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Learn which startups Humba Ventures invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Leo Polovets).
Key people at Humba Ventures.
Humba Ventures operates as a venture capital firm specializing in investments within hard technology and challenging sectors. The firm actively backs companies developing foundational advancements in areas such as nuclear energy, bioengineering (including organoids and IVF improvements), advanced robotics, and sustainable industrial solutions like next-gen sawmills and large-scale batteries. Its investment thesis centers on supporting innovative founders tackling complex, often overlooked problems that require significant scientific and engineering breakthroughs.
The firm was co-founded by Leo Polovets and Anna-Sofia Lesiv. Polovets, with a strong engineering background including early roles at LinkedIn and Google, previously co-founded Susa Ventures, bringing extensive experience in early-stage technology investments. Lesiv contributed her expertise from prominent investment firms like 8VC and Founders Fund, alongside a background in journalism and research, informing the firm's analytical approach. Their shared insight was to identify and empower entrepreneurs committed to building technically demanding, impactful companies.
Humba Ventures primarily serves founders building disruptive technologies across critical domains, including automation, defense, climate, and biotechnology. The firm aims to provide more than just capital, offering strategic guidance, industry introductions, and support to facilitate subsequent funding rounds for its portfolio companies. Its long-term vision is to unlock society's potential by nurturing enterprises that address humanity's most pressing challenges through profound technological innovation.
Key people at Humba Ventures.
Humba Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in deep tech and hard technology sectors, including defense tech, robotics, automation, energy, and advanced hardware innovations. Their portfolio spans a wide array of cutting-edge technologies such as nuclear microreactors, drone swarms, surgical robots, genomic data platforms, and AI-enabled defense solutions. The firm aims to back startups that solve complex, technical problems with hardware and software innovations that have significant real-world impact, particularly in critical national sectors like energy and defense[1][2][3].
Their investment philosophy centers on partnering closely with founders in pre-seed and seed rounds, providing not only capital but also operational support and domain expertise. Humba Ventures emphasizes ethics and integrity, maintaining confidentiality and avoiding conflicts of interest. By leveraging shared resources with their sister firm Susa Ventures, Humba punches above its $40 million fund size, offering startups access to a broader network and support infrastructure[1][4].
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Founded around 2022-2023, Humba Ventures was established as a sister fund to Susa Ventures, a well-known seed-stage firm with successful investments in fintech and software companies like Robinhood and Flexport. Leo Polovets, co-founder of Susa Ventures and a former engineer at LinkedIn and Google, serves as a general partner at Humba. His engineering background and experience in enterprise software shape Humba’s deep tech investment approach. The fund was created to focus on hard tech sectors that require specialized knowledge and longer development cycles, such as defense and energy technologies, areas less covered by traditional venture capital[1][6].
The firm’s early investments include companies like Treeswift (forest monitoring robots), Antares (nuclear microreactors), and Swarm Aero (autonomous military drone swarms), reflecting its commitment to hardware-heavy, high-impact startups. Humba’s evolution reflects a strategic pivot from Susa’s software-heavy portfolio to a more technically demanding and capital-intensive space[1][2].
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Humba Ventures rides the rising wave of venture investment in deep tech and defense technology, sectors that have seen record funding growth in recent years. The timing is critical as geopolitical tensions and climate challenges increase demand for advanced defense systems, clean energy solutions, and resilient infrastructure technologies. Humba’s focus on hardware-heavy startups addresses a market gap where traditional VCs often hesitate due to longer development timelines and higher capital requirements.
By backing startups that develop foundational technologies—such as nuclear microreactors for energy and space, autonomous drone swarms for defense, and advanced biotech platforms—Humba influences the broader ecosystem by accelerating innovation in sectors crucial for national security and sustainability. Their approach helps bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial viability, fostering a new generation of companies that can compete globally in strategic industries[1][2][6].
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Looking ahead, Humba Ventures is positioned to expand its influence as deep tech continues to attract more capital and attention. The firm’s engineering-driven investment model and close ties to Susa Ventures provide a strong foundation to scale its portfolio and support startups through complex commercialization paths. Emerging trends such as AI integration in hardware, next-gen energy technologies, and autonomous systems will likely shape their future investments.
As global demand for defense innovation and sustainable technologies intensifies, Humba’s role as a specialized early-stage investor will become increasingly vital. Their ability to identify and nurture startups that solve hard technical problems could make them a key player in shaping the future of critical technology sectors, reinforcing their mission to back transformative, high-impact companies[1][6].
