# Rally Ventures

Rally Ventures is a Venture Capital based in Minneapolis, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** Minneapolis, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Menlo Park, CA, United States
- **Founded:** 2012
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.rallyventures.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/rallyventures

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 167687
- **SEC file number:** 802-78093
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/167687

## About

Rally Ventures was founded in 2012 to unite the ecosystem of early-stage business technology innovators, their investors and industry leaders. Business technology is its sole focus. The firm invests in early-stage companies in sectors including AI/ML, cybersecurity, fintech and SaaS+, deploying strategic resources and global expertise to support high-potential companies.

## Sectors

- AI/ML
- Cybersecurity
- FinTech
- SaaS
- InsurTech
- Enterprise Software

## People

- Jeff Hinck — Co-Founder
- Justin Kaufenberg — Co-Founder
- Stephanie McCoy — Chief Financial Officer
- Tom Peterson — Venture Partner
- Zenas Hutcheson — Venture Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Rally Ventures?

Investment decisions are led by co-founders Jeff Hinck and Justin Kaufenberg, who share a background as serial entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. They are supported by longtime venture partners Tom Peterson and Zenas Hutcheson, who have made early-stage investments for more than 30 years each. The firm does not disclose whether decisions are made by a formal investment committee or through a managing partner structure.

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

Rally leverages a network of over 100 'Tech Partners' — current and former C-level operators at enterprise technology companies — who originate, diligence, and support portfolio companies. Many deals come from the personal networks of co-founders Jeff Hinck and Justin Kaufenberg, who have founded more than ten companies each. The firm also creates deal flow internally by co-founding companies within its venture studio model, with examples including JustiFi, Yardstik, and Blank Metal.

### Does Rally Ventures make fund commitments or only direct deals?

Rally Ventures exclusively makes direct venture capital investments in early-stage business technology companies, with no reported activities as a fund-of-funds or limited partner in other venture firms. The firm also originates its own companies by directly co-founding startups with operating executives inside the Rally platform.

### How does Rally Ventures deploy its Tech Partner network operationally?

Tech Partners are practicing executives — not passive advisors — who work directly with portfolio company founders on go-to-market strategy, product development, and sales execution. Operating Partner Liz Benz, formerly Chief Sales Officer at Jamf, personifies this model: she was a Tech Partner before joining Rally's full-time staff. The network is designed to provide the type of hands-on mentorship that early-stage B2B companies need to scale from initial product-market fit to growth stage.

### Is Rally Ventures structured as a traditional venture fund or does it operate more like a venture studio?

Rally operates as a hybrid: the firm runs a conventional early-stage venture fund while also co-founding companies from scratch inside its own platform. Co-founder Justin Kaufenberg has personally co-founded Yardstik (background screening), JustiFi (embedded fintech), and Blank Metal from within Rally. This venture studio arm feeds the core fund's deal pipeline with proprietary opportunities that external GPs cannot access as early.

## Related profiles

- [Rallye](https://altss.com/profile/rallye)
- [Ramaiah Evolute](https://altss.com/profile/ramaiah-evolute)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T15:07:57.118Z

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