Ground Up Ventures

Pillar Security specializes in AI security, offering a unified platform that helps businesses safely and swiftly deploy AI applications. Their solution proactively identifies and mitigates risks throughout the AI lifecycle, providing features like AI fingerprinting, asset inventory, tailored adversarial testing, and adaptive guardrails. This enables enterprises and AI development teams to accelerate deployment while minimizing security and compliance risks.

The Jones Agency, Inc. is a liability insurance underwriting company that specializes in serving general construction and property management contractors. Founded in 2016 and based in New York, it provides insurance solutions tailored for various professions, including contractors, electricians, HVAC technicians, and landscapers. In addition to its underwriting services, Jones offers a software platform designed to streamline liability management for real estate companies, addressing the complexities of insurance compliance. This innovative approach aims to simplify the traditionally cumbersome process of managing insurance certificates for owners, managers, and developers within the commercial real estate sector. Through its services, Jones seeks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in insurance management for its clients.

Panjaya is a technology company based in the San Francisco Bay Area, founded in 2022. It specializes in generative AI dubbing technology designed to localize video content across multiple languages. The company's innovative platform allows video content creators from various industries to accurately recreate videos while preserving the original speakers' natural voice and lip movements. This technology enables the transformation of keynote speeches and conference presentations for international audiences, maintaining the speaker's style, charisma, and intent. By utilizing Panjaya's services, businesses can effectively engage a global audience with compelling and authentic video content.

OurRitual is a digital platform designed to enhance and strengthen relationships through personalized guidance and support. Focused on improving mental health and relational dynamics, the company offers couples access to experienced clinicians for therapy sessions. In addition to direct counseling, OurRitual provides supplementary digital resources such as quizzes, video lessons, and video journaling prompts. These tools are aimed at facilitating better communication, effective conflict resolution, and the overall development of stronger bonds between partners. By combining professional expertise with interactive content, OurRitual seeks to transform the way individuals approach their relationships.

ZeroMark produces defense products that enhance safety for military professionals. Using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics, the company develops solutions that enable armed forces to employ weapons more effectively.

Draftboard is an online platform designed to enhance the recruitment process by allowing companies to publicly post their new-hire referral bonuses. The company specializes in human resources recruiting software that facilitates the connection between top talent and employers. Its platform provides access to open roles at leading organizations and features a referrals network that includes a unique pool of pre-qualified candidates. Draftboard also integrates with existing applicant tracking systems, enabling users to manage applications directly within their workflows. By defining incentive terms, Draftboard aims to assist companies in hiring the right individuals for specific roles, ultimately streamlining the recruitment process.

Refine Intelligence offers an AI-powered platform for financial institutions to curb financial crime costs and streamline compliance. The system analyzes anti-money laundering alerts from transaction monitoring tools and flags legitimate activity to reduce investigation time, while supporting protection against check fraud, scams, and money mules. It also enables proactive customer outreach across multiple channels to resolve alerts more quickly, enhance due diligence processes, and maintain regulatory standards. By automating prioritization and engagement, the platform helps banks improve productivity, resolve cases faster, and strengthen customer relationships while mitigating operational risk and regulatory exposure.

OurRitual is a digital platform designed to enhance and strengthen relationships through personalized guidance and support. Focused on improving mental health and relational dynamics, the company offers couples access to experienced clinicians for therapy sessions. In addition to direct counseling, OurRitual provides supplementary digital resources such as quizzes, video lessons, and video journaling prompts. These tools are aimed at facilitating better communication, effective conflict resolution, and the overall development of stronger bonds between partners. By combining professional expertise with interactive content, OurRitual seeks to transform the way individuals approach their relationships.

Fondue operates a mobile application that transforms refunds into a growth channel for its business clients in the e-commerce and retail sectors. The platform processes refunds instead of discount codes, empowering consumers to select incentives they value most, thereby facilitating customer re-engagement and reconversion for businesses.

