Higher Ground Labs
Higher Ground Labs is a Chicago-based venture fund and ecosystem builder founded in 2017 that invests in early-stage political technology companies serving progressive campaigns, civic organizations, and democratic causes through five funds, an accelerator, and proprietary research publications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Higher Ground Labs does
Higher Ground Labs is a Chicago-based venture fund and ecosystem development organization founded in 2017 that invests in and supports early-stage political technology companies serving progressive campaigns, civic organizations, and democratic causes. The firm operates five investment funds (Fund V announced April 2026 with a rolling investment model), a world-class accelerator program, the Higher Ground Institute for research and simulations, and proprietary publications including the Political Tech Landscape Report and Election Tech Surveys. Across the platform, HGL has deployed over $50 million into 80+ portfolio companies that build AI/ML platforms, data analytics, organizing tools, fundraising platforms, and communication technologies for campaigns and civic engagement; 22 of these portfolio companies have been strategically acquired to enable national-scale deployment. The firm reports $42 million in assets under management for Fund IV at the time of Fund V's announcement and has facilitated measurable outcomes including $27M+ in campaign cost savings in the 2024 cycle, $37M directed to 750+ candidates via portfolio company Oath, and 3.6% higher vote share for campaigns using portfolio company Mobilize in 2020.
The company's revenue model follows traditional venture fund mechanics: management fees on committed capital across successive funds and equity returns from portfolio company exits (Quiller.ai being a recently disclosed successful acquisition). Pricing and investment terms are not publicly disclosed; founders apply through a year-round rolling pitch form rather than via time-bound cohorts. Go-to-market combines direct founder sourcing, ecosystem partnerships with major progressive infrastructure organizations (the DNC, Zinc Labs, Arena, The Movement Cooperative, Action Network, Microsoft, TargetSmart), biennial Election Tech Debrief conferences (300+ attendees in Phoenix 2024; 312 in Atlanta 2022; 700+ virtually in 2020), and content marketing via landscape reports, AI resource guides, and a portfolio job board. Leadership is anchored by Co-Founder and Managing Partner Betsy Hoover, Co-Founders/Partners Andrew McLaughlin and Shomik Dutta, Principal Teddy Gold, and returning Fund V Lead Hillary Lehr (post-Quiller.ai acquisition).
Primary customers are early-stage political technology founders; portfolio companies in turn serve highly fragmented end-users including 1,000+ Democratic campaigns, 500+ advocacy organizations, the DCCC, presidential campaigns, individual candidates (e.g., Abigail Spanberger, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), and major progressive advocacy brands (Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, NARAL, End Citizens United). HGL's stated mission is to build technology infrastructure that closes the gap between progressive and conservative technology capacity, with success metrics rooted in ecosystem adoption rather than purely financial returns.
Higher Ground Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Higher Ground Labs
- Legal name
- Higher Ground Labs
- Website
- https://highergroundlabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Higher Ground Labs is a Chicago-based venture fund and ecosystem builder founded in 2017 that invests in early-stage political technology companies serving progressive campaigns, civic organizations, and democratic causes through five funds, an accelerator, and proprietary research publications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Higher Ground Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Political Technology Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)
Keywords
Where Higher Ground Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Higher Ground Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Fund Returns: HGL generates returns through equity investments in portfolio companies, expecting exits via acquisitions or public offerings. Fund V is their fifth fund with a rolling investment model.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels10 records
Higher Ground Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Higher Ground Labs is a venture fund and ecosystem development organization that invests in and supports early-stage political technology companies serving progressive campaigns, civic causes, and democratic infrastructure from pre-seed through exit. The firm deploys capital across multiple funds, runs a world-class accelerator program for portfolio founders, and convenes the political tech ecosystem through research reports, surveys, conferences (Election Tech Debrief), simulations, and AI-focused programs (Progressive AI Lab, Agentic AI Open Call).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Higher Ground Institute: An institute under the HGL umbrella focused on tactical research, simulations, and AI resource guides for the progressive political technology ecosystem.
Products and services
- Higher Ground Labs Fund V Venture capital fund providing equity investment and accelerator support to early-stage political technology companies focused on AI-native campaign systems, civic tech, and progressive causes. Open to for-profit startups through a year-round rolling pitch submission process.
- Political Tech Accelerator Program
Quantifiable outcome
- 3.6% more vote share for campaigns that used Mobilize in 2020
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Higher Ground Labs
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Higher Ground Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature5 records
Higher Ground Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
36 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Progressive AI Lab CommunitycoreCommunity for entities of all designations (including nonprofits) to join for future opportunities and events related to AI in progressive politics.
- State Parties and Campaign Leadership TeamsminorTarget audiences for political simulation toolkit and innovation model replication.
- Zinc LabscoreCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief in Phoenix, AZ with 300+ attendees.
- The Movement CooperativecoreCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief, a key organization in the progressive data infrastructure ecosystem.
- Democratic National CommitteecoreCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief and participant in DNC Chair Candidates Forum produced by HGL portfolio company Hovercast.
- ArenacoreCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Community Tech AlliancecoreCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign CommitteeminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief held in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Investing In USminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- OneOne VenturesminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- SEIUminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Analyst InstituteminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Arizona Democratic PartyminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Tech For CampaignsminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- stac labsminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Trestle CollaborativeminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- BluelineminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Cooperative Impact LabminorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- IconicominorCo-host of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Action NetworkminorEvent supporter of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- COURIERminorEvent supporter of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- PDIminorEvent supporter of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- MicrosoftminorEvent supporter of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Bully Pulpit InternationalminorEvent supporter of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- TargetSmartminorEvent supporter of the 2024 Election Tech Debrief.
- Zinc CollectivecoreCo-host of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief in Atlanta with 312 political tech leaders attending.
- Stac LabscoreCo-host of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief.
- New Media VenturesminorCo-host of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief.
- Bluebonnet DataminorCo-host of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief.
- Sister DistrictminorCo-host of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief.
- ActBlueminorPartner of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief.
- Progress GeorgiaminorPartner of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief held in Atlanta.
- Bluem VenturesminorPartner of the 2022 Election Tech Debrief.
- HovercastcoreHGL portfolio company that produced the live-streamed DNC Chair Candidates Forum at the 2024 Election Tech Debrief. Past clients include Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
- DigidemscoreCo-host of the 2020 Election Tech Debrief (virtual) with 700+ progressive leaders participating.
- Biden for PresidentcoreSteering committee and partner for the 2020 Election Tech Debrief, with Digital Director Rob Flaherty delivering a keynote.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Higher Ground Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Emerson Collective: Impact-oriented philanthropic and investment organization with significant venture activity across education, immigration, and civic engagement. Comparable as a broader mission-driven investor that overlaps with HGL on civic and progressive causes.
- Kapor Capital: Mission-driven venture firm investing in tech startups addressing inequality and closing gaps of access. Comparable as an established values-aligned VC with an explicit social-impact lens.
- Blue Meridian Partners: Large-scale social impact investor backing nonprofits and social enterprises tackling poverty. Overlaps with HGL on mission-driven capital deployment for social outcomes, though at a larger scale and non-profit focus.
- Omidyar Network: Pierre Omidyar's impact investment firm funding companies and organizations advancing governance, civic engagement, and media. Shares HGL's civic-technologist thesis at a much larger scale and broader mandate.
- Acumen: Pioneering impact investment fund backing entrepreneurs tackling poverty globally. Comparable as an established mission-aligned investor with ecosystem-building components, though focused on poverty rather than progressive politics.
- Schmidt Futures: Philanthropic and venture initiative of Eric Schmidt backing science, technology, and civic renewal. Overlaps with HGL on tech-enabled civic infrastructure and progressive-leaning ecosystem support.
Emerging players
- Echoing Green: Long-running fellowship and seed funder for social entrepreneurs. Comparable as a mission-driven capital and community provider for early-stage leaders building solutions to social problems.
- Civic Ventures: Mission-driven venture fund focused on longevity, social infrastructure, and civic renewal. Comparable as a newer, themed investor building ecosystem and narrative around civic infrastructure for the future.
- Blue Ridge Labs at Robin Hood: Civic-tech-focused incubator and accelerator within Robin Hood Foundation building anti-poverty technology. Comparable to HGL as an ecosystem builder funding civic and social-impact tech founders through structured programs.
Direct peers
- New Media Ventures: A progressive-aligned early-stage investor backing media, tech, and organizing tools for social and political change. Closest direct comparable to HGL in vertical focus, stage, and ideological orientation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Higher Ground Labs social profiles
Digital presenceHigher Ground Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Higher Ground Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Higher Ground Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Higher Ground Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments55 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Higher Ground Labs
What does Higher Ground Labs do?
Higher Ground Labs is a venture fund and ecosystem development organization that invests in and supports early-stage political technology companies serving progressive campaigns, civic causes, and democratic infrastructure from pre-seed through exit. The firm deploys capital across multiple funds, runs a world-class accelerator program for portfolio founders, and convenes the political tech ecosystem through research reports, surveys, conferences (Election Tech Debrief), simulations, and AI-focused programs (Progressive AI Lab, Agentic AI Open Call).
Is Higher Ground Labs a public or private company?
Higher Ground Labs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Higher Ground Labs founded?
Higher Ground Labs was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Higher Ground Labs based?
Higher Ground Labs is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Higher Ground Labs make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Fund Returns.
Who are Higher Ground Labs's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Emerson Collective, Kapor Capital, Blue Meridian Partners, Omidyar Network, Acumen and Schmidt Futures. Emerging players are Echoing Green, Civic Ventures and Blue Ridge Labs at Robin Hood. New Media Ventures is listed as a direct peer.
Does Higher Ground Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Higher Ground Labs.
What industry is Higher Ground Labs in?
Higher Ground Labs's product category is Political Technology Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists), with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 54169 and its SIC code is 6282.