Avid Ventures Company Profile

Background

Avid Ventures is a New York City-based venture capital firm founded in 2020 by Managing Partner Addie Lerner. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage fintech, consumer internet, and software companies across North America, Europe, and Israel. Avid Ventures is committed to backing exceptional founders and accelerating the growth of transformative technology companies.

Key Strategic Focus

Avid Ventures employs a collaborative and flexible investment strategy, writing initial "Toehold" checks ranging from $500,000 to $2 million at the Seed through Series A stages. The firm reserves the capacity to make high-conviction "Double Down" investments of up to $10 million around the Series B stage. Avid Ventures serves as a hands-on "Strategic Finance Advisor" to its portfolio companies, providing support in strategic growth modeling, KPI dashboard development, customer and partner introductions, talent recruiting, and fundraising guidance.

Financials and Funding

Avid Ventures launched its debut fund in 2021, raising $68 million. The fund was anchored by Schusterman Family Investments and the George Kaiser Family Foundation, with additional institutional investors including Foundry Group, General Catalyst, 14W, Slow Ventures, and LocalGlobe/Latitude. In 2024, the firm announced its second fund, an $87 million early-stage vehicle, bringing total capital raised since inception to over $165 million. New institutional investors in Fund II include The Mellon Foundation, Hall Capital Partners, Vintage Investment Partners, UJA-Federation of New York, Soka University, and CM Wealth Advisors.

Pipeline Development

Avid Ventures has invested in over 25 companies, including:

Nova Credit: A fintech company providing cross-border credit reporting services.

Alloy: A platform for identity decisioning and compliance for banks and fintech companies.

Coast: A financial services company offering expense management solutions for fleet operators.

Clara: A corporate spend management solution for businesses in Latin America.

Oyster: A global employment platform enabling companies to hire, pay, and care for talent worldwide.

Basis: An AI-driven accounting automation platform.

Thatch: A financial software company focused on innovative payment solutions.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Avid Ventures differentiates itself through its "Strategic Finance Advisor" approach, offering hands-on support to portfolio companies in areas such as strategic growth modeling, KPI dashboard development, and financial analysis. This approach leverages the firm's expertise in financial modeling and data analysis to help early-stage companies evolve into efficient growth businesses.

Leadership Team

Addie Lerner Katz: Founder & Managing Partner. Prior to founding Avid Ventures, Addie spent a decade investing at General Catalyst, General Atlantic, and Goldman Sachs, deploying over $450 million across early- and growth-stage investments.

Tali (Vogelstein) Miller: Partner. Formerly an early-stage investor at Bessemer Venture Partners, Tali joined Avid Ventures as a founding investor, bringing experience in sourcing early-stage investments in Avid’s core geographies and sectors.

Zeeza Cole: Partner. Zeeza brings extensive experience in venture capital and startup operations, contributing to Avid's investment strategy and portfolio support.

Irene Gendelman: Investor. Joined Avid in July 2024, previously a private equity investor at Silver Lake with prior investment banking experience at Evercore.

Dan Deutsch: Vice President of Finance. Joined Avid in early 2024 to lead the firm's finance and operations functions.

Allie Danfield: Operations Manager. Supports Avid's operational activities and ensures efficient internal processes.

Kieran Flanagan: Go-To-Market Advisor. Currently serves as SVP of Marketing at HubSpot, providing strategic guidance on market positioning and growth strategies.

Jack Larson: Strategic Growth Advisor. Head of Finance and Strategy at dbt Labs, offering insights into financial planning and strategic growth initiatives.

Jenna Pfeffer: COO Advisor. Former Vice President on General Atlantic’s Capital Partnering team, advising on operational strategies and organizational development.

Leadership Changes

In 2024, Avid Ventures expanded its team with the addition of Irene Gendelman as an Investor and Dan Deutsch as Vice President of Finance, enhancing the firm's investment capabilities and operational support.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The venture capital industry has experienced significant growth, with increasing competition among firms to invest in promising early-stage companies. The focus on fintech, consumer internet, and software sectors remains strong, driven by technological advancements and evolving consumer behaviors.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in the early-stage venture capital space include:

General Catalyst: A venture capital firm investing in early-stage and growth-stage companies across various sectors, including technology and healthcare.

Bessemer Venture Partners: A global venture capital firm investing in consumer, enterprise, and healthcare startups.

Index Ventures: A venture capital firm investing in technology companies across Europe and the United States.

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): A venture capital firm investing in technology companies at various stages, from seed to late-stage.

These firms have established track records and extensive portfolios, contributing to a competitive landscape for early-stage investments.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Avid Ventures collaborates with top-tier lead investors and co-investors to build ideal syndicates for founders' fundraising efforts. Notable co-investors include General Catalyst, Bessemer Venture Partners, Accel, Index Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Capital, Union Square Ventures, and Ribbit Capital.

Operational Insights

Avid Ventures' flexible investment strategy and hands-on approach provide distinct competitive advantages. By serving as an extension of portfolio companies' teams, Avid offers strategic finance support and business development assistance, differentiating itself from traditional venture capital firms.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

With the launch of its second fund and an expanded team, Avid Ventures is well-positioned to continue backing exceptional founders and scaling transformative software and fintech companies. The firm's strategic focus on collaborative investments and hands-on support aligns with its mission to accelerate the trajectory of early-stage startups into proven growth businesses.