SUM Ventures’ cover photo
SUM Ventures

SUM Ventures

Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals

Santa Monica, California 1,160 followers

We invest in early-stage founders building fast-growth technology startups.

About us

SUM Ventures (formerly Startup Mavericks) is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on seed-stage investing and portfolio growth acceleration. At SUM Ventures, we invest in founders building fast-growth technology startups. We focus on FinTech and PropTech but will also invest opportunistically across all industries. Our growth-focused approach has led to our 233% IRR since 2018. We are servant leaders who focus on supporting all founders with mentorship and resources through our vast network of advisors and partners. We focus on adding value early, tracking KPI’s and investing at inflection points. As a result, we get access to high-quality deal flow and have a deeper understanding of our portfolio founders. Our approach leads to better investment decisions and superior returns. Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter: https://startupmavericks.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=6f0d9e532a6f9719346b57b00&id=d8e42a5c03

Website
https://www.sum.vc
Industry
Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
Company size
2-10 employees
Headquarters
Santa Monica, California
Type
Privately Held
Founded
2016
Specialties
Strategy, Business Development, Startup, Marketing, Investing, FinTech, PropTech, Venture Capital, and Private Equity

Locations

Employees at SUM Ventures

Updates

  • Huge congratulations to Shane Dyer, Gary Klinefelter, and the entire Irrigreen team on their $19M Series A raise! This brings total funding to nearly $34M as they continue to reinvent lawn irrigation with smart, precision-controlled sprinklers. Irrigreen is one of those rare startups tackling a massive real-world challenge with technical brilliance and meaningful environmental impact. Their software-driven precision sprinkler system reduces water usage by up to 50% compared to traditional systems. SUM Ventures is proud to have been one of the first investors and to follow on alongside outstanding partners like Natural Ventures, Burnt Island Ventures, Ulu Ventures, MFV Partners, Tamiami Angel Funds, and others.

    View organization page for Irrigreen

    2,887 followers

    Big things are happening at Irrigreen — and we’re honored to have them highlighted in Axios! Huge thanks to Alan Neuhauser for the feature, and for shining a light on how we’re reinventing irrigation tech for a water-conscious future. 🌱 Just in time for Earth Day, we’re proud to announce our Series A fundraise led by Natural Ventures and Burnt Island Ventures — fueling our mission to wipe out outdoor water waste with next-gen sprinkler tech. One major step forward: our new AI-powered quote tool that makes it faster and easier than ever for homeowners to upgrade to precision irrigation — saving water, time, and effort with instant custom quotes. Give it a try at irrigreen.com! We’re building the future of irrigation — and we’re just getting started. Check out the full story here: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e_pi3U4c #EarthDay #ClimateTech #SeriesA #SmartIrrigation #WaterConservation #AI #Sustainability #IrrigationInnovation #AxiosPro

  • The home-buying journey has long been plagued by inefficiencies, but Purlin AI is redefining the experience with cutting-edge AI-powered real estate technology. By enhancing property discovery, streamlining agent workflows, and improving transaction efficiency, Purlin is bringing personalized, data-driven insights to the industry.

  • View organization page for SUM Ventures

    1,160 followers

    Join us for the SUM Ventures / Band of Angels LA meeting tomorrow, where we will showcase innovative startups from diverse sectors. The event is set for 5:00–7:00 PM (PST) and promises an excellent opportunity to network with over 50 investors and discover dynamic startups! Agenda Highlights: 5:00–5:20 | Introduction & SUM Portfolio Update (UNest & Berri Organics) 5:20–5:45 | Jess Windell 💥, Dryft Sleep 5:45–6:10 | Nikki Varanasi, Parrot Finance 6:10–6:35 | Tensa Sports, Logan Spears 6:35–7:00 | Discussion Since 2022, SUM Ventures has invested $15M in companies that have presented at this meeting, with millions more coming from our angel network, including members from Band of Angels, TCA, Pasadena Angels, NuFund, and many more. At SUM, we firmly believe in creating communities of support for founders. While we can't invest in every company, we aim to leave every founder better than we found them through our guidance, networks, and resources. If this mission aligns with you, please join us! We can’t wait to see you there and discover the next wave of success stories! #SUMVentures #BandofAngels #Investment #Startups #Networking #Tech #Innovation #VC #Entrepreneurship #SUMVC

