1Sharpe Ventures, an Oakland, Calif.-based proptech-centric early stage investment vehicle grown out of 1Sharpe Capital, closed its inaugural fund, at $90m.
The new fund will focus on global investments in pre-seed to Series A-stage companies leveraging technology to improve the way people access, own and experience real estate.
The 1Sharpe Ventures will make investments in 30-40 companies building technology to progress the real estate system, focusing on three categories:
- Financial Transactions and Access to Capital: improving access to real estate, from mobile-first solutions to financial products that make it more equitable and create opportunities for economic mobility;
- Real Estate Human Capital: transforming antiquated processes with automation and systems that bring greater independence and efficiency to retail, hospitality, office, housing and construction teams;
- Data & Intelligence: creating a more accountable, sustainable and dynamic industry through technology that increases data availability and actionability
Typical check sizes will range from $500k to $2 million and connect founders to the 1Sharpe platform, featuring access to a portfolio of large real estate investments, debt expertise, deep industry relationships, product development partners, and talent networks.
Capital has already been deployed from the fund, with five investments made to date in:
- home renovation and sale platform Freemodel;
- event venue fintech platform, Carats & Cake;
- rental property ownership platform, Flock Homes,
- construction tech platform, Cottage, and a
- Brazilian fintech platform still in stealth.
Founded in 2021 by Gregor Watson and Rob Bloemker, 1Sharpe Ventures has built a team of five employees in 2022, dedicated to venture investment, with plans to expand. Ginny Miller joined as Principal to oversee investment strategy and execution. Feng Wang, Head of Capital Markets at 1Sharpe and former founding team member of LendingHome, will help portfolio companies optimize strategic capital structure. Vice President Kathleen Collins will focus on sourcing and diligencing new opportunities that complement the portfolio.
FinSMEs
26/05/2022