Gravity Fund

Gravity Fund operates as a thesis-driven, early-stage venture platform, providing capital and strategic guidance to nascent companies. It actively invests across two primary thematic areas: the next iteration of the internet, encompassing advancements in artificial intelligence, web3, and future computing paradigms, and sustainable systems, which includes climate technology, agri-food innovations, and solutions for the future of food, water, and energy. The firm builds deep relationships with exceptional teams, focusing on businesses that leverage transformative technology within these domains.

The firm was established in 2021, with Seth DeGroot identified as a Managing Partner. The foundational insight behind Gravity Fund stems from a recognition of the accelerating pace of technological development and the need for a focused, research-backed investment strategy to support founders at the bleeding edge. This approach positions the fund to engage with critical emerging sectors and high-potential, early-stage ventures.

Gravity Fund's portfolio companies are typically extraordinary founders developing disruptive technologies poised for significant impact. The firm’s vision centers on empowering these innovators who are building foundational infrastructure and applications within their specialized themes. It aims to accelerate the development of ventures that are not only technologically advanced but also contribute to a more sustainable and digitally evolved future, fostering long-term value creation.

High-Level Overview

Gravity Fund is a thesis-driven, research-intensive early-stage venture capital firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 2021. Its mission is to invest in transformative technologies on the brink of commercialization, focusing on sectors such as Consumer Marketplaces & Applications, Fintech & Crypto, Enterprise Software, and Life Sciences. The firm emphasizes a hands-on investment philosophy, leveraging deep domain expertise to understand and creatively solve challenges faced by ambitious founders. Gravity Fund’s investment theses center on the "Next Iteration of the Internet" (including Web3, the Metaverse, and AI) and "Engineered Biology," aiming to support startups that push the boundaries of these emerging fields. This approach has positioned Gravity Fund as an influential player in the startup ecosystem, particularly in seed-stage investments that drive innovation in frontier technologies[2][3].

Origin Story

Gravity Fund was established in 2021 in Minneapolis by key partners including Adam Gruver (Founding Partner) and Seth DeGroot (Managing Partner), among others. The firm evolved with a clear focus on thesis-driven investing, which means it builds investment strategies based on deep research and thematic insights rather than opportunistic deals. This research-intensive approach allows Gravity Fund to identify and back startups that align with its defined theses, particularly in areas where technology is poised for significant breakthroughs, such as the Metaverse and biotechnology. Early traction for the firm has been marked by successful seed-stage investments under its two main theses, reflecting a deliberate and focused evolution in venture capital strategy[2][4].

Core Differentiators

• Thesis-Driven Model: Gravity Fund’s investment decisions are guided by well-researched, thematic theses that focus on the next generation of internet technologies and engineered biology, enabling targeted and informed capital deployment.
• Research-Intensive Approach: The firm conducts deep domain research to understand complex technological trends and challenges, allowing it to add value beyond capital by creatively solving problems alongside founders.
• Hands-On Support: Gravity Fund takes an active role in supporting portfolio companies, leveraging its expertise to help startups navigate early-stage challenges and accelerate growth.
• Focus on Frontier Technologies: By concentrating on emerging sectors like Web3, Metaverse, AI, and biotech, Gravity Fund positions itself at the cutting edge of innovation.
• Strong Network: Based in Minneapolis but investing across the U.S., the firm builds relationships with leading teams worldwide, enhancing deal flow and collaboration opportunities[2][3].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Gravity Fund rides the wave of several converging trends: the evolution of the internet into immersive, decentralized platforms (Metaverse, Web3), the rapid advancement of AI, and the democratization of biotechnology research tools. The timing is critical as these sectors are transitioning from research to commercialization, with decreasing costs and increasing accessibility enabling startups to innovate rapidly. Gravity Fund’s focus on these areas aligns with market forces favoring digital transformation, decentralization, and biotech innovation, positioning it to influence the broader ecosystem by funding and nurturing companies that could define the next decade of technological progress[3].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Looking ahead, Gravity Fund is likely to deepen its investment theses as the technologies it targets mature and new opportunities emerge within its focus sectors. Trends such as the expansion of the Metaverse, breakthroughs in engineered biology, and the integration of AI into various industries will shape its portfolio and influence. Gravity Fund’s conviction in thesis-driven, research-intensive investing suggests it will continue to play a pivotal role in identifying and scaling startups that push technological frontiers, potentially expanding its geographic reach and fund size to match growing opportunities. Its influence is expected to grow as it helps shape the trajectory of transformative technologies and the startup ecosystem around them[2][3].