Reno Seed Fund
ActiveOverview
Reno Seed Fund is an early-stage angel/venture seed fund based in Northern Nevada, investing in high-growth technology companies, primarily those with a presence in Northern Nevada or the Mountain West. It leads and co-leads seed-stage rounds with check sizes from $50,000 to $500,000, targeting post-revenue or near-revenue startups at $3M-$6M pre-money valuations, with a focus on sectors like SaaS, IoT, healthcare, e-commerce, FinTech, and life sciences. The fund provides active advisory support, operational mentorship, and board involvement alongside its 50+ limited partners who are local business owners and investors.
History
Founded in early 2019, Reno Seed Fund was established to drive innovation, create jobs, and build wealth in Northern Nevada through investments in early-stage companies. It has grown to become Nevada's most active angel fund, earmarking 70% of its capital for companies with significant Northern Nevada presence and maintaining ongoing involvement with portfolio companies via an operations committee of experienced founders and leaders. No acquisitions or major pivots reported.
Notable Products
- Seed Investments ($50K-$500K) - Primary investment product for post-revenue startups at $3M-$6M pre-money valuations, often leading rounds with 5%-15% ownership.
- SaaS-Focused Investments - 50% of portfolio allocated to SaaS companies with scalable business models targeting $10M+ ARR in 5 years.
- Regional Co-Investments - Partnership investments in Mountain West companies, complementing core Northern Nevada focus.
Reputation
Reno Seed Fund is regarded as a key player in Northern Nevada's entrepreneurial ecosystem, valued for its rigorous due diligence, active mentoring, and local economic development focus. Professionals appreciate its hands-on approach and network access for seed-stage founders. Limited public data on specific portfolio performance or exits keeps broader VC reputation modest outside the region.