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SM Ventures
SM Ventures was established in 2012 by Jed Stiller and John McPheters. The two had previously co-founded Stadium Goods in 2015 and sold it to Farfetch in 2019.
SM Ventures
SM Ventures was established in 2012 by Jed Stiller and John McPheters. The two had previously co-founded Stadium Goods in 2015 and sold it to Farfetch in 2019. Their operating background in retail, e-commerce, and analytics platforms shapes the office's approach to capital allocation. The firm invests in private equity, real estate, private credit, and public markets. It participates in direct co-investments and SPVs. Confirmed holdings include positions in Empower Finance via its Series B round and Latch through the SPV SM Ventures LatchCo LLC. Additional activity appears in Till Financial alongside co-investors such as Pivotal Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Geographic reach covers North America, Europe, and Asia. The team consists of the two managing partners plus a small number of employees. No additional offices are listed. SM Ventures maintains no disclosed philanthropic vehicles or club memberships. No operational events from the last 24 months appear in public records. The office's structure reflects direct operator involvement by its two principals, who previously scaled and exited a consumer business. This setup allows capital deployment without external fund commitments or third-party mandates.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2012
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, United States
Principals
Jed Stiller
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
John McPheters
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at SM Ventures?
Jed Stiller and John McPheters serve as Co-Founders and Managing Partners and oversee all investment activity. They previously managed all functions at Stadium Goods from founding through its 2019 sale.
How does SM Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
The principals draw on relationships formed during the founding and growth of Stadium Goods and earlier ventures such as Swarm Mobile. They also co-invest alongside named partners including Icon Ventures and Abundance Partners.
Is SM Ventures structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a venture firm?
SM Ventures functions strictly as the single-family office for its two principals. It does not raise external capital or manage third-party funds.
Does SM Ventures participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The office focuses on direct co-investments and SPVs. Examples include the Latch investment through SM Ventures LatchCo LLC and participation in Empower Finance's Series B.
What investment stages does SM Ventures typically target?
The firm targets growth and buyout stages. It states it invests regardless of phase when aligned with founder vision and technology.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth originates from the principals' founding and sale of Stadium Goods, which Forerunner Ventures led with participation from LVMH Luxury Ventures.
What is SM Ventures' known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The office regularly joins external investors. Documented co-investors include Pivotal Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Elysian Park Ventures in Till Financial.
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.
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