Two Non-Crowd-Based Investment Firms Geared Towards Start-Ups

I've been keeping track of institutions like this recently for entrepreneurial reasons.

Third Rail Ventures

Third Rail Ventures is a new startup to build the capacity of triple bottom line entrepreneurs and to support enterprise as a vehicle for social change worldwide. With a lifetime of experience starting up all sorts of good green things, we believe that the greatest resource entrepreneurs need right now is eachother. We are bootstrapping this concept into a reality and hosting a new networking event series, Green Breakfast Club. As we grow, so will our platform to foster a solidarity economy that brings ideas into fruition through partnerships and alliances at the convergence of enterprise, international development and technology.

We are at seed stage. It’s time to get this startup, and yours, off the ground. Let’s do this. Together.

Founder Collective

As venture capital funds get increasingly large, we have created a small fund (~$40M) that is dedicated to investing in seed stage deals.

Unlike big venture capital firms, we expect to generate returns almost exclusively from seed stage investments. Hence, we have the same incentives as founders to increase the value of the company in future financings. We are also comfortable with smaller exits if that's what the founders want.

A significant portion of our fund comes from active entrepreneurs, many of whom have made Founder Collective their sole entity for private company investing. When we invest in your company, you get access to and help from these entrepreneurs.

We think there is a particular need for this on the East Coast of the US, where we are based. We think the East Coast is poised for a technology revival and we hope to be part of it.

None of us have ever been bankers. We like products and building stuff. We show up on time and don't email during meetings.

Think of it as peer-to-peer investing.