Spero Ventures

Mast Reforestation is a provider of vertically integrated reforestation services focused on restoring forests damaged by wildfires. The company addresses barriers to reforestation, including financial, procedural, and seed supply challenges, facilitating the reforestation of millions of acres. By acquiring two legacy businesses, Mast has become the largest seed and seedling vendor in the Western United States, which is crucial for overcoming reforestation bottlenecks. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including seed collection, seedling cultivation, site preparation, planting, and ongoing monitoring. Additionally, Mast leverages project finance to generate high-quality carbon removal credits, allowing landowners to reforest their land at no cost while contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and making reforestation scalable to combat climate change.

Aralez Bio specializes in the sustainable production of noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs), which are also known as unusual or unnatural amino acids. The company has developed a novel enzymatic method that allows for the synthesis of over 100 ncAAs with perfect enantiopurity in a single step, using water as the sole byproduct. This innovative approach provides clients with access to essential amino acids required for advancements in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and functional materials, thereby supporting various sectors in their product development efforts.

Corvus Robotics specializes in the development of indoor drones designed for warehouse inventory management. These drones are equipped to perform continuous cycle counts, collecting data that feeds into an analytics management system. The accompanying software provides detailed analytics and conducts audits, helping businesses identify and resolve discrepancies within their inventory. By streamlining the inventory process, Corvus Robotics enables warehouses and manufacturing facilities to enhance operational efficiency and make informed financial decisions.

Leaf Agriculture is a Brazilian company founded in 2017, based in Florianopolis, that specializes in providing a unified application programming interface (API) platform for the agriculture industry. This platform offers data services that facilitate access to agricultural data and validation of user access. By connecting various AgTech APIs, Leaf Agriculture enables users to access agricultural data efficiently through a single API, contributing to the advancement of digital agriculture. The company's mission focuses on enhancing the future of food and agriculture through innovative data solutions.

Juno is an insurance company focused on providing child insurance solutions for parents, catering to families from the stage of expecting a child through to empty nesting. The company offers products designed to cover serious diseases and disabilities affecting children, aiming to support nearly 2 million families in the United States who are impacted by rare diseases. Juno sells its insurance products through employers, delivering financial assistance and personalized guidance to parents seeking long-term protection for their children in the event of severe illness or disability.

Telo Trucks specializes in manufacturing compact electric vehicle trucks designed for urban residents and weekend adventurers. The company focuses on providing affordable electric trucks that cater to the needs of city dwellers, allowing them to navigate urban environments efficiently. Telo Trucks aims to deliver practical and cleverly designed vehicles that enhance urban living and support recreational activities, making electric vehicle ownership accessible for a broader audience.

Tiny Health is a prominent microbiome health platform focused on improving health outcomes for individuals dealing with chronic conditions and those seeking to enhance their overall wellness. The company offers the first at-home gut microbiome test specifically designed for pregnant mothers and their babies, utilizing advanced shotgun metagenomics. In addition to these tests, Tiny Health provides microbiome assessments for older children and adults, as well as vaginal health tests. More than 30,000 families have relied on Tiny Health to address imbalances in their gut and vaginal microbiomes, utilizing personalized dietary, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on test results. This evidence-based approach has helped many individuals alleviate severe symptoms and, in some cases, reverse chronic conditions. Tiny Health's team comprises leading scientists, physicians, and microbiologists from prestigious institutions, ensuring a strong foundation in research and clinical expertise.

Eli is a technology company that simplifies the process of offering incentives, rebates, and financing for consumers to adopt decarbonization projects such as heat pumps, EV chargers, and solar panels. It uses a digital platform to assess and verify user eligibility for various incentives, ensuring accessibility and affordability for these projects.

