Wave Ventures
Wave Ventures is a unique venture capital firm based in Helsinki, founded in 2016. It is managed entirely by investors aged 25 and under, operating on a rotation-based model to maintain a youthful and dynamic team. The firm's structure provides a fresh perspective and sourcing advantage within the student and startup community, allowing them to connect with the youngest exceptional founders that are often overlooked by traditional venture capital firms.
Wave Ventures primarily invests in angel and pre-seed startups in the Nordic region. The firm is sector-agnostic, focusing on young and innovative founders across various industries. The typical investment size ranges up to €300,000, with a goal to fund 10 to 20 startups per year. Wave Ventures recently closed its third fund, Fund III, at €10 million, a significant increase from its prior €2 million fund, showcasing growing institutional support.
Notable investments in Wave Ventures' portfolio include Inven and Tzafon, demonstrating their capability in nurturing serious early-stage companies. The firm’s LP base includes influential backers from companies such as Spotify, Wolt, Slack, Bolt, and Supercell, providing a valuable network to its portfolio companies.
Wavemaker 360 Health
Wavemaker 360 Health is a venture capital firm based in Pasadena, California, focusing exclusively on healthcare technology investments. Founded by John Nackel, the firm aims to drive innovation in the healthcare sector by supporting companies that align with their 'Quintuple Aim' framework. This framework emphasizes improved patient experiences, lower costs, new revenue streams for providers, better clinician experiences, and enhanced outcomes. The team is composed of experienced professionals dedicated to transforming healthcare through strategic investments.
The firm invests primarily in seed-stage companies within the healthcare technology space, including sectors such as AI, Medtech, Biotech, and Data. Their typical check size ranges from $500K to $1M. Wavemaker 360 Health focuses on the US market, seeking to support companies that can deliver significant value to the healthcare industry. The firm is known for its ability to lead investment rounds and its commitment to fostering innovation in healthcare.
Notable investments by Wavemaker 360 Health include Carlsmed, a company specializing in personalized spinal implants, and Gradient Health, which focuses on expanding medical AI development through multimodal data. These investments reflect the firm's dedication to supporting companies that offer transformative solutions in healthcare.
Wavemaker Impact
Wavemaker Impact is a venture capital firm based in Singapore, founded in 2012. The firm focuses on climate-tech and sustainability startups, partnering with seasoned entrepreneurs to build impactful companies. With a team of 25 professionals, including 4 partners, Wavemaker Impact is dedicated to addressing emissions-heavy sectors such as food, agriculture, and energy. The firm is recognized for its unique approach to venture building and its commitment to reducing the global carbon budget by 10%.
Wavemaker Impact invests in sectors like Enterprise, Deep Tech, and Sustainability, with a particular focus on early-stage companies. The firm typically invests in pre-seed and seed rounds, with an average check size of $500K. Their investment strategy spans across Southeast Asia, with a total of $6 million in assets under management. Notable funds include the 100x100 Impact Fund I, launched in 2022, which is co-managed with 100x100 and domiciled in Singapore.
Notable investments by Wavemaker Impact include Growsari - a B2B platform in the Philippines, Lhoopa - addressing affordable housing in Southeast Asia, and TradeGecko - a supply chain management solution for SMEs, which was acquired by Intuit. These investments highlight the firm's focus on impactful and scalable solutions in the region.
Wavemaker Partners
Wavemaker Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2003, with headquarters in Los Angeles, United States, and Singapore. The firm was co-founded by Eric Manlunas and David Siemer, who bring extensive experience in entrepreneurship and investment. Wavemaker Partners has a team of 35 people, including 4 partners, and is known for its focus on enterprise and deep tech sectors.
The firm invests primarily in early-stage companies, with a focus on sectors such as enterprise applications, deep tech, fintech, and SaaS. Wavemaker Partners typically invests in Seed and Series A rounds, with check sizes ranging from $100K to $2.5M. The firm has a strong presence in the Asia-Pacific and USA regions, and has invested in over 447 companies, including 4 unicorns and 9 IPOs.
Notable investments by Wavemaker Partners include Coins.ph - a fintech platform, Mindbody - a wellness services software, and Blaize - an AI computing platform. The firm has co-invested with partners like SEEDS Capital and continues to support innovative startups across various sectors.
Waverley Capital
Waverley Capital is a venture capital firm focused on the media, entertainment, and sports industries. Based in the United States, the firm was co-founded by Edgar Bronfman Jr. and Daniel V. Leff, with a team experienced in investing, building, and operating media companies. The firm differentiates itself through its extensive network of media and technology executives and board members, providing proprietary access to deal flow and unique industry insights.
