Builders VC

Another chapter in the Builders VC journey!? ? With our latest US $250MM Builders VC Fund II we are excited to double down on the transforming vital sectors of the global economy.? Since our inception in 2017, we have been committed to helping the best and brightest founders tackle some of the largest technological challenges. As we move into 2022 and reflect on our first four years as a firm, we have made over 59 investments in founders who have gone on to raise over $1.5B with $7B in market value. It is hard not to be in awe of just how much the world has changed since we launched. We have already begun deploying capital from Builders Fund II, including with some of the inspiring founders who are tackling the future of ?? Healthcare, ?? Agriculture, ?? Industrials & ?? Proptech. We want to sincerely thank our amazing founders who continue to inspire us each day, our LPs for continuing to believe in our thesis, and our extended team of ‘Builders’. Alberta Enterprise Corporation (AEC)?│?FCC / FAC?│?Kristina Williams?│?Rebbecca Clarke?│?Jim Kim | Amit Mehta, M.D, FRCP | Mark H Goldstein | Mark Blackwell | Jocelyn D. | Paul Verhesen?│?Alison Sunstrum?│?Sanders Lee?│?Doug Schweitzer?│?Steve Dell'Orto

?? Exciting News!?We’re thrilled to congratulate?DOZR?on being named to?BuiltWorlds 2024 Tools & Equipment Top 50 List! At Builders VC, we believed in?DOZR's as ripe to revolutionize the $60B+ equipment rental market from the start. The company's approach addresses major industry gaps: moving from analog to digital, enhancing price transparency, and streamlining the entire rental process. It’s been incredible to witness their growth and strategic expansion in the U.S. and Canada. This recognition underscores?DOZR’s position as a leader in transforming the construction tech landscape. We’re proud to be part of their journey and excited for what’s to come. Big congratulations to the entire?DOZR?team for this well-deserved achievement! Kevin Forestell Tim Forestell Erin Stephenson #Innovation #Contech #BuildersVC #DigitalTransformation #Top50 https://lnkd.in/gJJDYh9U

?? Breakthrough in Sustainable Materials: WNDR Alpine's Microalgae-Based "Shepherd" Named a TIME Top Invention of 2024! We're thrilled to congratulate our portfolio company Checkerspot on this milestone—the Shepherd snowboard, the first made from sustainably sourced microalgae oil, has been recognized as one of Time Magazine's Best Inventions of 2024! This accolade highlights the game-changing potential of Checkerspot's bioengineered materials beyond winter sports. If biomaterials can meet the high-performance demands of snowboarding—where safety is critical—it paves the way for broader adoption across industries. This recognition is a testament to Checkerspot's vision of leveraging advanced biomaterials to create sustainable products that transform industries. We're proud to support Checkerspot's mission and look forward to the far-reaching impact of their groundbreaking technology! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gmZsDZVf Charles Dimmler Scott Franklin Julia Moore KdT Ventures Breakout Ventures #Sustainability #Innovation #BioMaterials

?? HILOS and American footwear icon Steve Madden announce a groundbreaking partnership for an on-demand future at TechCrunch Disrupt! Why this partnership matters: ?? Accelerated Production: HILOS empowers Steve Madden to cut the product creation cycle from months to days, transforming concepts into market-ready designs. ?? On-Demand Efficiency: By eliminating pre-production, this partnership allows rapid responses to market demands, minimizing waste and maximizing sustainability. ?? Innovative Technology: HILOS's platform redefines footwear design and production, setting new standards for customization and consumer engagement. This partnership showcases the potential of on-demand manufacturing and reinforces our commitment to driving change in traditional sectors. Congratulations to the HILOS team on this exciting announcement! Watch Creative Director, Ty DeHaven, sketch a custom shoe live, generated in 3D for immediate wear! https://lnkd.in/ggPhHtEX Full TechCrunch article: https://lnkd.in/gxCxRVb6 Elias Stahl #Innovation #OnDemandFashion #Sustainability

