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Elementum Ventures
Elementum Ventures operates with a partnership rooted in direct startup experience.
Elementum Ventures
Elementum Ventures operates with a partnership rooted in direct startup experience. Ben Chelf co-founded Coverity, a software quality company that scaled to hundreds of employees before Synopsys acquired it in 2014. Ben Patterson ran IT and data infrastructure at Stanford University and the Stanford Cancer Institute, then co-founded a media technology company and served as a Venture Partner at UP2398, Pierre Omidyar's single-LP seed fund. Kurt Keilhacker co-founded and invested in over 50 companies through TechFund and TechFund Europe. The firm deploys capital into early-stage companies across a wide technical landscape. Confirmed portfolio positions span defense (Anduril), space situational awareness (Slingshot Aerospace), carbon transformation (Twelve), advanced computing (Fathom Radiant), and workforce intelligence (Clora). The portfolio also includes communication platform Loom and cyber-physical systems builder Cortex Fusion Systems, alongside fund commitments such as the 1517 Fund and Sterling Road. The partnership targets seed-stage opportunities with a geographic focus on the US but demonstrated reach into Europe through Keilhacker's prior TechFund activities. Elementum's partnership structure combines technical founders with institutional operators. In May 2024, Ben Patterson and Ben Chelf continued to manage the firm's active investment posture, leveraging their networks across Stanford, the 1517 Fund, and the Coors family's venture arm, 10k Investments, where Patterson advises. The partnership does not disclose total capital deployed, but its portfolio of over 15 named companies and fund commitments indicates sustained early-stage activity. The firm's structural differentiator is its operating-partner DNA. Every general partner has held a C-suite or VP-level operating role at a venture-backed startup before joining Elementum — a contrast to firms staffed primarily with former consultants or bankers. The firm maintains a lean partnership with no disclosed institutional LP base, suggesting a flexible, allocation-agnostic deployment model. Its advisor, Ted Callahan, co-founded the firm and now serves as a leader across Intuit's QuickBooks and TurboTax Self-Employed teams, embedding Elementum in a broader network of hands-on operators.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Menlo Park
Corporate office
Menlo Park, CA, United States
Principals
Ben Chelf
General Partner
Ben Patterson
General Partner
Kurt Keilhacker
General Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at Elementum Ventures?
General Partners Ben Chelf, Ben Patterson, and Kurt Keilhacker collectively manage investment decisions. Each brings direct operating experience: Chelf co-founded and served as COO/CTO of Coverity, Patterson ran IT infrastructure at Stanford and advised the Coors family's 10k Investments, and Keilhacker co-founded over 50 companies through TechFund. Ted Callahan, the firm's co-founder, advises the partnership while holding a leadership role at Intuit.
How does Elementum Ventures source its deals?
Deal flow draws heavily from the partners' operating networks. Ben Patterson's advisory role with the 1517 Fund and 10k Investments provides university and family-office connectivity, while Kurt Keilhacker's European track record via TechFund Europe extends reach across the Atlantic. Ben Chelf's Stanford ties and Coverity alumni network further deepen the top-of-funnel. The firm does not publicly detail a centralized sourcing platform.
Does Elementum Ventures make fund commitments or only direct investments?
Elementum engages in both direct seed investments and fund commitments. Its portfolio includes direct stakes in companies like Anduril, Twelve, and Slingshot Aerospace, alongside fund commitments to the 1517 Fund and Sterling Road. This blended approach allows the firm to access deal flow through emerging managers while writing direct checks into companies where the partnership can add operational value.
What investment stages does Elementum Ventures target?
Elementum focuses on early-stage companies, specifically at the seed stage. The portfolio ranges from pre-revenue technical startups like Circe (decarbonized chemical manufacturing) to post-launch growth stories like Loom. The firm's general partners typically engage from the first institutional round, reflecting their own experience as company builders.
Which sectors does Elementum Ventures explicitly emphasize?
The firm's portfolio demonstrates an emphasis on deep technology, including defense (Anduril), space infrastructure (Slingshot Aerospace), carbon transformation (Twelve), advanced computing (Fathom Radiant), and AI-driven enterprise tools (Loom). It also invests in platforms that improve communication and workforce productivity, indicating a broad mandate within technical sectors.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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