"15 years ago, I founded Bee Partners to invest in remarkable founders at inception. As my partner, Kira, likes to say, 'a team and a dream'. And it's been a dream of mine since the beginning to someday support hundreds of startups. And today, I'm proud to formally announce that we've raised over $50 million for our new fund, which provides us with the capital to achieve that dream.
At Bee Partners, we invest pre-product and pre-revenue. Our commitment is to pioneering DeepTech founders in areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, automation, synthetic biology, and more. Starting a DeepTech company takes guts and we wanna collaborate. After all, the name of the firm is Bee Partners and we aim to do just that, be partners with founders for the entrepreneurial journey ahead.
So thank you to the investors who have backed us, to the founders who have said yes to our partnership, and to the future entrepreneurs building a promising tomorrow. So whether you're just hearing about us for the first time, or you've already collided with Kira, Tim, Austin, Ale, Jen, or Jocelyn, welcome to Bee Partners!"
Michael Berolzheimer, Founder & Managing Partner
Posted from our TechCrunch exclusive authored by Christine Hall, read more here.
Bee Partners IV, the latest addition to the fund portfolio, has deployed 20% of its capital to seven carefully selected companies. Among these companies are three Generative AI startups that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. This strategic investment approach reflects the firm's commitment to identifying disruptive technologies that have the potential to reshape industries and create meaningful impact.
This fourth fund is the firm’s largest to date and gives the firm just over $130 million in total commitments. Its third fund, closed in 2019, was $43 million. Bee Partners typically invests in 25 companies per fund over the course of about four years. Its average check size is $800,000, but has invested as low as $350,000 and as high as $1.5 million.
"Portfolio companies have an over 60% matriculation rate to Series A, according to the firm."
What sets Bee Partners apart is its willingness to make substantial investments at a very early stage. For a founding team to be able to pick up $500,000 or $1 million at a time is very unique. By providing not only capital but also strategic guidance, mentorship, and access to a vast network of industry experts, it empowers entrepreneurs and positions them for long-term success.
Recently shared from a Founder:
Bee Partners Founder
"I’m inspired that you guys look beyond traditional metrics to really understand if there are signs of traction. No firm has ever asked me some of the questions that you have. You really seem to understand the signs, pre-revenue, that a company is seeing early possible traction, and it’s exceptional.
I think you and Kira have struck a great balance between pushing on companies and holding them accountable to progress, but without an ounce of negativity when realigning milestones. We've had multiple discussions about why we changed milestones or the reasons behind why we hit or missed, and you've always seemed to get it. Kira has a really great way of pushing back on ideas firmly but leaving room to discuss.
I've always thought early-stage investing is about conviction, and while lots of people say that, few firms live it. So, I just wanted to let you know what I’ve experienced with Bee Partners.”
To read more about our portfolio, visit our page here, or if you are a Founder innovating in any of our three vectors, read up on what we're looking for here!
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