Resonary
Resonary is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit venture studio that builds and invests in impact-focused startups via its Startup Lab program, supporting a portfolio of 7 ventures across digital health, energy, generative AI, and sustainable manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersMinneapolis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Resonary does
Resonary is a Minneapolis-based venture studio founded in 2020 by Scott Tovsen that builds and invests in startups focused on maximizing social and environmental impact. The company's stated thesis is that the impact economy underperforms because of coordination failures between organizations, funders, and operators; Resonary builds software platforms intended to make partnerships simpler, accelerate money flow, and improve accountability across impact-aligned actors.
The company operates through a three-pronged model: (1) Build — incubate impact-first software platforms from zero to traction via its Startup Lab program, which follows a four-stage methodology (Ideate, Validate, Create, Launch); (2) Invest — deploy cash into established impact-aligned companies; and (3) Partner — bring in operators, distribution allies, and ecosystem partners to accelerate portfolio growth. Startup Lab accepts the underlying technology of incubated platforms is built around coordination/workflow software, though specific technical architectures are not publicly disclosed. The studio maintains a portfolio of 7 ventures spanning generative AI (BlueWillow, acquired by Limewire in 2023), digital health (Forta — family-powered caregiver model for chronic conditions like ASD, $55M Series A in 2024), energy grid analytics (ProGrid), sustainable manufacturing brand experiences (Triple20), and filmmaking technology (MotoCrane). Each portfolio company is mapped to a UN Sustainable Development Goal.
The business model is venture capital-style: revenue derives from portfolio company success, exits, and returns on invested capital rather than product sales or licensing. Resonary is structured as a nonprofit impact investment firm, employs 11-50 people, and markets primarily through its website (resonary.org) and an email newsletter. The primary "customer" is the impact-driven founder — Resonary seeks and supports operators building companies oriented around giving rather than getting — and the primary go-to-market motion is direct relationship-building with mission-aligned founders and ecosystem partners rather than traditional sales.
Resonary firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Resonary
- Website
- https://resonary.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Resonary is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit venture studio that builds and invests in impact-focused startups via its Startup Lab program, supporting a portfolio of 7 ventures across digital health, energy, generative AI, and sustainable manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Resonary industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Studio / Impact Investment
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (513210), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)
Keywords
Where Resonary is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Minneapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Resonary business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Returns: Resonary generates returns through building and investing in startups. They incubate impact-first software platforms and invest cash in established companies. Revenue is derived from portfolio company success, exits, and returns on invested capital.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Resonary product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Resonary is a nonprofit venture studio that builds and invests in impact-first software platforms through its Startup Lab program. The studio incubates companies from ideation through MVP launch, partners with founders and operators, and deploys capital into aligned startups addressing social and environmental challenges across sectors such as digital health, energy, sustainable manufacturing, generative AI, and arts education.
Product overview
Resonary is a venture studio that builds and invests in startups focused on the impact economy. Rather than offering a single unified product, Resonary operates Startup Lab—a platform program for incubating impact-first software platforms—alongside a portfolio of portfolio companies including BlueWillow (generative AI, now acquired), Forta (digital health), ProGrid (energy analytics), Triple20 (brand experiences), and MotoCrane (filmmaking technology). The portfolio spans multiple impact-focused industries including generative AI, healthcare, energy efficiency, sustainable manufacturing, and arts education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Startup Lab Startup Lab is Resonary's venture building program for incubating impact-first software platforms. It is structured in four stages—Ideate, Validate, Create, and Launch—and is offered to impact-driven founders and operators seeking a structured pathway from ideation to traction.
Companies that use Resonary
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Resonary technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Resonary partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Resonary competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Betaworks: Betaworks is a venture studio that builds, invests in, and operates companies at the intersection of media, technology, and culture. Like Resonary, it operates a hybrid studio/investor model with hands-on company building.
- Atomic: Atomic is a venture studio that builds companies from scratch, taking them from concept to Series A. Comparable to Resonary in its venture-studio structure and approach to creating new companies with embedded operating support.
- Pioneer Square Labs: Pioneer Square Labs is a Seattle-based venture studio that co-creates and launches technology startups. It shares Resonary's venture-studio approach of building companies from ideation through launch with operator involvement.
- High Alpha: High Alpha is a venture studio that partners with founders to build and scale B2B SaaS companies. Like Resonary, it uses a structured studio model to create companies from scratch and provide ongoing operational support.
- Antler: Antler is a global early-stage venture firm that operates a venture studio model, identifying and incubating founders from scratch across multiple geographies and sectors. Like Resonary, it uses a structured methodology for building companies from zero to traction.
- Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator: ERA is a New York-based venture accelerator and early-stage investor that supports founders from idea to Series A. Comparable to Resonary's Startup Lab in its structured incubation approach and milestone-driven progression.
- Idealab: Idealab is one of the longest-running venture studios, creating and operating multiple technology companies. It is directly comparable to Resonary as a studio that builds and operates companies internally rather than purely investing capital.
- Science Inc. Science Inc. operates as a startup studio that builds, launches, and invests in technology companies, similar to Resonary's hybrid model of incubating and investing in startups under one roof.
Broad incumbents
- Acumen: Acumen is a leading impact investment organization that invests in companies addressing poverty. Comparable to Resonary in mission alignment and impact focus, though it operates as a fund rather than a venture studio.
- Obvious Ventures: Obvious Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on 'world-positive' companies. While a traditional VC rather than a studio, it shares Resonary's impact-first investment thesis and focus on companies addressing major societal challenges.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Resonary social profiles
Digital presenceResonary financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Resonary leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Resonary funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Resonary M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Resonary
What does Resonary do?
Resonary is a nonprofit venture studio that builds and invests in impact-first software platforms through its Startup Lab program. The studio incubates companies from ideation through MVP launch, partners with founders and operators, and deploys capital into aligned startups addressing social and environmental challenges across sectors such as digital health, energy, sustainable manufacturing, generative AI, and arts education.
Is Resonary a public or private company?
Resonary is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Resonary founded?
Resonary was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Resonary based?
Resonary is headquartered in Minneapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does Resonary make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Capital Returns.
Who are Resonary's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Betaworks, Atomic, Pioneer Square Labs, High Alpha, Antler, Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, Idealab and Science Inc.. Broad incumbents are Acumen and Obvious Ventures.
Does Resonary have an API?
No public API is recorded for Resonary.
What industry is Resonary in?
Resonary's product category is Venture Studio / Impact Investment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAC, Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures), with a secondary code of BPAGAAAK, Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs. Its NAICS code is 513210 and its SIC code is 8742.