Springbank Collective

Springbank Collective Research Investment Thesis Springbank Collective is a women-led venture capital firm based in New York that invests in mission-critical infrastructure powering how we work, live, and care. The firm explicitly addresses long-overlooked needs of women and working families, framing this as a $1 trillion opportunity and a generational economic growth driver. Springbank was founded by three operating partners with deep experience in finance, public policy, consumer/retail sectors, and operations—bringing a unique blend of operational expertise to early-stage companies. The firm believes that many of the economy's most essential systems have been dismissed as too complex or too human to solve. However, advances in technology and AI, combined with urgent societal needs, have created a transformational opportunity to rebuild this infrastructure. Springbank positions this as key to U.S. prosperity and growth for the next generation. Core Investment Focus Areas Springbank invests across three interconnected pillar themes: 1. Work (Future of Work & Career) Reimagining productivity, worker support, and economic empowerment: AI-powered workplace tools and automation Training and job readiness platforms (especially for underrepresented groups) Career development and professional networks Employee benefits and workplace wellbeing Neurodiversity and inclusive hiring solutions 2. Live (Housing, Finance & Community) Transforming consumer experiences and underlying infrastructure: Housing affordability and property technology Consumer financial tools and fintech Community engagement and civic technology Food security and nutrition systems Gender-affirming healthcare and sexual wellness 3. Care (Healthcare & Family Support) Building platforms treating care as essential infrastructure: Digital health and telehealth platforms Senior care and aging-in-place solutions Parental support and family caregiving Fertility, maternal, and pediatric health Mental health and wellness services Addiction recovery platforms Stage Focus & Check Sizes Springbank is a pre-seed and seed-stage investor : Pre-Seed: Typically $250K-$500K for early-stage validation and prototype development Seed: $500K-$2M for teams with early traction and initial customer validation Occasional Series A: Follow-on investments in existing portfolio companies demonstrating strong product-market fit Typical Check Size Range: $500K-$1.5M across the fund's portfolio The firm leads and co-leads rounds in their focus areas, providing not just capital but also operational support, network access, and strategic guidance. Fund Details Fund History: Original Springbank syndicate established in 2019 as a community investor collective Fund I (announced June 2023): $35-40M raised Current AUM: Estimated $40-75M across all vehicles Status: Actively deploying capital with selective new investments Investors: Backed by Union Square Ventures, impact investors, family offices, and the original Springbank Collective member network. Over 25 limited partners with diverse backgrounds in policy, operations, and social entrepreneurship. Team & Operating Partners The firm's leadership combines deep operating experience with investment expertise: Courtney Leimkuhler (Co-Founder, Managing Partner) Former CFO of Marsh & McLennan (35,000+ employees globally) 10+ years at New York Stock Exchange (pre-IPO through sale), led M&A and Corporate Strategy Goldman Sachs background in finance Harvard College and Harvard Business School graduate Deep expertise in financial services, corporate strategy, and scaling operations Elana Berkowitz (Founding Partner) Obama Administration technology policy official (FCC, State Department) Worked on Obama-Biden Transition Team Innovator-in-residence at CARE (humanitarian organization) McKinsey consultant (technology, media, telecom across 10 countries) Strategic advisor to Etsy, Kickstarter, Google, Code for America Expertise in policy, social innovation, and scaling impact Jen Lee Koss (Founding Partner) Founded BRIKA (experiential retail agency, acquired 2021) 15+ years in consumer and retail sectors Management consulting at Parthenon Group and Bridgespan Group Investment banking and private equity (Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan) Harvard Business School MBA, Oxford MPhil, Harvard A.B. (magna cum laude) Deep consumer market expertise and operational scaling Brian Nguyễn (Investor) Led product at Unite Us (social care coordination platform) Worked with Kaiser Permanente and CVS Health on statewide initiatives Genetics and healthcare product experience (Helix, collaborations with Mayo Clinic and Mount Sinai) UC Berkeley degree (cognitive science and computer science) Domain expertise in healthcare operations and care coordination Recent Investment Activity 2024-2025 Notable Investments: Shotsy (Feb 2025) : $2.25M seed for GLP-1 medication tracking platform Brisk Teaching : Series A investment for AI-powered teaching platform Chief (Series A) : Leadership network for women