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IDEO CoLab Ventures
IDEO CoLab Ventures focuses on themes including rearchitecting the internet, open financial systems, and the future of work and play. It offers early stage...
IDEO CoLab Ventures
IDEO CoLab Ventures focuses on themes including rearchitecting the internet, open financial systems, and the future of work and play. It offers early stage investment, design incubation with an embedded design team and funding, and a creative residency. Select investments span tools and infrastructure for the next web, decentralized financial products and services, and experiences and networks that connect humans.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2015
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
San Francisco
Corporate office
San Francisco, CA, United States
Principals
Joe Gerber
Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at IDEO CoLab Ventures?
Joe Gerber serves as Managing Director and leads the investment committee. Gerber joined IDEO as a design lead focused on blockchain applications before transitioning to build out the venture practice. The investment process integrates design researchers and prototypers from IDEO's broader CoLab network during technical diligence, though final check-writing authority rests with the venture team.
How does IDEO CoLab Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources from open-source developer communities, protocol working groups, and IDEO's own CoLab fellowship network rather than relying on traditional venture referrals. Design researchers embedded in web3 communities identify technical founders building tooling, middleware, or protocol primitives before they enter formal fundraising processes. This pre-incorporation access is the firm's primary structural advantage.
How is IDEO CoLab Ventures related to IDEO the design consultancy?
IDEO CoLab Ventures is a legally separate entity with its own limited partners, though it operates within IDEO's San Francisco ecosystem and shares brand affiliation. The venture arm draws on IDEO's design, research, and prototyping talent but maintains independent investment decision-making. IDEO itself does not invest its corporate balance sheet through the fund.
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