January Ventures

January Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests at the earliest stage and aims to make funding more open. It says founders do not need revenue, a pitch deck or a warm introduction to apply, and that the application takes only a couple of minutes.

Products and services

• Early-stage investment: backs founders from the first day of their companies.
• Open application: anyone can pitch directly through the website.
• Operator network: connects founders with experienced operators.
• Research: publishes work on access to venture funding.

Customers and markets

The firm backs founders for their industry knowledge, ambition and persistence rather than their background. It expects future founders to be more female, more diverse and more spread out geographically. Portfolio examples include wildfire intelligence, carbon accounting, maternity care and compliance training.

Key facts

• Stage: earliest-stage investing
• Philosophy: transparent, open and equal-opportunity venture
• Sectors: climate, health, AI and software