Counterpart Ventures

Counterpart Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm established in 2019, renowned for its distinctive approach to early-stage investing in enterprise technology. The firm focuses on Seed and Series A rounds, channelling capital into promising B2B SaaS, mobility, and marketplace technology startups. What truly sets Counterpart Ventures apart is its foundation by former corporate venture capital (CVC) leaders, making it the first institutional VC fund exclusively built on such a background. This unique heritage allows them to adeptly bridge the gap between traditional venture capital and corporate venture capital, offering founders unparalleled strategic advantages beyond mere funding.

The firm's investment philosophy is characterised by a flexible and innovative funding model, designed to align creatively with the specific needs of its portfolio companies. They are known for their conviction-driven investment style, often leading and pricing deals and demonstrating a willingness to be the first to invest when they see strong potential. Counterpart Ventures seeks out companies that address non-trivial problems or fill critical gaps within large markets, including disruptive AI-native solutions for antiquated industries. This strategic focus enables them to empower visionary founders with the resources necessary to fuel the future of enterprise tech.

A cornerstone of Counterpart Ventures' differentiated strategy is the Counter Club, a global community of corporate venture capital professionals they cultivated. This exclusive network, boasting over 741 unique CVCs and 1,700 investors, serves as a powerful platform for their portfolio companies, providing meaningful access to enterprise customers, strategic partners, and upstream capital. The firm’s Founding General Partners, Patrick Eggen and Joe Saijo, leverage their extensive experience—over two decades combined in CVC leadership roles—to nurture this community and provide invaluable guidance to both nascent and established CVCs. This community-centric model not only enhances due diligence for new investments but also accelerates growth for their portfolio.

Counterpart Ventures has demonstrated significant growth, having raised Fund II with over $110 million and subsequently closing Fund III at $132 million. This has propelled their total assets under management to over $250 million across their three funds. Their portfolio reflects their commitment to impactful enterprise technology, with investments in companies such as AptEdge, Arintra, BackEngine, Budgie Health, Cloudbeds, Remofirst, Soulside, SqlDBM, and Zensors. The firm's leadership team, including Principals Mikey Kailis and Tanvi Narain, and Operating Partner Al Lalani, brings a diverse set of expertise in software, financial services, payments, and entrepreneurial experience, further strengthening Counterpart Ventures' ability to support and scale innovative companies.