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Stout Street Capital
Colorado Venture capital firm with a focus on early-stage technology companies innovating in software, fin tech, advanced materials, robotics, and AI.
Stout Street Capital
Colorado Venture capital firm with a focus on early-stage technology companies innovating in software, fin tech, advanced materials, robotics, and AI.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2017
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Denver
Corporate office
Denver, CO, United States
Principals
John Francis
Partner
Clay Gordon
Partner
Cindy Ho
Jr Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Stout Street Capital?
Partners John Francis and Clay Gordon lead investment decisions. Francis, a former operator and institutional venture investor, focuses on IT, software, construction, government, energy, cleantech, media, advertising, HR, healthcare, and cloud services. Gordon concentrates on HR, cleantech, edtech, insurtech, and fintech. Jr Partner Cindy Ho supports financial analysis, due diligence, and portfolio management.
How does Stout Street source proprietary deal flow?
The firm's primary sourcing engine is the UNMET Conference, an event series managed by Jr Partner Cindy Ho that connects early-stage companies in Middle America to Series A and B capital. Stout Street has evaluated over 10,000 startups and backs 1–2 per month, relying heavily on this conference pipeline and a co-investor network that extends beyond coastal venture hubs.
What geographic markets does Stout Street actually invest in?
Stout Street invests in the United States and Canada with an explicit exclusion: it does not invest in San Francisco, New York, or Boston. The firm targets founders in underserved regions — including the Carolinas, the Midwest, and other Middle America markets — and has built its sourcing and conference infrastructure around this non-coastal mandate.
Does Stout Street lead rounds or only participate as a syndicate member?
Stout Street both leads deals and participates in syndicates. The firm says it is 'happy to work with other lead investors to unburden founders of excessive due diligence.' Typical check size is $250K into rounds raising at least $1M, with a diligence cycle compressed to 2–3 weeks and a target of 12–24 months of runway for portfolio companies.
Which companies has Stout Street backed that have exited or reached later stages?
Confirmed exits include Popwallet (acquired by Snapchat) and Left Hand Robotics (acquired by Toro). Active portfolio companies with disclosed board involvement include Schola, Fluent Forever, Botco.ai, and Ad Fontes. The firm has invested in over 65 companies since 2017.
What investment stages does Stout Street typically target?
The firm targets pre-seed and seed stage companies that are post-product and post-revenue, with a minimum of $20–30K in monthly revenue. Stout Street typically enters rounds of $1M or more and provides 12–24 months of runway.
Does Stout Street maintain philanthropic structures or operate adjacent vehicles?
No separate philanthropic structures or adjacent vehicles are disclosed. Clay Gordon is affiliated with the 2221 Society, Cross Purpose, and The Brook, but the firm itself does not appear to operate a foundation, real-asset arm, or club-commitment platform beyond the UNMET Conference.
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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