  • Excited for another impactful monthly meeting in collaboration with Band of Angels tonight at 5 PM PST! 🚀 We have an incredible lineup of founders ready to share their ventures, and we look forward to fostering the connections that drive innovation and investment. Let’s continue building the future together! #VentureCapital #Startups #SUMVentures

    View profile for Garrett Gilbertson

    Founder & Managing Partner at SUM Ventures I Chairman Band of Angels LA

    Excited to host our SUM Ventures + Band of Angels meeting tonight at 5 PM PST on Zoom! Over the past three years, SUM Ventures has deployed approximately $15M across 36 companies, achieving 1 exit (80% IRR) and a 40% gross IRR. We’re proud to share that all of our portfolio companies remain operational and over . A key driver of this success is the strong relationships that take root during our monthly meetings—where we first meet many founders at the earliest stages. In some cases, we invest right away; more often, we spend time getting to know the team and their metrics, adding value through our network of investors and advisors. A great example is Dillon Baxter, CEO of PlantSwitch, who presented at this very meeting just two years ago. We had the opportunity not only to invest but also to connect him with the team at Siemens. Since then, Siemens has provided debt financing, helping PlantSwitch launch facilities in both the US and China—and their valuation has soared. In fact, Siemens recently shared a post highlighting how they helped PlantSwitch secure a $1M government grant. This is exactly the kind of strategic collaboration that underscores why we love working with founders at the earliest stages. I’m confident that tonight’s group of founders will follow in these footsteps, and we’ll be celebrating their successes in the years to come. Let’s continue supporting and building the next wave of transformative companies together! Agenda (Pacific Standard Time) 5:00–5:10 Introduction 5:10–5:35 Free Agent — Kirsten Toth & Macoy Erkamps 5:35–6:00 PhotonFi — Francois Modarresse 6:00–6:25 Everle — Tessa Adams 6:25–6:45 — Discussion   Looking forward to seeing everyone there! See Zoom information in the comments.

  • Exciting week ahead for our portco Purlin Co.. Keep up the great work Giorgi Chigogidze and team!

    View profile for Dan Sachar

    Managing Director at High Pines Investments, Recently VP of Innovation at Douglas Elliman and Managing Director of New Valley Ventures

    This week I'm excited to kick-off national training on Elliman Inspirations for all Douglas Elliman Real Estate agents and professionals. Built on Purlin Co.'s powerful AI engine, this is the most useful and entertaining place to search for a new home available anywhere. And the collaborative nature of Elliman Inspirations allows agents to be even more productive and helpful to their clients. If you are on our team, please be sure to consult the training schedule and tune in. We have multiple sessions starting this week. See you there!

  • Excited to host our SUM Ventures + Band of Angels meeting tonight at 5 PM PST on Zoom! Exactly two years ago, the founders of LiveEasy presented at this very meeting. At the time, they raised capital from our fund at a $15M valuation. Fast forward to last month, and LiveEasy sold for $80M, delivering an incredible outcome for our investors and a testament to the power of early-stage innovation and perseverance. I’m confident that tonight’s group of founders will follow in their footsteps, and we’ll be celebrating their success in the years to come. Let’s continue supporting and building the next wave of transformative companies together! We’re thrilled to see presentations from new founders: Moneyball.ai - Julia Whippo BRAIN - Michael Curtis CenterCheck  geCKo Materials - Capella Kerst, Ph.D. Looking forward to seeing everyone there! It will be a fantastic event with plenty of insights from these innovative founders. See zoom information in the comments. #VC #startups #pitch #innovation #SUMVentures #entrepreneurship #founders

  • We get it, you’ve heard it before, but hear us out: At the seed stage, we know we’re only seeing a small piece of what the business will ultimately become. The founder is the one who must navigate the challenges and uncertainties of building a company. That’s why we place just as much emphasis on understanding the individual behind the business as we do on the business itself. By investing in the founder first, we gain confidence that, when faced with inevitable obstacles, they have the resilience and vision needed to adapt and continue building their company. We don’t just invest capital; we are a resource for our founders—offering strategic guidance, connecting them with the right partners, and helping them take their vision from seed to scale. #foundersfirst #venturecapital #startupjourney #sumventures

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