We are now accepting founder applications for funding in 2023. Learn more.
Learn more about the LvlUp process and unique offerings for our LPs.
We want to ensure we are attracting deals our partners may miss.
Our Venture Scout Program is an active visionary, entrepreneurial, investing, and operating community. Scouts work with Partners & fellow scouts to identify, educate and invest in the Startups in their network while building their personal investment portfolio & developing their venture track record.
Our scouts are tasked with finding high quality deal flow and sharing it with us. In exchange, we provide them with a piece of our carry if we end up investing.
Founding Partner Investments
Startup Failure Rate
VC Funds raised by Portfolio Teams
All applications (whether general or through our partners & venture scouts) are centralized and sent to our digital deal warehouse.
Our digital review interface calculates a base score to help prioritize review. All applications are reviewed within 4-5 business days and first call invites are sent to stand-outs.
Introductory call with 1-2 LvlUp team members.
We reconvene as a team and share relevant information from first call and update internal scoring.
If there is additional interest, we request a second call.
Typically scheduled with 2-3 LvlUp team members, including a partner and/or subject matter expert.
We reconvene as a team to discuss the startup and share relevant information gathered from the 2nd call. At this point we have learned enough to either enter DD or reject.
Companies are invited to complete our Due Diligence Questionnaire and we request access to their data room.
We further validate company's customer pipeline.
Upon reviewing the Due Diligence Questionnaire and data room, we’ll discuss further with any subject matter experts and schedule a 3rd and/or 4th call to further discuss.
We’ll meet again as a team to discuss any outstanding questions or concerns. Send term sheets.
We look for companies who have validated product-market fit with scalable potential, ed by strong founding teams with the intangibles needed to take their ventures to the next level.
Under $1 million
At least 3 months
> 10%
18 - 24 months
$150,000 - $250,000
2 - 5%
< $15 million
Many of our LPs are experienced operators with valuable insight they are willing to share.
Not only does this help our teams succeed, but it gives hands-on LPs a chance to earn additional non-cash equity.
Our level of involvement helps us negotiate better deal terms, including:
Pro Rata Rights
Ratchet Protection
First Right of Refusal
Liquidity Options
In future priced equity rounds, we build-in the option for early liquidity options for those who wish to exercise them.
We are exploring incentives for liquidity event options to roll disbursements into future funds.
Co-Founder of Quake Capital, highlighted by CrunchBase for making the second-most investments in female-led startups (2018).
200+ Startup Investments, with 94% still active, 4 previous exits. 10X+ return on portfolio of active investments within last 5 years.
Extensive network of over 1,000 investors.
Frequent collegiate guest lecturer & startup judge.
Technical managing partner bringing over a decade of frontier tech experience and 5+ years of investment experience to LvlUp.
Four-time venture-backed CTO with 3+ years leading startup consultant firm assisting in pitch deck creation, fundraising, coaching, and more.
10+ years of full-stack dev. experience in FinTech, SocialTech, MedTech, and more.
New York University, Masters
Adam is a determined leader and expert problem solver, who takes a very hands-on approach with founders.
3 years of experience managing associates and working with a variety of startups across several industries.
Frequent Event & Pitch Competition Organizer, Host, and Participant
Co-Founder of a stealth mode cryptocurrency mining company.
B.S. Economics, Occidental College
Yolanda is currently pursuing her MS in Finance degree at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business.
Yolanda received her B.A. in Economics degree from UC, San Diego.