We’re excited to share a major milestone for Navier, a Builders VC portfolio company, with the delivery of its first N30 electric hydrofoiling boat in California. As the longest-range electric boat in the world, the N30 sets a new standard for sustainable maritime innovation in the U.S. Navier’s N30 leverages electrification, hydrofoil technology, and advanced software to offer nearly 100 miles of range, significantly lower operational costs, and a smoother, quieter ride. It’s a transformative leap in U.S. shipbuilding, addressing the sector’s stagnation, which saw domestic output fall to just 0.13% globally. Builders VC’s investment in Navier aligns with our thesis: driving systemic change in traditional industries through innovation. Regulatory barriers, high costs, and decarbonization pressures create a unique opportunity for tech-driven maritime solutions. Navier’s groundbreaking approach positions it to lead the transition to cleaner, more competitive American shipbuilding. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/g6n5svp7 Sampriti Bhattacharyya

Thrilled to announce Builders VC's participation in Pathos AI's oversubscribed $62M Series C round, valuing the company at $600M! At Builders, we're passionate about backing companies that fundamentally transform industries through technology - and Pathos AI is doing exactly that in drug development. The statistics are sobering: 93% of drugs fail to reach approval, with Phase II trials being a particular bottleneck where 66% of candidates fail. Why we're excited about Pathos: ?? Their AI platform analyzes one of the largest multimodal real-world datasets in oncology (>200 petabytes), giving them 50x more data than public datasets ?? In just 12 months, they've acquired two clinical-stage precision oncology assets and developed novel biomarker strategies to identify the most responsive patient populations ?? Exceptional team led by Ryan Fukushima (former Tempus), combining deep expertise in AI, oncology, and drug development ?? Using AI to understand why some patients respond to treatments while others don't, enabling more precise patient selection and dramatically higher success rates in clinical trials The impact? By pairing the right patients with the right drugs, Pathos isn't just improving trial success rates - they're potentially saving years of development time and billions in R&D costs. Most importantly, they're accelerating the delivery of life-saving treatments to patients who need them most. Congratulations to Ryan Fukushima and the entire Pathos team! We're honored to partner with you alongside New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Revolution, Lightbank, and other leading investors on this journey to transform drug development through the power of AI and precision medicine. Full Press Release: https://lnkd.in/g5ThxBkg #Healthcare #AI #Biotech #PrecisionMedicine #Innovation #DrugDevelopment #ClinicalTrials

Last week, we gathered some of the largest ranchers and feedlot owners in the US, livestock tech founders and the CEO of Merck Animal Health for our Annual #Livestock CEO Summit in NYC. Here is what stood out: 1. Square Peg, Round Hole: If VC Dead in Agtech? ???? Scott Sexton discussed Ever.Ag’s journey from Dairy.com, highlighting the pivotal role of early internet adoption in agriculture. Comparing the 1999-2004 and 2020-2024 agtech eras, he noted that while early VC funding could have accelerated growth, it might have compromised Ever.ag’s strategic vision. With over 15 acquisitions, Scott emphasized the need for seamless integration and mission alignment to sustain culture and growth. He also pointed to common agtech pitfalls like misaligned models and tech adaptation challenges, advising a focus on sustainable value, strong product-market fit, and user-centered solutions. 2. More Than Just a Buzzword: Sustainability in Ranching ?? Dan Probert from Lightning Bolt Cattle Co. led an enlightening discussion on how ranchers are integrating conservation with cattle production. His focus on regenerative practices aligns with broader efforts to not just sustain but improve soil health, water quality, and biodiversity across the West. “The more of a management system change that your product requires, the more you have to help your customers understand the ROI of making the change.” 3. Real Founders' Exit Stories In Livestock Tech ?? Drawing from their exits—Feedlot Health to TELUS and Performance Livestock Analytics to Zoetis—Dr. Kee Jim and Dane Kuper emphasized the importance of clear customer communication around an exit, employee retention, and understanding the trade-offs of external funding. They highlighted the need for hybrid solutions that blend software with services to deliver real value and a user-focused approach, similar to Uber & DoorDash, to bring consumer-level experiences that can disrupt legacy systems in the livestock sector. 4. Future of Genetics for Livestock ?? Kerryann Kocher of Vytelle and Ramin Karimpour of TARGAN Inc. provided insights into how precision technology can rapidly accelerate genetic gains and redefine livestock management globally. The future of livestock production lies in more connected, data-driven solutions that can increase efficiency & sustainability. 5. Increasing TAM: Geo-Expansion in Animal Agtech ?? The CEOs of Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions and LeeO Precision Farming B.V. emphasized the need to adapt solutions to local markets. Key strategies include refining terminology, increasing onsite engagement, and tailoring sales to cultural nuances. Both highlighted the need for “boots-on-the-ground” approach over drop-in, drop-out sales, demonstrating its impact on improving ranch management across diverse regions. Thanks to Janette Barnard, Stephen Murray Rob Readnour for helping to organize this year with our crew at Builders VC. Michael Rhys Luke Johnson Richard DeLuca

