For the last 7 years, Forum Ventures has been headquartered in New York City. We've seen it transform from an emerging startup scene to a world-class tech hub.

Thousands of startups call New York City home, and over the last two-decades, some of the world’s best investors have set up shop here, including: Union Square Ventures, Primary Venture Partners, Greycroft, FirstMark, Work-Bench, Eniac Ventures, Boldstart Ventures, Thrive Capital, Lerer Hippeau and many more.

But it’s not just capital that transformed Silicon Alley. To have a significant impact on the founder journey, it takes

• Great mentors, advisors, advice, and support.
• Investors who introduced them to their first customers and helped hire their first employee.
• A community that showed up during the difficult times.

In May 2024, NYC-based founders took the opportunity to publicly recognize an investor who has been instrumental in their entrepreneurial journey - beyond just capital. By nominating an investor, founders acknowledged their role in helping founders lead, scale, and build category defining companies. Our goal is to celebrate the investors making a real difference and help connect founders to the most useful investor on their cap-table, who are are the most "founder friendly" in practice and continually showcase their passion and drive for helping founders in their actions.

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After many submissions from NYC-based founders, we have gathered the results and found a winner! Nick Adams from Differential Ventures has demonstrated unwavering dedication for founders on his cap table, providing invaluable advice and hands-on support for countless founders, from investor introductions, board meetings and more. Don't just take our word from it -- hear from some of the founders who nominated him!

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Nick has been instrumental to our success at Concertio, from our seed round, all the way to our acquisition by Synopsys. Nick has been a very active board member, coaching us and helping us every step of the way. This included helping with setting up our outreach infrastructure, recruiting our key hires, and navigating the acquisition. Nick is certainly a world-class investor. (Tomer Morad Concertio (acquired by Synopsys)

I’ve come across a ton of investors that “claim to add value” but I’ve witnessed none like Nick Adams - our lead investor, who led our seed round! Nick initially invested in 2020 and has been an incredible partner on the board and a true extension of the co-founding team. During the hardest of times when many of our investors panicked like children and wrote us off, Nick stood by our side, rolled up his sleeves, provided invaluable guidance, and continued to help us through the challenges that we faced! (both business and psychologically)

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Let's celebrate the 25 incredible investors who were nominate and recognized by NYC founders!

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1. Nick Adams - Differential Ventures

Fund: Differential Ventures‍

Investment Thesis: Focuses on early-stage companies in AI, machine learning, and data science. They aim to support founders with innovative technology solutions.‍

Check Size: $250K to $2M‍

Founder-First Approach: Committed to strong partnerships with founders, providing strategic support and resources beyond capital.

"Nick helped us pull together our first institutional round and was a key partner in getting the business off the ground in a real way. Over the years, he has become a trusted business advisor and personal friend. He is a good guy who looks out for Founders he partners with and gives authentic, practical advice."

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2. Lisa Burton - HearstLab

Fund: HearstLab‍

Investment Thesis: Invests in women-led startups across various industries, providing them with resources and access to the Hearst network.‍

Check Size: $100K to $500K‍

Founder-First Approach: Supports women-led startups with office space, resources, and mentorship to help them grow.

"Lisa is a great investment partner that takes charge and helps drive to outcomes. She’s reliable, intelligent, and strategic. I’ve been able to count on her in the toughest of times when she was willing to roll up her sleeves to help us reach our goals. While this is often stated by investors, it’s rarely done. Lisa is the exception and it’s an honor to work with her to revamp the 911 system. Her support will help save many lives and change healthcare as we know it."

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3. Richard Odior - Zeal Capital Partners

Fund: Zeal Capital Partners
Investment Thesis: Invests in diverse early-stage companies addressing financial, educational, and health disparities.
Check Size: $500K to $2M
Founder-First Approach: Works closely with founders to scale businesses and maximize social impact.

"Rich has a very hands-on approach - he loves to share his network and wealth of knowledge. He is very responsive, and he makes the time to lean into problem-solving."

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4. Alex Hornick - Purple Sage Ventures

Fund: Purple Sage Ventures

‍Investment Thesis: Focused on underrepresented founders impacting people, planet, and productivity.

