Revolution Rise of the Rest

Revolution's Rise of the Rest Seed Fund was launched in 2014 by AOL co-founder Steve Case as part of his broader mission to level the playing field for entrepreneurs across America. The initiative emerged from Case's observation that while venture capital was heavily concentrated in Silicon Valley, New York, and Boston, innovative entrepreneurs existed throughout the country but lacked access to early-stage funding. The fund is part of Revolution's larger ecosystem, which includes growth equity investments and the annual Rise of the Rest bus tour that visits dozens of startup communities nationwide. Rise of the Rest typically invests $100K to $500K in seed-stage companies located in cities like Nashville, Denver, Detroit, and Atlanta, often serving as the catalyst for larger funding rounds. The team, led by Case and managing partner Manik Gupta, focuses on sectors where location outside traditional tech hubs can be an advantage, such as logistics, healthcare, financial services, and enterprise software. Beyond capital, the fund provides portfolio companies with access to Revolution's network of corporate partners, government connections, and mentorship from successful entrepreneurs who have built companies outside coastal markets.