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Time Zero Capital
Nate Lentz's Time Zero Capital invests in enterprise software built for extreme conditions. Santa Monica-based venture firm since 2020.
Time Zero Capital
Time Zero Capital was established in 2020 by Nate Lentz, an operator who previously co-founded Moki Mobility and held leadership roles at cybersecurity firms before transitioning full-time into venture investing. The firm's formation coincided with the early-pandemic market dislocation, a timing decision that informed its thesis: extraordinary companies are built and tested during moments of extreme pressure. Lentz structured the firm to concentrate capital behind founders who have personally survived operational near-death experiences. The firm runs a concentrated venture strategy spanning early-stage to growth-stage enterprise technology, with dedicated activity in cybersecurity, AI/ML infrastructure, industrial automation, and defense-adjacent software. Time Zero operates primarily through direct equity investments and select special-purpose vehicles, syndicating alongside established co-investors rather than competing for lead positions. Confirmed portfolio exposures include Scythe Robotics, an autonomous commercial landscaping platform, and Ditto, an edge-sync database company, both disclosed through the firm's public communications. Geographic focus remains concentrated in the United States, with particular attention to companies headquartered in the Mountain West and Southern California corridors. Time Zero Capital maintains a deliberately lean structure, with Lentz as Managing Partner supported by a network of operating advisors rather than a large in-house team. The firm does not publicly report assets under management or aggregate deployment figures, consistent with a pre-institutional posture. No additional offices or separately branded investment vehicles have been disclosed. The firm has not announced a recent fund close, and its portfolio construction suggests a rolling capital deployment model rather than traditional blind-pool fundraising. May 2024: The firm reported continued involvement with portfolio company Scythe Robotics through a commercial expansion milestone (per the firm's official communications, 2024). The firm's structural posture diverges from conventional seed-stage managers by prioritizing product resilience under catastrophic conditions — a sourcing filter that functions as its primary origination edge. Lentz evaluates founding teams not by pedigree but by demonstrated capacity to operate through prior company failures, security breaches, or liquidity crises, creating a selection architecture that systematically favors battle-tested operators over pattern-matched resumes.
General information
Firm type
Private Equity
Year founded
2020
AUM
$50M - $150M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Santa Monica
Corporate office
Santa Monica, CA, United States
Principals
Nate Lentz
Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
What is Nate Lentz's investment background before Time Zero Capital?
Nate Lentz was an operator before transitioning to venture capital. He co-founded Moki Mobility, a mobile device management platform, and held executive roles in security-focused software companies. This operational background — particularly in products that must function under adversarial conditions — directly shaped Time Zero's investment thesis prioritizing resilience and product-led growth in high-stakes environments.
Does Time Zero Capital raise traditional venture funds or invest from a single LP?
Time Zero Capital's precise fund structure has not been publicly disclosed. The firm's early-stage posture, lack of reported fund closes, and concentrated deal cadence are consistent with either an allocation from a single-family LP or a rolling special-purpose vehicle model. Institutional allocators should confirm structure directly.
What investment stages does Time Zero Capital target?
The firm invests from pre-seed through Series A, and has maintained positions into growth-stage rounds. Stage is less rigid than the operational threshold: the founding team must demonstrate prior experience managing through a severe operational crisis — security breach, near-failure, or market collapse — before Time Zero commits capital.
How does Time Zero Capital source its deals?
Deal flow is concentrated through Lentz's personal network of cybersecurity and enterprise software operators, rather than through institutional intermediaries or demo-day pipelines. The firm's geographic concentration in Southern California and the Mountain West reflects a proximity-based origination model, supplemented by syndicate relationships with established seed-stage managers.
Does Time Zero Capital lead rounds or participate as a co-investor?
Time Zero tends toward co-investment and follow-on participation rather than leading priced rounds. The firm syndicates alongside larger venture managers and angel networks, maintaining a non-competitive posture that allows access to deals where its operational expertise adds value beyond the check size.
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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