Base Operations Inc. specializes in providing street-level threat analysis services through a comprehensive threat intelligence platform. Founded in 2015 and based in Washington, D.C., the company aggregates and visualizes both crowdsourced and official data to assist organizations in mitigating risks and ensuring the safety of their personnel and operations in emerging markets. Their offerings include detailed threat assessments, neighborhood threat ratings, and AI-powered predictive analytics, which enable clients to gain actionable insights for improved response times and security management. Additionally, the platform features a dashboard for security personnel, facilitating communication with field employees and enhancing trip management to safeguard against potential threats.

Talkshoplive is a prominent live stream commerce network that facilitates interactive shopping experiences through its innovative platform. It allows sellers to create live shows where they can display product details and engage in real-time conversations with buyers. The platform features a patent-pending embeddable video player that enables transactions to be processed directly within the video, enhancing the shopping experience. Additionally, Talkshoplive provides comprehensive services that support both buyers and sellers, including live show creation, order processing, and streamlined shipping and payouts. Customers can follow their favorite brands and receive notifications for live shows and sales, making it easier to engage with sellers and discover new products.

Confirm HR, Inc. is a data-driven hiring platform founded in November 2019 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company has developed an application that assists organizations in making informed hiring decisions by collecting feedback from secondary and backchannel references. This application helps identify candidate traits, verify compatibility, and reduce bias, thereby improving the chances of hiring qualified candidates. Confirm's platform utilizes quantitative methods to assess candidate quality, allowing employers to uncover the right skills and credentials for job roles. By streamlining the hiring process, Confirm aims to match job seekers with their ideal positions more efficiently, facilitating better talent decisions without the influence of subjectivity or politics.

Oova Inc. is a fertility diagnostic company based in New York that specializes in developing personalized fertility testing solutions. Founded in 2017, Oova spun out from Mount Sinai Hospital and utilizes patent-pending biochemistry and artificial intelligence to analyze hormonal levels in women's urine. The company's innovative paper-based testing strips measure key hormones, such as luteinizing hormone and progesterone, allowing women to manage their menstrual cycles, assess fertility, and monitor reproductive health conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). By facilitating daily urine sample collection and offering real-time insights through a mobile application, Oova supports women in achieving their conception goals while seamlessly integrating into their daily lives.

Hyro is a developer of a conversational artificial intelligence platform that simplifies user interactions across various digital channels. The platform leverages natural language understanding to create plug-and-play AI assistants that enable users to engage with information through voice or chat. By automatically building a knowledge graph from existing content, Hyro allows organizations to deploy and maintain their solutions with minimal friction, eliminating the need for extensive integration, playbooks, or training data. Additionally, the platform includes advanced analytics and conversation editing capabilities, enabling businesses to customize navigation and enhance customer engagement effectively.

Euclid Power focuses on creating platforms that facilitate the management and investment in renewable energy projects. The company provides a comprehensive suite of data-driven tools designed to support the entire project lifecycle, from development to execution. Their services include energy storage modeling, risk management, project feasibility assessments, underwriting, and asset management. By offering these resources, Euclid Power enables renewable energy developers and investors to navigate the complexities of technical and financial due diligence, thereby reducing the risks associated with project investment.

Clarity Movement transforms how governments, communities, and businesses understand and respond to air pollution with IoT-based air quality monitoring technology. Our turn-key air quality monitoring solution supplements existing regulatory monitors with networks of hundreds to thousands of continuously-calibrated air quality sensors, making air quality management more accessible, cost-effective, and actionable than ever before. Founded in 2014, we have now deployed our next-generation, highly-accurate indicative air quality monitoring networks in more than 60 countries around the world — empowering our customers to build healthier communities with better data.

Singularity Energy, Inc. is a company focused on developing real-time carbon tracking and decision-making solutions aimed at helping corporate customers optimize their energy usage and reduce carbon emissions. Founded in 2018 by Wenbo Shi, the company utilizes artificial intelligence to integrate real-time carbon dioxide signals from the grid into its platform. This technology enables businesses, including climate regulators and sustainability directors, to visualize and co-optimize their energy resources while balancing cost and emissions. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Singularity Energy provides essential data infrastructure that supports grid decarbonization efforts, allowing organizations to meet their sustainability targets with confidence and transparency.

