Allele Fund

The family office was capitalized from the proceeds of AppNexus, the ad-tech platform co-founded by Brian O'Kelley and where J.T. Batson was a longtime executive. AT&T acquired AppNexus in 2018 for a reported $1.6 billion. Batson served as CEO of AppNexus in its final independent chapter, and the liquidity from that transaction established the permanent capital base for Allele Fund.

Allele Fund typically co-invests as a non-lead participant in seed and Series A rounds. Batson writes personal checks into syndicates led by other technical founders and operators, including angel groups and early-stage venture funds. The office rarely takes board seats at initial investment, preferring to build a relationship before accepting formal governance roles, as it eventually did at Solugen.

The firm has not published negative screens, but the visible portfolio shows no exposure to consumer internet, social media, crypto, fintech, or clinical-stage biotech. The concentration in enterprise software, defense tech, advanced manufacturing, and industrial biotech suggests Batson avoids asset-light consumer marketplaces and regulated therapeutic development.

Sourcing runs almost entirely through Batson's personal network of repeat founders, fellow AppNexus alumni, and other operator-investors he met during two decades in ad-tech and enterprise software. He invests alongside known technical angel syndicates and occasionally through introductions from portfolio company founders at later stages. The office does not appear to accept inbound cold deal flow.

There is no evidence Allele Fund maintains RIA registration or accepts outside capital. The structure is consistent with a single-family office managing proprietary wealth exclusively — it does not operate a pooled fund vehicle, charge management fees to third parties, or publicly solicit investors.