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Vast Ventures
Carter and Courtney Reum's Vast Ventures backs early-stage companies including SpaceX, Coinbase, and Bird from offices in New York and Ft. Lauderdale.
Vast Ventures
Vast Ventures was founded in 2014 by brothers Carter and Courtney Reum, former Goldman Sachs investment bankers who built and sold the spirits brand VEEV for a reported nine-figure sum before co-authoring 'Shortcut Your Startup.' The firm operates from dual headquarters in New York and Ft. Lauderdale, deploying the partners' own capital alongside that of a curated network of high-net-worth individuals and family office co-investors assembled over a decade of dealmaking. The firm runs a concentrated generalist strategy spanning Enterprise Software, Consumer products, FinTech, Digital Health, and Mobility. Vast writes first checks from seed through Series B, blending direct investments with occasional SPV structures for large-opportunity follow-ons. Confirmed portfolio holdings include SpaceX, the Elon Musk-led aerospace manufacturer; Coinbase, the publicly traded cryptocurrency exchange; and Bird, the micromobility company that went public via SPAC in 2021. The firm has also backed FinTech platform Acorns and digital health company Ro. Its geographic focus centers on major US tech hubs, with a bias toward coastal ecosystems from New York to Los Angeles. The Reum brothers manage the investment process with a lean internal team supported by an executive network that provides portfolio companies with go-to-market and fundraising advisory. In addition to their investment vehicle, the pair operates an active media and publishing presence, most visibly through the 2018 book 'Shortcut Your Startup' and a series of public talks on entrepreneurial scaling. In 2022, Carter Reum's marriage to Paris Hilton brought additional visibility to the firm through a reality television series, though the principals have maintained that the venture entity operates independently of any publicity exposure. What separates Vast from other early-stage generalist firms is the hybrid operator-investor model the Reum brothers maintain. Unlike pure financial sponsors, both partners maintain active personal brands as former founders, published authors, and media figures—a posture that routes proprietary deal flow through their operator network and positions the firm as a go-to partner for celebrity-founded and influencer-backed consumer brands. This structural posture creates a sourcing funnel distinct from traditional institutional cold-outreach models.
General information
Firm type
Venture Capital
Year founded
2014
AUM
$100M–$250M (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Ft. Lauderdale
Corporate office
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, United States
Additional offices
New York, NY, United States
Principals
Carter Reum
Co-Founder & Partner
Courtney Reum
Co-Founder & Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Vast Ventures?
Carter and Courtney Reum, the co-founders, jointly lead investment decisions. The brothers are former Goldman Sachs bankers who exited their spirits brand VEEV before founding Vast in 2014. The firm operates with a lean internal team, with the Reums maintaining direct involvement in every investment committee decision.
How does Vast Ventures source proprietary deal flow?
Vast's primary sourcing advantage comes from the Reum brothers' dual identity as seasoned operators and public figures. Their book 'Shortcut Your Startup,' their media appearances, and their personal networks across the Los Angeles and New York entrepreneurial scenes funnel founder referrals. The firm also benefits from its reputation as a celebrity-founder-friendly investor, which attracts consumer and media-tech founders who seek operators who understand brand-building.
What is Vast's investment strategy for early-stage companies?
Vast writes initial checks from seed to Series B, acting as a generalist across Enterprise Software, Consumer, FinTech, Digital Health, and Mobility. The firm prefers to lead or co-lead rounds where the Reums can offer strategic brand and scaling advice drawn from their own operating experience. Follow-on investments are selectively made through special-purpose vehicles when portfolio companies hit growth milestones.
Does Vast Ventures manage outside LP capital or just the Reum family's wealth?
Vast Ventures manages capital from the Reum brothers alongside a curated network of high-net-worth individuals and family offices that have co-invested with the Reums over their venture career. The firm has not publicly raised a blind-pool institutional fund, and its structure more closely resembles a hybrid family office venture practice than a traditional multi-LP venture firm, although the 2022 launch of Vast Ventures Opportunity Fund I signaled a move toward more formalized pooled vehicles.
Which well-known companies are in Vast's portfolio?
Publicly confirmed portfolio companies include SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer; Coinbase, the cryptocurrency exchange that went public in 2021; Bird, the micromobility operator; Acorns, the savings and investing app; and Ro, the digital health platform. These positions span aerospace, fintech, consumer mobility, and health, reflecting the firm's broad sector mandate.
How does Carter Reum's public profile affect Vast Ventures?
Carter Reum's marriage to Paris Hilton and their joint media appearances have amplified the firm's brand, particularly within consumer-facing sectors. The Reum brothers have consistently stated that Vast operates independently of any entertainment or publicity activities, but the elevated profile does attract inbound founder interest from celebrity-backed consumer and lifestyle startups that might not otherwise reach a traditional VC firm.
Does Vast have a geographic focus?
The firm operates from dual headquarters in New York City and Ft. Lauderdale, with investment activity concentrated in major US innovation hubs including New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area. While the firm will review opportunities from emerging tech ecosystems, the majority of its portfolio companies are headquartered in coastal cities where the Reums' networks are deepest.
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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