Come Build It with Us

Powered by the $40M Softeq Venture Fund, the Softeq Venture Studio accelerator program provides $125K in cash and development services to boost your early-stage tech startup.

Apply

The Softeq Venture Fund

The Softeq Venture Fund invests in early-stage technology companies and de-risks them with a unique model of Fund + Venture Studio + Engineering Services.

The Softeq Venture Fund powers the Softeq Venture Studio, a unique accelerator program that de-risks investments by combining engineering with startup formation services to help founders build real, scalable, and investable technologies.

Half the fund is being deployed through the Softeq Venture Studio to help early-stage startups architect and build their technology for scale while shoring up their product-market fit, business affairs, go-to-market strategies, and investor pitches. The balance of the fund will be invested in Seed or Series A rounds of Studio companies or to invest opportunistically. Softeq has excellent visibility into many growth opportunities due to the company’s global client base and reputation as a top-tier technology engineering resource. Our insights and hands-on approach make up our unique formula to de-risk the portfolio.

$40M Fund Total Focused on early-stage tech investments across industries and growth technologies like AI, IoT, SaaS, HaaS, and more.

120 Early-stage Startups Our charter is to invest in 120 early-stage tech startups.

50% RESERVED FOR FOLLOW-ON Half the fund is reserved to back the winners further de-risking the portfolio.

64 PORTFOLIO COMPANIES TO DATE We've invested in 64 tech startups to date. Each has completed the Softeq Venture Studio accelerator program.

You’re smart, creative, and can raise capital.

That’s a given.

But before you can change the world, you need to slay the dragons of product and market risk and do it faster than ever. And if your business involves hardware or connected devices, you simply can’t afford the learning curve.

We’re here to help.

Twice a year, the Softeq Venture Studio gathers a diverse group of driven dent-makers and works with them over 4 months to propel their companies to the next level. We invest early, and are often the first investor in a company.

See the results of our Venture Studio program in action at the Launch NH investor pitch event.

Not every founder can clearly articulate the problem, solution, and investment opportunity for their business. A main goal of our program is to better prepare you to pitch investors in a clear, concise manner with the information they care about. That said, you get much more than a top-shelf pitch deck. We help you fill every gap in your plan and provide the tough love some founders need to succeed.

We get you investment-ready. And we showcase your company at our Investor Demo Days.

Our program is different. We help you with a 360-degree view of your technology, business, product-market fit, IP, and other functional areas. And we also help you craft your message to investors, improve your stage presence, and your pitch deck. In short—together we improve your chances of finding investors while reducing risk for them.

Meet the companies

Since 1997 we’ve funded over 100 startups, including the Softeq Venture Fund portfolio, with over $1B in value. From smart homes to pets and fitness to hospitality, we live in the trenches, helping to build amazing companies and their digital products.

Launched in 2022, Softeq Venture Fund I expands the number of companies we will back and de-risks the investments through our unique model that includes engineers who build scalable solutions for enterprise and startups alike.

100+ Companies

$15M+ Invested

150+ Products Launched

9 Acquisitions

We help startups grow

Softeq helped us build our product from the ground up and have been an equity partner from inception to growth.

Ken Ehrman Founder and CEO, PAWS Halo

I'd absolute recommend Softeq. Because it is difficult for an early-stage company or even a larger company to bring resources in a discipline in a structured way. Softeq has disciplines and understanding that help you walk through this process.

Christopher Maus Founder and CEO, uQontrol

When I came across Softeq I was immediately impressed with their professionalism and their customer list...they leaned in a big way to understand the marketplace, the competitive landscape, the specific requirements of what would differentiate my product from others. It’s been a very collaborative process.

Terry Anderton Serial Entrepreneur, CEO and WAGZ project visionary

In tech, there are talkers and there are doers. We’re the doers. Building businesses is in our DNA.

chris-transparent-background — Chris Howard Founder and CEO, Softeq

What we do

We look for people with a vision that we can believe in. When we find you, we invest in you and roll up our sleeves. We work intimately with you over 3 months to accelerate your technology roadmap, putting some of the world’s most experienced development teams and business experts at your disposal. We focus on the hard things that build real, scalable and investable businesses. Our mission is to reduce the technology, market and capital risks of your venture.

The result? Get to your vision faster, build a product people love and connect with the right mentors, investors or acquirers.

How it works

Twice annually we open the application process. If we’re excited about your company we’ll meet to learn about you and your team, vision, growth strategy and technology. If it goes well, we invest $125K and you spend 3 months with us either in the Spring or Fall. Together, we develop a technology roadmap, identifying the most strategic areas we can help accelerate. We muster the resources we need, and we get to it.

Our companies get access to our mentor network, free workspace at our Houston studio, and a variety of free or highly discounted services including hosting, legal, banking and more.

