# Root Ventures

Root Ventures is a San Francisco-based deep tech seed fund. As engineers ourselves, we specialize in leading initial funding for founders tackling new technical opportunities. Our initial investments typically range from $3-5M. With a selective few new deals a year and 2/3 of our funds in reserve, we are committed to being a long-term partner.

Mission: Seeding bold engineers
Thesis: Investing at the earliest stages of technical founders taking engineering risk.
Fund size: $190M
Typical check size: up to $5M
Stage: Seed, usually leading the initial round
Focus areas: deep tech, robotics, hardware, manufacturing, developer tools, machine learning, semiconductors, automation
Office: 2670 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Email: hello@root.vc
Website: https://root.vc/
Also at: https://twitter.com/rootvc, https://github.com/rootvc, https://instagram.com/machinepix/

## Team

### Avidan Ross — Managing Partner

Avidan is the Founding Partner of Root Ventures. Previously, he designed industrial robotics for Food Network's kitchens and was CTO of CIM Group, where he focused on industrial investing, and worked as an embedded application developer at Excite@Home. Avidan has a BA in Computer Science from Columbia University.

Email: avidan@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avidanross/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-avidan

### Kane Hsieh — Partner

Before joining Root Ventures, Kane was founder and Head of Product at Brilliant Bicycle Co. He has also worked as an early-stage investor at RRE Ventures, a software engineer at Romotive, and a Project Manager at Microsoft. Kane has an AB in Computer Science from Harvard.

Email: kane@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanehsieh/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-kane

### Chrissy Meyer — Partner

Chrissy has spent the past decade developing and shipping hardware as an engineering manager at Apple and Square. She was a founding team member at Pearl Automation, a vehicle technology startup. Chrissy has an MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford and a BSEE from Rose-Hulman.

Email: chrissy@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissymeyer/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-chrissy

### Lee Edwards — Partner

Lee was most recently CTO at Teespring. Previously, Lee was a mechanical engineer at iRobot, a software engineer at Pivotal Labs, Lead Engineer at SideTour (acquired by Groupon in 2013), and engineering manager for GrouponLive. He graduated from Olin College of Engineering with a degree in Systems Engineering.

Email: lee@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeredwards/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-lee

### Zodi Chalat — Associate

Zodi began his career as an engineer working on ML infrastructure at Netflix before moving into venture investing. He previously studied CS and comparative literature at Yale.

Email: zodi@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/zodi
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-zodi

### Ben Lovell — Head of Operations

Ben worked at a16z, Menlo Ventures, and FT Partners to build operational automation and data pipelines. He also cofounded an adtech startup for rideshare companies. Ben graduated with a BA from Stanford University.

Email: ben@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lovellb/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-ben

### Laelah Reino — Operations Manager

Laelah has spent over 15 years in marketing for films, consumer products, and subscription-based services. Laelah Reino has a BA in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration from Drexel University.

Email: laelah@root.vc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laelah-reino-78b6a51/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#whois-laelah

## Portfolio (68 companies)

### Esper

Esper is devops for devices, allowing teams to seamlessly build and manage enterprise hardware.

Website: https://esper.io
Demo: https://esper.io/signup
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-esper

### Meroxa

Meroxa is a platform for software engineers to build mature, scalable data engineering infrastructure with a single command.

Website: https://meroxa.com
Demo: https://meroxa.com/#data-warehouse
Investment memo: https://github.com/rootvc/investment-memos/blob/main/meroxa.md
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-meroxa

### Particle

Particle is the largest professional IoT development platform.

Website: https://particle.io
Demo: https://docs.particle.io/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-particle

### Daily

Daily makes it easier for developers to add video to websites and apps.

Website: https://daily.co
Demo: https://docs.daily.co/docs/introduction-1
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-daily

### HASH

HASH is an open-source, self-building database that grows and maintains a typed graph of entities on your behalf.

Website: https://hash.ai
Demo: https://app.hash.ai/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-hash

### Superconductive

Superconductive is a SaaS platform for verifying and enforcing data integrity at every stage of the lifecycle of data in an organization.

Website: https://superconductive.ai
Demo: https://docs.greatexpectations.io/en/latest/guides/tutorials/quick_start.html#tutorials-quick-start
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-superconductive

### Okteto

Okteto is the best emphemeral environment for developers.

Website: https://okteto.com
Demo: https://okteto.com/docs/getting-started/index.html
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-okteto

### Privacy Dynamics

Privacy Dynamics ensures your customers' data privacy without slowing down your team.

Website: https://privacydynamics.io
Demo: https://privacydynamics.io/demo/contact
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-privacy_dynamics

### Nautilus Labs

Nautilus Labs allows maritime fleets to optimize shipping routes and energy costs in real time.

Website: https://nautiluslabs.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-nautilus

### nTopology

nTopology is the future of mechanical engineering software.

Website: https://ntopology.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-ntopology

### Tortuga AgTech

Tortuga automates agriculture for high value produce.

Website: https://tortugaagtech.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-tortuga

### Instrumental

Instrumental generates real time insights for mass manufacturing.

Website: https://instrumental.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-instrumental

### Stellar Pizza

Stellar Pizza is building the future of automated food production.

Website: https://eatstellarpizza.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-stellar

### Versatile

Versatile is an onsite construction data provider for accelerating schedules.

Website: https://versatile.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-versatile

### Dusty Robotics

Dusty Robotics automates layout in complex construction projects.

Website: https://dustyrobotics.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-dusty

### ThruWave

Thruwave increases the efficiency and transparency of high volume logistics operations.

Website: https://thruwave.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-thruwave

### Seismic

Seismic augments strength and safety for workers through soft robotics.

Website: https://myseismic.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-seismic

### Seam

Seam provides an API for managing building systems.

Website: https://getseam.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-seam

### ChargeLab

ChargeLab builds API- and software-defined EV charging networks.

Website: https://chargelab.co
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-chargelab

### Wildtype Foods

Wildtype creates organic, clean, high-quality, animal-free meat.

Website: https://wildtypefoods.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-wildtype

### Nordsense

Nordsense optimizes pickup routes for waste management fleets.

Website: https://nordsense.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-nordsense

### TruckLabs

Trucklabs reduces fuel costs and increases profit margins for long haul trucking fleets.

Website: https://trucklabs.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-trucklabs

### Sensable

Sensable generates real-time industrial engineering insights.

Website: https://getsensable.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-sensable

### Crux

Crux automates critical energy infrastructure.

Website: https://cruxocm.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-crux

### IaSQL

IaSQL is the next evolution of infrastructure management, allowing you to manage your infra in a database instead of stateless config files.

Website: https://iasql.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-iasql

### Mashgin

Mashgin automates self-checkout.

Website: https://mashgin.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-mashgin

### Creator

Creator builds fully autonomous hamburger robots.

Website: https://creator.rest
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-creator

### ApolloShield

ApolloShield safeguards airspace from autonomous and remote piloted aircraft.

Website: https://apolloshield.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-apolloshield

### Skycatch

Skycatch provides high resolution 3D mapping and modeling of high-value infrastructure.

Website: https://skycatch.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-skycatch

### Shaper

Shaper Tools makes the Origin, a handheld, auto-correcting CNC.

Website: https://shapertools.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-shaper

### Cape

Cape Networks allows IT professionals to monitor, text, and repair enterprise networks remotely.

Website: https://capenetworks.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-cape

### Righthook

Righthook reduces the time and cost required to develop autonomous vehicles.

Website: https://righthook.io
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-righthook

### SixWheel

SixWheel brings autonomy and electrification to long haul trucking operations.

Website: https://sixwheel.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-sixwheel

### Radical

Radical Semiconductor provides hardware security down to the individual IC.

Website: https://radicalsemiconductor.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-radical

### Zed

Zed is a fully-native desktop code editor focused on high performance, clean design, and real-time collaboration.

Website: https://zed.dev
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-zed

### Kayhan

Kayhan’s spaceflight operations platform allows satellite operators to focus on their core mission.

Website: https://kayhan.space
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-kayhan

### AllSpice

Collaboration and testing platform for hardware teams.

Website: https://allspice.io
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-allspice

### Quilter

Automated design tools for electrical engineers.

Website: https://quilter.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-quilter

### Adept

Useful general intelligence.

Website: https://adept.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-adept

### Aperture Data

Aperture manage images and videos with a database purpose-built for data science and machine learning.

Website: https://aperturedata.io
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-aperture

### SuperTokens

SuperTokens is the best Open Source solution for user authentication.

Website: https://supertokens.io
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-supertokens

### Fudge

Fudge is the best way to speed up your website to improve conversion rates and increase revenue.

