driven trucking technology platform that combines autonomy with driver augmentation. Its Autonomous Relay Convoy system enables trucks to follow a lead vehicle autonomously, enhancing safety and efficiency while reducing operational costs.

PathSpot Technologies, Inc., established in 2017 and headquartered in New York City, specializes in food safety solutions. The company develops and manufactures a unique system that uses a proprietary algorithm to analyze fluorescent light, enabling it to scan employees' hands and detect pathogens that cause food-borne illnesses. This technology helps restaurants and their customers mitigate the risk of food-borne illnesses by providing instant, invisible signs of harmful bacteria and viruses.

Zohr, Inc. is a retail and service company specializing in tires, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. The company provides a range of services, including tire replacement, tire rotation, tire pressure monitoring system checks, flat tire repair, and fleet services. Zohr operates multiple locations across Kansas and Missouri, making it accessible to a broad customer base. The company has developed an online platform that simplifies the tire purchasing process, allowing customers to order tires for delivery and installation at their home or office. This service-oriented approach aims to enhance convenience for vehicle owners while ensuring competitive pricing for quality tire services.

The Waggle Company, Inc. is a pet care service provider specializing in customizable dog walking services. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company utilizes a technology-driven platform to enhance the experience for pet owners. This service includes real-time updates, a summary report of each visit, and a GPS-tracked map, along with photos of the pets. Through these offerings, The Waggle Company aims to provide reassurance and convenience for dog owners, ensuring their pets are well cared for during walks.

Founded in 2013, Super Dispatch is a Kansas City-based company specializing in automation software for the auto transportation industry. It offers an end-to-end platform connecting carriers, brokers, and shippers, enabling paperless operations, real-time tracking, and streamlined management of loads, drivers, and billing.

Threatcare is a provider of automated Breach and Attack Simulation solutions designed to enhance cybersecurity for organizations. Its proactive cyber defense platform simplifies security controls through continuous monitoring and intelligent simulations. By utilizing non-malicious attack scenarios, Threatcare tests an organization's security systems across personnel, products, and procedures. This approach allows security teams and incident responders to gain real-time insights and actionable recommendations, helping them to effectively measure and maintain a robust cybersecurity posture. The platform focuses on reducing the attack surface, ensuring that organizations can better prepare for potential threats.

Skipper, Inc. is a professional pet care company based in Charlotte, North Carolina, incorporated in 2013. The company specializes in a variety of dog care services, including dog walking, daycare, boarding, grooming, and recreational facilities such as a dog park and a dog bar. Skipper also offers home services through a mobile application, catering to the emotional, mental, and physical needs of dogs.

Founded in 2014, Ephemeral Tattoos operates a tattoo studio offering semi-permanent ink services. Its unique inks allow clients to express themselves freely with tattoos that fade over time, providing an alternative to traditional permanent tattoos.

ScaleFactor provides automated accounting and finance software, offering features such as bookkeeping automation, proactive alerts, and business insights translation. It formerly offered additional services like IT integration, HR/payroll, compliance, and CFO advisory. ScaleFactor served various industries including professional services, restaurants, retail, technology, and wellness. The company was founded in 2014 and had offices across North America before ceasing operations.

Using our unique software and devoted team at Heartbeat, we pair the best content creators with like-minded brands who share a love for the same products and services. The result is a genuine connection that develops into long-lasting relationships.

Automox designs and develops cloud-based IT automation platforms. Its AI-powered solutions automate patch remediation for Windows, macOS, Linux endpoints, and third-party software, enabling real-time vulnerability tracking and active enforcement of system configurations. Incorporated in 2015, Automox is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

Omelas, Inc. is a Washington, D.C.-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in automating, quantifying, and integrating security and risk analysis. The company develops artificial intelligence-driven data analysis software aimed at defending democracy from digital propaganda. Omelas provides solutions such as Symphony, which maps the online information environment, and Viola, which focuses on global threat detection and analysis. By analyzing the media landscapes of authoritarian regimes like Russia, Iran, and China, Omelas exposes how these governments manipulate the internet. Its software collects and analyzes data from various social media platforms, messaging apps, and RSS feeds, enabling users to identify critical information and gain insights into relevant trends. Through its innovative approach, Omelas aims to empower clients with the expertise needed to navigate and counteract digital threats.

Sickweather Inc. is a company that specializes in sickness forecasting and mapping through its innovative mobile application. Founded in 2011 and based in Windsor Mill, Maryland, Sickweather utilizes a unique social listening technology to monitor social networks for indicators of illness, allowing users to receive alerts about sickness trends in real-time. This predictive platform operates in over 120 countries and provides detailed illness forecasts, modeled into 15-week predictions along with a threat level index known as the SickScore. By crowdsourcing data about illnesses and analyzing population, sales, and clinical information, Sickweather empowers users to assess the likelihood of sickness in their area, akin to checking the weather forecast.

Founded in 2014, Ephemeral Tattoos operates a tattoo studio offering semi-permanent ink services. Its unique inks allow clients to express themselves freely with tattoos that fade over time, providing an alternative to traditional permanent tattoos.

inKind is a company that operates a funding platform aimed at supporting restaurants while enhancing consumer dining experiences. It provides innovative funding solutions that allow restaurants to access low-cost capital upfront in exchange for future food and beverage credits. This model enables restaurant owners to offer unique experiences and rewards to their customers, fostering a sense of hospitality and engagement. Consumers benefit by receiving rewards when dining at top restaurants, while restaurants can promote their offerings and encourage customer loyalty through the gifting of credits. Overall, inKind's approach connects diners with exceptional culinary experiences, enriching their everyday moments.

Founded in 2010, Dwolla is a leading provider of account-to-account payment solutions. It offers a modern API that simplifies bank transfers, customer management, and bank account verification for businesses ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies.

FitBark is a pet technology company that manufactures wearable devices for dogs. Its primary product, FitBark, monitors a dog's activity and sleep patterns, providing insights into the pet's health and behavior to both owners and veterinarians. The company sells its products globally through various online channels.