Demoleap is an AI-powered platform designed to assist sales teams in conducting more effective product demonstrations. Founded in Israel with additional offices in Delaware and Ireland, the company's technology focuses on enhancing live demos by automating tracking and logging of demo activities. This allows sales representatives to concentrate on delivering value rather than managing the technical aspects of the demonstration. Demoleap is backed by several prominent investors, including 25madison, Ground Up Ventures, former Cisco CMO Blair Christie, Atrium Co-Founder Peter Kazanjy, Aforza CEO Dominic Dinard, Fourand CEO Chaim Lever, and David Magerman, managing partner and CTO at Differential Ventures.

TermScout is a sales intelligence company that specializes in providing actionable tenant information for business-to-business sales professionals. Founded in 2013 and based in Louisville, Colorado, TermScout offers a range of products, including CRE Scout for commercial real estate brokers, Retail Scout for retailers to monitor competitor lease expirations, and Move Scout for service providers to track corporate relocations. The company aims to enhance contract transparency, thereby facilitating trust and fostering healthy relationships between buyers and vendors. TermScout delivers summaries of vendor contracts, enabling buyers to compare terms against competitors, which helps streamline the contract review process and achieve significant cost savings. Additionally, TermScout provides vendors with data products such as Industry Reports and Contract TermSheets, which assist legal teams and sales departments in improving contract negotiations and closing deals more efficiently. The company's focus spans commercial real estate, communications, and enterprise technology sectors.

Flyp is a platform that uses artificial intelligence and workflow automation to monetize used goods by organizing a decentralized network of online resellers who sell items for consumers and businesses on marketplaces such as eBay, Poshmark, and Facebook. The system pairs inventory with the most suitable resellers using historical sales data, enabling individuals such as stay-at-home parents, students, and small entrepreneurs to turn discarded items into cash. Flyp provides a free automation suite that handles inventory and multi-channel sales, dramatically reducing manual effort and enabling thousands of daily transactions. The approach aims to reduce landfill waste from the fashion and consumer goods industry while creating income and jobs, supporting a circular economy and broader environmental and economic benefits.

SellX is a sales platform that provides businesses with on-demand access to top sales talent and collaborative tools. The platform integrates sales and marketing features, allowing companies to track performance, automate workflows, and manage payments effectively. SellX enables clients to launch customizable marketing campaigns directed at a network of high-performing sales representatives, facilitating lead generation and qualification. Its offerings include AI-matching for targeted customer segments, diverse campaign types, and personalized outreach sequences, all supported by real-time analytics to enhance sales strategies.

Dayslice is a company focused on creating software solutions that empower solopreneurs and part-time workers. It offers a platform designed to help users establish their storefronts, enabling them to streamline business management and concentrate on their core activities or creative endeavors. The company aims to accommodate various individuals, including parentpreneurs seeking part-time work and independent coaches, by facilitating a flexible work environment. By prioritizing ease of use and efficiency, Dayslice allows its users to minimize time spent on administrative tasks, thereby enhancing their productivity and creative output. The company's vision is to make work accessible and manageable for everyone, fostering an inclusive ecosystem for diverse entrepreneurial pursuits.

Accrue Savings is a financial technology company that offers an online savings platform designed to assist customers in planning for future purchases. The platform enables users to create merchant-embedded online savings accounts, allowing them to save money specifically for desired items while earning cash rewards in the process. By providing a straightforward way to manage savings and track expenses, Accrue Savings aims to incentivize consumers to save rather than rely solely on credit for their purchases. The company's approach emphasizes the importance of financial planning and responsible spending, giving consumers the tools they need to achieve their purchasing goals.

Accrue Savings is a financial technology company that offers an online savings platform designed to assist customers in planning for future purchases. The platform enables users to create merchant-embedded online savings accounts, allowing them to save money specifically for desired items while earning cash rewards in the process. By providing a straightforward way to manage savings and track expenses, Accrue Savings aims to incentivize consumers to save rather than rely solely on credit for their purchases. The company's approach emphasizes the importance of financial planning and responsible spending, giving consumers the tools they need to achieve their purchasing goals.

