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Learn which startups TMV invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Soraya Darabi).
TMV partners with brands and people transforming the future, focusing on sectors like Maritime, Logistics, Health, Bio, and AI.
Key people at TMV.
Key people at TMV.
# TMV: Purpose-Driven Venture Capital at Scale
TMV is a New York-based early-stage venture capital firm that has positioned itself as a mission-aligned investor backing founders who are reimagining industries while driving positive social and environmental change.[1] Founded in 2016 by Soraya Darabi and Marina Hadjipateras, the firm manages approximately $200 million in assets and has deployed capital across 63 investments, primarily in pre-seed through Series A rounds.[1] TMV's investment philosophy centers on identifying purpose-driven startups operating across sectors including healthcare, sustainability, logistics, fintech, and the future of work—areas where financial returns and meaningful impact converge.
The firm's approach reflects a deliberate thesis: that founders with strong mission alignment and deep conviction about their company's vision are better positioned to build durable, scalable businesses. Rather than chasing trends, TMV seeks to partner with entrepreneurs solving what it views as today's most pressing problems, offering not just capital but operational support, network access, and mentorship grounded in founder experience.[2] This philosophy has resonated with portfolio companies like Cityblock Health, Kindbody, and Parsley Health, which have become recognized leaders in their respective verticals.[1]
TMV emerged from the entrepreneurial backgrounds of its founders. Soraya Darabi and Marina Hadjipateras, both experienced entrepreneurs and venture investors, established the firm in 2016 with a conviction that early-stage venture capital could be structured around purpose and impact without sacrificing returns.[1] Their founding insight was straightforward but powerful: founders who care deeply about solving meaningful problems tend to attract better talent, build stronger communities, and create more defensible businesses.
The firm's evolution reflects a maturing thesis about what "impact" means in venture capital. Rather than treating social or environmental benefit as a secondary consideration, TMV integrated it into the core investment criteria from inception. This positioning allowed the firm to build a distinctive brand and community at a time when impact investing was gaining momentum but remained underrepresented in early-stage venture. The firm's track record—evidenced by successful exits and strong portfolio performance—validated this approach and enabled TMV to raise subsequent funds, including a fund that opened in March 2023.[3]
TMV's competitive advantage stems from its team composition and hands-on approach. The firm is staffed by former founders and operators who understand the challenges of building from zero.[2] This background translates into tangible support: portfolio founders consistently cite TMV's value in areas ranging from ideation and hiring to business development and strategic partnerships. The firm's General Partners, Principals, and Venture Partners bring diverse entrepreneurial and operational experience, positioning them to offer guidance beyond capital deployment.
A defining characteristic of TMV is its emphasis on community building. The firm actively cultivates relationships with business development partners, advisors, creatives, and innovators, creating what it describes as "unmatched access" to collaborators.[2] Portfolio companies report that TMV makes proactive introductions to key clients and partners within the first year of investment, effectively leveraging its network as a value-add mechanism. This community-first approach differentiates TMV from transactional venture models.
TMV typically writes checks in the $1 million to $3 million range and frequently leads or co-leads pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds.[4] This positioning allows the firm to maintain meaningful ownership stakes while remaining nimble enough to move quickly in competitive rounds. The firm's historical average check size of $807.5k and maximum check size of $15.9 million provide flexibility across deal structures.[1]
While focused on specific sectors—healthcare, fintech, climate, logistics, and future of work—TMV maintains geographic diversification, investing across the United States, Africa, Latin America, India, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Canada, Israel, ANZ, and MENA.[4] This global lens allows the firm to identify founders and problems regardless of geography while maintaining deep expertise in its core verticals.
TMV operates at an inflection point in venture capital where impact and returns are increasingly viewed as complementary rather than competing objectives. The firm's success reflects broader market recognition that purpose-driven founders often build more resilient, community-oriented businesses—particularly in sectors like healthcare, sustainability, and future of work where regulatory tailwinds and demographic shifts create structural tailwinds.
The firm's emphasis on the "care economy" and sustainability positions it to benefit from several macro trends: aging populations driving demand for innovative healthcare solutions, climate commitments creating urgency around cleantech and logistics optimization, and workplace transformation accelerating demand for future-of-work tools. By backing founders aligned with these trends early, TMV gains exposure to secular growth while maintaining a differentiated brand in a crowded venture landscape.
TMV's influence extends beyond its portfolio. By demonstrating that mission-aligned venture capital can generate strong returns, the firm has helped legitimize impact investing as a core venture strategy rather than a niche category. This has downstream effects on founder recruitment, talent attraction, and institutional capital flows—all of which favor firms with clear theses and authentic commitment to their stated values.
TMV has successfully bridged a gap in the venture market: founders seeking capital from investors who genuinely understand the founder experience and share commitment to building businesses that matter. The firm's $200 million in assets under management, 63 investments, and strong portfolio performance suggest this positioning resonates with both founders and limited partners.
Looking ahead, TMV's trajectory will likely be shaped by several factors. First, the firm's ability to generate strong exits from its current portfolio will validate its thesis and enable larger fund raises. Second, the increasing sophistication of impact measurement and ESG reporting will create opportunities for TMV to differentiate through data-driven impact tracking. Third, as venture capital becomes more competitive and founder-friendly, the firm's operational support and network access will remain valuable differentiators.
The broader question for TMV is whether it can scale its model without diluting the founder-centric culture that defines it. As the firm grows and manages larger funds, maintaining the hands-on engagement and genuine care that portfolio founders consistently praise will be critical. If TMV succeeds in this balancing act, it could emerge as a template for how venture capital can be structured around authentic mission alignment while delivering institutional returns—a model increasingly demanded by both founders and LPs navigating a market where purpose and profit are no longer viewed as trade-offs.
