Alsop Louie Partners
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $. – $.
- Stage
- Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+
- Sectors
- Cybersecurity, Enterprise, Deeptech +1
- Founded
- 2006
- HQ
- San Francisco, CA
About Alsop Louie Partners
Alsop Louie Partners is an early-stage technology venture capital firm founded in 2006 and based in San Francisco. It was formed by Gilman Louie, the founding chief executive of In-Q-Tel, the venture vehicle created to bring commercial technology into the United States intelligence community, and Stewart Alsop, a former technology journalist who later invested as a venture partner. The firm describes its own approach as Venture Humanism, arguing that there is more money in backing technology engineered with accountability and safeguards designed in than in backing technology built for a narrow few. Its published manifesto treats algorithmic manipulation and the spread of engineered falsehood as the defining failure of the last technology cycle, and frames the fund's mandate as financing accountable alternatives.
The partnership invests at the earliest, most risk-bearing stage and sorts its own investments into four categories: cyber security, analytics, consumer technology and disruptive technology. Its bench is weighted toward operators and national-security veterans rather than career financiers, including Bill Crowell, Joe Addiego, Jim Whims, Nancy Lee and Jim Ward alongside the two founders.
The firm's best-known outcomes span that range. It was an early backer of Niantic, the augmented-reality company behind Pokemon Go that spun out of Google; Wickr, the encrypted messaging company acquired by Amazon Web Services; Cleversafe, the object-storage company acquired by IBM; and NetWitness, the network-forensics company acquired by EMC. Its security and data holdings also include Vera, Kenna Security and DataVisor.
Investment Thesis
“Focuses on early-stage investments in disruptive technologies including cybersecurity, enterprise software, and emerging technologies with national security applications.”
Leadership Team
Gilman Louie, Nancy Lee and Stewart Alsop are the investing partners. Louie's background is the firm's differentiator: he founded NEXA Corporation in 1981, became chief executive of Spectrum Holobyte in 1992 and designed the Falcon F-16 flight simulator series, then in 1999 co-founded and led In-Q-Tel, the nonprofit venture firm created to connect the US intelligence community to commercial technology. Stewart Alsop II was a technology journalist and editor before becoming a venture investor. Jim Whims, Joe Addiego, Bill Crowell, Mark Fields, Will Jack, Jason Preston, Jim Ward, Joe Alsop and John Dillon are listed as venture partners or associates, and Ernestine Fu Mak is a vice president. Whims is named alongside Alsop and Louie as a managing member of the Fund 4 general partner, and Tom Kalinske, formerly chief executive of Sega of America, also appears on the roster.
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
SEC records show two Alsop Louie vehicles. Alsop Louie Capital 2, L.P. filed its Form D in December 2009 reporting a $20.25 million offering fully sold to 11 investors, with a first sale on 9 December 2009 and amendments running through October 2010. Alsop Louie Capital 4, L.P. filed in October 2017 registering a $125 million offering, a roughly six-fold step up, with Stewart Alsop II, Gilman Louie and James Whims named as managing members of the general partner at 943 Howard Street in San Francisco. Fund 1 and Fund 3 do not appear as separate EDGAR registrants under the Alsop Louie name, so the full fund count cannot be reconstructed from filings alone and no aggregate AUM figure is public. The disclosed track record runs to security and intelligence-adjacent outcomes: Niantic, Wickr, Cleversafe, NetWitness, Kenna Security, Vera, DataVisor and Chronicle Security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Alsop Louie Partners invest at?
Alsop Louie Partners primarily invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are at the earliest idea or prototype phase.
Where is Alsop Louie Partners located?
Alsop Louie Partners is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does Alsop Louie Partners focus on?
Alsop Louie Partners focuses on investments in Cybersecurity, Enterprise, Deeptech, Consumer. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Alsop Louie Partners's typical check size?
Alsop Louie Partners's typical investment check size ranges from $. to $.. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
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