Rosecliff Ventures

Rosecliff Ventures Research Investment Thesis Rosecliff Ventures is a diversified investment management firm founded in 2016 by Michael Murphy and Michael Caso. The firm believes in creating positive economic impact and long-term value by providing "lifetime support" to companies from seed through late-stage equity and credit. Rosecliff differentiates itself through deep Wall Street trading expertise, celebrity and athlete LP networks, and a high-profile SPAC platform for private-to-public transitions. The firm operates as a stage-agnostic investor with multiple investment strategies spanning venture capital, private equity, and credit products. Their investment philosophy emphasizes hands-on support, operational mentorship, and value-added connections to help portfolio companies succeed. Stage Focus and Investment Range Rosecliff invests across a broad spectrum of company stages: Venture Capital: Seed and Series A financing for early-stage companies Private Equity: Series B and later, including growth equity, secondary transactions, and pre-IPO investments Credit: Structured credit products, SPACs, PIPEs, and direct lending to venture-backed businesses Typical investment range: $500K - $10M across all strategies, enabling the firm to serve companies at multiple growth stages. Sector and Industry Focus Rosecliff focuses on technology-enabled companies with emphasis on: Financial services (fintech, payments, lending platforms) Consumer products and e-commerce Healthcare and wellness (digital health, specialized care, telemedicine) Software and enterprise applications Logistics and supply chain Manufacturing and industrial technology The firm's portfolio reflects a diversified approach across verticals, with strong concentration in B2B software, marketplace platforms, and healthcare innovation. Portfolio and Recent Activity Rosecliff has built a substantial portfolio of 100+ portfolio companies with combined raised capital exceeding $1B. Notable recent investments and portfolio highlights include: Major Portfolio Companies: Flexport - Supply chain management and logistics Krane - AI-powered construction management Thirty Madison - Human-first healthcare (parent company for Keeps, Cove, Evens) Scale AI - AI data for enterprise models Cerebras - AI chip design and manufacturing OpenAI - Founding investor Perplexity - AI-powered answer engine Anduril - Defense technology and AI systems Monument - Digital addiction recovery platform Brightside - Depression treatment platform Dashworks - Knowledge management for distributed teams Dataminr - AI-driven risk intelligence Rubrik - Cybersecurity and data protection Wheels Up - Private aviation Postmates - On-demand delivery (acquired by Uber) Allbirds - Sustainable footwear (public) Casper - Direct-to-consumer mattresses The portfolio demonstrates strong performance with multiple exits and public companies. Recent activity shows continued deployment with investments across seed, growth, and late-stage rounds as of late 2025. Investment Approach and Decision Process Rosecliff employs a partnership-based decision process with co-founders Michael Murphy and Michael Caso both heavily involved in investment decisions. The firm operates through multiple investment committees focused on different strategies (venture, private equity, credit). Key aspects of Rosecliff's approach: Lead and follow participation in rounds Long-term ownership perspective from seed through exit Active board participation and advisory roles Value-added mentorship through network of experienced advisors Strategic follow-on investment allocation The firm prioritizes founder relationships and provides operational support beyond capital deployment. Competitive Differentiation Rosecliff differentiates through: Wall Street Expertise: Founders' deep financial services background enables sophisticated credit and SPAC transactions Celebrity/Athlete LP Network: Access to unique LP base provides brand and distribution advantages SPAC Platform: High-profile SPAC platform for companies pursuing private-to-public transitions Multi-Strategy Model: Ability to provide debt, equity, and structured products enables flexibility Operational Support: Value-added advisors with operating experience across multiple industries Life-Cycle Support: Commitment to follow-on investments ensures companies have capital through exits Fund Status and Deployment Rosecliff's most recent fund is Rosecliff Frontier Technologies Fund I with $350M in capital. The firm has raised over $1B in total AUM across all investment strategies. Fund deployment appears active as of late 2025 with ongoing investments across multiple stages. Team and Leadership Michael Murphy - Founder, Managing Partner & CEO Michael founded Rosecliff in 2016 with 22+ years of investment and entrepreneurial experience. He has successfully founded three financial services companies and operates multiple investment funds. He serves as Chairman of the firm's Management Committee and co-heads the Investment Committee. Michael Caso - Co-Founder & Managing Partner Michael Caso was co-founder alongside Murphy, forming the strategic partnership that launched the firm. Together, their first seven angel deals all succeeded, demonstrating early validation of their investment approach. The firm employs value-added advisors with decades of combined experience in investing and operating companies across multiple industries. Geographic and Founder Preferences Primarily focused on US markets with emphasis on: New York City and Northeast corridor San Francisco Bay Area Other major tech and business hubs Rosecliff seeks experienced founders and management teams with: Track record of execution Deep domain expertise Ability to scale technology-enabled businesses Clear paths to liquidity The firm shows willingness to work with first-time founders backed by strong advisors and operational teams. Decision Timeline and Warm Introductions Rosecliff operates with a multi-month decision timeline typical of growth-stage investors, with flexibility based on investment stage and complexity. Warm introductions through their network are preferred but not strictly required, particularly for compelling founders in their focus areas.