# SoundBoard Venture Fund

SoundBoard Venture Fund is a Venture Capital based in Montclair, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** Montclair, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Montclair, NJ, United States
- **Founded:** 2012
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.soundboardventurefund.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/soundboard-venture-fund

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

SoundBoard Angel Fund is a venture capital fund founded by a group of experienced investors with over 100 years of combined experience in investments and financial management. The founding team has a strong financial background and a track record of launching new companies and achieving successful financial exits. SoundBoard Angel Fund has made 60 investments, including a Seed VC investment in TRIC Robotics on July 23, 2025, and has realized four portfolio exits, including the sale of Whistle on July 16, 2025.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- AgriTech & FoodTech
- Real Estate
- Mobility & Transportation
- Digital Health
- AI/ML
- Industrial Tech
- Healthcare Services
- Robotics & Automation
- InsurTech
- Energy Transition & Renewables

## People

- Jonathan Hakakian — Managing Director
- Richard Magid — Co-Founder, SoundBoard Angel Fund
- Veronica Puleo — Operations & Due Diligence
- Steve Levy — Investor & Advisor
- Scott Casas — Investor & Board of Advisors
- Philip Samuels — Investor & Board of Advisors
- Olu Beck — Limited Partner
- Jon S. Brandt — Limited Partner
- Mike Hepp — Limited Partner & Investment Committee
- Clark Nelson — Investor & Screening Committee

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at SoundBoard Venture Fund?

Managing Director Jonathan Hakakian, a Kauffman Fellow and NJBIZ '40 Under 40' recipient, leads the fund alongside co-founder Richard Magid. The investment committee includes LPs with operator backgrounds, such as Mike Hepp, who built and sold a public-sector networking business. The firm states it 'mobilizes our investors to join the evaluation and decision-making processes,' giving the LP base a direct role in underwriting.

### How does SoundBoard source proprietary deal flow?

The fund sources primarily through its own network of 400-plus members, many of whom are current and former operators across industries such as consumer products, telecom, and financial services. It targets the Mid-Atlantic corridor (Washington, D.C. to New York City) and favors companies that have not yet been heavily shopped to coastal venture funds. Jonathan Hakakian's role as Entrepreneur in Residence at Stevens Institute of Technology provides additional university-tied pipeline.

### Does SoundBoard participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

SoundBoard engages exclusively in direct, early-stage equity investments. The firm's website lists over 40 portfolio companies, all direct positions. There is no mention of fund-of-fund commitments or investments in other venture firms.

### What investment stages does SoundBoard typically target?

The fund focuses on Seed and Start-up stages, as confirmed by its stated strategy. It targets companies that have a scalable competitive advantage and assesses the founding team's culture and leadership gaps both before and after the initial investment.

### How is SoundBoard related to SoundBoard Consulting Group?

SoundBoard Venture Fund is a direct outgrowth of SoundBoard Consulting Group, the leadership-coaching and executive-advisory firm Richard Magid founded in 2000. Magid used the consulting relationships as the initial base for SoundBoard Angel Fund when it launched in 2012. The fund's emphasis on assessing leadership teams and culture pre- and post-investment carries the consulting firm's DNA.

## Related profiles

- [Sound Bioventures](https://altss.com/profile/sound-bioventures)
- [Soundcore Capital Partners](https://altss.com/profile/soundcore-capital-partners)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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