Check sizes: $100-$250k

Founder-First Approach: Offers a hands-on approach, working closely with founders to ensure sustainable growth.

Notable Investments: Health in Her HUE, Keep Company,  TO THE MARKET, Inclusively

"Alex is deeply committed to changing the landscape of the venture ecosystem for female founders.  As a former operator, she knows how difficult it is to raise funding.  Accordingly, she sits on the other side as a warm and friendly face, full of practical feedback and willing to go the extra mile to help. She has reworked decks for me, created pitch sessions for me, shown up to events where I am speaking, and connected me to investors. These are deeply meaningful as so often, investors say they will do these things and do not. She is there for you in the tough times and in the wins -- not just in word, but in action.  If only the investor landscape looked more like Alex! "

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5. Lauren Reeves - MGV

Fund: MGV‍

Investment Thesis: Partners with entrepreneurs at the earliest stages, focusing on building transformative companies.‍

Check Size: $250K to $1M‍

Founder-First Approach: Provides extensive operational support and resources to help founders turn visions into successful businesses.

"Lauren is a hands on investor who is always ready and willing to work through all issues. We are so grateful for her and the MGV team."

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6. Ashley Aydin - VamosVentures

Fund: VamosVentures‍

Investment Thesis: Investing in diverse founding teams across Healthcare, Future of Work, FinTech, and Sustainability

Check Size: $500-$2M‍

Founder-First Approach: Offers a supportive network and resources tailored to the needs of portfolio companies.

Notable Investments: Brex, Finix, allUP, Ocho

"Ashley is not only an extremely thoughtful investor but she is also a founder champion. She is extremely considerate When it comes to meeting founders and assessing their companies. She’s extremely responsive, thoughtful and provides additive insights for founders. Since I’ve become a founder she has helped me to better represent my sales+traction through clear metrics and graphs. She has connected me with other investors who are excited about our space and whose thesis is in line with our product. She’s not only a champion for founders, but she especially uplifts underrepresented founders like myself ( first generation Latinx female founder) by providing invaluable access to her trove of insights and knowledge as well as network."

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7. Jeremy Kagan - Textbook Ventures

Fund: Textbook Ventures‍

Investment Thesis: Pre-seed investments into the best founders from Columbia, Cornell, NYU and the New York City startup ecosystem.‍

Check Size: $50K to $250K‍

Founder-First Approach: Invests in young founders to help them succeed.

Notable Investments: Bucephalus Tech, GoCharlie, Jericho Security

"Jeremy & Eric have gone above and beyond. They're always available to chat, meet, ideate, and make intros. Their thoughts and advice have been invaluable."

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8. Jesse Middleton - Flybridge Capital

Fund: Flybridge Capital

Investment Thesis: We invest in ambitious founders building our AI-powered future.

Check Size: $1M-$3M

‍Founder-First Approach: Provides mentorship, community, and resources to help startups navigate growth journeys.

Notable Investments: Arcee.ai, Splice, Teal (tealhq.com)

"Jesse led my seed round when I was building Tastemakers, an experienced marketplace focused on authentic travel in African cities. Long before betting on diverse founders became a moment in 2020, Jesse bet on me, what we were building, and a market opportunity that many didn't grasp. He sat on my board and guided me through the pandemic which was difficult at best. Even when I had to shut the company down Jesse was still in my corner, I eventually chose to work with Jesse again this time as Head of Community at Flybridge. I've watched Jesse be the late night text or call for the founders he backs day in and day out on the good days and on the horrible days. He extends himself while balancing family and a growing firm. He is the kind of investor I think of when people say Founder First."

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9. Stephan Cizmar - Lorimer Ventures

Fund: Lorimer Ventures‍

Investment Thesis: Fintech and eCommerce Tooling, Dev Tools, Intelligent Infrastructure, Future of work‍

Check Size: $250K to $1M‍

Founder-First Approach: Emphasizes building sustainable business models and offers extensive operational support.‍

Notable Investments: Capchase, Secureframe, Gamma

"We are first time founders. Stephan took the time to find the value even when we weren't great at articulating it. He gave us feedback on our pitch, on our deck and then introduced us to some of our investors. Since the investment, he and the Lorimer team have been deeply vested in our success. They always try to help with the execution pieces, the strategy pieces etc. Lorimer and Stephan are amazing people who truly spend the time discovering the real story and helping the founders articulate the problem and the solution in the most accessible ways."

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10. Jeff Silverman - Laconia Capital Group

Fund: Laconia Capital Group

‍Investment Thesis: Partners with early-stage companies, providing capital and strategic support with a focus on enterprise software.‍

Check Size: $500K to $2M‍

Founder-First Approach: Focuses on building strong relationships with founders to drive growth and success.

"Having run multiple venture-backed businesses and worked with a number of venture funds, Laconia easily embodies the founder-centric mentality more than any other fund I've worked with. Ask for an introduction - sent within minutes. Need a hire - candidates in your inbox in 24 hours. Want a door opened with a new customer - Jeff will literally email his LPs same day to find a way in. They are a small fund that punches well above their weight class - which is why I've taken money from them twice and would again."

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11. Vivin Hegde - Zacua Ventures

Fund: Zacua Ventures‍

Investment Thesis: Investing in the best entrepreneurs in the Built Environment

‍Check Size: $250K to $2.5M‍

Founder-First Approach: Emphasizes a collaborative approach with founders to drive innovation and growth.

Notable Investments:  Flexnode , Document Crunch,  Pathways AI

"Vivin is blazing a trail in the novel world of construction technology. He's a networking-minded investor that is connecting the "people dots" in a very backwards industry---- crossing domains in real estate, development, general contracting, supply chain management, robotics and more. The most valuable investors to me historically have been the ones that can bring customers, partners and other VCs to the table and drive the business. Vivin is rapidly emerging as the most connected early stage investor in construction."

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12. Iynna Halilou - The MBA Fund

Fund: The MBA Fund‍

Fund thesis: Generalist - Software Enterprise‍

Check Size: $50 - $250K

Notable investments: Jeeves, Dandy, Hightouch, Nala, Siro.ai

"Iynna combines the community building skills, investment acumen, and operating background to run the firm and the fund. She has a global background and tapestry which informs her investing style and the way she treats people. As an immigrant, Iynna witnessed firsthand the disparities in access to opportunities, particularly for women  Realising that this discrepancy was the result of an unfair distribution of socioeconomic opportunities, she was motivated from a very early by a desire to bridge socioeconomic gaps. She fundamentally believes venture capital and investing in technology can have the power to change the course of our lives for the better providing that we do it the right way. Iynna is very helpful in connecting our startups with potential customers and early hires."

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13. Owen Willis - Opal Ventures

Fund: Opal Ventures

Investment Thesis: Pre-seed fund investing in the next generation of heath tech infrastructure

Check Size: $150K - $250K

Founder-First Approach: Offers a collaborative approach with a focus on founder success.

Notable Investments: ShiftRx, Superpower, Weave

"Owen has by far been the best value add to our cap table since we started the company. If there’s one investor I could not recommend enough, it’s him. He leads with empathy, experience, and relatability. We will continue to include Opals checks in every future round, and bet big on him if we have a successful exit."

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14. Rachel Ten Brink - Red Bike Capital

Fund: Red Bike Capital

Investment Thesis:  Focuses on investing in Saas, Health & Wellness and Fintech sectors, providing strategic support and helping founders land their first enterprise clients.

Check Size: $250-500K
Founder-First Approach: Provides extensive support and resources to help startups scale.

Notable Investments: Brij, Daash and Radix Health

"Rachel goes above and beyond as an investor. She responds to EVERY one of my investor asks - every month. That includes engaging with my Linkedin posts, making strategic customer introductions, and introducing me to key partners that have unlocked step functions in our business. Could not recommend her more."

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15. Shashi Srikantan - Level Up Ventures

Fund: Level Up Ventures
Investment Thesis: Partners with early-stage startups, offering funding, mentorship, and strategic support to help founders grow.
Check Size: $250K to $1M
Founder-First Approach: Focuses on building strong relationships with founders.