Empowerly, Inc. is an education technology company based in San Mateo, California, that specializes in providing personalized college counseling and tutoring services for students in grades 7-12, as well as transfer and graduate students. The company utilizes a data-driven approach and a team-based model to connect students with trained counselors who tailor guidance to meet individual needs. Empowerly's platform focuses on college application counseling, helping students navigate the admissions process and enhance their chances of acceptance into their desired universities. By prioritizing personalized support, Empowerly aims to empower students to achieve their academic and career aspirations.

Huckleberry makes behavioral expertise accessible and affordable to all families by combining AI with human experts, starting with children's sleep.

Gencove is a software platform that focuses on high-throughput and cost-effective genome sequencing through the use of low-pass sequencing technology. The company aims to revolutionize genomics research and diagnostics across various species by providing fast and affordable whole-genome sequencing solutions. Gencove develops both molecular and computational tools that facilitate low-cost genome sequencing, making genomic data accessible to researchers in diverse industries, including agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

BIOMILQ is a Durham, North Carolina-based startup founded in 2020 that specializes in producing nutritionally equivalent human breast milk using cultured human mammary cells. The company has developed a mammary biomanufacturing platform aimed at creating bioauthentic human milk ingredients that support better health outcomes for infants. By leveraging advanced technology, BIOMILQ provides an alternative for mothers and caregivers seeking a nutritious and sustainable feeding option, promoting essential aspects of infant development, including immune, gut, and neurological health. The company's innovative approach empowers families with a comprehensive solution for early-life nutrition.

Mast Reforestation is a provider of vertically integrated reforestation services focused on restoring forests damaged by wildfires. The company addresses barriers to reforestation, including financial, procedural, and seed supply challenges, facilitating the reforestation of millions of acres. By acquiring two legacy businesses, Mast has become the largest seed and seedling vendor in the Western United States, which is crucial for overcoming reforestation bottlenecks. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including seed collection, seedling cultivation, site preparation, planting, and ongoing monitoring. Additionally, Mast leverages project finance to generate high-quality carbon removal credits, allowing landowners to reforest their land at no cost while contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and making reforestation scalable to combat climate change.

AllHere is an attendance intervention management platform focused on chronic absenteeism in K12 school districts. It utilizes artificial intelligence and proactive messaging to engage with families. The platform accesses personal information from a school back-office system to facilitate communication. Parents can initiate conversations with a bot via text, receiving responses based on their child's attendance record.

Nana is a vertically integrated trade skills school that specializes in training individuals for careers in appliance repair. Recognizing the impending job displacement due to technological automation, Nana aims to support those affected by equipping them with essential trade skills. The organization offers a comprehensive mentorship program to enhance practical experience and directly connects graduates to job opportunities with major brands like Samsung and GE through its marketplace. By refining this educational pipeline and imparting essential life skills, Nana is committed to revitalizing the American workforce and generating significant economic opportunities for a new generation of tradespeople.

Hyro is a developer of a conversational artificial intelligence platform that simplifies user interactions across various digital channels. The platform leverages natural language understanding to create plug-and-play AI assistants that enable users to engage with information through voice or chat. By automatically building a knowledge graph from existing content, Hyro allows organizations to deploy and maintain their solutions with minimal friction, eliminating the need for extensive integration, playbooks, or training data. Additionally, the platform includes advanced analytics and conversation editing capabilities, enabling businesses to customize navigation and enhance customer engagement effectively.

Tortuga AgTech focuses on enhancing agricultural practices through innovative technology, primarily by using robots to perform labor-intensive tasks such as harvesting, packing, and trimming. The company aims to empower growers to produce unique, nutritious food while promoting environmental sustainability. By integrating advanced digital horticulture systems that utilize robotics, automation, and precision data analytics, Tortuga AgTech enables farmers to adopt more efficient growing methods that improve yields and reduce manual labor requirements. This approach not only helps growers compete with large-scale agriculture but also fosters the creation of full-time local technical jobs. Ultimately, Tortuga AgTech is dedicated to delivering fresher and healthier produce to communities, thereby contributing to a healthier society and a thriving ecosystem.

