▼ Summary
– Collide Capital closed a $95 million second fund, which it aims to deploy over the next 3.5 years after raising it in about 13 months.
– The venture firm invests in early-stage companies within fintech, supply chain, and the future of work, with a focus on platforms for automation and data-driven decisions.
– Its limited partners include the University of California Endowment, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan, with planned investments of $1-3 million into at least 30 companies.
– The firm is expanding its separate Collide Campus program, which mentors students in venture capital and entrepreneurship across more than 20 university campuses.
– The founders’ backgrounds include experience at firms like Goldman Sachs and Lightspeed, and co-founding the AfroTech conference, contributing to their strong track record.
Collide Capital has secured $95 million for its second investment fund, signaling strong institutional confidence in its focus on early-stage innovation. Founded in 2021 by partners Brian Hollins and Aaron Samuels, the venture firm targets startups within fintech, supply chain, and the future of work sectors. This latest fundraise, designated Fund II, follows the firm’s inaugural $66 million fund closed in 2022. To date, Collide has invested in 75 companies.
The firm’s partners highlighted that raising this capital took approximately 13 months in a challenging environment for emerging fund managers. They credit their successful raise to a demonstrated track record and their professional backgrounds. Hollins previously held roles at Goldman Sachs, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Slow Ventures, while Samuels worked at Bain Capital and Lightspeed before co-founding the prominent AfroTech conference.
Limited partners in Fund II include a repeat anchor investor, the University of California Endowment, alongside Accolade Partners, Fairview Capital, Goldman Sachs, and JPMorgan. Collide plans to deploy the capital over the next three and a half years, writing initial checks between $1 million and $3 million. The goal is to back at least 30 companies, with five investments already completed from the new fund. Existing portfolio companies include Culina Health and Helios.
The firm’s investment thesis centers on foundational software platforms. “We’re most interested in platforms enabling automation, real‑time collaboration, and faster, data‑driven decision making,” Hollins stated.
Beyond direct investing, Collide is expanding its separate Collide Campus program. Launched in 2022, this initiative aims to mentor the next generation of founders and venture capitalists. It consists of an undergraduate track providing training in venture capital and entrepreneurship across more than 20 university campuses, including Harvard and Johns Hopkins, and a graduate fellowship that places students directly within the firm as investing apprentices.
Samuels noted that over 50 students have already completed the program, with many securing positions at top firms like General Catalyst and Collide Capital itself. The program also serves as a strategic pipeline for the firm to source both new investment opportunities and talent. “We started the program as it was something we wished we had when we were students,” Samuels said. “We’re connecting the best and the brightest with venture capital to match their grit and determination to build businesses the world needs.”
(Source: TechCrunch)