Highlight Feature:

Overview:
Bright Ventures is a venture capital fund investing in pre-seed and seed-stage AI-native companies in fintech, digital health, and the future of work. The firm launched its inaugural $20MM fund, Bright Ventures Fund I, in 2021 and is now raising Bright Ventures Fund II, targeting $50MM in assets under management.

The Bright Ventures platform consists of three independent entities that strategically support each other:

1. Bright Coaching (Est. 2014)- a structured, personalized coaching service for startups intended to build trust, maximize efficiency, and unlock growth. Coaching is applied across sourcing, diligence, and post-investment processes, enabling the Bright Ventures team to deliver tangible value beyond funding.
   

2. Constellation (Est. 2019)- a platform made up of 11,000 operators, investors, and ecosystem builders that centers around coaching, networking, and community for founders. For Fund I, 69% of deals came from founder/investor referrals, of which 50% came from their Constellation platform.

• The Constellation also comprises the following sub-communities, which are highly relevant for the Fund:

1. Asteri Collective: A group of female leaders from family offices and asset allocators who are moving more capital to women-led innovations and funds. Members participate in monthly Deal Calls with curated female founders, quarterly gatherings in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and an annual summit in Sun Valley.

2. Thematic Community: A group of leaders and innovators focused on health, fintech, and the future of work. They meet quarterly for events and discuss industry trends through workshops and activations.

3.  Founder Community: A network of founders that share insights and deepen connections through a dinner series across cities and a wellbeing Retreat in NY.
   

3. Bright Ventures Management LLC (Est. 2021)- A venture fund that invests $800K-$2MM in seed and pre-seed AI-enabled companies.

Opportunity:
Bright Ventures Fund II is investing between $800k and $2MM in pre-seed/seed-stage AI-driven companies, taking an 8%-10% ownership stake. The fund targets a 2.64x TVPI and 4x-7x MOIC for investors. The minimum check size per donor-investor is $25K.

Thesis:
Bright Ventures Fund II is a $50 million venture fund investing $800K to $2MM in 34 pre-seed and seed-stage AI-enabled startups in fintech, digital health, and the future of work. The fund targets initial ownership stakes of 8% to 10% per investment and reserves 15% to 20% of assets under management for follow-on funding.

As AI reduces the time and cost of software development, Bright Ventures believes startups that build trust quickly will succeed. Fund II focuses on experienced sector operators. The team views its platform, centered on coaching, development, and community, as a strong source of deal flow.

Track Record:
The Bright Ventures platform has seen notable success across its inaugural fund and constellation platform. Bright Ventures Fund I raised $20MM in 2021 and invested in 17 companies. To date, 75% of their portfolio companies have raised follow-on funding, over 65% have grown revenue 4x, and 2 were acquired. On the community-building side, Bright Ventures has logged 10,000 advising hours and grown the Constellation network to over 12,000 members.


Mission Alignment:
Bright Ventures distinguishes itself through its strong commitment to portfolio support and founder development. By expanding its constellation network to 11,000 industry experts, investors, and founders, and offering hands-on support through Bright Coaching, the firm makes a tangible impact on the success of its portfolio companies. Their dedication to founder and startup success aligns closely with Inspire Access’s mission and philosophy of prioritizing founders' needs.

Team: