ff Venture Capital
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John Frankel is that rare ex-Goldman banker who actually gets his hands dirty post-investment - founders genuinely rave about his hustle. The firm's 50% Series A/B graduation rate versus 10% industry average isn't marketing fluff. But here's the thing: despite all their deep tech positioning, their biggest wins are boring enterprise software and fintech plays. The European expansion through Warsaw is real differentiation, not just satellite office theater. Watch out for the Glassdoor reviews though - some ex-employees paint a picture of dysfunctional partner dynamics and investment decisions based on "how partners feel that day." The founder testimonials are overwhelmingly positive, but internal culture might be messier than the polished exterior suggests.
- —Best for: Founders who want a genuinely hands-on partner through Series B with real operational support
- —Watch out for: Potential internal dysfunction between partners despite strong founder support
- —Known for: Exceptional portfolio graduation rates and John Frankel's legendary founder hustle
ff Venture Capital invests across emerging industries, with a strong focus on AI, Manufacturing, Energy, Robotics, and Security. The firm connects the US, European, and Japanese tech ecosystems through its offices in New York and Warsaw, along with strong ties to strategic partners in Japan.
ffVC is a seed and early-stage venture capital firm that has invested in 183 companies with 4 new investments in the last 12 months. Despite claiming focus on AI/robotics/manufacturing, their actual proven winners are fintech and enterprise software companies like Socure, Addepar, Stocktwits, and Rescale.
John Frankel founded ff Venture Capital in 2008 after working at Goldman Sachs for 21 years in technology development and capital markets. Founders describe him as someone who "works REALLY hard for his companies" and "thinks about his companies all the time," even helping with business opportunities after passing on investments.
Previously ran his own investment portfolio with 8 exits including two IPOs (NVCR and EKSO) and one unicorn (Triple Lift) with combined value over $20 billion. Takes a leading role on deep tech investments in robotics, drones, AI and industrial automation.
Active angel investor in Poland with over 10 years of experience in global capital markets, private equity, and venture capital as an investment analyst and portfolio manager. Believes "The CEE market is full of potential, just waiting for the right investments to bring out the best in it".
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