Talkshoplive is a prominent live stream commerce network that facilitates interactive shopping experiences through its innovative platform. It allows sellers to create live shows where they can display product details and engage in real-time conversations with buyers. The platform features a patent-pending embeddable video player that enables transactions to be processed directly within the video, enhancing the shopping experience. Additionally, Talkshoplive provides comprehensive services that support both buyers and sellers, including live show creation, order processing, and streamlined shipping and payouts. Customers can follow their favorite brands and receive notifications for live shows and sales, making it easier to engage with sellers and discover new products.

BrainsGate, Ltd. is a medical device company based in Caesarea, Israel, specializing in therapies for patients with central nervous system diseases. The company has developed a technology platform that utilizes electrical stimulation of the spheno-palatine ganglion (SPG) to enhance cerebral blood flow. Currently, BrainsGate is focused on treating acute ischemic stroke through its innovative ischemic stroke system, which involves a miniature electrode implanted in the roof of the mouth during a minimally invasive procedure. This method is performed under local anesthesia and is comparable to standard dental treatments. The company has conducted several clinical trials, including a pivotal trial with 300 patients that validated the safety and efficacy of its treatment. BrainsGate is also engaged in a multi-national, randomized study known as ImpACT-24b, aimed at further assessing the effectiveness of its approach within a critical 24-hour window following a stroke.

MetaMap is a customer identity platform that specializes in identity verification, utilizing comprehensive and unique data from emerging markets. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to transform unknown users into trusted individuals online, enabling businesses to enhance their trust-based services. By leveraging regional data sources, including local government checks and global watchlists, MetaMap provides merchants with a clearer view of their users. This empowers them to extend more opportunities to a wider audience, facilitating partnerships with developers and enterprises to scale and differentiate their services effectively.

Nana is a vertically integrated trade skills school that specializes in training individuals for careers in appliance repair. Recognizing the impending job displacement due to technological automation, Nana aims to support those affected by equipping them with essential trade skills. The organization offers a comprehensive mentorship program to enhance practical experience and directly connects graduates to job opportunities with major brands like Samsung and GE through its marketplace. By refining this educational pipeline and imparting essential life skills, Nana is committed to revitalizing the American workforce and generating significant economic opportunities for a new generation of tradespeople.

Fluent Forever Inc. is a language learning application founded in 2013 and based in Chicago, Illinois. The app provides users with resources to learn and retain foreign languages, including Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, German, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese. Its platform features a variety of learning tools such as customized guides, pictures, animated templates, grammar resources, voice training tips, dictionaries, and online vocabulary lists. This comprehensive approach allows users to tailor their learning experience, enhancing pronunciation and fluency while facilitating fast and effective language acquisition.

Fiveable, Inc. is an educational technology company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, founded in 2018. It operates an interactive social learning platform designed for Advanced Placement (AP) students and teachers, aiming to foster educational equity. The platform combines content, community, and courses to enhance the learning experience. It features a comprehensive content library and interactive community spaces, allowing students to engage with peers studying similar subjects. Fiveable offers online instruction led by accredited teachers across various disciplines, including history, social sciences, STEM, and languages. The company's mission is to empower students by building their skills and confidence, enabling them to earn college credit through placement exams and succeed in their educational endeavors.

Empowerly, Inc. is an education technology company based in San Mateo, California, that specializes in providing personalized college counseling and tutoring services for students in grades 7-12, as well as transfer and graduate students. The company utilizes a data-driven approach and a team-based model to connect students with trained counselors who tailor guidance to meet individual needs. Empowerly's platform focuses on college application counseling, helping students navigate the admissions process and enhance their chances of acceptance into their desired universities. By prioritizing personalized support, Empowerly aims to empower students to achieve their academic and career aspirations.

