Root Ventures
UnclaimedAt a Glance
- Check Size
- $1M – $3M
- Stage
- Seed, Series A, Series B+
- Sectors
- Deeptech, Robotics, DevTools
- Founded
- 2015
- HQ
- San Francisco, CA
About Root Ventures
Root Ventures is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, CA founded in 2017. Deep tech seed investors supporting founders at the earliest stages. Best coffee in San Francisco ☕️ The firm focuses on Seed, Series A, Series B+ investments across sectors including Deeptech, Robotics, DevTools. The firm manages $180M in assets under management. Notable portfolio companies include Lattice, Assembly AI, Standard Cognition and Volley. Seed-stage fund run by practicing engineers that underwrites engineering risk in deep tech companies.
Investment Thesis
“Seed-stage fund run by practicing engineers that underwrites engineering risk in deep tech companies.”
Sector Focus
Investment Stage
Notable Portfolio Companies
Fund History
- Root has raised four seed funds, every one filed by managing partner Avidan Ross.
- The debut vehicle was organized in December 2014 and first filed under the name Lion Wells Ventures I, L.P. with a $35 million target; renamed Root Ventures I, L.P., it closed at $31,415,927, a number matching the first eight digits of pi.
- Root Ventures II, L.P. followed in November 2017 with a $75 million offering.
- Root Ventures III, L.P. filed in August 2021 with a $150 million target, and Root Ventures IV, L.P. filed in January 2025 with a $250 million target, taking cumulative fund targets past $500 million.
- Strategy has held constant across vintages.
- The firm leads seed rounds with initial checks of $3 million to $5 million and holds roughly two-thirds of each fund in reserve for follow-ons, which is what the escalating fund sizes are buying.
- The portfolio now runs past 70 companies, including Particle, nTopology, Instrumental, Adept, Patterns, Sublayer, IaSQL, Crux and Righthook.
Team (1)
Frequently Asked Questions
What stage does Root Ventures invest at?
Root Ventures primarily invests at the Seed, Series A, Series B+ stages. This means they focus on companies that are building their initial product and finding product-market fit.
Where is Root Ventures located?
Root Ventures 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 Root Ventures focus on?
Root Ventures focuses on investments in Deeptech, Robotics, DevTools. Their portfolio reflects deep expertise and networks within these sectors.
What is Root Ventures's typical check size?
Root Ventures's typical investment check size ranges from $1M to $3M. Actual amounts may vary based on the stage, sector, and specific opportunity.
Similar Firms
Fund Operations Resources
Running a fund like Root Ventures? Independent guides to the software and processes emerging managers use to operate.
Best Fund Administration Software
Independent breakdown of fund administration platforms by fund size.
LP Reporting Software
Tools for capital account statements and investor updates.
Portfolio Monitoring Tools
How GPs track company performance across the portfolio.
VC CRM Software
Deal-flow and relationship management for investors.
Related tools and reading
The operating system for private capital.
Archstone runs the back office for venture, PE, real estate, and credit funds — LP reporting, capital calls, portfolio tracking, and fund accounting, in one platform. Now in alpha.