Venture CapitalRIA · CRD 313641Private Fund Adviser

Updated:

Responsibly Ventures

Responsibly Ventures catalyzes at PreSeed for Sustainability and Social Good. The firm aims to back startups aligned with its core values that promote a...

Responsibly Ventures logo

Responsibly Ventures

Responsibly Ventures catalyzes at PreSeed for Sustainability and Social Good. The firm aims to back startups aligned with its core values that promote a healthier planet and a healthier society. It seeks opportunities with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) per startup and focuses on helping founders toward massive exits with sustainable positive impacts.

General information

Firm type

Venture Capital

Year founded

2021

Location

Region

North America

Country

United States

City

Huntington Beach

Corporate office

Huntington Beach, CA, United States

Principals

Zécca J. Lehn

General Partner

Rebekah Bastian

Advisor

Gilberto Gandra

Advisor

Sector focus

ClimateTechCircularityFinTechAgriTech & FoodTechClean EnergyPropTechEdTechHealthTechCybersecurityIndustrial TechMobility & TransportationWaste ManagementSustainable CPG

Frequently asked questions

How does Responsibly Ventures define and measure impact?

The firm requires portfolio companies to report Startup Impact Metrics (SIMs) annually, covering outputs such as carbon avoided, waste diverted, renewable energy capacity modeled, and life-years gained. These figures are aggregated in the firm's Annual VC Impact Report, making the data publicly available. This disclosure is a condition of backing, not an optional exercise.

Which sectors does Responsibly Ventures explicitly avoid?

The firm has no published exclusion list, but its positive screen — Sustainability and Social Good — means it does not back teams in extractive industries, weapons, conventional fossil fuel generation, or any business where negative externalities cannot be directly tracked and offset. The portfolio shows a preference for circularity, clean energy, digital health, privacy, and ethical consumer models.

What evidence supports the claim of an 'impact moat'?

The firm argues that a startup's mission — when deeply understood and authentically executed — becomes a strategic advantage in hiring, customer acquisition, and regulatory positioning. Its published SIMs are the visible output of that claim: portfolio companies like Banqloop (decarbonizing infrastructure via AI-driven circularity) and Goodie Bag (reducing food waste through surplus marketplace access) demonstrate business models where impact and defensibility converge.

Are Responsibly Ventures' portfolio companies concentrated in any geography?

The portfolio skews heavily toward the United States, with concentrations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Boulder, and Chicago. A smaller number of companies are based in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, and other US cities. No international portfolio companies are listed.

Does Responsibly Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

All public evidence — including its naming convention as a PreSeed VC Impact Fund and the composition of its disclosed portfolio — shows only direct startup investments. There is no mention of fund-of-funds commitments, SPVs, or co-investment club structures.

Profile maintained by 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:

Principals with verified direct contactsAllocation history by asset classOSINT-derived deal signals
Book a demo

Prefer a guided tour?

We’ll walk you through:

Interactive funding timelinesCustom mandate & allocation filters
Book a demo

Browse by category

More Huntington Beach Venture Capital profiles