Relay Ventures

About

Relay Ventures is an early stage venture capital firm that invests in passionate entrepreneurs disrupting and creating new markets through mobile technologies.

Unlike other funds, Relay exclusively focuses on software for mobile devices and the connected Internet, creating an unparalleled set of networks and resources that tangibly help founders build world-class companies. With offices in Menlo Park and Toronto, the firm is active throughout North America

Source: Relay Ventures

Strategy

Our partners have been investing in early stage technology since 1996. We have made more than 102 investments and successfully exited more than 42 by way of IPO and M&A. We are now investing out of our 9th fund, which is our third fund dedicated exclusively to mobile and we’ve learned to follow our own advice.

That’s why, in 2008, we became solely focused on the emergence of mobile as the computing platform of the future, which means we partner exclusively with entrepreneurs who see the promise and opportunity enabled by mobile computing to disrupt existing industries and create new markets.

We define mobile as a fundamental computing paradigm. After all, the smartphone in your pocket is a powerful computing device. We view mobile as a continuum from the sensor to the cloud. The sensor may be under glass, on your wrist or be embedded in your environment.

We are looking for opportunities where these connected devices transform incumbent industries or create new market opportunities. Mobile must be core to the user experience, product offering or innovation and create new experiences and user behaviors. Mobile must also be core to the business model. Finally, we look for positive network effects with our portfolio companies and advisors.

We have a particular interest and depth in four key vertical markets (among others) that we believe are ripe for disruption with mobile. These include: healthcare, education, enterprise and the connected consumer.

There are three key aspects to our approach:

1. We are active company builders.
Every investment we make is important to us. We are a low volume investor, which means we seek out quality over quantity. Because of our fund size, every entrepreneur we work with has the potential to “move the needle”.

2. We have an unparalleled and focused network of relationships in the mobile ecosystem.
Let’s face it. The tech space is broad, dynamic and rapidly changing. It is hard enough to be a specialist in one sector let alone a generalist in six or eight. Because of our focus, we have built a network that allows us to be smarter investors, make decisions faster and land you initial customers and partners sooner.

3. Because of our focus, our portfolio is the network.
VCs like to take credit for the success of portfolio companies, but sometimes the results can be even better when we “get out of the kitchen”. Since our portfolio is comprised of mobile CEOs and founders exclusively, our portfolio is your best network resource.


Source: Relay Ventures