Magarac Venture Partners
Magarac Venture Partners is a Pittsburgh-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests $500,000-$5,000,000 in Seed and Series A rounds of technology startups across the U.S. Midwest, with notable thematic exposure to AI, robotics, and deep-tech Carnegie Mellon spinouts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Magarac Venture Partners does
Magarac Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that invests $500,000 to $5,000,000 in Seed and Series A rounds of technology companies across the U.S. Midwest, including Pittsburgh, Columbus, Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit. Founded in 2021 by Mike Stubler, Jay Katarincic, Zach Malone, and Will Allen, four former colleagues at Draper Triangle Ventures, the firm operates as a "people first" investor and frequently leads rounds and serves as the first institutional capital into its portfolio companies. Its underlying 'product' is capital plus operational support, distributed via direct founder outreach, regional network referrals, pitch competitions, and partnerships anchored at Carnegie Mellon University.
The firm invests across multiple sectors but has developed a notable thematic concentration in AI and deep-tech, with portfolio companies spanning AI safety and red-teaming (Gray Swan, a CMU spinout whose customers include Anthropic, OpenAI, and Meta), Physical AI and edge inference (Hellbender), agentic AI for retail decision intelligence (Profitmind), and AI-native retail merchandising (Netail). It also holds sports-tech (MOGL), healthcare (Patients app, Sooth Labs), autonomous systems (Atlas Robotics, FreeNav), and enterprise software positions. The firm runs a curated ecosystem-build program, including a CMU co-branded Forge to Field AI Pitch Competition held during NFL Draft Week that deploys investment capital directly as prizes.
Commercially, Magarac generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies and distributes proceeds to its limited partners under a standard venture fund economics structure with carried interest. Its core go-to-market is network-driven deal sourcing rather than outbound product sales. The firm differentiates itself through a regional Midwest focus, a public diversity commitment (33% of most-recent-fund portfolio founders from underrepresented groups; a Rooney Rule-style inclusion policy for senior hires), and strong Carnegie Mellon University ties that give it privileged access to frontier AI and robotics spinouts.
Magarac Venture Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Magarac Venture Partners
- Legal name
- Magarac Venture Partners
- Website
- https://magarac.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Magarac Venture Partners is a Pittsburgh-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests $500,000-$5,000,000 in Seed and Series A rounds of technology startups across the U.S. Midwest, with notable thematic exposure to AI, robotics, and deep-tech Carnegie Mellon spinouts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Magarac Venture Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Magarac Venture Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Magarac Venture Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Portfolio Returns / Equity Investments: Returns generated through equity stakes in portfolio companies via Seed and Series A investments, with exit proceeds distributed to limited partners and general partners according to carried interest structures.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Early-stage investment tickets ranging from $500k to $5M for Seed and Series A rounds |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Magarac Venture Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Magarac Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests $500k–$5M in Seed and Series A rounds of Midwest-based technology startups. The firm provides founders with equity capital, strategic guidance, and access to its network of operators and follow-on investors. Fund I closed in May 2020 and the firm was officially launched in 2021.
Product overview
Magarac Venture Partners (MVP) is an early-stage venture capital firm that provides investment capital and resources to Midwest technology startups. The firm does not offer a unified product platform but rather provides financial investment services through its portfolio of startup companies. The portfolio includes AI/ML companies (Profitmind, Gray Swan, Hellbender, Lovelace, Netail), robotics firms (Atlas Robotics), sports tech platforms (MOGL), and various other technology startups across sectors including retail AI, AI security, physical AI hardware, and enterprise software.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Early-Stage Venture Capital Investment Services Early-stage venture capital investment services targeting Midwest technology startups, deploying $500k–$5M in Seed and Series A rounds, often as the first institutional investor and lead.
Companies that use Magarac Venture Partners
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Magarac Venture Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Magarac Venture Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Carnegie Mellon University / AI Strike TeamcorePartnered with Carnegie Mellon University's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and AI Strike Team to host the 'Forge to Field AI Pitch Competition' during NFL Draft Week. Magarac contributed $275,000 in investment capital to the $1.75M prize pool. Event connected emerging AI sports technologies with investors including Mark Cuban and executives from DICK'S Sporting Goods.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Magarac Venture Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Drive Capital: Columbus, Ohio-based early- and growth-stage venture firm focused on Midwest technology companies. Most directly comparable peer: same regional thesis, similar stage focus, and overlapping founder base in the Ohio/Pennsylvania corridor.
- Hyde Park Venture Partners: Chicago-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in Midwest B2B software and tech-enabled services. Closely comparable in stage focus, check size, and Midwest orientation, and competes for the same founder pool.
- Dundee Venture Capital: Early-stage Midwest venture capital firm based in Omaha/Cincinnati. Comparable in stage (Seed/Series A), geography, and check size, with a similar emphasis on backing Midwest-rooted founders.
- gener8tor: Midwest-based venture capital firm and accelerator running cohort-based programs and follow-on funds across multiple US cities including Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Cincinnati. Comparable in regional focus and early-stage orientation.
- Allos Ventures: Indianapolis-based early-stage venture capital firm investing in B2B SaaS and tech-enabled services across the Midwest. Comparable check size, stage, and regional mandate.
- Revolution (Rise of the Rest): Steve Case's fund explicitly focused on startups based outside of Silicon Valley, including the Midwest. Directly comparable geographic thesis and similar early-stage focus, but at significantly larger scale and brand recognition.
Regional players
- Detroit Venture Partners: Detroit-based early-stage venture firm focused on the Detroit/Michigan tech ecosystem. Comparable in regional focus and stage, but concentrated on a single city within MVP's broader Midwest mandate.
- Cleveland Avenue: Chicago-based venture and growth firm with investments across the Midwest including Cleveland. Comparable regional orientation, though larger and with a broader consumer/tech remit.
- University of Michigan Investment in New Technologies (MINTS): University of Michigan-affiliated pre-seed/seed vehicle investing in Michigan and Midwest founders. Comparable in stage and geography, particularly around the Ann Arbor ecosystem MVP also targets.
Broad incumbents
- Bessemer Venture Partners: Large, multi-stage venture capital firm with a dedicated Chicago office and longstanding Midwest investment activity (e.g., Shopify, Groupon). Not specialized in the Midwest, but is an active participant in the same regional deal flow that MVP sources from.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Magarac Venture Partners social profiles
Digital presenceMagarac Venture Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Magarac Venture Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Magarac Venture Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Magarac Venture Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments8 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Magarac Venture Partners
What does Magarac Venture Partners do?
Magarac Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests $500k–$5M in Seed and Series A rounds of Midwest-based technology startups. The firm provides founders with equity capital, strategic guidance, and access to its network of operators and follow-on investors. Fund I closed in May 2020 and the firm was officially launched in 2021.
Is Magarac Venture Partners a public or private company?
Magarac Venture Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Magarac Venture Partners founded?
Magarac Venture Partners was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Magarac Venture Partners based?
Magarac Venture Partners is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Magarac Venture Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: portfolio Returns / Equity Investments.
Who are Magarac Venture Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Drive Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners, Dundee Venture Capital, gener8tor, Allos Ventures and Revolution (Rise of the Rest). Regional players are Detroit Venture Partners, Cleveland Avenue and University of Michigan Investment in New Technologies (MINTS). Bessemer Venture Partners is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Magarac Venture Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Magarac Venture Partners.
What industry is Magarac Venture Partners in?
Magarac Venture Partners's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.