Osage Venture Partners
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Osage is that rare Philly-area fund that actually lives up to its founder-friendly reputation. They lead or co-lead 70% of their investments and join boards, which signals real conviction versus spray-and-pray. Their 'Entrepreneur's Hour' concept where first meetings are entirely founder-directed with no formal presentations shows they've thought about the power dynamic. The testimonials feel authentic - founders consistently mention being 'supported and pushed' rather than just cheerleaded. Their commitment to relationship investing over transactional deals, often partnering with the same founders across multiple startups, suggests they're building actual partnership muscle. The focus on post-revenue companies with proven traction reduces some early-stage risk, though it also means you're paying higher valuations for that validation.
- —Best for: Post-revenue B2B software founders who want hands-on board partners, not just capital
- —Watch out for: Higher competition for deals given their reputation and track record in the region
- —Known for: Actually following through on founder support promises and long-term relationship building
They partner with entrepreneurs who stand out as business builders and innovators, looking for deep domain expertise, exceptional problem solving skills, and the potential to scale a business to $20 million or $50 million or $100 million of revenue. Their core belief is that disruptive innovation in work and education fuels human achievement.
They invest in post-revenue companies with a revenue run rate of $500K-$3M, with 90% of their investments being post-revenue Seed or Series A companies. They specialize in early-stage B2B software companies with a particular focus on future of work and future of education solutions.
Co-founder of Osage Partners in 1990, graduate of Yale Law School where he was an editor of The Yale Law Journal, and Yale College summa cum laude. Previously clerked for U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced corporate law before founding Osage. Known for recognizing the generosity and community spirit among entrepreneurs, focusing on helping life-long learners and intelligent risk-takers.
Over 15 years of experience as a Managing Partner at Osage Venture Partners, educated at Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Former CEO of a software business who brings empathy to working with portfolio CEOs, noting that being a software CEO was the most challenging thing he'd ever done. Part of the leadership team bringing a collaborative approach to supporting entrepreneurs.
Over 30 years in venture capital, co-founded BEV Capital in 1997 and raised over $200 million in over 40 companies. Known as a highly analytical investor with a disciplined process for working with management. Praised by co-investors as smart, insightful, and extremely knowledgeable about online media businesses.
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