Investment Focus
Pilot House Ventures invests in promising early stage information
technology and telecommunications companies whose products and services
fill a mission critical need in a large and growing market. Companies
must have a sustainable business model and execution plan that will
enable them to achieve and sustain a market leadership position.
Our investment professionals have a broad range of experience and track
record in founding, investing in, and managing both software and
hardware companies, and we believe that many technology sectors have
opportunity and are poised for growth. The team has invested in Internet
infrastructure; telecommunications; supply chain; and enterprise
software companies, as well as in communications and networking products
and services. The combination of deep operational, technical and
investment experience within our team enhances our ability to provide
valuable strategic direction for our portfolio companies.
Target Stage and Investment Amount
Pilot House Ventures generally invests at an early stage, most often in
a Series A financing round. We seek to invest with other top venture
capital firms who also have deep expertise in our investment focus
areas. Our typical initial investment is $2-$4 million. We view
ourselves as value-added, strategic investors who prefer to co-invest
with other top-tier venture capital firms, so we seek venture capital
partners who have deep experience and success in our investment focus
areas. Due to our belief in active investor involvement, we prefer to
invest in New England-based companies.
How We Make Investment Decisions
At Pilot House Ventures, we believe that each partner brings a unique
and valuable perspective to the analysis of every opportunity;
therefore, we make our investment decisions as a team. Our primary
criterion in evaluating an investment opportunity is assessing the
ability of the management, and the product or service, to solve a
business or market need. As part of this decision process, we leverage
our network of industry resources to gain third party perspective on a
company and their product and/or service strategies.
How We Add Value
As early stage investors, our goal is to develop companies into market
leaders. Our unique team approach and productive involvement enable us
to help at each stage of a company's life cycle.
When we commit to an investment, we designate one of our investment
professionals to be actively involved in the success of that portfolio
company. That person generally takes a seat on the company's Board of
Directors. In addition, all Pilot House investment professionals are
available to each portfolio company, as we take a team oriented approach
focusing on a company's success. This team approach gives portfolio
companies a broader set of perspectives, contacts and experiences.
Our portfolio companies also have access to Pilot House Ventures'
extensive networks that are a valuable resource for customer
acquisition, business development, partnerships, marketing strategy,
technology development and management and Board development. Our team's
personal industry relationships, developed over their decades of working
with early stage technology companies, are a high value asset to our
portfolio.
We believe that early-stage investing requires active involvement,
including serving on the Board of Directors; leveraging our industry
relationships and experiences, and collaborating on initiatives such as
financing strategy, product strategy and marketing strategy. Productive
interaction is not limited to the boardroom; we make ourselves available
to listen, advise and collaborate.
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