Website: https://fudge.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-fudge

### Kodra

Fast dataset curation for machine learning.

Website: https://kodra.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-kodra

### Topologic

Design and automation software for textile manufacturing.

Website: https://topologic.io
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-topologic

### Ruby Robotics

Robotics and AI to autonomously prepare, image, and assess tissue during biopsy procedures.

Website: https://ruby-robotics.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-ruby

### Instance

Instance is the fastest way to synthesize DNA.

Website: https://instance.bio
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-instance

### CADY Solutions

CADY automates the electrical schematic analysis process.

Website: https://cadysolutions.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-cady

### Sublayer

Sublayer is AI-assisted coding that works the way you do.

Website: https://sublayer.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-sublayer

### Nullify

Nullify performs product security tasks alongside your developers.

Website: https://nullify.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-nullify

### Trieve

Trieve provides infrastructure for building AI search into your applications.

Website: https://trieve.ai
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-trieve

### Breakpoint AI

Breakpoint uses AI to detect failures in computer vision models and re-trains them to prevent future issues.

Website: https://setbreakpoint.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-breakpoint

### Determinate Systems

Determinate provides enterprise-grade solutions for Nix package management.

Website: https://determinate.systems
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-determinate

### Gen Alpha

Gen Alpha builds AI copilots for analog and mixed-signal chip design to streamline workflows.

Website: https://www.generation-alpha-transistor.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-genalpha

### Hunch

Hunch provides collaborative data exploration and visualization tools for non-technical users.

Website: https://hunchdata.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-hunch

### Illoca

Illoca accelerates commercial architecture workflows with generative AI for AEC software.

Website: https://illoca.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-illoca

### Integrated Biosciences

Integrated uses optogenetics and ML to discover drugs for neurodegenerative and age-related diseases.

Website: https://integratebio.co
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-integrated

### Latent Technology

Latent helps animators and game developers create life-like 3D assets with AI-powered tools.

Website: https://latent-technology.com
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-latent

### Patterns

Patterns provides tools and infrastructure for developing modern AI applications efficiently.

Website: https://patterns.app
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-patterns

### Subtrace

Subtrace automatically tracks all HTTP requests coming in and going out of your production backend.

Website: https://subtrace.dev
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-subtrace

### Digichem

Digichem prototypes and manufactures custom molecules online.

Website: https://www.digichem.com/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-digichem

### Loopwork

Loopwork is building the next generation of agents.

Website: https://loopwork.com/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-loopwork

### Feather

Feather provides FEA that runs in the browser.

Website: https://feather.solutions/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-feather

### Vibe Robotics

Vibe Robotics, founded by Kai Backman and Luke Church, builds novel programming interfaces for robotics.

Website: https://vbr.sh/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-vibe_robotics

### DeepWeave

DeepWeave helps semiconductor teams generate better PPA solutions to deliver more highly performant chips.

Website: https://deepweave.ai/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-deepweave

### Loombotic

Loombotic automates wire harness manufacturing.

Website: https://loombotic.com/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-loombotic

### Ground Control Dev

Ground Control Dev runs facilities management for factories, from site selection and design through construction and operations.

Website: https://www.groundcontroldev.com/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-ground_control

### PhyAgents

PhyAgents is a stealth robotics company building physical AI for critical infrastructure.

Website: https://phyagents.com/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-phyagents

### Lithos Computer

Lithos Computer, founded by Bryan Helmkamp, makes Fabro, a workflow harness that runs coding agents through deterministic graphs instead of a chat loop.

Website: https://fabro.sh/
Terminal: https://root.vc/#tldr-lithos

## Open roles

### Venture Capital Associate


Root Ventures is looking for a technical associate to join our team in San Francisco.

We're a deep tech seed fund that invests in bold engineers building the future.
As an associate, you'll work directly with partners to source deals, conduct
technical diligence, and support portfolio companies.

What we're looking for:
• Strong technical background (CS degree, engineering experience, or equivalent)
• Genuine curiosity about emerging technologies and startups
• Excellent communication skills - you can explain complex tech simply
• Hustle and resourcefulness - you figure things out
• Passion for working with technical founders

Bonus points:
• You've built side projects or contributed to open source
• You're active in technical communities
• You have startup experience

This is a rare opportunity to learn venture capital from experienced operators
and work with some of the most innovative technical founders in the world.

Apply: hello@root.vc