ACME is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in pioneering Founders that:
DARE TO IMAGINE using quantum-entangled ions in a computer solving the hardest problems in the universe
DARE TO COMPREHEND the provision of primary healthcare completely redesigned for women, by women
DARE TO FATHOM a smart waste management system that makes streets cleaner, environments greener, and optimizes public resources
DARE TO ENVISION a lingerie brand that genuinely celebrates bodies of all shapes and empowers the wearer
These are the types of companies we are excited to partner with. Companies leveraging technology and data to pursue massive opportunities that have the potential to reshape industries – or create completely new ones; companies led by Founders who dream big and execute smartly.
We have been fortunate enough to invest in and partner with many such trailblazers.
The ACME portfolio reflects our shared belief that:
THE WORLD IS DRIVEN BY PLATFORM SHIFTS, WITH EACH SHIFT FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGING THE WAY WE LIVE, LEARN, AND WORK.
The platform shifts that have defined the last 30 years—desktop computing, the internet, mobile phones—significantly changed business and culture. We believe the next wave of platform shifts will be equally, if not more, transformative as new forms of computing emerge and societal impact is prioritized.
These beliefs are foundational to our strategy: invest in Founders building disruptive business models that can capitalize on current platforms, as well as Founders building breakthrough technologies that will enable emerging platforms.
Our “Dare To Imagine” framework allows us to zero in on the most game-changing ideas. We create a “Dare To Imagine” statement for each company we meet; these statements serve as a sort of litmus test for our team—a way to gauge the scale of the opportunity the company is pursuing by articulating the new reality it has the potential to create. We include these “Dare To Imagine” statements in every term sheet we extend as a way of aligning with our Founders around a shared vision.
Commit with Conviction. We recognize going after massive opportunities isn’t easy and requires not only an extraordinary founding team, but an extended family willing to dig in and help when critical challenges arise. We focus on providing meaningful and tangible support in company-defining areas. We call it “Impact Value-Add” to differentiate from the table-stakes services that venture firms typically promise. We set our bar exceptionally high in regard to both the magnitude and frequency of our value-add, often asking ourselves if our contributions would be included in a Founders’ hypothetical memoir.
ACME is grounded in our shared lifelong passion for technology and our love for investing. We fundamentally believe that getting the culture right is the foundation for a great firm, creating an outstanding collaborative work environment that yields excellent results.
We are anchored by our core values, which we have relied on throughout our investment careers and expect of the company we keep:
we are relentless in our pursuit of delivering Impact Value-Add, wherever and whenever support is needed.
we have high expectations, for our Founders, and ourselves.
we have ridden multiple economic cycles over nearly 30 years and have been strengthened by each one.
30 years in, we still jump out of bed every day and get excited by new technologies and ideas Founders share with us.
at some places, uniformity is celebrated; we find it dull. We come from different backgrounds, have different strengths and actively invest in companies led by underrepresented Founders. Diversity comes to us organically.
where we have had much success, we have also experienced failure; we have grown from these events, which reinforce our values and the importance of people and character.
These values guide us on a daily basis and are embodied by every ACME team member. We are proud of what we have built and excited by the opportunities ahead. We are grateful for the partnership of our Limited Partners, many of whom have supported us across our careers, and for the trust of our portfolio Founders, who continue to inspire us.