Silicon Alley Venture Partners

Silicon Alley Venture Partners, known as SAVP, grew up in New York's early internet scene. Its founder, a web entrepreneur, started the firm in 1998 after selling an early venture-backed web business, and SAVP says it is now investing from its fourth fund.

Co-investment at the early stage

At the early stage the firm describes itself as entrepreneur centred, and it makes a handful of investments a year in the north east, mostly as a co-investor. It looks for companies that already earn revenue and that have found a lead venture investor, and it says it is not currently leading early-stage rounds. It states a cheque range for such deals, which this profile leaves aside. The firm's emphasis on speed shows in its pitch process: it asks for a short business summary or slide deck and promises to respond within ten business days.

Growth-stage financings

For growth-stage companies, SAVP says it can fill out an up round quickly when a new venture source is leading, particularly where earlier investors already know the firm. That makes it a useful second name on a cap table rather than a lead.

Sectors and geography

Its focus stays on East Coast, post-revenue ventures in business software and information services, health care, eCommerce, and new networks enabled by mobile, social and data. It says it seeks companies that use networks to improve efficiency.

Track record

SAVP says it was among the first institutional investors in two companies that later listed publicly. One of them is a customer engagement business that creates real-time connections between businesses and consumers. The other makes software for running clinical trials, covering study design, trial planning, site negotiation, data capture and management, safety events, medical coding and analytics. Another portfolio name, a media intelligence company, brings broadcast, online and social coverage together with analytics for large brands. The firm points to many profitable exits as well.

Blog and coaching

The site also hosts a blog written from a New York venture capitalist's perspective, and in one post the author argues that entrepreneurs need coaches and advisers who have done what they want to do, just as professional athletes do. A link to a startup coaching service sits alongside the investment material.

Silicon Alley Venture Partners, known as SAVP, is a venture capital firm founded in New York City by Steve Brotman. It makes early and growth stage investments and is currently working through its fourth fund.

What Silicon Alley Venture Partners does

• Early stage co-investment: a handful of North East investments, mostly alongside a lead venture investor, in companies already earning revenue.
• Growth stage financing: the ability to fill out a round led by a new venture source, when earlier investors already know the firm.
• Entrepreneur-centred approach: the firm describes itself as focused on founders.

Customers and markets

The firm concentrates on East Coast companies that already have revenue, in areas such as business software, information services, health care and e-commerce, plus networks built on mobile, social and data. It looks for companies that use networks to work more efficiently. It is not currently taking the lead in early stage rounds.

Key facts

• Based in: New York City, United States
• Founded: 1998
• Founder: Steve Brotman, previously the founder of AdOne
• Notable early investments: LivePerson and Medidata, both of which later listed on the stock market