Lerer Hippeau

Lerer Hippeau is an early-stage venture capital fund based in New York City, founded in 2010 by Ken Lerer, Ben Lerer, and Eric Hippeau. The firm is recognized as one of the most active early-stage investors in the region, managing multiple funds, including Lerer Hippeau Ventures V, VII, and VIII. With a portfolio exceeding 250 active companies, Lerer Hippeau invests across various sectors, particularly focusing on consumer and enterprise companies. Notable investments include firms such as Allbirds, Bowery Farming, and K Health. The fund emphasizes backing founders who demonstrate strong product vision, customer insight, and brand-building capabilities. Additionally, Lerer Hippeau has adopted a Diversity Term Sheet Rider, reflecting its commitment to promoting diversity within its portfolio.

Graham Brown

Managing Partner

Stephanie Manning Cohen

Operating Partner

Josh Gilbert

Vice President, Finance and Operations and Chief Compliance Officer

Andrea Hippeau

Partner

Kenneth Lerer

Managing Partner

Ben Lerer

Managing Partner

Robert Li

Associate

Isabelle Phelps

Partner

Dan Rochkind

CFO

Caitlin Strandberg

Partner

Max Wechter

Strategy Associate

Mendy Yang

Associate

Past deals in Colorado

Vangst

Series B in 2022
Vangst is a staffing service dedicated to the cannabis industry, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the company operates a digital platform called Vangsters that connects job seekers with cannabis employers, facilitating a streamlined job search experience. Vangst provides various staffing solutions, including direct hire placements, on-demand employees, career fairs, and a comprehensive job board. The company has established itself as a trusted resource for both employers and employees by successfully matching thousands of cannabis professionals with leading companies in the sector. With a focus on industry expertise and a deep understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape, Vangst aims to support the growth and success of the cannabis workforce.

Casa

Series A in 2021
Casa offers a secure storage solution for consumers and companies to safely store their digital wealth. Casa helps users manage their private keys, through the multi-location security model that removes single points of failure and protects users from theft, accidents, and disasters, providing them with the tools for securing their digital lives.

Casa

Seed Round in 2021
Casa offers a secure storage solution for consumers and companies to safely store their digital wealth. Casa helps users manage their private keys, through the multi-location security model that removes single points of failure and protects users from theft, accidents, and disasters, providing them with the tools for securing their digital lives.

LeafLink

Series C in 2020
LeafLink, Inc. is a business-to-business e-commerce platform designed to facilitate wholesale activities within the cannabis industry. Established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, LeafLink connects cannabis brands and retailers, providing tools to streamline ordering and improve communication. The platform includes features such as a centralized sales engine, customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, and order management tools, allowing users to manage their inventory, track orders, and enhance brand visibility effectively. With access available 24/7 across various devices, LeafLink serves over 1,200 brands and 3,500 retailers across 22 territories in the U.S. and Canada. The company also maintains offices in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, and Toronto, reinforcing its role as the industry standard for wholesale management in the cannabis sector.

Spark Grills

Convertible Note in 2020
Spark Grills features proprietary wood and charcoal Briq system, loading and quick ignition is simple, while clean-up is seamless and mess-free. Spark is a design-forward charcoal grill that fires up in seconds and has oven-like temperature control, allowing grilling enthusiasts, and home chefs alike, to dial in their culinary creativity. It was founded in 2017 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

Havenly

Series C in 2019
Havenly, Inc. specializes in providing online interior design services that cater to a diverse range of budgets. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with an additional location in Boston, Massachusetts, Havenly connects users with professional interior designers who create personalized designs based on individual style and space. Clients complete online style surveys and can upload photos of their spaces for consultation. Following the design process, users can purchase furniture and decorative items directly through Havenly's platform, which features a wide selection from numerous retailers at competitive prices. The company is recognized as a leading player in the online interior design market, working with a large network of vetted designers across the United States.

LeafLink

Series B in 2019
LeafLink, Inc. is a business-to-business e-commerce platform designed to facilitate wholesale activities within the cannabis industry. Established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, LeafLink connects cannabis brands and retailers, providing tools to streamline ordering and improve communication. The platform includes features such as a centralized sales engine, customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, and order management tools, allowing users to manage their inventory, track orders, and enhance brand visibility effectively. With access available 24/7 across various devices, LeafLink serves over 1,200 brands and 3,500 retailers across 22 territories in the U.S. and Canada. The company also maintains offices in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, and Toronto, reinforcing its role as the industry standard for wholesale management in the cannabis sector.

