Updated:
Lingo Ventures
Lingo Ventures is a multi-family office co-founded by Michele Ciavarella and John B. Hess that invests in early- and growth-stage technology companies.
Lingo Ventures
Lingo Ventures was established in 2004 by Michele Ciavarella and John B. Hess, the latter representing the Hess family fortune built on Hess Corporation, a publicly traded oil and gas company founded by Leon Hess in 1933. The firm operates as a multi-family office, investing primarily in venture and growth equity, but it does not publicly disclose a single AUM figure or total deployment (per public record). The firm targets early- and growth-stage companies across enterprise software, artificial intelligence, fintech, digital health, and climate technology. Lingo Ventures typically makes both direct investments and co-investments alongside other family offices and institutional venture firms. Portfolio companies include Coinbase Global and 1Password (public holdings, per public record). The firm invests in North America and Europe, with offices in Brooklyn, Beverly Hills, Oakland, and Lisbon. Lingo Ventures does not publicly disclose the size of its investment team or total number of partners, though it maintains a lean, generalist-oriented structure. In 2024, the firm increased its focus on European climate technology deals, particularly in Portugal and broader Southern Europe (per local media reports). No philanthropic foundation or seperate operating arm is publicly documented. The firm's structure as a multi-family office with a single-family legacy gives it a hybrid capital base—combining patient family capital with the ability to raise co-investment vehicles for large transactions. This allows Lingo Ventures to act as a lead investor in deals that require a long-term hold, a posture less common among institutional venture firms.
General information
Firm type
Multi Family Office
Year founded
2004
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Brooklyn
Corporate office
Brooklyn, NY, United States
Additional offices
Beverly Hills, CA, United States · Lisbon, Portugal · Oakland, CA, United States
Principals
Michele Ciavarella
Founder and Managing Partner
John B. Hess
Co-Founder and Chairman
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Lingo Ventures?
Investment decisions at Lingo Ventures are led by Founder and Managing Partner Michele Ciavarella, with strategic oversight from Co-Founder and Chairman John B. Hess (public record). The firm does not publicly disclose a formal investment committee structure.
How does Lingo Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The firm sources deal flow through its four-office network—Brooklyn, Beverly Hills, Oakland, and Lisbon—leveraging relationships with founders, other family offices, and venture firms. It is known to co-invest alongside institutional venture funds, and public portfolio companies include Coinbase Global and 1Password (per public record).
Is Lingo Ventures structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
Lingo Ventures operates as a multi-family office, investing wealth from the Hess family and other undisclosed families. It uses a venture capital-style approach, making direct investments and co-investments in early- and growth-stage companies, with a portfolio that includes technology and financial services companies.
Does Lingo Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Based on public information, Lingo Ventures engages primarily in direct investments and co-investments. The firm may also invest in venture funds as a limited partner, but no specific fund commitments are publicly documented.
What investment stages does Lingo Ventures typically target?
Lingo Ventures typically targets early- and growth-stage companies, with a focus on Series A through Series C rounds. The firm has made investments in later-stage companies as well, but its public holdings skew toward earlier-stage venture.
What is Lingo Ventures's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Lingo Ventures actively makes co-investments alongside external GPs and other family offices. This is consistent with many family offices that co-invest to gain direct exposure to portfolio companies while maintaining control over terms.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The underlying wealth originates from the Hess family, built through Hess Corporation, a global oil and gas company founded by Leon Hess in 1933. John B. Hess, co-founder of Lingo Ventures, is the son of Leon Hess.
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.
Need institutional-grade insight on family offices?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: