# Necessary Ventures

Necessary Ventures is a Venture Capital based in San Francisco, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 2020
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.necessary.vc
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/necessaryventures

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 310456
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/310456

## About

Necessary Ventures invests in what the world needs. They lead $1-2M pre-seeds and also invest non-lead from pre-seed to pre-IPO. They are thesis-driven and invest across a wide range of sectors, technologies, and business models. They support founders with talent, capital, and attention.

## Sectors

- AI/ML
- Digital Health
- ClimateTech
- Industrial Tech
- Robotics & Automation
- SpaceTech
- Energy Transition & Renewables
- FinTech
- Education
- Enterprise Software

## People

- Neil Devani — Founder and Managing Partner
- Akash Malhotra — Partner
- Deepa Sheth — Venture Partner
- Dr. Greg Burrell — Venture Partner
- Dr. Nachi Gupta — Venture Partner and Technical Advisor
- Nikita Gaurav — Venture Partner
- Michael Dempsey — AI and Deep Technology Advisor
- Adrian James — Healthcare Technology Advisor
- Dr. Edmondo Robinson — Healthcare Technology Advisor

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Necessary Ventures?

Founder and Managing Partner Neil Devani leads investment decisions, supported by Partner Akash Malhotra. Devani's investment track record includes first-check positions in Vicarious Surgical and Recursion Pharmaceuticals, both of which later reached public markets. The firm's Venture Partners and advisors contribute deal evaluation and portfolio support but final investment authority sits with Devani.

### How does Necessary Ventures source proprietary deal flow?

The firm sources through three channels: Devani and Malhotra's networks across Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the broader Bay Area deep-tech ecosystem; the Venture Partner bench of operating executives from Oak Street Health, Carbon Health, and SCAN Health Plan; and the firm's own content engine — its Necessary Nuggets newsletter and Money Moves podcast attract pre-seed founders seeking mission-aligned capital. The content acts as both an educational platform and an inbound funnel for founders who are actively building in AI, hard tech, and life sciences.

### Does Necessary Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

Necessary Ventures makes only direct venture investments. The firm describes its model as leading $1–2 million pre-seed rounds and also investing non-lead from pre-seed through pre-IPO. There is no public indication that the firm makes fund-of-fund commitments or invests in other VC firms as an LP. All disclosed portfolio activity is in direct company equity.

### Which sectors does Necessary Ventures focus on?

Neil Devani explicitly backs deep tech, hard tech, and AI companies across healthcare, reindustrialization, climate, financial services, and education. The portfolio includes autonomous vehicles (Wayve), chemicals manufacturing (Solugen), healthcare services (Akido), electrification (Arc Boats), and robotics (Vicarious Surgical). The Venture Partner roster adds specific domain depth in gene therapy, medtech, digital health, and primary care services.

### What is Necessary Ventures' known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?

The firm's investment model is built on co-investing — its website states it leads $1–2 million pre-seed rounds and invests non-lead alongside other VCs from pre-seed through pre-IPO. Devani's track record includes deals where he was the first investor and board director at Vicarious Surgical before Khosla Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, and Bill Gates joined subsequent rounds. Necessary Ventures actively syndicates rather than pursuing solo deals.

## Related profiles

- [NEC Capital Solutions](https://altss.com/profile/nec-capital-solutions)
- [Nectar Capital](https://altss.com/profile/nectar-capital)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:34.613Z

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