Granite Ventures

Since 1992 the firm has backed early-stage technology companies, first as the early-stage group within Hambrecht and Quist and independently since 1998. Granite Ventures describes itself as a partner for technology leaders that want to build businesses with a competitive edge.

Early-stage investing with a technology focus

Granite says its approach is consistent: it invests in early-stage technology companies that hold proprietary technologies and sustainable competitive advantages, and it looks for companies that can excel and grow in the global marketplace. The firm concentrates its investing on sectors where its partners have deep domain expertise, broad industry knowledge and substantial investing experience. It usually makes its first investment at seed, Series A or Series B, and says it leads most of the rounds it takes part in.

How Granite works with entrepreneurs

The firm says it takes an active part in developing its portfolio companies. Its partners usually serve on the board and guide executive teams in mapping out the company's future. Granite assists with financial, recruiting and strategic decisions, makes introductions to potential partners and customers, helps develop sales and distribution channels, and works with entrepreneurs on the other facets of building a company.

Areas and reach

Granite names cloud infrastructure and applications, mobility and internet applications among the areas it covers, and it works with companies that are pre-revenue or in the early stages of earning revenue. The firm is based in San Francisco and usually invests in US-based companies, though it will consider select investments outside the United States. It says its portfolio includes more than 90 private companies.

A team with long experience

The firm says its investing team shares more than 150 years of venture and technology experience between its members. Several of its principals have worked as founders, senior managers, lawyers, analysts and bankers, before or alongside their investing. Granite says this mix of technology, entrepreneurial, operational and transactional expertise has helped its team invest through several economic cycles.

Recent portfolio news

The firm's news covers companies it has backed. Recent items report on payments businesses such as Marqeta, which has made changes to its board, and on Lucidworks, an AI-powered search company that has acquired a digital commerce service provider to deepen its expertise. Other items cover acquisitions and rounds of funding in the portfolio, which the firm presents as evidence of its partners' continuing involvement.