Riverfront Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in southwestern Pennsylvania.

ABOUT

About Us

We're deeply rooted in tech, design and strategy

Years of experience and a thorough process sets us apart

Always seeking to understand

We focus on technology companies with large market potentials and founding teams with the energy, passion, and experience to build great businesses. Our team’s focus is to help your company succeed, by leveraging our experience in working with hundreds of entrepreneurs.

Always seeking to improve

We know how hard it is to build market-leading companies and we're here to help companies secure funding rounds, build effective management teams, connect with customers, strategic partners, and investment bankers, and enhance the value of their companies.

Simplicity through research, design and strategy

Riverfront Ventures (RFV) seeks to invest in high-growth early-stage companies primarily located in southwestern PA. We focus on technology companies with large market potentials and founding teams with the energy, passion, and experience to build great businesses. Our team’s focus is to help your company succeed, by leveraging our experience in working with hundreds of entrepreneurs through our nonprofit arm, Innovation Works. We know how hard it is to build market-leading companies and we're here to help companies secure funding rounds, build effective management teams, connect with customers, strategic partners, and investment bankers, and enhance the value of their companies.

Riverfront Ventures seeks to invest in a variety of industries including software, life sciences, robotics, energy, IoT, advanced materials, and other technology-oriented companies.

We believe in the greater Pittsburgh region and have observed first-hand the increasing amount of high-quality deal flow through our work at Innovation Works, our seed investor affiliate and primary source of deal flow. Over the past 15 years, Innovation Works’ Seed Fund has become the most active early-stage technology investor in southwestern Pennsylvania, investing over $70 million in over 270 companies that have gone on to raise more than $ 2 billion in follow-on funding from top venture capital firms across the country.

Our Thesis

Riverfront Ventures seeks to co-invest with leading venture firms from across the country. In most cases, the companies funded by RFV will have received initial startup funding through IW’s Seed Fund program. On average, RFV’s total investment in any one company is likely to range from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 with our initial investment ranging from $500,000 to $750,000 and an equal amount reserved for follow-on investment.

Team

Meet our Team

Our team has significant experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and venture capital, having started technology companies and invested in more than 275 companies across nine different venture funds.

Managing Partners
Ven Raju
Managing Director
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Rich Lunak
Managing Director
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Kirk Botula
Managing Director
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Gary Glausser
Managing Director
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Investment Team

Peter Erin
Senior Investment Associate
Sophie Burkholder
Investment Associate