Vice Ventures
ActiveVenture Capital
Updated: ·
Financial History
Total Raised
N/A
Valuation
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Leadership Team
Key people at Vice Ventures.
Key people at Vice Ventures.
Key people at Vice Ventures.
Vice Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund founded in 2018 and based in Brooklyn, New York, that specializes in investing in innovative startups operating in traditionally stigmatized or non-traditional sectors such as alcohol, cannabis, adult entertainment, psychedelics, sex tech, harm-reducing nicotine, and skill-based betting. Its mission is to challenge societal perceptions around these "vice" industries while leveraging their untapped market potential to generate superior financial returns. Vice Ventures supports visionary entrepreneurs at pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, aiming to foster growth and positive change in unconventional markets often overlooked by mainstream investors[1][2][3][4].
The firm was founded by Catharine Dockery, who leads as General Partner, and has evolved to focus on early-stage investments in North America, particularly the U.S. Vice Ventures leverages a data-driven, operator-first investment philosophy, combining deep engagement with portfolio companies and a strong network to identify high-growth opportunities in sectors that face stigma but have loyal consumer bases and attractive risk/reward profiles. The fund has a track record of over 50 investments and notable exits, demonstrating its ability to nurture startups in these niche verticals[1][4].
Vice Ventures rides the trend of increasing mainstream acceptance and legalization of industries like cannabis, psychedelics, and adult entertainment, alongside growing consumer demand for alternative wellness and lifestyle products. The timing is favorable as regulatory environments evolve and societal stigmas diminish, opening large market opportunities. By investing early in these sectors, Vice Ventures influences the broader ecosystem by legitimizing and accelerating innovation in areas previously marginalized, helping to reshape industry narratives and attract more capital to these spaces[1][2].
Looking ahead, Vice Ventures is well-positioned to continue capitalizing on the convergence of social acceptance, regulatory change, and technological innovation in vice-related sectors. Trends such as legalization of psychedelics for medical use, growth in cannabis-derived products, and digital transformation in adult entertainment and betting will likely shape its investment journey. The firm’s influence may expand as it helps build category-defining companies that normalize these industries and deliver outsized returns, potentially attracting larger institutional capital and driving further ecosystem development[1][2].
In summary, Vice Ventures stands out as a pioneering VC fund that embraces the complexity and opportunity of stigmatized markets, combining a focused investment thesis with operational expertise to unlock value where others hesitate.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2024 | PlayGreen | $6.0M Seed | — | Listen |
| May 1, 2022 | Black Buffalo | $30.0M Series A | — | Listen, Muse Capital |
| Feb 1, 2020 | Lucy Goods | $10.0M Series A | — | Accel, UpHonest Capital, Y Combinator, Tom Blomfield |
