Updated:
Motivate
Motivate AI automates your quotes, orders, returns, and client communication. | Harness the power of Motivate AI to transform your B2B distribution business.
Motivate
Motivate AI automates your quotes, orders, returns, and client communication. | Harness the power of Motivate AI to transform your B2B distribution business. Our AI-powered solutions for order automation, sales automation, and customer communication will drive efficiency, boost sales, and enhance customer experiences.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2019
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Chicago
Corporate office
110 North Peoria #104, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Additional offices
Palo Alto · San Antonio · San Francisco · Boulder · Fairfield
Principals
David Wieland
General Partner
Lauren Deluca
General Partner
Andy Will
General Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Motivate?
Investment decisions are made by the three General Partners: David Wieland, Lauren DeLuca, and Andy Will. Wieland and DeLuca co-founded Motivate in 2019; Will joined in 2023 via the acquisition of his firm, Willpower VC.
How does Motivate source proprietary deal flow?
Motivate sources deals through the partners' extensive networks—Wieland co-founded IrishAngels (a Notre Dame affiliated angel group), DeLuca has deep fintech and capital markets connections, and Will brings relationships from past venture roles and the Kauffman Fellows program. The firm also incubates startups from idea stage with proven founders.
Is Motivate structured as a single-family office or a venture firm?
Motivate operates as a standard venture capital firm, not a family office. It manages pooled capital across multiple LPs and funds, and its GPs have backgrounds as founders and early-stage investors rather than single-family wealth managers.
What investment stages does Motivate typically target?
Motivate focuses on pre-seed and seed stage companies, with check sizes ranging from $250k to $1M at pre-seed and $1.5M to $3M at seed. The firm also selectively co-creates startups and invests in emerging VC funds.
Which sectors does Motivate focus on?
Motivate primarily invests in fintech, enterprise software, and AI/ML. The firm's portfolio includes companies such as Mesh (earned wage access), Ensemble AI (multi-modal AI), and Clyr (manufacturing OS). Past GP investments span consumer, fintech, and marketplace verticals.
Does Motivate participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
In addition to direct startup investments, Motivate actively invests in emerging pre-seed and seed stage VC funds, serving as an LP to other early-stage managers.
What is Motivate's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
Motivate regularly co-invests alongside other venture firms. The portfolio includes companies backed by multiple top-tier investors, reflecting a collaborative approach to syndication.
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 venture capital firms?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: