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§ Venture Capital · New York City, NY, USA
Early-stage venture capital firm investing capital and support for pre-seed and seed-stage startups in technology, healthcare, and consumer.
Key people at KEC Ventures.
KEC Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City, investing in disruptive technology, healthcare, and consumer startups. The firm provides capital, hands-on support, and industry expertise, operating with a data-driven, thematic approach. Deploying capital from its $65 million second fund, KEC Ventures focuses on pre-seed and seed-stage companies and has executed over 50 deals across North America and Europe. Several portfolio companies have achieved notable exits via acquisition. Key personnel include Managing Partner Jeff Parkinson and Partner Brian Aoaeh, alongside Susan Belding, Chris Fortunato, and Philip Limeri. Founded by a team of entrepreneurs and operators, the specific founding year for KEC Ventures is not publicly available. Its business model centers on raises and invests from venture capital funds, including a second fund of $65M, targeting early-stage deals with a data-driven, thematic approach.
Key people at KEC Ventures.
KEC Ventures is a New York-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2011 that focuses on investing in transformative technology startups. Its mission centers on partnering with visionary founders to back innovative companies primarily in software, SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, and media sectors. The firm typically invests in pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, emphasizing hands-on support beyond capital, including strategic advice and operational assistance to help startups scale and succeed. KEC Ventures has made over 70 investments with 12 successful exits, impacting the startup ecosystem by fostering growth in key U.S. innovation hubs such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago[1][4].
KEC Ventures was founded in 2011 by a team of entrepreneurs and operators who built companies valued at over $5 billion, bringing their firsthand experience to support new founders. The firm was created as a "founders for founders" venture capital model, reflecting its commitment to understanding the challenges of early-stage company building. Over time, KEC has evolved to focus on a broad range of technology sectors while maintaining a strong presence in the U.S. market, occasionally investing internationally, including in Israel. Key partners include Jeffrey Citron, notable for his role as founder and Chairman of Vonage, among others[1][2][5].
KEC Ventures rides the wave of digital transformation and innovation across multiple sectors, particularly software and fintech, which continue to disrupt traditional industries. The timing aligns with increasing demand for early-stage capital and operational support in competitive U.S. tech hubs. Market forces such as rapid technological advancement, growing startup ecosystems in secondary cities, and the rise of SaaS and fintech solutions work in KEC’s favor. By focusing on founder support and early-stage investments, KEC influences the broader ecosystem by enabling startups to navigate early challenges and scale effectively, contributing to regional innovation growth[1][4].
Looking ahead, KEC Ventures is likely to continue expanding its portfolio in transformative technology sectors, potentially increasing its footprint in emerging U.S. innovation hubs and selectively abroad. Trends such as AI integration, fintech evolution, and SaaS expansion will shape its investment strategy. Its founder-centric, hands-on approach positions it well to remain a key player in early-stage venture capital, helping startups not only secure funding but also build sustainable businesses. This approach ties back to its founding ethos of being a partner to entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of startup growth[1][2][4].
KEC Ventures has 26 tracked investments across 19 companies. The latest tracked deal is $100K Seed in Athlytic in October 2023.
