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Graphene Ventures
Graphene Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2015 that focuses on direct investments in private technology companies. It operates from Palo Alto,...
Graphene Ventures
Graphene Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2015 that focuses on direct investments in private technology companies. It operates from Palo Alto, Toronto, São Paulo and Riyadh, covering the US and other markets to team up with exceptional founders and help portfolio companies expand into multiple markets. The firm’s team and advisors bring decades of experience in operating, scaling, and investing in high-growth startups.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2015
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Palo Alto
Corporate office
Palo Alto, CA, United States
Principals
Nabil Borhanu
Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What investment stages does Graphene Ventures target?
Graphene Ventures primarily invests at the seed and Series A stages, where it can establish meaningful ownership early and support companies through multiple subsequent financing rounds. The firm's flexible capital base allows it to participate in follow-on rounds without the allocation constraints a traditional blind-pool fund imposes.
How does Graphene Ventures source its deal flow?
The firm leans on deep technical networks in the Bay Area, relationships with research universities, and connections with corporate R&D labs. This bottom-up sourcing model reduces reliance on the generic top-of-funnel inbound most Sand Hill Road firms process, and it aligns with the firm's preference for companies where physical infrastructure and software converge.
Which sectors does Graphene Ventures focus on?
The firm's sector coverage includes enterprise software, artificial intelligence and machine learning, fintech infrastructure, digital health, mobility and transportation, property technology, agriculture technology, and the energy transition. The common thread is a focus on software platforms that reshape legacy analog industries, rather than pure consumer internet or standalone SaaS.
Does Graphene Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Graphene Ventures operates as a direct investor into early-stage companies and does not publicly position itself as a fund-of-funds or a limited partner in other venture firms. Its model is built around concentrated, conviction-led direct equity investments rather than diversified fund commitments.
What is Graphene Ventures' known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The firm has not publicly outlined a formal co-investment program for external partners. However, its concentrated, flexible-capital approach means it can collaborate with other venture firms on a deal-by-deal basis without the constraints of a predefined co-investment allocation budget.
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