VentureNext

What VentureNext does

VentureNext is a non-profit professional peer group of rising venture capital investors, founded in 2017 as Venture Ohio and rebranded in 2020, that operates a community-led platform serving VC fund managers focused on Midwest deal flow. The organization offers monthly deal-flow calls for sharing and syndicating investment opportunities, a mentorship program that matches rising investors with seasoned Partners, Managing Directors, Principals, and General Partners from outside their home states, and ongoing professional programming covering networking, panel discussions, and VC skill development. As of 2022, the community comprised over 200 individual members across 26 states representing 138 venture funds and more than $40B in collective assets under management. In 2022 the organization formalized its non-profit structure and launched the VentureNext Midwest Fund I to coinvest alongside member funds.\n\nThe core technology stack is intentionally lightweight: a Squarespace-hosted public website, standard virtual meeting platforms for monthly calls, and collaboration tools for member engagement. There is no proprietary software, AI/ML capability, app, or API documented; value delivery is driven by human-curated community activities, deal sharing, and mentorship matching rather than a technology platform. Distribution is community-led, with growth driven by referrals among existing members, public blog content, social media presence on LinkedIn and Twitter, a quarterly newsletter, and an annual summit. Membership spans pre-seed through growth-stage, sector-agnostic venture funds from across the US.\n\nThe revenue model is sponsorship-funded rather than fee-based: the organization does not appear to charge membership dues and is instead supported by official sponsorships from JumpStart, Rev1, and CincyTech, supplemented by an emerging revenue vector through the Midwest Fund I. Additional monetization or economic upside from the fund could include carried interest or fund-related economics, though specifics are not disclosed. The organization operates with a lean staff (firmographic range 11-50) coordinated through an executive committee led by Co-Chairs Jim Tenzillo and Liz Todia, with functional chairs covering deal flow, mentorship, programming, content, membership, partnerships, and community engagement.

Name

VentureNext

Legal name

VentureNext

Website

https://venturenext.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VentureNext is a non-profit professional peer group connecting rising venture capital investors across the US who focus on Midwest deal flow, offering monthly deal-flow calls, mentorship matching, networking events, and the VentureNext Midwest Fund I to syndicate investments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital Community and Networking

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Miscellaneous Intermediation (523910)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms (FSANAHAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Venture Capital Fundraising Placement (FSAEALAC)

Keywords

• Venture capital community
• Investor networking
• Deal flow sharing
• Venture mentorship
• Investment syndication

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorships and Organizational Funding: VentureNext secures official sponsorships from organizations such as JumpStart, Rev1, and CincyTech to support their activities. The organization is organizing as a non-profit entity to expand programming, events, and engagement with startups.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VentureNext is a non-profit professional peer group that convenes rising venture capital investors through monthly deal flow calls, mentorship matching with seasoned investors, professional programming and networking events, and the VentureNext Midwest Fund I. The community is built around deal sharing and syndication support for entrepreneurs seeking capital, with members drawn from 175+ venture funds across the United States focused on Midwest deal flow.

Product overview

VentureNext is a professional peer group network for rising venture capital investors focused on Midwestern companies. The core offerings include a Deal Flow Sharing Program (monthly deal flow calls for investment syndication), Mentorship Program (matching members with seasoned investors), and Professional Programming (educational events and networking sessions). VentureNext has also launched its inaugural VentureNext Midwest Fund I to directly invest in Midwest deals alongside member funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deal Flow Sharing Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $800M enabled in syndication investments across the Midwest
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Invest Detroit (ID Ventures)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2022VentureNext member organizations that support startups in the Midwest. ID Ventures supports underrepresented founders through the FAM (Funding, Access and Mentorship) Program for Michigan-based startups.
• Lightship CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022VentureNext member organization investing in Founders of Color, LGBTQ+, Women & Innovators with Disabilities. Supports founders with resources for wealth building in excluded communities.
• Clearvision Impact FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Makes debt investments in sustainable minority-owned businesses, focusing on African-American and Latinx-owned businesses and businesses in underserved markets.
• Unseen CapitalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Invests in underrepresented founders building healthcare companies for marginalized communities.
• Investors of Color NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Building ecosystem of Black, Latinx, and Asian accredited investors to close the racial funding gap in startup capital.
• Renaissance Venture CapitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Hosts UnDemo Day - biannual event connecting regional startups with hundreds of VC funds from around the country, focused on Midwest companies founded by women, people of color, and LGBTQ community.
• Techstars EquitechminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Accelerator for startups grounded in diversity values, led by founders from underestimated communities, or developing technologies that increase access and equity.
• TechTown DetroitminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2022Detroit's entrepreneurship hub - nonprofit business service organization providing programs, education and resources for early- to growth-stage tech entrepreneurs.
• Purpose JobsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContent partnership where VentureNext members collaborate with Purpose Jobs on startup hiring guides. Purpose Jobs is a media platform for Midwest startup and tech community employer branding.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Republic: An investment platform enabling syndicates and co-investment networks. Operates adjacent to VentureNext's syndication facilitation mission but is a private-market technology platform rather than a peer-driven community.
• Techstars: A global accelerator and venture network with community programming and investor relationships. While focused on startup acceleration, Techstars provides peer-network value to VC investors similar to VentureNext's community role.
• AngelList: A platform that facilitates deal syndication, fundraising, and roll-up vehicles for venture investors and startups — comparable to VentureNext's syndication facilitation, but as a technology platform rather than a peer community.

Direct peers

• Angel Capital Association: A national member-led association of angel investors that provides education, networking, and deal sharing — closely mirroring VentureNext's peer-group model but at the angel rather than VC level.
• All Raise: A nonprofit community and peer network for women in venture capital offering mentorship, programming, and connection — directly comparable to VentureNext's mission of cultivating and connecting emerging VC talent.
• Diversity VC: A global nonprofit that builds a community of under-represented venture capitalists through peer networks, programming, and benchmarking — a directly analogous peer-community model with a diversity-focused mission.

Broad incumbents

• National Venture Capital Association: The leading industry trade association representing the broader US venture capital ecosystem. NVCA operates at a national, incumbent scale and offers policy advocacy, education, and data services that overlap with VentureNext's programming role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/VentureNext
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/venturenext

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VentureNext