Grit Ventures

Overview of the Grit Ventures program:

Grit is investing at the root of innovation bringing game-changing technology out of the labs at schools like Carnegie Mellon, Stanford, UT Austin, and MIT. Grit is building industrial powerhouses in Agriculture, Construction, Logistics and Manufacturing, coupling automation with sustainability and impact. We have big problems to solve and younger generations care less about consumerism and more about purpose and saving the world. Our regulatory environment is changing and big capital is moving. Our Strategy is Deep Tech: Labs to Launch — sourcing innovation from the nation's top labs, de-risking by leading early-stage rounds and focusing on recruiting, team development, funding and go-to-market strategy. We are investing in trillion dollar opportunities in real assets and infrastructure in industrial automation, logistics, sustainability and communications based on scientific breakthroughs in the labs.

Benefits of the Grit Ventures program:

• Invest in diverse founders and executives. Grit commits to dedicate 50% of company investment (on a company basis) to companies with diverse founders.
• Recruit executives, board members and top talent to diversify portfolio companies. Grit commits to specifically target and supporting hiring of diverse peoples in the highest ranks of company management and governance. This is executed by strategic diversity and focused recruiting relationships, in addition to our personal networks. These specific goals include:
• 100% of companies with diversity on the executive team
• 50% diverse employee base
• 100% of companies with diversity on the Board
• Elevate, educate, and connect diverse STEM talent to Grit Labs community. This includes portfolio companies, Industry Partners and other venture capital funds. Grit is growing the University Fellows Program in response to the need for a pipeline of diverse talent in STEM entrepreneurship.
• Find the others. We collaborate with others strategically focused on diversity through formal and informal partnerships, and co-investing networks. Grit Ventures appreciates the need for strategic partnership to truly solve the problem at hand.
• Sectors Grit Ventures invest in:
• ROBOTICS
• AI
• ENERGY
• SPACE