"Level Up Ventures has truly walked by our side since investing in our round. They have opened up business opportunity doors for us and are always finding way to help us without even asking."

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16. Moshe Bellows - Maccabee Ventures

Fund: Maccabee Ventures‍

Investment Thesis: Maccabee Ventures is a NYC based, early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to investing in exceptional entrepreneurs and outstanding teams in North America and Israel.‍

Check Size: $200-400K‍

Founder-First Approach: As a strategic investor, Maccabee Ventures cultivates meaningful relationships with founders, providing a "Trifecta of Added Value," including extensive client acquisition opportunities, introductions to top talent, and access to valuable co-investors.

Notable Investments: FundGuard, Eleos Health and Agora

I highly recommend Moshe as a VC for your cap table. His experience, relationships, and leadership within the venture community have been invaluable to us. From opening doors during fundraising to connecting us with strategic partners and sourcing talent, Moshe consistently adds value. He's always available to support and proactively creates opportunities for his portfolio companies. -Binny Plotkin, Founder, Silks

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17. Wyeth Coulter - Point72 Ventures

Fund: Point72 Ventures

Investment Thesis: Invests in early-stage startups within fintech, consumer and AI, focusing on building supportive relationships with founders.

Check Size: $500k - $10m‍

Founder-First Approach: Offers extensive support and resources to help founders scale.‍

Notable Investments: Meridian, Brightwave, Champ Titles

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18. Claire Goldsmith - BoxGroup

Fund: BoxGroup‍

Investment Thesis: Pre-seed and seed-stage generalists; focus on founders over ownership targets‍

Check Size: $250K to $1M‍

Founder-First Approach: Focuses on building strong, supportive relationships with founders.

Notable Investments: General Biological, Rogo, Nourish

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19. Eric Ong - Lightbank

Fund: Lightbank VC

Investment Thesis: Seed stage in legacy consumer & SMB markets.

Check Size: $500k - $5M

Founder-First Approach: Offers hands-on support and strategic guidance to help founders succeed.

Notable Investments: Paytient, Justpoint, Felux

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20. Adam Gartenberg - 640 Oxford

Fund: 640 Oxford
Investment Thesis: overlooked industries with clear inefficiencies optimized through software

Check Size: $400K -$500K checks (pre-seed and seed stages)

Founder-First Approach: Adam’s job is to bring positive momentum to founders and unconditional support

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21. Ilan Abehassera - Origins Ventures

Fund: Origins Ventures
Investment Thesis: Partners with early-stage tech companies, providing support and resources needed to scale businesses.
Check Size: $250K to $1M
Founder-First Approach: Emphasizes a collaborative approach with a focus on founder success.

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22. Jay Estefani Castillo- m[x]v Capital

Fund: m]x[v Capital

Investment Thesis: Invests in tenacious and dedicated founders paving the way for the next generation for early-stage (pre-seed/seed) B2B enterprise SaaS

Check Size: $500k - $1.5M

Founder-First Approach: Focuses on building strong, supportive relationships with founders.

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23. Megan Ruan - GoldHouse Ventures

Fund: GoldHouse Ventures
Investment Thesis: Focuses on investing in diverse founders, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, providing extensive support.
Check Size: $100K to $500K
Founder-First Approach: Offers a robust network and resources to help diverse founders succeed.

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24. Charles Hudson - Precursor Ventures

Fund: Precursor Ventures

Investment Thesis: We invest in pre-seed and seed companies before they have product-market fit

Check Size: $500K

Founder-First Approach: Committed to building strong relationships with founders from the beginning and provides a network of resources and mentorship to facilitate early growth.

Notable Investments: Incredible Health, Finix, Juniper Square

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25. Jenny Fielding - Everywhere Ventures

Fund: Everywhere Ventures

Investment Thesis: Concentrates on supporting early-stage startups within vibrant, underserved ecosystems, often with a focus on tech-driven solutions and sustainability.

Check Size: Investments typically range from $50K to $200K.

Founder-First Approach: Prioritizes extensive involvement with founders through mentorship and access to a vast network of industry experts and successful entrepreneurs.

Notable Investments: Headway, Adonis, Cube

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