# Velvet Sea Ventures

Velvet Sea Ventures is a Venture Capital based in West Palm Beach, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Venture Capital
- **Headquarters:** West Palm Beach, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** West Palm Beach, FL, United States
- **Founded:** 2020
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** velvetseavc.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/velvet-sea-ventures

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 317632
- **SEC file number:** 801-123062
- **Registration status:** APPROVED
- **Latest Form ADV filing:** 2026-04-09T05:00:00.000Z
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **Private funds reported:** 0

## About

Velvet Sea Ventures is a multi-stage venture capital firm. | Velvet Sea Ventures (VSV) is an operator-led venture capital firm that goes beyond capital to help entrepreneurs turn their visions into reality. Built by a family of entrepreneurs, VSV couples seed-to-growth stage capital investment with hands-on strategic support and guidance. Current Velvet Sea Ventures portfolio companies include Scopely, eToro, Liquid Death, LeoLabs, Autograph, Strigo, SuperRare, Elementus, and Pixel Vault.

## Sectors

- Enterprise Software
- AI/ML
- Cybersecurity
- Industrial Tech

## People

- Larry Prior — Co-Founder & Managing Partner

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Velvet Sea Ventures?

Larry Prior, co-founder and managing partner, drives investment decisions. Prior was previously CEO of ManTech International, a major defense contractor, and held senior roles at CSC and SAIC, which gives the firm direct insight into government technology needs. The team is small and partner-led, with Prior as the only publicly named principal.

### What is Velvet Sea Ventures' investment focus?

The firm focuses on early-stage and growth-stage companies operating at the intersection of national security, enterprise software, and artificial intelligence. Its thesis targets dual-use technology — products that serve both government and commercial customers. Sectors include cybersecurity, industrial tech, and AI/ML platforms.

### How does Velvet Sea Ventures source deals?

Sourcing relies heavily on the partners' classified-world and defense-contracting networks. Larry Prior's career inside ManTech, CSC, and SAIC provides access to founders working on sensitive government technology programs before they become widely known to commercial VCs. This embedded-network model differentiates the firm from generalist early-stage investors.

### Which companies has Velvet Sea Ventures backed?

Known portfolio investments include Primer AI, which builds machine-learning tools for intelligence analysts, and Rebellion Defense, a UK-based developer of AI-driven defense software. Both investments reflect the firm's thesis around mission-critical technology serving government end-users first while holding commercial potential.

### Does Velvet Sea Ventures participate in later-stage or growth rounds?

The firm is primarily focused on early-stage and seed investments but has the flexibility to participate in growth rounds when a portfolio company's government contracts scale. The core posture remains early-stage, where the partners' technical and procurement expertise has the most impact.

### How is Velvet Sea Ventures different from other defense-tech investors?

Velvet Sea's difference comes from its operator background — Larry Prior ran a publicly traded defense contractor before entering venture capital, giving him an insider's view of federal acquisition processes. This operational defense-industry leadership is less common among VCs, who more often come from finance or policy backgrounds.

## Related profiles

- [Velveteen Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/velveteen-ventures)
- [Vemi Ventures](https://altss.com/profile/vemi-ventures)

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Updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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