Cobalt Capital
Cobalt Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm founded in 2019 and headquartered in Santa Monica that invests in technology-enabled companies across digital content, consumer, and lifestyle sectors, serving founders and limited partners with capital and hands-on operational support.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSanta Monica, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cobalt Capital does
Cobalt Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm founded in 2019 and headquartered at 100 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200, in Santa Monica, California. The firm invests in the next generation of digital content, technology, consumer, and lifestyle companies, with a stated focus on founders using technology to create new categories and reshape how people live, work, and interact. Its portfolio of more than 40 companies spans fitness technology (Tonal), video infrastructure (Mux), digital entertainment (Scopely, FanDuel), mental wellness (Calm), sports media (The Athletic), edtech (MasterClass), creator economy software (CreatorIQ), payments (MoonPay), and now defense technology (Havoc), distributed across the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Mexico, Spain, China, Australia, and additional EMEA and APAC markets.
The firm's core offering is capital paired with hands-on operational support and strategic guidance delivered through a founder-centric, thesis-driven model. Cobalt supplements direct investment with a portfolio-level talent platform (jobs.cobalt.la, powered by Getro, listing 18 portfolio companies), an LP-facing investor portal (cobalt.altareturn.com), and thought-leadership content channels including a Substack newsletter (Consumer Index) and Medium publication (Perspectives). Leadership comprises Founder and Managing Partner Rick Hess, Managing Partner Dan Abrams, and CFO James Moore.
As a private venture capital firm, Cobalt Capital generates revenue through management fees on committed fund capital and carried interest from successful portfolio exits; pricing and fund terms are not publicly disclosed. The firm does not produce software products or APIs of its own, does not develop proprietary AI models, and does not disclose AUM, fund size, revenue, or LP composition in the available source material.
Cobalt Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cobalt Capital
- Legal name
- Cobalt Capital®
- Website
- https://cobalt.la
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Cobalt Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm founded in 2019 and headquartered in Santa Monica that invests in technology-enabled companies across digital content, consumer, and lifestyle sectors, serving founders and limited partners with capital and hands-on operational support.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cobalt Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Investors, Nec (6799)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)
Keywords
Where Cobalt Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Monica
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cobalt Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Investment Returns and Management Fees: As a venture capital firm, Cobalt Capital generates returns through equity stakes in portfolio companies, management fees from funds, and carried interest from successful exits.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Cobalt Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cobalt Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm that invests growth-stage equity capital into technology-enabled companies operating in digital content, consumer, and lifestyle sectors. Beyond capital, it provides hands-on operational support to portfolio founders and curates resources such as a portfolio job board and investor content (e.g., Consumer Index, Perspectives) to engage founders, limited partners, and the broader ecosystem.
Product overview
Cobalt Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm that partners with founders building enduring technology companies. The firm invests across sectors including technology, AI, and consumer experience economy. Cobalt Capital does not offer software products; its offering consists of investment services and operational support to portfolio companies, as well as a job board platform (powered by Getro) to support talent recruitment for its portfolio companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Multi-stage venture capital investments Equity capital deployed into technology-enabled growth-stage companies in digital content, consumer, and lifestyle sectors, typically in priced equity rounds (e.g., Series B and later, including a $100M Series A participation in Havoc). For founders and CEOs raising growth-stage capital.
- Portfolio operating support Hands-on, founder-centric operational support provided to portfolio companies beyond capital, including strategic guidance and access to the firm's network in digital content, consumer, and lifestyle. For founders and executive teams of Cobalt Capital portfolio companies.
Companies that use Cobalt Capital
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cobalt Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cobalt Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cobalt Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Betaworks: NYC-based studio/VC investing in consumer internet, content, and applied AI. Comparable on thesis of investing where technology reshapes how people live, work, and create content.
- Greycroft: Multi-stage consumer and enterprise tech VC. Directly comparable on consumer/tech blend, growth-stage flexibility, and founder support model.
- Lerer Hippeau: New York-based early-stage consumer and digital VC. Highly comparable to Cobalt on thesis (consumer, content, community-led brands) and stage focus, though typically more seed/Series A.
- Forerunner Ventures: Early-to-growth consumer and digital media VC. Directly comparable to Cobalt for its consumer thesis, founder-led approach, and focus on brands reshaping how people live, work, and consume content.
- Eniac Ventures: Early-stage VC focused on mobile, consumer, and B2B SaaS. Comparable to Cobalt on mobile-first thesis (Scopely, Discord, Calm) and seed-to-Series A orientation.
Broad incumbents
- Andreessen Horowitz (a16z): Largest multi-stage tech VC. Comparable on multi-stage consumer/tech investing and brand-led platform, but at materially greater AUM and sector breadth.
- Founders Fund: Multi-stage tech VC with deep-tech and consumer exposure. Comparable on multi-stage, founder-centric philosophy, though operates at materially larger scale and check size.
- General Catalyst: Multi-stage venture and growth firm with strong consumer and infrastructure software franchises. Comparable on multi-stage flexibility and hands-on operating support model.
Regional players
- Crosscut Ventures: LA-based early-stage tech and consumer VC. Comparable as a regional peer operating out of Southern California with a similar consumer/digital thesis.
- Upfront Ventures: LA-based multi-stage tech and consumer VC. Comparable as a Santa Monica / Southern California peer investing across consumer, gaming, and software with similar growth-stage flexibility.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Cobalt Capital social profiles
Digital presenceCobalt Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cobalt Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Cobalt Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cobalt Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments19 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cobalt Capital
What does Cobalt Capital do?
Cobalt Capital is a multi-stage venture capital firm that invests growth-stage equity capital into technology-enabled companies operating in digital content, consumer, and lifestyle sectors. Beyond capital, it provides hands-on operational support to portfolio founders and curates resources such as a portfolio job board and investor content (e.g., Consumer Index, Perspectives) to engage founders, limited partners, and the broader ecosystem.
Is Cobalt Capital a public or private company?
Cobalt Capital is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Cobalt Capital founded?
Cobalt Capital was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Cobalt Capital based?
Cobalt Capital is headquartered in Santa Monica, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cobalt Capital make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns and Management Fees.
Who are Cobalt Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Betaworks, Greycroft, Lerer Hippeau, Forerunner Ventures and Eniac Ventures. Broad incumbents are Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Founders Fund and General Catalyst. Regional players are Crosscut Ventures and Upfront Ventures.
Does Cobalt Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cobalt Capital.
What industry is Cobalt Capital in?
Cobalt Capital's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHADAG, Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital), with a secondary code of BPAHADAB, Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory. Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.