Skillshare, Inc. is an online learning community that was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in New York, New York. The platform offers a diverse array of classes in various fields such as illustration, design, photography, video, and business. It provides practitioners the opportunity to take online courses, watch instructional videos, engage in projects and workshops, and even teach their own classes. By facilitating a creative space for individuals to learn and improve their skills, Skillshare enables members to explore new interests and enhance their expertise in multiple domains, from culinary arts to technology and entrepreneurship.

Huckleberry makes behavioral expertise accessible and affordable to all families by combining AI with human experts, starting with children's sleep.

MetaMap is a customer identity platform that specializes in identity verification, utilizing comprehensive and unique data from emerging markets. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to transform unknown users into trusted individuals online, enabling businesses to enhance their trust-based services. By leveraging regional data sources, including local government checks and global watchlists, MetaMap provides merchants with a clearer view of their users. This empowers them to extend more opportunities to a wider audience, facilitating partnerships with developers and enterprises to scale and differentiate their services effectively.

Clarity Movement transforms how governments, communities, and businesses understand and respond to air pollution with IoT-based air quality monitoring technology. Our turn-key air quality monitoring solution supplements existing regulatory monitors with networks of hundreds to thousands of continuously-calibrated air quality sensors, making air quality management more accessible, cost-effective, and actionable than ever before. Founded in 2014, we have now deployed our next-generation, highly-accurate indicative air quality monitoring networks in more than 60 countries around the world — empowering our customers to build healthier communities with better data.

RushTix, Inc. is a subscription-based live entertainment platform established in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company specializes in offering a variety of live events, including music, health, and comedy shows. In addition to its live entertainment offerings, RushTix has developed an AI-driven platform called ReelMagic, which enables users to engage in immersive 3D story worlds. This platform allows users to influence narratives and interact with virtual characters in real-time, fostering a unique online experience. Creators can also utilize this platform to develop and monetize their interactive experiences within a dedicated marketplace, further enhancing the community aspect of immersive entertainment.

Base Operations Inc. specializes in providing street-level threat analysis services through a comprehensive threat intelligence platform. Founded in 2015 and based in Washington, D.C., the company aggregates and visualizes both crowdsourced and official data to assist organizations in mitigating risks and ensuring the safety of their personnel and operations in emerging markets. Their offerings include detailed threat assessments, neighborhood threat ratings, and AI-powered predictive analytics, which enable clients to gain actionable insights for improved response times and security management. Additionally, the platform features a dashboard for security personnel, facilitating communication with field employees and enhancing trip management to safeguard against potential threats.

INDUS.AI is a construction intelligence platform that provides real estate investors, owners, developers, and general contractors with real-time visibility and actionable insights into construction activities, productivity, and risks. Founded in 2017, the company operates offices in San Francisco and Toronto, serving clients across the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Brazil. INDUS.AI employs a cloud-based 3D computer vision platform that utilizes live video streams from secure IP cameras to identify inefficiencies on construction sites. This technology enables project managers and general contractors to optimize labor, equipment, and materials while offering real-time project controls to address over-billed charges and schedule discrepancies. By enhancing safety, efficiency, and transparency, INDUS.AI aims to transform construction site management and improve overall project outcomes.

Core is a health, wellness, and fitness company based in San Francisco, California. It specializes in developing a meditation device that incorporates haptic feedback and biofeedback technology. This device is designed to enhance meditation practices by guiding users in their progress and personalizing their techniques. Core aims to assist individuals in improving their meditation, relaxation, and sleep quality.

Tortuga AgTech focuses on enhancing agricultural practices through innovative technology, primarily by using robots to perform labor-intensive tasks such as harvesting, packing, and trimming. The company aims to empower growers to produce unique, nutritious food while promoting environmental sustainability. By integrating advanced digital horticulture systems that utilize robotics, automation, and precision data analytics, Tortuga AgTech enables farmers to adopt more efficient growing methods that improve yields and reduce manual labor requirements. This approach not only helps growers compete with large-scale agriculture but also fosters the creation of full-time local technical jobs. Ultimately, Tortuga AgTech is dedicated to delivering fresher and healthier produce to communities, thereby contributing to a healthier society and a thriving ecosystem.

