iSelect Fund

High-Level Overview

iSelect Fund is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments primarily in agtech, sustainable food systems, and human health sectors. Their mission is to invest with impact in critical global challenges such as improving nutrition, reducing reliance on animal-sourced foods, enhancing crop yields, and advancing healthcare innovations like cancer cures and obesity reduction. They serve accredited investors, family offices, and institutions by providing access to a diversified portfolio of vetted startups that align with both financial returns and positive societal impact. With over 60 portfolio companies and approximately $175 million in assets under management, iSelect supports companies that aim to revolutionize food and health industries globally[1][4][5].

Origin Story

Founded in 2013 and based in St. Louis, iSelect Fund was established by a team including CEO Carter Williams and COO Dan Schaub, among others. The firm evolved to focus on sectors where technology can drive sustainable and health-positive outcomes, particularly at the intersection of agriculture and human health. Their approach has matured into an evergreen fund structure that allows continuous investment without the constraints of traditional VC vintage years, enabling flexible capital deployment and ongoing portfolio support. The firm’s founding vision was to bridge the gap between investors and pioneering startups addressing urgent global issues in food and health[1][2][7].

Core Differentiators

• Evergreen Fund Structure: Unlike typical VC funds with fixed life cycles, iSelect operates as an evergreen fund, allowing continuous monthly investments and follow-on funding, reducing vintage year risk and enabling better capital utilization[3].
• Rigorous Due Diligence: Each potential investment undergoes over 100 hours of professional diligence and multiple layers of expert review, including a selection committee of industry veterans, ensuring high-quality portfolio construction[2][4].
• Lower Fees: Management fees are charged only on invested capital (not committed capital), which is lower than most venture funds, aligning incentives with active portfolio management[3].
• Network Strength: iSelect leverages a network of 200+ industry experts contributing over 3,000 years of combined experience to support investment decisions and portfolio companies[4].
• Impact-Driven Investment Philosophy: The fund targets companies that address large, profitable markets with solutions that improve nutrition, sustainability, and health outcomes, blending financial return with social impact[1][5].
• Co-Investment Model: iSelect typically co-invests alongside sophisticated lead investors, ensuring alignment with experienced venture partners and reducing risk[6].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

iSelect Fund rides the growing global trend toward sustainable agriculture, food innovation, and health technology, sectors driven by rising protein demand, environmental concerns, and chronic disease burdens. The timing is critical as consumers and regulators increasingly demand healthier, more sustainable food systems and advanced healthcare solutions. By focusing on agtech and human health, iSelect positions itself at the convergence of two transformative markets, influencing the ecosystem by channeling capital into startups that can scale innovations addressing these urgent challenges. Their evergreen model and expert network also help stabilize venture investing in these sectors, providing continuous support and reducing typical VC timing risks[1][3][5].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, iSelect Fund is well-positioned to capitalize on accelerating innovation in food and health technology, especially as global pressures for sustainability and health improvements intensify. Their evergreen structure and disciplined diligence process should enable them to maintain high capital deployment efficiency and portfolio quality. Trends such as precision agriculture, alternative proteins, and digital health interventions will likely shape their investment focus. As the firm grows, its influence may expand by fostering deeper collaboration between investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts, further accelerating the development of impactful solutions. iSelect’s blend of financial rigor and mission-driven investing offers a compelling model for venture capital in sectors critical to the future of health and sustainability[1][3][5].