For startup founders, earning funding is always difficult, no matter the business climate, but it has been an especially uphill battle in recent months. VC firms have been deploying much less capital across industries and stages in 2023 than in 2022. Even 2022 was a down year compared to 2021, a year in which record highs in VC funding were seen in the United States. As a firm that provides not only product development expertise, but also investment help to startup founders, we’re always looking to partner with innovative accelerators and VC firms to expand the breadth and quality of resources that we provide to our clients. While this list is not meant to be exhaustive, here are a few of our partners that we are proud to work with on an official basis:

Carolina Angel Network

Carolina Angel Network (CAN) is a community of entrepreneurs and investors that was founded in 2016. CAN supports the UNC-Chapel Hill startup community, providing early-stage founders with funding and advice from UNC alumni. For founders from UNC, a network like CAN can help the funding process move much more quickly by providing a wider array of investment and advisory opportunities, particularly with those who have many shared experiences. Some companies that CAN has invested in are: InHerSight, Carpe, and Learn to Win. CAN’s focus includes:

• Industry - Non-life sciences products/services, Medical Devices, Biotech

• Geography - USA - UNC-Chapel Hill alumni

• Stage - Seed or Series A raising $1-10MM

Red Swan Ventures

Based out of New York City, Red Swan Ventures is a VC firm that aspires “to be the entrepreneur’s first institutional investor, helping to craft the right mix of funds and individual investors for the round.” Some of Red Swan’s investments include prominent companies and brands, including Coinbase, Harry’s, SeatGeek, and Warby Parker. Founded in 2011, Red Swan Ventures has invested in more than 100 different companies to dateand looks for founders that can effectively create internal momentum through strategies like product-led growth. Investment preferences include:

• Industry - Generalist, but mostly SaaS, AI, ML, and technology

• Geography - Global

• Stage - Pre-Seed, Seed, and Early Stage VC

Primordial

Located in Durham, NC, Primordial is a VC firm that invests in 10-12 startups per year. A sister organization to GrepBeat and Jurassic Capital, Primordial provides perks to founders in addition to the capital it invests, including access to GrepBeat programs, and connections to Jurassic Capital, and lab space in its downtown Durham office. That is all in addition to the Primordial mindset of providing as much guidance as founders need, and a community of support throughout the entrepreneurial journey. 

• Industry: Software / Internet

• Geography: Triangle-based: Startups in Raleigh/Durham strongly preferred

• Stage: Pre-seed, Seed, Series A (more specifically, startups with less than 500K in revenue)

DSG Ventures

DSG Ventures is an early-stage VC fund managed by Dick’s Sporting Goods. Located in Coraopolis, PA, DSG Ventures recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit required to be successful as a founder, given that Dick’s itself began as a family-owned business, a small retail store in New York. Companies that seek to “grow the game,” are right up DSG Ventures’ alley, and those that could derive value from access to Dick’s retail operation and significant audience are a great fit as well. By giving startups direct access to the Dick’s team, portfolio companies will be able to better understand how to achieve operational excellence. 

• Industry: Sports, E-Sports, Retail

• Geography: United States

• Stage: Pre-Seed, Seed, Series A/B

To learn more about how Hyperspace partners with startups and gives them the tools they need to succeed, send us an email at hello@hyperspaceventures.com, or send us an inquiry here.