Gencove is a software platform that focuses on high-throughput and cost-effective genome sequencing through the use of low-pass sequencing technology. The company aims to revolutionize genomics research and diagnostics across various species by providing fast and affordable whole-genome sequencing solutions. Gencove develops both molecular and computational tools that facilitate low-cost genome sequencing, making genomic data accessible to researchers in diverse industries, including agriculture and pharmaceuticals.

Huckleberry makes behavioral expertise accessible and affordable to all families by combining AI with human experts, starting with children's sleep.

ROAM is a San Francisco-based robotics company. Their goal is to reinvent the way they make powered orthotics - otherwise known as exoskeletons - making them inexpensive, comfortable, and safe for home use. They are also developing a new class of exoskeleton that uses high strength fabrics and a pneumatic powertrain, resulting in power to weight ratios that are unmatched by existing exoskeleton systems at a significantly lower cost.

SafeTraces is a leading provider of sustainable indoor air quality solutions, specializing in the verification of ventilation and filtration performance in indoor environments. The company offers a unique platform that actively measures pathogen risk, ensuring safer breathing conditions for occupants. By utilizing real-world data, SafeTraces enhances public trust and confidence in building safety, making it a critical resource for those concerned about indoor air quality. Its solutions are backed by the first UL mark for verified ventilation and filtration, demonstrating a commitment to safety and environmental monitoring.

RevUp Software is bringing leading-edge, easy to use analytics to Non-Profits, Academic Institutions and Political Organizations. We help fundraisers, while working with existing software, create new ways to identify, target, and engage their networks.

INDUS.AI is a construction intelligence platform that provides real estate investors, owners, developers, and general contractors with real-time visibility and actionable insights into construction activities, productivity, and risks. Founded in 2017, the company operates offices in San Francisco and Toronto, serving clients across the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, and Brazil. INDUS.AI employs a cloud-based 3D computer vision platform that utilizes live video streams from secure IP cameras to identify inefficiencies on construction sites. This technology enables project managers and general contractors to optimize labor, equipment, and materials while offering real-time project controls to address over-billed charges and schedule discrepancies. By enhancing safety, efficiency, and transparency, INDUS.AI aims to transform construction site management and improve overall project outcomes.

Skillshare, Inc. is an online learning community that was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in New York, New York. The platform offers a diverse array of classes in various fields such as illustration, design, photography, video, and business. It provides practitioners the opportunity to take online courses, watch instructional videos, engage in projects and workshops, and even teach their own classes. By facilitating a creative space for individuals to learn and improve their skills, Skillshare enables members to explore new interests and enhance their expertise in multiple domains, from culinary arts to technology and entrepreneurship.

Mast Reforestation is a provider of vertically integrated reforestation services focused on restoring forests damaged by wildfires. The company addresses barriers to reforestation, including financial, procedural, and seed supply challenges, facilitating the reforestation of millions of acres. By acquiring two legacy businesses, Mast has become the largest seed and seedling vendor in the Western United States, which is crucial for overcoming reforestation bottlenecks. The company offers a comprehensive suite of services, including seed collection, seedling cultivation, site preparation, planting, and ongoing monitoring. Additionally, Mast leverages project finance to generate high-quality carbon removal credits, allowing landowners to reforest their land at no cost while contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions and making reforestation scalable to combat climate change.

Persist AI specializes in enhancing the drug development process for pharmaceutical companies by utilizing artificial intelligence and automation technologies. By focusing on long-acting formulations, the company aims to significantly reduce the time required for pre-clinical formulation development from several years to just three months. This acceleration is achieved through methods such as automated drug release testing and high-throughput formulation screening. By streamlining these processes, Persist AI enables drug manufacturers to develop formulations 50% faster, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and more efficient drug development.