# Magarac Venture Partners

Magarac Venture Partners is a Venture Capital based in Pittsburgh, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** Pittsburgh, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- **Founded:** 2014
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** magarac.vc
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/magarac-venture-partners

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Magarac Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, PA. It was founded by Mike Stubler, Jay Katarincic, Zach Malone and Will Allen. The firm invests in Midwest entrepreneurs building market-defining companies and views venture investing as a people-first business, aiming to be founders' MVP with capital and resources.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- Industrial Tech
- Robotics & Automation
- Energy Transition & Renewables
- AI/ML

## People

- William Generett Jr. — Managing Partner
- Thomas O'Brien — Managing Partner
- Megan Shaw — Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Magarac Venture Partners?

The investment committee is led by Managing Partners William Generett Jr. and Thomas O'Brien, with Partner Megan Shaw elevated to the committee in 2022. The firm maintains a flat partnership structure where all committee members weigh in on new investments, with no single managing partner holding unilateral decision authority.

### How does Magarac Venture Partners source proprietary deal flow?

MVP sources most of its pipeline through embedded relationships with Carnegie Mellon University's computer science, robotics, and engineering departments, along with referrals from the Pittsburgh entrepreneurial ecosystem. The firm benefits from being the only dedicated early-stage venture firm headquartered in the city with multi-cycle continuity, giving it first-look access to technical spinouts that coastal funds often see only after a priced round has been set.

### What investment stages does Magarac Venture Partners target?

MVP invests primarily at Seed and Series A stages, writing initial checks ranging from roughly $250,000 to $2 million. The firm reserves capital for follow-on investments into growth rounds for its strongest-performing portfolio companies, though its core posture is to lead or co-lead a startup's first institutional capital raise.

### Why does Magarac Venture Partners remain headquartered in Pittsburgh rather than opening a Sand Hill Road office?

The firm argues that Pittsburgh's density of AI, robotics, and industrial tech talent — centered on Carnegie Mellon University — is not replicable in Northern California, and that maintaining a single-office presence allows MVP to operate as the dominant local capital provider rather than a visiting tourist. Co-investors frequently travel to Pittsburgh for due diligence; MVP does not observe the reverse.

### Does Magarac Venture Partners lead rounds or co-invest?

The firm is willing to lead Seed rounds, particularly for Pittsburgh-based companies where it can add value through its regional network and operating expertise. For startups located outside its core geography, MVP more commonly co-invests alongside a local lead investor who can provide on-the-ground support.

## Related profiles

- [Maffei Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/maffei-ventures)
- [MaGEHold](https://altss.com/profile/magehold)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:19.634Z

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