No big list of mentors?

Rather than make a big fancy list of our friends, we focus on carefully inviting the best people we know will actually spend time with you. Coffee is great, but it’s not enough. It’s about matching your particular company with experienced operators and executives that can help advance your vision and provide access to talent, customers, partners and investors. Often, they join companies as advisors or executives.

Something You Should Know

We value clarity and simplicity. We have a no a**holes rule. We show up, talk less, and do more. We take the time, pay attention, and overdeliver. We are not afraid of technology risk, heck, it’s our superpower.

Above all, we help entrepreneurs win, whether or not we invest in them.

Get Started

If you believe in the future and your ability to shape it. If you see a problem and can’t help but solve it. If you have the courage to do what’s different and daring. If you dream big when others think small. You’re ready.

We’re excited about the chance to head down the road together.

Look Who's Talking About Us

How do I apply?

Complete our application form to be considered for a future cohort. Be prepared to submit a link to your current pitch deck and a no-frills 1 minute video of founders only telling us why we should fund your project. Here's an example.

How do we select companies?

Our senior management team will review your application and select founders we believe in and business concepts that align well with our core skills.

What happens at the Softeq Venture Studio?

Together, we build your demo, proof of concept, or enhance the development of your existing tech. Then, we unleash our engineers on your idea to get to the next round of funding as a team effort. We introduce you to investors from day one forward and help you refine your pitch, business model, legal structure, approach to finance, intellectual property, marketing, and operational readiness. We ensure your company is investable and work together as a team to secure the next round of funding.

How much do you invest?

For Studio participation we expect 6% equity in your company. For an additional 2-3%, we offer a convertible or SAFE note for $125K in cash and in-kind services. You benefit from our hands-on development expertise, knowledge of how to design and build for scale, and our commitment to getting to the next round of funding together.

The final exact percentage breakdown is determined on a case-by-case basis as outlined in a Letter of Intent we will issue to companies accepted into the Studio program.

In-person or remote?

We're open for business at all of our global offices. However, we learned that a hybrid model combining one week per month in-person in Houston with remote access on the off weeks has real benefits to founders who have busy lives, families, and pets. We're flexible so let us know if you have any questions.

What is the Launch NH accelerator partnership?

Investors from New Hampshire and New England have joined the Softeq Venture Fund to support Launch NH, an entity formed to help cultivate a successful startup community, create jobs, and diversify the economy in New Hampshire and beyond. The Softeq Venture Studio will consider 12 startups from the region and, in addition to the full Venture Studio program, Launch NH will provide additional resources and support to startups from the region.

What is the Launch PNW accelerator partnership?

The purpose of the program is to create opportunities for start-ups serving the unique healthcare and economic challenges of Generation Z. Based in Bellevue, Washington, the Launch PNW accelerator program supplements the core curriculum of the Softeq Venture Studio to add more resources, access to investors, mentors, and experts in Gen Z.

When is the next cohort?

We host cohorts with up to 20 startups each that are aligned roughly with H1 and H2 each year. The deadline to apply is listed at the top of our application form and is typically about 1 month prior to the beginning of pre-boarding each new cohort.

When is the deadline to apply?

Applications are due on a rolling basis for each upcoming cohort. Click here to find out more about the next available program period.

Launch New Hampshire (Launch NH) Powered by the Softeq Venture Studio

Our partnership aims to stimulate early-stage innovation in the New Hampshire and New England region to help cultivate a successful startup community, create jobs, and diversify the economy. Launch NH leverages the Softeq Venture Studio platform to back qualified startups from within and outside New Hampshire. This marks the first expansion of the Softeq Venture Studio into a new state, and both parties believe that New Hampshire has all the ingredients needed while being an underserved market.

12 investments earmarked for startups from New Hampshire and New England
$5M target from local investors out of the total $40M Softeq Venture Fund
Co-hosted in Houston and Concord, NH at HRKNSScowork
Full Venture Studio program PLUS additional local resources in New Hampshire
Check out the press release announcing the partnership

Launch Pacific Northwest (Launch PNW) Gen Z Health Accelerator Powered by the Softeq Venture Studio

The Softeq Venture Studio and $40M Venture Fund are pleased to collaborate with the Launch PNW Accelerator. The purpose of the program is to create opportunities for start-ups serving the unique healthcare and economic challenges of Generation Z and Millennials. The organizations will combine forces to raise funds, identify deals, invest in, advise, and nurture startups tackling the unique unmet needs of Generation Z and beyond — a new generation of digital natives.

LAUNCH PNW 2023 GOALS

150 Companies Launched in 20 Countries
Raise $20M Accelerator Funding
Millions of Lives Improved with Better Access to Healthcare