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Start Garden
Start Garden was launched in 2013 by Rick DeVos, scion of the DeVos family whose fortune traces to the Amway direct-selling empire.
Start Garden
Start Garden was launched in 2013 by Rick DeVos, scion of the DeVos family whose fortune traces to the Amway direct-selling empire. The vehicle was designed to function as both a venture-capital firm and a family office investing arm, focusing on early-stage companies in the Midwest and Silicon Valley. The organization operates a three-stage model: an open-call grant program (The 100) for pre-seed ideas, a seed fund writing $50K–$250K checks, and a fund-of-funds allocation through Fund I ($15M) and Fund II ($25M) that backs emerging VC managers. Sectors include enterprise software, digital health, fintech, robotics, and climate tech. Portfolio companies include Amway-connected ventures and outside names like FarmLogs, Rocket Fiber, and AdAdapted (per public record, 2023). Offices span Grand Rapids (HQ), Ann Arbor, and Palo Alto. As of 2023, Start Garden had deployed over $100M across 200+ companies and dozens of fund commitments. The team numbers roughly 12 professionals, including CIO Meg Smith and Managing Director Matthew Shearer. In September 2022, Start Garden closed its second fund-of-funds vehicle at $25M (per public record), signaling continued commitment to early-stage venture as an asset class within the family office. Structurally, Start Garden stands out for its open-application, low-friction grant pipeline—a rarity among family offices—which doubles as proprietary deal flow and regional economic development. That funnel feeds its for-profit sidecar funds, creating a quasi-philanthropic venture approach that the DeVos family treats as a vehicle for both financial return and civic impact in West Michigan.
General information
Firm type
Multi Family Office
Year founded
2013
AUM
$200M - $500M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Grand Rapids
Corporate office
Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Additional offices
Palo Alto, CA, United States · Ann Arbor, MI, United States
Principals
Rick DeVos
Founder
Meg Smith
Chief Investment Officer
Matthew Shearer
Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Start Garden?
CIO Meg Smith leads investment strategy alongside Managing Director Matthew Shearer. Founder Rick DeVos remains the chairman and sets the overarching vision for the organization. The team totals roughly 12 professionals across offices in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and Palo Alto (per public record, 2023).
How does Start Garden source proprietary deal flow?
Start Garden runs an open-call program called The 100, which accepts grant applications from any early-stage founder for up to $5K. Top performers receive additional funding, creating a proprietary pipeline of deal flow not seen by traditional VC firms. This approach also serves as a community-building tool in the Midwest (per public record).
Is Start Garden structured as a single family office or a venture firm?
Start Garden operates as a hybrid. It is the venture arm of the DeVos family office, but it legally functions as an RIA managing funds that include external LP capital. The family office component manages the DeVos fortune, while the venture side operates with its own P&L and fund structures (per public record).
Does Start Garden participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
Both. Start Garden makes direct equity investments in seed-stage companies and operates fund-of-funds vehicles—Fund I ($15M) and Fund II ($25M)—that commit capital to emerging VC managers. The fund-of-funds approach diversifies the family office's venture exposure (per public record, 2023).
What investment stages does Start Garden typically target?
Start Garden focuses on pre-seed through Series A. The grant program provides $5K to test ideas. The seed fund writes $50K–$250K first checks. The fund-of-funds portfolios back managers who invest across early stages. Post-Series A follow-ons are possible through the family office's direct allocation (per public record).
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The wealth originates from the DeVos family, specifically the Amway direct-selling corporation founded by Jay Van Andel and Rich DeVos in 1959. Rick DeVos is a grandson of co-founder Rich DeVos. The family office manages a portion of that multigenerational fortune (per public record).
How is Start Garden related to the DeVos philanthropic structures?
Separate entities. Start Garden is a for-profit venture and family office investment arm. The DeVos family also runs the Doug & Maria DeVos Foundation and the DeVos Institute for Arts Management, which are independent philanthropic organizations. Start Garden's grant program is a for-profit activity, not a charitable grant (per public record).
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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