Venture Capital

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Florence Venture Partners

Every Entrepreneur Imagines a Better World!® | Florence Venture Partners are a Palo Alto-based group of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders, here to...

Florence Venture Partners logo

Florence Venture Partners

Every Entrepreneur Imagines a Better World!® | Florence Venture Partners are a Palo Alto-based group of seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders, here to help startups 'get out of the garage' to deliver on their vision. Florence Venture Partners was established in 2012 with a mission to help entrepreneurs build great businesses that have impact.

General information

Firm type

Venture Capital

Year founded

2012

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Palo Alto

Corporate office

401 Florence Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301, United States

Principals

Jack Russo

Managing Partner

Leigh Soutter

Vice President and Partner

Alice Lankester

Advisor

Joseph Onochie

Advisor

Sector focus

Enterprise SoftwareCybersecurityAI/MLFinTechDigital HealthEnergy Transition & Renewables

Frequently asked questions

Who runs investment decisions at Florence Venture Partners?

Investment decisions are led by Managing Partner Jack Russo, who also serves as the founding partner of Palo Alto law firm ComputerLaw Group LLP. Vice President Leigh Soutter supports research, analysis, and product management for portfolio companies. Advisor Joseph Onochie provides input on corporate finance and valuation matters. The firm's investment committee structure beyond Russo has not been publicly disclosed.

How does Florence Venture Partners source its deals?

Deal flow originates largely through Jack Russo's separate legal practice at ComputerLaw Group, which represents entrepreneurs and early-stage technology companies. That funnel gives the firm visibility into formation-stage transactions before they reach institutional venture firms. The firm also draws sourcing from its advisory network — London-based Alice Lankester provides a European venture connection through her role at Balderton — but no formal fund-of-funds or accelerator partnerships have been disclosed.

Is Florence Venture Partners structured as a venture firm or a hybrid law-and-capital shop?

Functionally, it operates as a hybrid. The firm writes seed and early-stage checks alongside intensive operational support — IP strategy, contract negotiation, partner agreements — that is characteristic of a legal practice. Most of that support traces back to Jack Russo's ComputerLaw Group. No separate management company or fund vehicle has been identified in public records, making it leaner and more service-dependent than a typical venture partnership.

What investment stages and check sizes does the firm target?

Florence Venture Partners targets Seed and Start-up rounds, with some willingness to follow on into early Growth stages. The firm does not publish a typical check size. Its model emphasizes value-add services over large capital deployment, so individual investments are expected to be on the smaller end relative to institutional seed funds.

Does Florence Venture Partners manage external limited partner capital?

There is no public indication that Florence Venture Partners raises funds from external limited partners. The firm does not disclose a fund structure, AUM, or a track record of closes. Its investment activity appears to be funded by principal capital and possibly co-investments from partners like Big Bloom.

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