Waverley Capital primarily invests in media, entertainment, and sports sectors and engages deeply with the founders and senior management of portfolio companies. The firm operates with a venture capital model, supporting companies through various stages of their growth. While specific check sizes are not detailed, the venture capital nature implies flexibility across early and growth stages.
Notable investments by Waverley Capital include PlutoTV, Roku, The Athletic, and Wondery, reflecting a strong focus on transformative companies within the media ecosystem. This strong portfolio highlights their strategic engagement and track record in the industry.
Wayra
Wayra is the most globally, connected and technological open innovation hub of the world. It connects technological disruptors with Telecommunication to create joint business oportunities. Wayra operates through 11 hubs in 10 countries within Telecommunications: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Peru, Spain, United Kingdom and Venezuela, brining entrepeneurial talent to those global scale ecosystems
WBD Investment Holdings
WDB Investment Holdings is a women-founded, women-led private equity and venture capital firm based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was established in 1996 as an arm of the WDB Trust to sustain its community programs and ensure its independence. The firm is unique in its commitment to advancing women in leadership roles and distributing profits to support the WDB Trust's initiatives targeting rural women's empowerment across South Africa. The team is comprised of experienced professionals dedicated to fostering women's development in business and social sectors.
The firm invests across various sectors including Financial Services, Consumer Products, and Industrial sectors. It focuses on providing funding and support to small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), mainly operated by women. WDB Investment Holdings manages total assets worth approximately R6 billion. The firm looks to be a strategic partner in its investee companies, often securing board positions to influence direction and growth.
WDB Investment Holdings has been active in numerous notable investments such as its strategic partnerships with listed blue-chip companies. The firm's distinctive approach channels most profits to further the social mandate of its parent Trust, impacting over 200,000 female entrepreneurs in rural areas of South Africa.
WBPEF (Western Balkans Private Equity Fund)
Western Balkans Private Equity Fund is a private equity firm based in Belgrade, Serbia, and Milan, Italy. The fund is managed by a team of experts in private equity and acquisitions with substantial experience in the Western Balkan region. With a track record of over 40 billion euros in investments, the firm specializes in value creation through the M&A process and post-acquisition leadership. They focus on industries such as industrial, ICT, agribusiness, inclusive development of local markets, and sustainable energy and infrastructure.
The firm invests in small and midcap companies within the Western Balkans, specifically in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. They support business growth through new strategies, technological innovation, and strengthening management controls. WBPEF provides private equity for majority and minority ownership as development or substitution capital, including management buyouts and buyins. Their approach includes offering access to financing for growth and development.
Notable investments by the Western Balkans Private Equity Fund include engagements with companies that facilitate business growth through strategic projects and organizational development. The firm places significant emphasis on ESG and female empowerment as part of its investment strategy. The advisory board of WBPEF is highly experienced, bringing international expertise to support their portfolio companies.
We NYC
We NYC is a program based in New York City dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs. It operates under the NYC Department of Small Business Services and aims to provide resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women in business across the city. The program is characterized by its inclusive approach, offering services to all New Yorkers regardless of gender identity, background, or other protected characteristics.
We NYC focuses on various services geared toward enhancing the capabilities and growth of women-owned businesses. These services include improving business credit knowledge, exploring financing options, and inspiring entrepreneurship through a series of events and mentorship sessions. They emphasize building leadership skills through their initiatives, including WE Master, WE Legal, and WE Connect programs.
Notable programs like WE Connect are designed to empower women through mentorship, while WE Legal provides crucial legal advice to navigate business challenges. By fostering this supportive environment, We NYC aims to create a network of women entrepreneurs who can thrive and drive business growth in New York City.
WE Venture
WE Venture is part of the WE NYC initiative, managed under the NYC Department of Small Business Services. The program primarily serves as a resource hub based in New York City, focusing on women entrepreneurs. It offers mentorship, legal advice, and business skills training. The initiative connects entrepreneurs with various services to support their business development and facilitate networking opportunities.
WE Venture's offerings cater to a broad spectrum of business stages, providing essential resources and guidance rather than direct financial investment. It emphasizes women leadership and support through its networking events, mentorship series, and access to legal consultations. The initiative is part of a wider effort to empower women-owned businesses in the New York community.
Notably, it is a government-supported platform rather than a traditional investment firm. It operates within the framework of public service to foster entrepreneurship among women, enhancing their access to the business tools and networks necessary for growth.