LiveOak Venture Partners
ActiveVenture Capital
Updated: ·
Financial History
Total Raised
N/A
Valuation
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Leadership Team
Key people at LiveOak Venture Partners.
Key people at LiveOak Venture Partners.
Key people at LiveOak Venture Partners.
LiveOak Venture Partners is an Austin-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing early in exceptional Texas-based founders, primarily in technology and technology-enabled service companies. Their mission centers on being a full life-cycle investor and active partner to startups across Texas, aiming to build category-dominating companies and foster leadership within the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. LiveOak focuses on early-stage investments from Pre-seed to Series B, typically investing between $1 million and $5 million. Their portfolio spans diverse sectors including CloudTech, SaaS, FinTech, AI/ML, EdTech, InsurTech, PropTech, and more, reflecting a broad commitment to innovation across technology-driven domains. The firm has led investments in over 60 high-growth Texas companies, contributing to nearly $5 billion in enterprise value and playing a pivotal role in the state's tech ecosystem growth[1][2][3].
LiveOak was founded in 2012 by Krishna Srinivasan and Venu Shamapant, who had previously met and invested together at Austin Ventures starting in 2000. Along with co-founder Ben Scott, they launched LiveOak based on the conviction that Texas had the essential elements for a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem and that a venture firm focused exclusively on Texas could unlock significant potential. Their combined prior investments had already created over $2 billion in enterprise value. Since inception, LiveOak has maintained a strong local focus, doubling down on Texas entrepreneurs and building a reputation as a hands-on, founder-friendly investor. The firm closed its second fund at $105 million in recent years to continue supporting Texas startups[1][2][3].
LiveOak is riding the wave of Texas’s rapid emergence as a major technology hub, fueled by a growing talent pool, strong university research output, and an influx of tech companies relocating or expanding in the state. Their timing aligns with Texas becoming the second-largest tech employer in the U.S., positioning LiveOak as a key local lead investor and catalyst for the next generation of category leaders. By focusing exclusively on Texas, LiveOak leverages market forces such as regional economic growth, STEM talent availability, and increasing venture capital activity to influence and shape the state's startup ecosystem. Their active partnership model helps startups scale efficiently, contributing to the maturation of Texas as a national tech powerhouse[1][2][3].
Looking ahead, LiveOak is poised to deepen its influence as Texas continues to grow as a technology and innovation center. With a strong capital base and a proven model of founder partnership, the firm is well-positioned to back emerging trends such as AI/ML, SaaS, and FinTech within the region. Their commitment to hands-on support and community engagement suggests they will continue to foster not only successful startups but also a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem. As Texas attracts more talent and capital, LiveOak’s role as a local lead investor and ecosystem builder will likely expand, helping shape the future of tech innovation in the Lone Star State[1][2][3][5].
