Catamount Ventures
We measure impact by our companies with a plan to change the world through innovation and creativity. Our capital, connections, and coaching help grow category leaders with a strong mission at their core.
We invest in mission-driven companies
For these companies, the pursuit of growth and revenue naturally produces societal benefits.
Combining authentic brands with socially responsible products, these companies have a market advantage attracting and retaining customers. We're proving that mission-driven investments deliver superior returns.
We do early-stage investing
Catamount invests early in companies across consumer goods, technology, and education. As the first investor in Plum Organics, we helped the founders execute on their mission to “health-up” every highchair and lunchbox. Today, Plum is number one in organic baby and kids nutrition.
We focus on founders
We love to back passionate founders. As entrepreneurs ourselves, we know what it takes to launch and manage a successful business.
We invested in Kristin Groos Richmond and Kirsten Saenz Tobey because of their vision and passion to provide equal access to healthy food for all school children. Today, Revolution Foods is transforming the way we feed our students across the nation with over two million healthy meals being served across 30 cities each week.
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Technology for Learning
Catamount funds disruptive software technologies and services for the K-12 education market. We're partnering with a new wave of entrepreneurs to create internet solutions that improve teacher effectiveness and student outcomes.
With PresenceLearning, we're delivering online speech therapy for kids across the nation.
The Catamount
The Catamount—a mountain lion that once widely roamed the Green Mountains of Vermont—symbolizes Catamount Ventures’ energy and ideology. We liken the catamount’s spirit to that of an entrepreneur. The catamount is solitary and efficient; it possesses a mystique and quiet strength. Like an entrepreneur, the big cat strikes it alone, seeking its own way in the face of constant challenges and harsh realities. By working in partnership with the environment, however, the catamount survives and even thrives (so much so that we hope to see a resurgence in the Green Mountains in the near future).
Who We Work With
Our portfolio teams are our most important resource. Across technology, education, and consumer goods, we work with them to disrupt billion-dollar markets.
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Healthy Living
Companies delivering healthy, sustainable consumer products and services. Across categories like food and beverage, nutrition, cleaning, and apparel, healthy living brands are capitalizing on massive shifts in consumer behavior to disrupt large markets.
Amour Vert, Numi Organic Tea, Plum Organics, Revolution Foods, Seventh Generation
Sustainability
Startups focused on saving the worlds resources and reducing human impact on the environment.
Education Services
A new wave of entrepreneurs on a mission to improve our education system with innovative technologies and services. These companies are improving student outcomes, teacher effectiveness, and school nutrition.
EdSurge, MasteryConnect, Presence Learning, Revolution Foods, Ten Marks
Consumer and Core Technology
Businesses with a focus on strong, protectable intellectual property. These ventures are inventing new forms of hardware, software, and materials to revolutionize large industrial and commercial enterprises.
Banyan Water, eSilicon, Grid Net, Linden Lab, Lux Research, Quri
Our Team
We’re entrepreneurs first and investors second. We apply proven operating experience to help build mission-driven businesses with lasting value.
Jed Smith
Mark Silverman
Kate ChhabraGet In Touch
Below are the four key attributes we look for in every investment. Most importantly, we invest in teams with a defensible plan to grow a category-leading business driven by an authentic mission at its core.
Catamount Ventures
map
400 Pacific Ave., 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94133
Tel: 415.277.0300
Satellite Office
Huge Market Potential
We are looking for innovative and industry-changing businesses that will impact large and important markets. Building big businesses takes patience, capital, and a lot of hard work. We partner with world-changing entrepreneurs disrupting large categories.Sustainable Competitive Advantage
We are looking for companies that can sustainably differentiate themselves from the competition. Our companies do this through mission, technology, intellectual property, business model, partners, branding, and a top-notch team.
A World-Class Team
We are looking for world-class entrepreneurs and teams. We seek people who share our core values and who want to build great boards and work with top talent. We know that alignment among the team, board, and investors is a critical part of success.Sector Leader
We are looking for companies to be number one in their well-defined market. Leaders, whatever the field, are able to hire the best teams, form the best partnerships, and achieve the best business metrics. Companies achieving number one market position create lasting value and outstanding wealth.