Oval Park Capital

Oval Park Capital deploys capital exclusively through direct investments and special purpose vehicles. There is no fund-of-funds program — the firm leads and co-invests in seed-stage companies directly, using SPVs when appropriate for specific portfolio exposures, and maintains an Opportunity Fund to provide follow-on capital to breakout companies through Series A and B rounds.

Oval Park publishes a negative list on its website that excludes: software, services, life sciences, biotech, medical devices, crypto, consumer apps, consumer products, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, psychedelics, sports, entertainment, gambling, gaming, social media, and other media. This eliminates most standard venture deal flow, concentrating the firm exclusively on hardtech startups commercializing physical and industrial technologies.

The firm targets overlooked startup ecosystems, geographies, and sectors where transformative founders operate without the noise of oversaturated coastal markets. Based in Raleigh and purpose-built for the Southeast, the sourcing model relies on relationships with engineering-led companies in mission-critical industries that fall outside the mandates of generalist venture firms.

Justin Wright-Eakes serves as Managing Partner and leads investment decisions. The investment committee is supported by a team of operating partners — Jeff Clark, John Perkins, and Margaret Gramann — who bring hands-on operational expertise rather than a generalist finance background. The firm has no large institutional investment committee beyond Wright-Eakes and his senior team.

There is no public disclosure of a philanthropic foundation, donor-advised fund program, or separate charitable entity associated with Oval Park Capital or its principals. The firm operates as a dedicated venture capital manager without any observable philanthropic arm.