Slater Technology Fund
Slater Technology Fund is a not-for-profit seed-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 2000, it invests seed and early-stage capital in technology ventures across software, energy, life sciences, and medical technology, with deep ties to Brown and URI.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersProvidence, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Slater Technology Fund does
Slater Technology Fund is an evergreen not-for-profit seed-stage venture capital firm founded in 2000 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. The firm invests seed and early-stage capital in technology ventures across software, energy, life sciences, and medical technology, with a stated focus on companies aiming for transformational impact and a commitment to building locally in Rhode Island. Over a 25-year operating history, Slater has deployed $44.1 million across 144 startups and helped those portfolio companies raise $1.15 billion in follow-on private capital, with 38 acquisition and liquidity events and 10,657 job-years of employment generated. The firm's largest disclosed exit to date was the 2020 acquisition of Cadent Therapeutics by Novartis for up to $770 million — a company formed via merger with Slater-backed Mnemosyne Pharmaceuticals.
Slater typically leads or co-invests in seed and pre-seed rounds and is frequently the first institutional capital into a deal. Representative portfolio companies include MindImmune Therapeutics (Alzheimer's therapy, $30M Series A), Flourish Care (maternal health, $5.7M seed), Boomband (AI-native talent marketplace, $4M seed), Adept Materials (moisture-regulating paint, $4.6M seed), Lenoss Medical (spine medical device, $4M Series A), Egal (women's health, $4M Series A), Marstone (digital wealth, $8M Series B), and Alcinous Pharmaceuticals (URI-spun PARP inhibitors). The firm is governed by a board chaired by Brown's Engineering Dean and staffed by senior leaders from Brown University, the University of Rhode Island, Textron, Locke Lord, Gordon Research Conferences, and CBRE.
The fund generates revenue through management fees on state-administered capital (notably SSBCI allocations from Rhode Island Commerce, expanded to $12 million in 2023 on top of an earlier $9 million contract) and through carried interest from successful portfolio exits, with proceeds reinvested under an evergreen structure. The platform was extended in 2022 with the launch of RightHill Ventures, a sister fund (backed by a $300,000 EDA grant) that targets university-driven innovators and often co-invests with Slater through special purpose vehicles, enabling larger follow-on tickets without altering the seed mandate.
Slater Technology Fund firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Slater Technology Fund
- Legal name
- Slater Technology Fund
- Website
- https://slaterfund.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Slater Technology Fund is a not-for-profit seed-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 2000, it invests seed and early-stage capital in technology ventures across software, energy, life sciences, and medical technology, with deep ties to Brown and URI.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Slater Technology Fund industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Micro-VC & Angel Funds (FSANAAAI)
Keywords
Where Slater Technology Fund is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Providence
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Slater Technology Fund business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Returns (Carried Interest): As an evergreen not-for-profit VC fund, Slater generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies. Returns come from exits via acquisitions and IPOs, distributed to the fund and its investors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Slater Technology Fund product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Slater Technology Fund is an evergreen not-for-profit seed-stage venture capital fund that provides seed- and early-stage equity capital to technology ventures in software, energy, and life sciences, primarily based in Rhode Island. Beyond capital, the fund delivers active mentorship, operational support, introductions to customers, partners, and investors, recruiting assistance, and follow-on funding identification. Over 25 years it has invested $44.1 million in 144 companies, leveraging $1.15 billion in follow-on private capital.
Product overview
Slater Technology Fund is an evergreen not-for-profit seed-stage venture capital fund focused on Rhode Island. Rather than offering a unified platform product, the organization provides investment capital, mentorship, and network support to early-stage technology companies. Their investment approach spans multiple portfolio companies including Flourish Care (maternal healthcare platform), MindImmune Therapeutics (neurodegenerative disease therapies), Adept Materials (advanced materials including Lilypad moisture-regulating paint), Boomband (AI-native talent marketplace), and numerous other portfolio companies across life sciences, medical devices, clean technology, and software sectors. The fund operates as an evergreen platform connecting research, entrepreneurs, and private capital with a focus on companies originating from Rhode Island universities including Brown University and the University of Rhode Island.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RightHill Ventures: Sister fund to Slater Technology Fund, focused on providing seed-stage capital and support to university-based ventures, launched in 2022.
Products and services
- Slater Technology Fund Seed Investment Program An evergreen not-for-profit seed- and early-stage equity investment program providing capital, mentorship, operational support, and network connections to technology ventures in software, energy, and life sciences based in Rhode Island. The fund is often the first institutional money in, invests across multiple sectors, and delivers ongoing investor introductions, recruitment support, and follow-on funding guidance.
- RightHill Ventures Affiliate Fund An affiliate venture fund founded by Slater Technology Fund that targets university research-driven ventures and founders, providing larger capital commitments to companies with traction, often via co-investment with Slater through special purpose vehicles (SPVs).