In a landscape saturated with #GenAI hype, we're thrilled to announce our investment in Brilliant Harvest, a company truly revolutionizing the agricultural equipment industry. Led by serial agtech entrepreneur Remi Schmaltz, Brilliant Harvest Inc. has secured $1.3M in pre-seed funding to tackle real-world challenges in agriculture led by Builders alongside AltaML Venture Studio. Why We're Excited: ?? Quality Data Focus: Brilliant Harvest leverages equipment manuals and customer interactions to build a proprietary, continuously improving dataset. ?? Vertical Expertise: Schmaltz brings deep agtech knowledge from his successes with DynAgra and Decisive Farming. ?? Untapped Market Potential: Addressing a $15B/year opportunity in the underserved ag equipment sector. Brilliant Harvest's AI-powered platform modernizes the entire customer journey for farm machinery, from research to maintenance. With 41% of farmers now Gen X or younger, there's a growing demand for self-serve, omnichannel experiences in agriculture. As Gordon Ritter of Emergence Capital notes, "In the age of generative AI... the tighter your context and industry, the wiser your model and product." Brilliant Harvest embodies this principle and our Vertical AI thesis at Builders VC. Excited to support Brilliant Harvest as they bring auto-industry-level innovation to farm equipment dealers and transform agriculture for the next generation. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gaEdQDd7 #AgTech #VerticalAI #Agriculture #Innovation

?? Big News from FitBiomics! ?? We’re thrilled to share that FitBiomics has launched V?Nella, a groundbreaking product designed to tackle fatigue with cutting-edge microbiome science. ?? What’s V?Nella All About? V?Nella is the first product to leverage the power of Veillonella, a good bacteria that breaks down lactic acid and converts it into beneficial fatty acids. This innovative solution reduces fatigue, boosts energy, and enhances endurance, marking a significant leap in health optimization. ?? Why It Matters: Fatigue is a widespread issue affecting productivity and well-being. V?Nella offers a scientifically backed approach to combat this challenge, setting new standards in the wellness industry. By transforming fatigue into enhanced performance, FitBiomics is redefining health and wellness. ?? Celebrating FitBiomics’ Milestone: This launch highlights FitBiomics' commitment to translating cutting-edge research into real-world solutions. We are proud to support their journey in advancing health technology. ?? Learn More: https://lnkd.in/g9xMaFdc Discover how V?Nella can change the game for fatigue and performance: fitbiomics.com Jonathan Scheiman, PhD Carolina Barsa George Church Alex Evans Wyss Institute at Harvard University #FitBiomics #V?Nella #HealthInnovation #HealthTech #MicrobiomeScience #Wellness

?? Big Congratulations to 280 Earth ?? ?? 280Earth has just secured a groundbreaking $40M deal to capture carbon dioxide for major tech giants, including Alphabet Inc., Meta, and Shopify. ?? What's 280Earth All About? Spun out of Google's “X, the moonshot factory”, 280Earth is revolutionizing carbon capture by utilizing its efficient technology to extract CO2 from the atmosphere and convert waste heat from data centers into a valuable resource. Their pilot facility in Oregon aims to capture 61,600 tons of CO2 by 2030, with the added benefit of generating water to aid cooling systems in data centers. ?? Why It Matters: Climate Impact 280Earth’s technology offers a dual benefit by capturing CO2 and providing water for cooling, addressing two critical needs of modern data centers. Efficiency: Their continuous sorbent movement process reduces energy loss, making carbon capture more sustainable and cost-effective. Scalability: With the potential to reduce carbon emissions significantly, 280Earth is paving the way for scalable solutions to fight climate change. ?? What’s Next? This $40 million agreement highlights 280Earth’s crucial role in advancing carbon removal technology. We’re proud to support their mission from the very start and are excited to see their continued impact on sustainability and climate innovation. ?? Discover More About 280Earth: Learn more about their pioneering work and how they’re making a difference in the fight against climate change: https://lnkd.in/ex_5gxpD John Pimentel Greg Bohannon Gideon Yu #ClimateTech #CarbonCapture #Sustainability #Innovation?