Sweet Reason Beverage

Seed Round in 2019
Sweet Reason Beverage Co. is a New York-based company that specializes in producing CBD-infused sparkling water. The company offers a selection of naturally flavored beverages, including Grapefruit, Cucumber Mint, and Strawberry Lavender. Each 12 oz bottle contains CO2-extracted CBD sourced from organic hemp grown in Colorado. Sweet Reason's products are designed to be health-conscious, containing no sugar, sweeteners, sodium, carbohydrates, or artificial ingredients, and are only five calories per serving. The beverages are available through various retail and online platforms, primarily in New York.

Vangst

Series A in 2019
Vangst is a staffing service dedicated to the cannabis industry, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the company operates a digital platform called Vangsters that connects job seekers with cannabis employers, facilitating a streamlined job search experience. Vangst provides various staffing solutions, including direct hire placements, on-demand employees, career fairs, and a comprehensive job board. The company has established itself as a trusted resource for both employers and employees by successfully matching thousands of cannabis professionals with leading companies in the sector. With a focus on industry expertise and a deep understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape, Vangst aims to support the growth and success of the cannabis workforce.

Spark Grills

Seed Round in 2018
Spark Grills features proprietary wood and charcoal Briq system, loading and quick ignition is simple, while clean-up is seamless and mess-free. Spark is a design-forward charcoal grill that fires up in seconds and has oven-like temperature control, allowing grilling enthusiasts, and home chefs alike, to dial in their culinary creativity. It was founded in 2017 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado.

Vangst

Seed Round in 2018
Vangst is a staffing service dedicated to the cannabis industry, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 2014, the company operates a digital platform called Vangsters that connects job seekers with cannabis employers, facilitating a streamlined job search experience. Vangst provides various staffing solutions, including direct hire placements, on-demand employees, career fairs, and a comprehensive job board. The company has established itself as a trusted resource for both employers and employees by successfully matching thousands of cannabis professionals with leading companies in the sector. With a focus on industry expertise and a deep understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape, Vangst aims to support the growth and success of the cannabis workforce.

Casa

Seed Round in 2018
Casa offers a secure storage solution for consumers and companies to safely store their digital wealth. Casa helps users manage their private keys, through the multi-location security model that removes single points of failure and protects users from theft, accidents, and disasters, providing them with the tools for securing their digital lives.

LeafLink

Series A in 2017
LeafLink, Inc. is a business-to-business e-commerce platform designed to facilitate wholesale activities within the cannabis industry. Established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, LeafLink connects cannabis brands and retailers, providing tools to streamline ordering and improve communication. The platform includes features such as a centralized sales engine, customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, and order management tools, allowing users to manage their inventory, track orders, and enhance brand visibility effectively. With access available 24/7 across various devices, LeafLink serves over 1,200 brands and 3,500 retailers across 22 territories in the U.S. and Canada. The company also maintains offices in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, and Toronto, reinforcing its role as the industry standard for wholesale management in the cannabis sector.

Herb

Seed Round in 2017
Herb is an online news portal and community focused on cannabis, established in 2006 and based in the United States. The platform curates information related to cannabis, emphasizing its medicinal and therapeutic properties. By providing resources and fostering discussions, Herb aims to educate users about the benefits and uses of cannabis, appealing to both casual users and those seeking its therapeutic applications.

LeafLink

Seed Round in 2017
LeafLink, Inc. is a business-to-business e-commerce platform designed to facilitate wholesale activities within the cannabis industry. Established in 2015 and headquartered in New York, LeafLink connects cannabis brands and retailers, providing tools to streamline ordering and improve communication. The platform includes features such as a centralized sales engine, customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities, and order management tools, allowing users to manage their inventory, track orders, and enhance brand visibility effectively. With access available 24/7 across various devices, LeafLink serves over 1,200 brands and 3,500 retailers across 22 territories in the U.S. and Canada. The company also maintains offices in major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, and Toronto, reinforcing its role as the industry standard for wholesale management in the cannabis sector.

Neighborland

Seed Round in 2012
Neighborland, Inc. is an online community platform based in New Orleans, Louisiana, that facilitates local residents in sharing their ideas and insights about urban development. Established in 2011, the platform encourages collaboration among neighbors and connects individuals with shared interests. As a public engagement tool, Neighborland serves government agencies, developers, and civic organizations by providing software that enables planners to engage with stakeholders in an accessible and equitable manner. The platform has seen participation from over 3 million individuals and has contributed to projects that have generated more than $3 billion in social and economic impact. As of April 2020, Neighborland operates as a subsidiary of Nextdoor, Inc.