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Maven Ventures
Maven Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on emerging tech with a heavy emphasis on consumer AI. The firm invests in consumer software...
Maven Ventures
Maven Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on emerging tech with a heavy emphasis on consumer AI. The firm invests in consumer software sectors including digital health, personalized medicine, consumer climate, and family tech. Founding Managing Partner Jim Scheinman was an early investor in Zoom and has achieved six unicorn exits.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2013
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Palo Alto
Corporate office
Palo Alto, CA, United States
Principals
Jim Scheinman
Founder and Managing Partner
Sara Deshpande
Partner
Robert Ravanshenas
Partner
Annaka Vong
Head of Finance
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Maven Ventures?
Decisions are made by the partnership of Jim Scheinman (Founder and Managing Partner), Sara Deshpande (Partner), and Robert Ravanshenas (Partner). Scheinman focuses on consumer AI and emerging tech; Deshpande leads digital health, consumer climate, and family tech; Ravanshenas covers AI, fintech, and longevity. The firm has operated with a single office and no traditional GP/LP committee structure since inception.
How does Maven Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The firm relies on a concentrated founder network built over a decade of seed-stage investing. Scheinman's reputation as an early Zoom investor draws technical founders who view Maven as a first call on growth and GTM. Deshpande's Stanford GSB lectureship extends reach into academic and startup ecosystems. The lean team design means referrals from exited founders and repeat entrepreneurs form the primary sourcing engine.
Does Maven Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Maven's public record shows only direct seed-stage equity investments into operating companies. There is no disclosed activity as a fund-of-funds or LP in other venture firms, and the firm does not list investments in secondaries, private credit, or hedge fund vehicles alongside its direct portfolio.
What investment stages does Maven Ventures typically target?
The firm targets the seed stage. Its standard initial investment is $1M, with stated consideration for follow-on investing in subsequent financing rounds. Maven does not publish participation in Series B or later-stage lead checks, and its team descriptions emphasize helping founders with an early product achieve early traction.
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