BrightHire is a technology company that specializes in performance optimization for recruiting teams through its interview intelligence platform. The platform aims to enhance the hiring process by transforming candidate conversations into actionable insights. By unlocking hidden value from each interaction, BrightHire enables organizations to fill roles more quickly, improve the effectiveness of their recruiters, and gain a deeper understanding of candidate intelligence. This focus on talent acquisition provides businesses with increased visibility and insight, ultimately facilitating more efficient hiring decisions.

PrettyDamnQuick is an innovative order management platform that enhances the eCommerce experience by streamlining the order-to-delivery workflow. It focuses on maximizing profitability by segmenting customers and utilizing A/B testing to optimize the checkout process for each individual. The platform efficiently manages the entire order lifecycle, ensuring timely deliveries at the lowest possible shipping rates. It features instant fraud detection, validation of contact information, and exception management, which help to eliminate delays and errors. By connecting and tracking multiple carriers and services, PrettyDamnQuick assigns orders to the most cost-effective and expedient delivery options. The platform supports over 25 million checkouts monthly for more than 250 fast-growing brands, making it a crucial tool for businesses looking to enhance their eCommerce operations.

Disco is a company that specializes in AI-driven partnership software, aimed at enhancing customer acquisition for brands. Its platform operates as a collaborative network, allowing brands to share insights about their customers and optimize merchandising distribution. Disco's innovative widget tool enables merchants to recommend additional products to customers immediately after their initial purchase, thereby driving traffic to their sites and facilitating lead nurturing through retargeting efforts. This approach helps merchants capitalize on moments when customers are most receptive to making additional purchases, ultimately lowering customer acquisition costs and fostering a mutually beneficial ecosystem among participating brands.

BrightHire is a technology company that specializes in performance optimization for recruiting teams through its interview intelligence platform. The platform aims to enhance the hiring process by transforming candidate conversations into actionable insights. By unlocking hidden value from each interaction, BrightHire enables organizations to fill roles more quickly, improve the effectiveness of their recruiters, and gain a deeper understanding of candidate intelligence. This focus on talent acquisition provides businesses with increased visibility and insight, ultimately facilitating more efficient hiring decisions.

Tulu is an on-demand rentals platform that provides household and lifestyle products through its application and IoT-enabled smart rental units installed in buildings. Based in Tel Aviv, Israel, it offers residents, students, and offices access to brand-name appliances, grocery staples, micro-mobility and entertainment devices on demand, with the aim of optimizing space usage and reducing waste. The platform analyzes usage data to improve inventory management and personalize the user experience. Tulu operates in cities across the United States and Europe, working with large landlords and real estate partners, and collaborates with manufacturers such as Bosch, Hoover, Kärcher and Unagi to deliver a broad range of items.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Flyp is a platform that uses artificial intelligence and workflow automation to monetize used goods by organizing a decentralized network of online resellers who sell items for consumers and businesses on marketplaces such as eBay, Poshmark, and Facebook. The system pairs inventory with the most suitable resellers using historical sales data, enabling individuals such as stay-at-home parents, students, and small entrepreneurs to turn discarded items into cash. Flyp provides a free automation suite that handles inventory and multi-channel sales, dramatically reducing manual effort and enabling thousands of daily transactions. The approach aims to reduce landfill waste from the fashion and consumer goods industry while creating income and jobs, supporting a circular economy and broader environmental and economic benefits.

Wellory Inc. is a nutrition and wellness technology company based in Brooklyn, New York, established in 2018. The company has developed a mobile application that facilitates personalized nutrition plans and health goals, connecting users with certified nutritionists, dietitians, and health coaches. The platform offers features such as personalized meal planning, photo-based meal logging, and daily communication with coaches. Wellory aims to make healthy eating both accessible and affordable, fostering one-on-one relationships through a live messaging platform. By creating detailed profiles based on consumers' health and behavior trends, Wellory provides tailored support and accountability, empowering users to cultivate sustainable eating habits. The company also offers subscription services to enhance user experience and engagement.

