Charge Ventures

Charge Ventures is a New York City–based venture capital firm founded in 2015 that specializes in early-stage investments, primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages. Its mission is to partner with exceptional founders at the very beginning of their entrepreneurial journeys, often providing the first institutional capital alongside angel investors. The firm focuses on data-driven software companies with strong product sensibilities and bottoms-up growth, investing in sectors such as business productivity software, multimedia and design tools, social and platform software, healthcare, AI/ML, marketplaces, the creator economy, direct-to-consumer healthcare, and the future of work. Charge Ventures has built a diverse portfolio including companies like Transfix (freight marketplace), Livepeer (decentralized video streaming), Electric (IT management software unicorn), Parsley Health (personalized healthcare), and GRIN (influencer marketing platform), reflecting its impact on the startup ecosystem by supporting innovative technology startups across multiple industries[1][2][4].

Founded by Brett Martin and Chris Habachy, who bring extensive entrepreneurial and investment experience, Charge Ventures has evolved with a strong emphasis on leveraging proprietary data-driven technology to identify promising founders beyond traditional networks, including non-traditional startup hubs across the U.S. such as NYC, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, San Diego, and Miami. The firm typically invests initial checks ranging from $250K to $750K and often participates in follow-on rounds through special purpose vehicles (SPVs). This approach has enabled Charge to make over 70 investments with a portfolio market cap exceeding $5 billion, demonstrating early traction and a strategic focus on supporting startups from inception to growth[1][2][4].

Core Differentiators

• Unique Investment Model: Focus on pre-seed and seed rounds, often the first institutional capital, with a data-driven approach to sourcing deals beyond traditional networks.
• Network Strength: Strong connections with angel investors and a broad geographic focus including emerging U.S. startup ecosystems.
• Track Record: Over 70 investments with notable exits and portfolio companies achieving unicorn status.
• Operating Support: Active partnership with founders, leveraging the team’s entrepreneurial and investment expertise to accelerate growth.

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Charge Ventures rides the wave of increasing early-stage innovation driven by AI, low-code tools, the creator economy, and digital healthcare transformation. Its timing is critical as startups in these sectors seek early capital and strategic support to scale rapidly. By focusing on data-driven software and bottoms-up growth models, Charge aligns with market forces favoring decentralized, scalable, and user-centric technologies. Its influence extends by enabling startups in non-traditional geographies, thus diversifying and enriching the broader U.S. tech ecosystem[2].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Charge Ventures is poised to deepen its impact by continuing to back frontier technologies such as AI and Web3 infrastructure, while expanding its geographic and sectoral reach. Trends like the rise of decentralized platforms, personalized healthcare, and creator-driven marketplaces will likely shape its investment focus. As the firm scales its proprietary sourcing technology and leverages its network, Charge Ventures may evolve into a key catalyst for early-stage innovation, helping founders navigate the complex journey from idea to market leadership.

In summary, Charge Ventures exemplifies a modern, data-driven early-stage VC that combines strategic capital deployment with deep founder support, positioning itself as a vital player in nurturing the next generation of technology startups.