Better Ventures

Better Ventures Research Document Investment Thesis Better Ventures is an impact-first venture capital firm founded in 2011 by Wes Selke and Rick Moss. As a Certified B Corporation, the firm believes that mission-driven companies can solve big problems at scale and that incorporating people and planet into the bottom line is good for business. Rather than chasing quick exits, Better Ventures backs founders who see business as a vehicle for positive change, with the motto "make money, do good." The firm's thesis rests on a fundamental belief that mission-driven founders have built-in competitive advantages in raising capital, recruiting and retaining talent, and building lasting brands thanks to the power of purpose. They seek to invest in founders who are intentional about solving meaningful problems aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals while building sustainable, scalable businesses. Investment Themes Better Ventures organizes its portfolio around three primary impact themes: 1. Sustainable Industry Novel solutions for reducing carbon emissions, waste, and pollution across industries. This includes: Electrification : Converting industrial and consumer equipment from fossil fuels to electric power Food & Agriculture : Sustainable food production, climate-resilient crops, and food-as-medicine innovations Bioeconomy : Using biology and biotechnology to create sustainable alternatives to petrochemicals Circular Economy : Textile-to-textile recycling, zero-waste manufacturing, and closed-loop materials Recent notable companies include Synop (operating system for electric vehicles), Avalo (AI-powered climate-resilient crop breeding), and Mission Barns (cultivated animal-free pork fat). 2. Improve Human Health Biological insights and digital tools to improve health and reduce the cost of care. Key sub-sectors: Behavioral Health : Mental health diagnostics and treatment platforms Personalized Health : AI-enabled diagnostics and health monitoring Food as Medicine : Using nutrition and functional food to prevent and treat chronic disease Longevity : Extending healthspan through biological research and preventative care Notable companies include Eko Health (FDA-approved AI cardiac diagnostics, 19M+ patient encounters in 2024), RxDiet (AI-powered food-as-medicine), and One.Bio (novel prebiotics for fiber gap). 3. Equip Tomorrow's Workforce Building the skills required to thrive in the modern economy. Addresses: Personalized Learning : AI-enabled education and skill development Reskilling : Programs for workers transitioning between industries Workforce Augmentation : AI tools to increase human productivity AI for SMBs : Making advanced technology accessible to small businesses Examples include Skillfully (AI skills assessments for hiring), AdeptID (AI skills matching for hidden talent), Doowii (AI data scientist for education), and BookNook (high-impact literacy tutoring, 3,700+ schools, 2.3M sessions). Investment Approach & Positioning Stage Focus Better Ventures is a seed and pre-seed focused investor. They typically lead or co-lead both pre-seed and seed rounds with initial investments of $500K - $1M per company. This positions them as strategic early-stage capital providers. Check Size Initial investments: $500K - $1M Typical ownership target: 15-20% in seed rounds They maintain reserves for follow-on investments Decision Process The firm operates with a partnership decision-making structure. Founding Partners Wes Selke and Rick Moss lead investment decisions alongside Partner Lyndsey Boucherle. The partnership model suggests collaborative due diligence and a thoughtful, relationship-driven process. Lead Tendency Better Ventures has a strong lead tendency - they lead both pre-seed and seed rounds. They explicitly state "We lead and co-lead pre-seed and seed rounds" and maintain significant influence in pricing and governance. Team & Culture The firm operates with a lean three-partner model: Wes Selke brings 20+ years of venture capital experience Rick Moss contributes deep operational expertise and founder engagement (active Medium contributor) Lyndsey Boucherle focuses on operations and strategy This lean structure emphasizes direct founder relationships and thoughtful partnership over institutional formality. Recent Activity & Fund Status Fund Status: Actively Deploying Better Ventures manages $108M across four funds with active deployment continuing into 2026. Latest investment: Oasys Health (January 2026). Recent Portfolio Additions (2024-2026) Critical Loop : Energy grid marketplace Frate : AI-powered returns management Matereal : Sustainable material coatings Rock Rabbit : Home electrification incentives One.Bio : Prebiotic fiber innovation ($27M Series A, Dec 2024) Doowii : AI data science for education Skillfully : Skill-based hiring ($2.5M seed, Aug 2024) Notable Exits & Scale Agathos : Acquired by EvidenceCare (March 2025) Eko Health : FDA approvals, 19M+ patient encounters (2024), $160M+ total funding BookNook : 3,700+ schools, 2.3M tutoring sessions Debut Biotech : L'Oréal partnership, $69M+ funding, 108 MT CO2 reduction Selection Criteria Better Ventures evaluates six core criteria before investing: Important : Addresses meaningful problem aligned with UN SDGs Intentional : Founders are mission-driven and personally committed Intrinsic : Core product has direct, unavoidable impact Scalable : Solution has potential for large-scale change Measurable : Impact can be clearly measured and tracked Diverse : Company demonstrates commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion Portfolio Impact (Cumulative) 4.8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions avoided or reduced 74 billion gallons of water protected 1,468 metric tons of waste avoided 1.2 million quality jobs facilitated 124 million people served with essential goods and services Founder Profile Better Ventures backs: Mission-driven technical founders with deep problem commitment Diverse founding teams and underrepresented founders Science and technology builders (AI/ML, biotech, materials science) B2B solution providers Teams with executed products and market traction Investment Philosophy Better Ventures believes mission and business success are complementary. Mission attracts talent, builds customer loyalty, and provides founder resilience. The firm's 14-year track record and $108M AUM validate this thesis.