Charge Ventures

Active

Overview

Charge Ventures is a venture capital firm based in New York City that invests in pre-seed and seed-stage technology companies across the United States, often providing the first institutional check alongside angels.¹²³ It employs proprietary data-driven technology, including machine learning, to identify promising founders beyond traditional networks, with a focus on sectors like AI/ML, creator economy, marketplaces, D2C healthcare, and future of work.¹³ The firm manages multiple funds, including Charge VC Fund III launched in 2022, and has made 73 investments totaling over $5B in portfolio value.³⁴

History

Charge Ventures was founded in 2015 in New York City by serial entrepreneurs, investors, data scientists, and academics, including co-founders Brett Martin and Chris Habachy.¹⁴ It launched its second fund, Charge VC Fund II, prior to 2022, followed by Charge VC Fund III which opened in February 2022.⁴ The firm has evolved from a NYC-focused fund to one targeting non-traditional geographies like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, and San Diego, emphasizing data-driven sourcing and community engagement.¹³

Reputation

Charge Ventures is recognized by professionals for its data-driven founder discovery and early-stage focus, providing patient capital through SPVs and founder-friendly terms.¹ It has built a reputation for betting on secondary startup hubs and sectors with bottoms-up growth, leading to strong portfolio outcomes.¹³ Enthusiasts note its active community involvement via events and tools like Stats for Startups, though its small team size limits scale compared to larger VCs.¹²

Sources (5)