Rarebreed Ventures
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $100K – $1M
- Stage
- Pre-Seed, Seed
- Sectors
- Enterprise, Consumer, AI +1
- Founded
- 2020
- HQ
- Randallstown, MD
About Rarebreed Ventures
Rarebreed Ventures was founded by Mac Conwell with a mission to democratize access to venture capital by investing in founders who are often overlooked by traditional VC firms. The firm takes a thesis-driven approach to finding exceptional entrepreneurs regardless of their educational background, geographic location, or network connections. Conwell, a former enterprise software executive, launched the fund after experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by underrepresented founders in securing institutional capital.
The firm's investment approach emphasizes pattern recognition around founder resilience and market timing rather than traditional pedigree markers. Rarebreed has built a reputation for moving quickly on investment decisions and providing hands-on support to portfolio companies, particularly in areas like go-to-market strategy and scaling operations. The fund's name reflects its philosophy of backing founders who don't fit conventional molds but possess the determination and vision to build category-defining companies.
Investment Thesis
“Finds extraordinary founders in unexpected places and backs them early.”
Leadership Team
McKeever “Mac” Conwell II runs RareBreed and is the only executive officer named on the fund's SEC filing. His stated thesis is a critique of how venture sourcing works: many investors take deal flow from the same traditional channels and therefore miss companies serving communities they do not understand, and pre-seed underwriting cannot rely on the usual metrics because the teams are often less polished, less networked and less fluent in venture vocabulary. RareBreed invests in exceptional founders primarily outside large technology ecosystems and earlier than other investors. Two profiles get the firm's attention: teams that have thought hard about and executed on customer acquisition, and teams building in markets that have gone years without innovation. The firm argues small checks can be life-changing at that stage and therefore return-generating.
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
- RareBreed Ventures LP was organized in 2020 and filed its Form D in June 2021 from Randallstown, Maryland, against a $10 million offering.
- It recorded a first sale on January 1, 2021 and had sold $3.97 million by that filing, notable less for the dollar figure than for the investor count: 134 subscribers, an exceptionally wide base for a sub-$10 million debut fund and evidence of a retail and operator-heavy limited partner strategy rather than institutional anchors.
- McKeever Conwell is the sole executive officer on the filing.
- The fund writes checks of up to $250,000 as a first institutional investor, a size the firm argues is enough to start a company but not enough to finish it, which is why it expects portfolio management teams to keep raising from angels, pitch competitions and accelerators alongside its capital.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Rarebreed Ventures invest at?
Rarebreed Ventures primarily invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages. This means they focus on companies that are at the earliest idea or prototype phase.
Where is Rarebreed Ventures located?
Rarebreed Ventures is headquartered in Randallstown, MD. Many of their portfolio companies are also based in this region, though they invest across geographies.
What sectors does Rarebreed Ventures focus on?
Rarebreed Ventures focuses on investments in Enterprise, Consumer, AI, Fintech. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Rarebreed Ventures's typical check size?
Rarebreed Ventures's typical investment check size ranges from $100K to $1M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
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