Wisdom Ventures

Wisdom Ventures Research Investment Thesis Wisdom Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2022 that invests in world-class entrepreneurs advancing tech-enabled wellbeing. The fund's core belief is that "building more emotionally intelligent companies isn't just good ethics, it's good business." The firm focuses on compassionate innovation that enhances human potential, emotional resilience, and human connection through technology. Wisdom Ventures seeks companies that elevate how people live, lead, and connect with one another. Investment Profile Fund Size & Structure: Fund I: $10M (closed July 2022, deployed across 38 companies) Fund II: $77.7M (oversubscribed close in 2026, deploying ~$1M-$5M per check into ~40 companies) Stage Focus: Wisdom Ventures specializes in early-stage investing, particularly seed and Series A rounds. The fund targets companies at critical inflection points where capital and strategic support can meaningfully accelerate growth. Check Size: Typical investment range: $1M - $5M per company Approximate 35-40 companies per fund based on fund size Investment Thesis Deep Dive Core Areas of Focus Wisdom Ventures invests at the intersection of technology and human wellbeing, specifically: Emotional Intelligence Technology - Software and platforms that integrate emotional awareness into business operations and personal life Mental Health & Wellness Tech - Digital health solutions for psychological wellbeing Workplace Well-Being - Technologies that enhance employee health, psychological safety, and workplace culture Human Connection - Platforms and tools that foster meaningful human relationships and community Longevity & Life Quality - Tech-enabled approaches to improving quality of life across the lifespan What They Look For The firm seeks entrepreneurs who: Combine mission-driven impact with strong business fundamentals Have deep understanding of human behavior and psychology Are building category-defining products Combine technical sophistication with human-centered design Can demonstrate market validation and founder-market fit Team & Expertise Leadership: Bradley Horowitz, General Partner - Former VP at Google with deep product innovation and investment experience. Brings technology and go-to-market expertise. Cecily Mak, General Partner - Startup operator and legal expert with hands-on experience scaling companies. Provides operational and legal guidance. Soren Gordhamer, General Partner - Founder of Wisdom 2.0 conference (annual gathering on mindfulness, technology, and society). Deep expertise in wellness ecosystem and thought leadership. Venture Partners: Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Senior Venture Partner - Former U.S. Surgeon General (Obama and Biden administrations). National expert on mental health, wellbeing policy, and health technology. Jack Kornfield, Venture Partner - Leading mindfulness and meditation teacher Ruchika Sikri, Venture Partner - Operations and scaling expertise Diego Perez, Venture Partner - Additional sector expertise Operating Partner: Zoë Rogers, Operating Partner - Day-to-day operational support and portfolio company assistance This diverse team combines technology expertise (Horowitz), operational scaling (Mak), wellness ecosystem knowledge (Gordhamer), public health authority (Murthy), and mindfulness/wellbeing thought leadership (Kornfield). Portfolio Highlights Generational Companies: OpenAI - Large language models and AI safety (Seed investor) Anthropic - AI safety and constitutional AI (Early investor) Substack - Creator economy platform (Fund I investment, now major platform) Category-Defining Wellbeing Companies: Function Health - Comprehensive health assessment and optimization platform Seven Starling - Employee wellbeing platform Rec - Recovery and wellness technology Recent Fund Activity: Fund I: Top quartile performance with 14 markups achieved Fund II: First close June 2025 ($16M), final close 2026 ($77.7M oversubscribed) Currently actively deploying Fund II capital Decision Making & Investment Process Partnership model with three equal General Partners making investment decisions together, informed by Venture Partners and Operating Partners. Estimated 4-6 week decision cycle typical for early-stage funds. Founder Preferences The firm backs founders who: Combine deep domain expertise with entrepreneurial ambition Have demonstrated ability to execute and scale Are motivated by both financial returns and positive impact Show genuine commitment to solving wellbeing challenges authentically Geographic Focus Primary: San Francisco Bay Area, US. Secondary: US-wide with selective international opportunities.