executives Mathison (Series A) : Career development and job marketplace platform Guaranteed (Seed) : Digital banking for teens Promise (Series A) : Fintech payments platform Soona (Series B) : On-demand content creation platform Recover (Seed) : Addiction recovery telemedicine Carefull (Seed) : Financial tools for family caregivers Portfolio Size: 45+ companies invested across all stages Fund Status: Actively deploying, with steady new investments (5+ new investments in last 12 months) Portfolio Company Sectors The portfolio spans: Healthtech (25%) : Mental health, telehealth, aging care, fertility, pediatric care Care Infrastructure (20%) : Family caregiving, senior support, hospice, food-as-medicine Future of Work (20%) : Job platforms, training, employee benefits, neurodiversity support Fintech & Consumer (25%) : Financial tools, consumer apps, digital banking Career & Skills (10%) : Training, professional development, career navigation Investment Approach & Decision Process Decision Process: Partnership-based with consensus among founding partners Decision Timeline: 2-4 weeks from initial conversation to term sheet Lead vs. Follow: Leads rounds in focus areas; follows in adjacent sectors Warm Introductions: Not required but preferred Board Involvement: Observer seats and active advising in early-stage companies Founder Preferences: Founders solving real problems affecting women and working families Mission-driven founders with deep domain expertise Technical co-founders (especially for healthcare and fintech) Diverse founding teams reflecting communities they serve Willingness to leverage Springbank's policy and operations network Geographic Focus Primary: United States, with heavy concentration in: New York/Northeast (headquarters advantage) San Francisco Bay Area (tech ecosystem) Secondary cities (Austin, Los Angeles, Chicago) International: Selective investments in Canada and UK for adjacent sectors Key Characteristics Lead Tendency: Leads in core focus areas (Care, Work, Live); willing to co-lead or follow in adjacent spaces Typical Involvement: Board observer seats in seed investments Active advisory role leveraging partner expertise Direct introductions to corporate partners (Kaiser, CVS, etc.) Policy and regulatory guidance (unique to Elana's background) Operations scaling support (Courtney's Fortune 500 experience) Consumer and retail expertise (Jen's background) Anti-Thesis: Pure software/SaaS without mission relevance Consumer apps not addressing systemic needs Hardware-heavy businesses without care applications For-profit companies extracting value from vulnerable populations Cryptocurrency or pure financial speculation Notable Exits & Portfolio Success While the fund is young (raised Fund I in 2023), early portfolio companies are gaining significant traction: Multiple companies in Series B/C funding (Wellthy, Soona, Chief) Strong acquisition interest from large healthcare players (Kaiser, CVS network) Policy partnerships enabling regulatory pathways Notable co-investors: Insight Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Owl Ventures, South Park Commons Founder Access & Engagement Contact: [email protected] Application Process: Direct outreach or warm introduction preferred Response Time: 1-2 weeks for review, 2-4 weeks to decision Document Requirements: Pitch deck, traction metrics, team background Industry Recognition Ranked among "15 Best Healthcare VC Firms" (Rho, 2025) ImpactAssets 50 list for impact-driven investing Featured in Women in VC and female founder ecosystems Advisory roles in policy and healthcare innovation (team members advise government agencies) Key Insights for Founders Mission Alignment Is Critical : Springbank invests in founders solving real problems for underserved populations. Founders must demonstrate genuine commitment to impact alongside financial returns. Operational Expertise Matters : The founding team brings Fortune 500 operations, policy expertise, and consumer market knowledge. Companies that leverage this are most successful. Regulatory Tailwinds : With Elana's policy background, the fund is uniquely positioned to help navigate regulatory challenges (especially in healthcare, fintech, and workforce). Network Access : Investors get access to the 100+ member Springbank Collective network plus corporate partnerships (Kaiser, CVS, etc.). Patient Capital : The fund takes a long-term view on companies addressing systemic problems. Quick exits are not the priority. Summary Springbank Collective represents a new generation of VC focused on solving real societal challenges affecting women and working families. With deep operating expertise, policy connections, and a values-driven approach, the firm is uniquely positioned to support ambitious founders building infrastructure in healthcare, work, housing, and family support. The $35-40M fund is actively deploying with a focus on pre-seed and seed investments, typical checks of $500K-$1.5M, and a preference for founders with operational track records and genuine commitment to their mission.