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The Lemelson Foundation
The Lemelson Foundation was established in 1992 by inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy. Eric Lemelson and Robert Lemelson now oversee operations as...
The Lemelson Foundation
The Lemelson Foundation was established in 1992 by inventor Jerome Lemelson and his wife Dorothy. Eric Lemelson and Robert Lemelson now oversee operations as the second generation. The endowment originated from a portfolio of over 600 patents in machine vision, bar code scanning, and automated manufacturing. The foundation allocates across venture capital, private equity, and public securities. It targets early-stage and growth investments with an investment horizon of seven to fifteen years. Confirmed holdings include positions in Delta40, SOSV, Menterra, and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Impact Fund. Geographic reach covers the United States, Kenya, and India. Ticket sizes range from $0.1 million to $5 million per commitment. The organization employs 25 professionals at its Portland headquarters. It maintains relationships with the Smithsonian Institution through the Lemelson Center and with MIT through the Lemelson-MIT Program. Adjacent vehicles include the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation and the Karuna Foundation. No operational events from the last 24 months appear in available records. Governance separates the core endowment from family branch foundations while preserving a single investment mandate focused on invention outcomes. Service providers include Moss Adams for accounting and CTC | myCFO for investment advisory.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1992
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Portland
Corporate office
2035 NW Front Ave Suite 501, Portland, OR 97209, United States
Principals
Eric Lemelson
President and Board Chair
Robert Lemelson
Vice President and Secretary
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at The Lemelson Foundation?
Eric Lemelson serves as President and Board Chair. Robert Lemelson serves as Vice President and Secretary. Decisions incorporate input from external advisors including Enclude for impact allocation.
How does The Lemelson Foundation source proprietary deal flow?
The foundation draws flow through memberships in the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, Convergence, and Impact Capital Managers. It also maintains direct relationships with MIT and the Smithsonian Institution.
Does The Lemelson Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation acts as a limited partner in funds and vehicles including SOSV and Morgan Stanley Investment Management Impact Fund. It also holds direct ownership in VentureWell.
What investment stages does The Lemelson Foundation typically target?
The foundation targets early-stage seed and start-up opportunities as well as expansion and late-stage rounds. It maintains a seven-to-fifteen-year investment horizon.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The endowment traces to Jerome Lemelson's portfolio of more than 600 patents in machine vision, bar code scanning, and automated manufacturing.
Does The Lemelson Foundation maintain philanthropic structures, and how are they separated?
Separate vehicles include the Dorothy Lemelson Foundation focused on STEM education and the Karuna Foundation focused on climate adaptation. The core endowment operates independently from these branch entities.
What is The Lemelson Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
The foundation holds limited partner positions in multiple venture and impact vehicles and participates in blended finance structures through Convergence membership.
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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