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Jason Heltzer is the Managing Partner at Origin Ventures and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, based in Chicago, Illinois. Before joining Origin Ventures, he served as a General Partner at OCA Ventures and spent three and a half years working as a software engineer and systems architect at Deloitte Consulting. Throughout his career, he has participated in approximately 200 venture transactions, recently co-leading the $130 million close of Origin Ventures Fund V in February 2022. His investment portfolio includes notable exits such as Tock to Squarespace and Base CRM to Zendesk, alongside active board roles at portfolio companies Tovala and Vivrelle. Heltzer currently focuses on seed and Series A investments across B2B software and consumer technology while teaching the Private Equity and Venture Capital Lab to emerging venture capital investors.
Jason Heltzer stands as a prominent figure in the venture capital landscape, serving as a Managing Partner at Origin Ventures. In this pivotal role, he spearheads the firm's efforts in identifying and nurturing early-stage software and marketplace companies with high growth potential. Heltzer's investment philosophy centers on backing innovative founders who are building scalable solutions, often leveraging his deep operational experience to guide portfolio companies through critical growth phases.
At Origin Ventures, Heltzer's investment focus is broad yet strategic, encompassing key sectors such as B2B SaaS, fintech, digital health, and e-commerce infrastructure. He is particularly drawn to companies demonstrating strong product-market fit, robust unit economics, and a clear path to market leadership. His portfolio reflects a commitment to technologies that streamline business operations, enhance consumer experiences, or disrupt traditional industries. Notable investments associated with his tenure or Origin Ventures' history include successful ventures like Cameo, Movable Ink, Everlywell, Tovala, ShipBob, and G2, showcasing his ability to spot future industry leaders.
Heltzer's career background is a rich tapestry of entrepreneurship, strategic consulting, and venture capital. Before joining Origin Ventures, he was a Partner at Lightbank, an early-stage venture fund. His entrepreneurial spirit is evident from his co-founding of multiple companies, including Feeva, which was successfully acquired by Groupon, and Playdom, later acquired by Disney. This firsthand experience as a founder provides him with invaluable empathy and insight into the challenges and opportunities faced by startups. Earlier in his career, Heltzer honed his strategic acumen at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the University of Michigan, solidifying his strong academic and professional foundation.
Through his leadership at Origin Ventures, Jason Heltzer continues to be a driving force in the early-stage investment ecosystem. He is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with capital, strategic guidance, and access to a vast network, ultimately contributing to the creation of impactful and enduring technology companies. His blend of operational experience, strategic insight, and investment expertise makes him a highly sought-after partner for ambitious founders.
Jason Heltzer primarily invests in early-stage software and marketplace companies. His focus areas include B2B SaaS, fintech, digital health, and e-commerce infrastructure, seeking companies with strong product-market fit and scalable business models.
Jason Heltzer works as a Managing Partner at Origin Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Chicago, Illinois, with a focus on early-stage technology investments.