Quantifiable outcome
- 26:1 leverage ratio of private investment to Slater's capital
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Slater Technology Fund
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Slater Technology Fund technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Slater Technology Fund partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Brown UniversitycoreLong-standing partnership with Brown's Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship, Brown Technology Innovations, and the broader university ecosystem. Over 60 companies have originated from Brown and URI. Slater has board representation from Brown's Engineering Dean.
- University of Rhode IslandcorePartnership with URI's Research Foundation and Ryan Institute for Neuroscience. Slater has invested in multiple URI spinouts including MindImmune, which originated from the Ryan Institute.
- Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) ProvidencemajorCIC Providence hosts Slater events and is a hub for Rhode Island startups. Slater holds networking events at the CIC facility in Providence's I-195 district.
- NECEC (New England Clean Energy Council)majorSlater's Managing Director Thorne Sparkman is an avid supporter of NECEC and Cleantech Open, facilitating clean energy startup ecosystem connections.
- RI BiomajorRhode Island's life sciences industry organization. Slater works with RI Bio on life science startup support and commercialization programs.
- MassChallengemajorGlobal accelerator with Rhode Island presence. Slater supports startups participating in MassChallenge and leverages the program for deal sourcing.
- Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship (Brown)coreBrown University's entrepreneurship center. Slater partners on B-Lab accelerator, events, and co-hosts programs like 'Slater Sushi & Networking' to connect with student founders.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Slater Technology Fund competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cherrystone Angel Group: Rhode Island-based angel investment group that co-invests alongside Slater in local seed-stage startups. Directly comparable given shared geography, similar check sizes, and documented joint investments across the Rhode Island ecosystem.
- RightHill Ventures: Slater's sister fund, founded in 2022 with a $300K EDA grant, focused on university-driven ventures. Closely comparable in mission, geography, and target stage, though RightHill writes larger follow-on checks.
- MassVentures: Massachusetts' seed and early-stage venture fund, providing equity and mezzanine capital to high-growth startups. Comparable as a state-affiliated seed/early-stage fund operating in a New England ecosystem with university-driven deal flow.
- Connecticut Innovations: Connecticut's quasi-state venture capital arm, providing venture funding to early-stage CT companies. Directly comparable as a state-backed evergreen-style fund supporting local entrepreneurs and university spinouts.
- Maine Venture Fund: State-supported venture capital fund providing patient capital to Maine-based startups. Comparable as a regional, state-affiliated evergreen fund focused on early-stage local company creation.
- Launch New York: New York State-supported seed fund and founder development program targeting university spinouts and underrepresented founders. Directly comparable in state-backed structure and university-driven deal sourcing.
- Rogue Venture Partners: Early-stage venture firm with ties to the New England ecosystem. Directly comparable as a co-investor in Slater portfolio companies (e.g., Boomband) with similar stage and check-size focus.
- Boston Seed Capital: Boston-based seed-stage venture capital firm investing in New England technology startups. Comparable in seed-stage focus, regional geography, and documented co-investment history with Slater.
- Zeal Capital Partners: Early-stage venture firm investing in underrepresented founders and high-impact sectors. Comparable as a co-lead in recent Slater-backed rounds (e.g., $5.7M Flourish Care seed) with shared impact orientation.
Broad incumbents
- Venture For America: Non-profit fellowship placing early-career talent into startup roles in emerging US cities including Providence. Comparable as a mission-driven, ecosystem-building organization supporting regional startup development, though focused on talent rather than capital.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Slater Technology Fund social profiles
Digital presenceSlater Technology Fund financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Slater Technology Fund leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Slater Technology Fund funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Slater Technology Fund M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments54 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Slater Technology Fund
What does Slater Technology Fund do?
Slater Technology Fund is an evergreen not-for-profit seed-stage venture capital fund that provides seed- and early-stage equity capital to technology ventures in software, energy, and life sciences, primarily based in Rhode Island. Beyond capital, the fund delivers active mentorship, operational support, introductions to customers, partners, and investors, recruiting assistance, and follow-on funding identification. Over 25 years it has invested $44.1 million in 144 companies, leveraging $1.15 billion in follow-on private capital.
Is Slater Technology Fund a public or private company?
Slater Technology Fund is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Slater Technology Fund founded?
Slater Technology Fund was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Slater Technology Fund based?
Slater Technology Fund is headquartered in Providence, United States, in the North America region.
How does Slater Technology Fund make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns (Carried Interest).
Who are Slater Technology Fund's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cherrystone Angel Group, RightHill Ventures, MassVentures, Connecticut Innovations, Maine Venture Fund, Launch New York, Rogue Venture Partners, Boston Seed Capital and Zeal Capital Partners. Venture For America is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Slater Technology Fund have an API?
No public API is recorded for Slater Technology Fund.
What industry is Slater Technology Fund in?
Slater Technology Fund's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAI, Micro-VC & Angel Funds. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.