BigBrain is a developer of interactive platforms focused on digital entertainment. The company offers a unique trivia game that allows participants to engage in live, multi-player quizzes on various topics. Users have the opportunity to win real-money prizes, combining learning with entertainment. By creating an engaging environment for trivia enthusiasts, BigBrain aims to attract a wide audience interested in both knowledge and competition.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Fast's mission is to make buying online faster, safer and easier for everyone. Its Fast Login and Fast Checkout product enable a one-click sign-in and purchasing experience that makes it easier for people to buy and merchants to sell. The company's products work on any browser, device or platform for consistent, stress-free purchasing, either on a merchants own domain or through headless checkout on any other website. Fast invests heavily in its user privacy and security, with a Zero Fraud Guarantee on chargebacks for sellers. Headquartered in San Francisco, Fast is a privately held company founded by Domm Holland and Allison Barr Allen and funded by Stripe, Addition, Index Ventures, Susa Ventures and Sugar Capital. Headquartered in San Francisco, Fast is a privately held company funded by Stripe, Index Ventures, Susa Ventures, Global Founders Capital, and Brian Sugar – who also serves on the board.

Founded in 2018, BuildOps provides a comprehensive software solution tailored for commercial HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors. Its platform streamlines operations by offering features such as dispatching, scheduling, customer management, mobile invoicing, estimates, proposals, payments, workflows, custom forms, and financial reporting.

The Jones Agency, Inc. is a liability insurance underwriting company that specializes in serving general construction and property management contractors. Founded in 2016 and based in New York, it provides insurance solutions tailored for various professions, including contractors, electricians, HVAC technicians, and landscapers. In addition to its underwriting services, Jones offers a software platform designed to streamline liability management for real estate companies, addressing the complexities of insurance compliance. This innovative approach aims to simplify the traditionally cumbersome process of managing insurance certificates for owners, managers, and developers within the commercial real estate sector. Through its services, Jones seeks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in insurance management for its clients.

ShapeShift Gaming, founded in 2018 and based in Tel Aviv, Israel, develops Jumper.tv, a streaming content aggregator and viewership platform designed to enhance the gaming and eSports viewing experience. The company's platform captures, tracks, and analyzes live video game streams from various sources, utilizing proprietary computer vision and machine learning algorithms to make viewing more interactive. Composed of passionate gamers, ShapeShift Gaming aims to provide all users with an engaging and unique viewing experience.

EliseAI is an artificial intelligence company specializing in developing a conversational platform aimed at automating business processes. The company's primary offering is a virtual leasing assistant designed for the rental housing sector, which aids real estate management companies by efficiently managing inquiries, scheduling property viewings, and providing timely follow-ups with prospects. This tool enhances customer service, maximizes revenue potential, and helps apartment managers reduce property management costs. By utilizing machine learning, EliseAI's platform ensures that no lead is overlooked, streamlining operations for businesses of all sizes in the real estate industry.

Neighborhood Goods, Inc. is a retail company that operates a department store in Dallas, Texas, offering a diverse range of products including apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017, the company emphasizes an innovative shopping experience by featuring a rotating selection of brands and concepts, along with community-focused activities such as events, food offerings, and live speakers. Neighborhood Goods aims to create a vibrant environment where customers can shop, dine, and engage with thoughtful content, both in their physical locations and through their online platform.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Dandelion is a developer and provider of a marketing platform designed to facilitate the seamless discovery of content and commerce. The company enables sellers and service providers to utilize existing content, such as product catalogs and marketplace listings, to create effective advertisements. These ads can be deployed across social media channels, thereby enhancing marketing efforts. Dandelion's vision is to empower individuals and businesses to easily engage in marketing activities, fostering an environment where anyone can participate as a marketer in addition to being a seller.

