Two Ravens, a new venture firm based in the Seattle region, aims to support early stage tech startup founders who may be overlooked by other investors. Founded by Isaac Kato, a longtime entrepreneur and investor who previously led the Techstars Seattle accelerator, Two Ravens came out of stealth mode with a focus on investing in extraordinary, non-obvious founders. The firm is targeting diverse founders, immigrant founders, and founders located outside of major startup investment hubs like Silicon Valley or New York City. A SEC filing from December shows that Two Ravens was raising a $20 million fund, typically investing between $250,000-to-$500,000 in each company and leading, co-leading, or investing in follow-on rounds.
Kato, who declined to comment when contacted by GeekWire, has a strong background in the startup and investment world. He led Techstars Seattle as managing director from 2019 to 2022, and also led Techstars’ Filecoin Accelerator, aimed at helping companies utilizing the IPFS/Filecoin blockchain-based storage network. Prior to Techstars, Kato was president at MightyAI, a Seattle startup acquired by Uber in 2019, which developed training data for computer vision models. Before MightyAI, Kato founded and led London-based data center company Verne Global for nearly a decade, and co-founded and sold Sven Technologies in the late 90s before working at two investment firms, showcasing his experience and expertise in the industry.
In response to the disproportionate funding gaps for Black, Latino, and women founders, which were highlighted in a report by McKinsey last year, Two Ravens joins a growing list of venture firms aiming to invest in underrepresented founders. The firm believes in the immense potential and untapped economic opportunities that come with supporting a diverse range of founders. Two Ravens is also committed to investing in founders located outside of traditional startup investment hubs, recognizing the talent and innovation that exists in these regions. With its focus on supporting non-obvious founders, Two Ravens aims to make a difference in the startup ecosystem and contribute to the success of innovative entrepreneurs.
As part of its investment strategy, Two Ravens typically invests between $250,000 and $500,000 in each company and takes on a lead, co-lead, or follow-on role in funding rounds. The firm’s approach of supporting early stage tech startups aligns with its mission to back extraordinary founders who may not have access to traditional sources of funding. By providing financial support, mentorship, and resources, Two Ravens aims to help these startups grow and succeed in a competitive market. With its commitment to underrepresented founders and those located outside of major startup hubs, Two Ravens hopes to make a meaningful impact in the startup community and contribute to a more diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Isaac Kato has assembled a team at Two Ravens that brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the firm. Carson Nye, who previously served as an investment manager at Techstars Seattle, has joined Two Ravens as part of this team. With their combined experience in the startup and investment space, Kato and Nye are well-equipped to identify promising early stage tech startups and provide the support and guidance needed for their success. By leveraging their knowledge and network within the industry, the team at Two Ravens is poised to make a positive impact on the startup ecosystem and help founders achieve their goals. With a strong focus on diversity, inclusion, and supporting underrepresented founders, Two Ravens is well-positioned to drive innovation and growth in the tech startup world.
