Company Profile: AV
Background
AV is a prominent American venture capital firm established in 2014, headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire. The firm specializes in creating investment funds that enable individual accredited investors and institutions to participate in venture capital opportunities. AV operates exclusively as a co-investor, refraining from leading financing rounds or taking board seats, thereby allowing founders to maintain control over their companies. As of 2025, AV manages approximately $1.5 billion in assets, sourced from over 11,000 individual and institutional investors.
Key Strategic Focus
AV's strategic focus centers on democratizing venture capital by providing individual investors access to diversified portfolios of early-stage companies. The firm emphasizes co-investing alongside leading venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Benchmark, Sequoia, and Y Combinator, to leverage their expertise and networks. AV's investment approach is characterized by:
- Diversified Fund Offerings: AV manages approximately 45 funds, each targeting specific sectors such as health, sports, artificial intelligence, and more.
- Alumni-Focused Funds: The firm has established funds tailored for alumni of various universities, including Dartmouth College (Green D Ventures), Harvard University (The Yard Ventures), Stanford University (Spike Ventures), MIT (Castor Ventures), Northwestern University (Purple Arch Ventures), and the University of California-Berkeley (Strawberry Creek Ventures).
- AV Syndicate: This platform allows individual investors to participate in specific deals alongside AV's funds, providing flexibility and targeted investment opportunities.
Financials and Funding
Since its inception, AV has raised a total of approximately $1.5 billion across its various funds. The firm employs a unique fundraising model, focusing on individual accredited investors with a minimum investment of $10,000 per fund, rather than relying on large institutional investors. This approach has enabled AV to build a diverse investor base and democratize access to venture capital. Notable investments include Groq, Rigetti Computing, Axiom Space, Oura Health, RapidSOS, Bluesky, and Circle.
Pipeline Development
AV's investment pipeline is robust, with a focus on early-stage companies across various sectors. The firm's diversified fund structure allows it to support a wide range of startups, from health tech to artificial intelligence. AV's co-investment strategy enables it to participate in high-quality deals alongside leading venture capital firms, enhancing the potential for successful exits.
Technological Platform and Innovation
AV leverages a technology-driven platform to manage its diverse portfolio and investor relations. The firm's proprietary systems facilitate efficient deal sourcing, due diligence, and reporting, ensuring transparency and timely communication with investors. AV's focus on technology extends to its investment strategy, with a particular emphasis on sectors like artificial intelligence, reflecting its commitment to supporting innovative and high-growth industries.
Leadership Team
- Mike Collins: Founder and CEO of AV, Mike Collins has a background in private equity and venture capital. Prior to founding AV, he worked at TA Associates, focusing on growth equity investments. Under his leadership, AV has grown to manage approximately $1.5 billion in assets.
Market Insights and Dynamics
The venture capital landscape is highly competitive, with numerous firms vying for access to high-quality deals. AV differentiates itself by focusing on co-investment opportunities, allowing individual investors to participate alongside leading venture capital firms. This model has gained traction, particularly among alumni networks and individual accredited investors seeking diversified exposure to early-stage companies.
Competitor Analysis
Key competitors in the venture capital space include:
- Traditional Venture Capital Firms: Established firms like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Benchmark Capital, which have significant assets under management and a broad portfolio of investments.
- Corporate Venture Arms: Many large corporations have established venture arms to invest in startups aligned with their strategic interests.
- Angel Investor Networks: Groups of individual investors who pool resources to invest in startups, often at earlier stages than traditional venture capital firms.
AV's unique co-investment model and focus on individual investors set it apart from these competitors, catering to a niche market seeking access to venture capital opportunities.
Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships
AV's co-investment strategy inherently involves strategic collaborations with leading venture capital firms, allowing it to access high-quality deals and leverage the expertise and networks of its partners. This approach enhances AV's ability to provide value to its investors and portfolio companies.
Operational Insights
AV's operational model emphasizes efficiency and scalability, utilizing technology to manage a large number of investors and investments. The firm's focus on co-investment allows it to maintain a lean operational structure while providing value to its investors through access to diversified venture capital opportunities.
Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions
Looking ahead, AV aims to expand its fund offerings to include additional sectors and geographies, leveraging its co-investment model to attract a broader base of individual investors. The firm plans to enhance its technological platform to improve deal sourcing, due diligence, and reporting capabilities, ensuring continued transparency and efficiency in its operations. AV's commitment to democratizing venture capital positions it well to capitalize on the growing interest among individual investors in accessing early-stage investment opportunities.
Contact Information
- Website: www.av.vc
- Social Media: LinkedIn: Alumni Ventures