Beyond is a company based in New York, founded in 2015, that specializes in the manufacturing and rental of electric scooters through a subscription model. This innovative approach aims to enhance convenience, accessibility, safety, and environmental sustainability in transportation. By offering advanced micromobility vehicles, Beyond seeks to empower individuals to travel freely and encourages exploration of their surroundings.

Upfort is a cybersecurity and insurance platform dedicated to providing comprehensive protection for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) against evolving cyber threats. The company offers an integrated solution that encompasses various essential services, including phishing simulation, public Wi-Fi protection, inbox protection, password management, and cyber liability insurance. By consolidating these critical tools into a single, user-friendly platform, Upfort enables organizations to effectively manage their cyber security needs and safeguard their business activities from modern cyber risks.

Pact Insurance Services LLC is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in providing car insurance brokerage services through an online platform. The company focuses on delivering instant and affordable car insurance solutions that cater to both traditional and modern mobility needs. Pact offers a mobile application that allows users to manage their insurance conveniently from their phones, emphasizing personalized plans that include both liability and non-liability coverages. By integrating consumer behavior with flexible coverage technology, Pact aims to create tailored insurance solutions that save customers time, money, and effort.

Neighborhood Goods, Inc. is a retail company that operates a department store in Dallas, Texas, offering a diverse range of products including apparel, accessories, cosmetics, and groceries. Established in 2017, the company emphasizes an innovative shopping experience by featuring a rotating selection of brands and concepts, along with community-focused activities such as events, food offerings, and live speakers. Neighborhood Goods aims to create a vibrant environment where customers can shop, dine, and engage with thoughtful content, both in their physical locations and through their online platform.

The Jones Agency, Inc. is a liability insurance underwriting company that specializes in serving general construction and property management contractors. Founded in 2016 and based in New York, it provides insurance solutions tailored for various professions, including contractors, electricians, HVAC technicians, and landscapers. In addition to its underwriting services, Jones offers a software platform designed to streamline liability management for real estate companies, addressing the complexities of insurance compliance. This innovative approach aims to simplify the traditionally cumbersome process of managing insurance certificates for owners, managers, and developers within the commercial real estate sector. Through its services, Jones seeks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in insurance management for its clients.

Dandelion Energy, Inc. is a Palo Alto, California-based company founded in 2017 that specializes in affordable geothermal heating and cooling solutions. The company replaces traditional air conditioning and heating systems with an innovative home geothermal system that utilizes a powerful heat pump and underground pipes to transfer heat between the earth and the residence. This system is designed to harness thermal energy from below the earth's surface to regulate indoor temperatures and provide hot water, allowing homeowners to transition from conventional heating fuels to a more sustainable geothermal alternative. Dandelion Energy is committed to making renewable heating and cooling accessible and cost-effective for homeowners.

Frank’s online platform streamlines and simplifies the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) application process. Its mission is to help students reach their greatest potential by getting the most value from their education. Frank aims to assist each student and help them get their maximum financial aid.

The Jones Agency, Inc. is a liability insurance underwriting company that specializes in serving general construction and property management contractors. Founded in 2016 and based in New York, it provides insurance solutions tailored for various professions, including contractors, electricians, HVAC technicians, and landscapers. In addition to its underwriting services, Jones offers a software platform designed to streamline liability management for real estate companies, addressing the complexities of insurance compliance. This innovative approach aims to simplify the traditionally cumbersome process of managing insurance certificates for owners, managers, and developers within the commercial real estate sector. Through its services, Jones seeks to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in insurance management for its clients.

Portless is a logistics company based in Exeter, Pennsylvania. It specializes in streamlining e-commerce supply chains by directly fulfilling orders from China and shipping them to customers worldwide. Portless offers seamless integration with major e-commerce platforms and customizable packaging and shipping services, providing businesses with a hassle-free, global logistics solution.