Cyhawk Ventures

Founded in 2001, Cyhawk Ventures describes itself as a venture capital firm that creates, funds and grows companies with extraordinary entrepreneurs. Its fund writes first cheques, at pre-seed and seed, for disruptive technology across online advertising, emerging media, social platforms and mobile.

An unusual fund model

The firm says it is not a typical fund. Over the years it has tried, tested and refined a way of growing companies in which the team works as hands-on managers, deeply involved in strategy and delivery. It combines funding with that management work and with an extensive network of technology experts and business leaders. The stated purpose is to help founders turn an idea into a viable product and then into a brand, while keeping the portfolio company competitive over time.

The product development cycle

At the centre of its method is what it calls the Cyhawk Progressive Product Development Cycle. Instead of releasing a complete offering at once, the approach breaks it into small products that are released one after another so that each component can be validated and sold quickly. The firm says this keeps each solution competitive and speeds up the route to market, helping portfolio companies meet customers from the first day. It describes the method as proprietary and the product of continual testing, analysis and refinement.

The founding team

The founders have worked alongside one another for around two decades, according to the firm, and describe themselves as serial entrepreneurs who know what it takes to build a company from the beginning. Their experience is in the same segments they invest in, and they say they remain active participants in those industries.

Portfolio examples

Three companies are named. Matomy is described as a fast-growing company in the portfolio. Appoxee is a mobile engagement tool for app developers, letting them send interactive messages to users after download, with add-ons for feedback management and cross-promotion between apps. BIScience provides advertising measurement and analysis software for online businesses, offering validation and analysis of campaigns and comparison against competitors and market segments.

What founders should know

The firm states its goal plainly as maximum return for investors, achieved by building companies on positive values and sensible applications. It suits teams in digital media and advertising technology who want an investor that behaves like an operating partner.

Cyhawk Ventures is a venture capital firm founded in 2001. It runs a pre-seed and seed fund for young technology companies and says it builds, funds and grows them together with their founders.

The founding team has worked together for around a decade and has run companies of its own in the sectors it backs.

What Cyhawk Ventures offers

• Pre-seed and seed funding: early capital for technology ventures.
• Hands-on management: the team gets involved in strategy and delivery at portfolio companies.
• Network access: introductions to technology experts and business leaders.
• Progressive product development: its method of splitting a complete offering into small products released one after another, so each can be validated and sold.

Clients

Founders in digital marketing and advertising, new media, social and mobile. Its portfolio has included Matomy, Appoxee and BIScience.

Key facts

• Founded: 2001
• Stage: pre-seed and seed
• Sectors: digital marketing, advertising, new media, social, mobile