Investment and Innovation is a Relationship

In the entrepreneurial world, finding the right venture capital partner is critical to the startup journey. Startups need more than just monetary investment; they need a partner who is invested in their success on a deeper level. This is where iSelect comes into play, offering an unbeatable combination of approachability, flexible capital, and an unparalleled network of domain experts.

Approachable Team

First and foremost, iSelect prides itself on its highly approachable team. We firmly believe in fostering strong, personal relationships with our startups, laying the groundwork for an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect. Our commitment goes beyond just our portfolio companies. We are invested in the broader startup ecosystem, and we genuinely want to see entrepreneurs succeed. We have a deep appreciation for the tenacity, creativity, and passion that drive startup founders. As a result, we strive to be more than just investors. We are advisors, mentors, and cheerleaders, supporting entrepreneurs on their journey, whether or not they officially become part of our portfolio.

Flexible Capital

The next significant advantage iSelect offers is flexible capital. Unlike many venture capital firms that limit their investments to specific stages, iSelect can invest at any stage, from seed through to Series C rounds. The early stages of a startup can be a particularly challenging time when it comes to securing funding. Many VC firms shy away from investing at the seed level due to the perceived risk. However, iSelect understands that every successful company has to start somewhere. We are unafraid to take calculated risks and invest in promising ideas from the outset.

On the other hand, when startups reach the Series C stage, they often require substantial capital to scale their operations. While many VC firms might balk at the substantial sums involved, iSelect can provide investments as large as $2 million. Our flexibility also means we can offer smaller investments of as little as $250,000, providing startups with the precise level of funding they need at each stage of their growth.

The Power of Network

Perhaps the most compelling reason to partner with iSelect is the unprecedented access we offer to a network of world-renowned domain experts. These are industry leaders who have been through the rigors of building and running successful companies. They are veterans in their fields, armed with invaluable insights, experiences, and connections.

Every startup would love to tap into this vast reservoir of knowledge and contacts. With iSelect, this is not just a wishful thought but a reality. We provide our startups with direct access to these experts, who can offer strategic advice and open doors to new opportunities. The value of such a resource cannot be overstated. It is like having a secret weapon that can help startups navigate the complex and often challenging world of entrepreneurship.

An Enduring Relationship

In the end, the choice of a venture capital partner can significantly influence a startup’s trajectory. With iSelect, startups are not just gaining a source of capital; they are gaining a committed partner that can offer support, expertise, and connections. We understand that our success is intertwined with the success of our startups. As such, we are fully invested in their journey, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive in the competitive entrepreneurial landscape.

At iSelect, we are continually inspired by the innovative ideas and the indomitable spirit of the entrepreneurs we work with. We are privileged to be a part of their journey, and we are excited about the potential to help shape the future of innovation. In partnering with us, startups are not just gaining an investor but a team of dedicated professionals committed to their success.

Consideration

With 2021 well underway and with public markets still strong, we think it is an important time to highlight some of the key private market, venture investment themes that iSelect fund has identified for the year. We believe technologies transforming the Agriculture, Food and Wellness markets will flourish, with a focus on four areas: technologies that enable better food choices to drive better health outcomes, technologies that drive better, more profitable farm operations, technologies that drive the Consumerization of Healthcare, and biome-based treatment technologies. At iSelect, we invest for impact AND performance. We offer qualified investors access to emerging growth companies through our national venture capital strategy. Our unique structure allows our investors to continue to invest in these companies as they develop.

Timing

Why is now the right time for venture? The answer is that now is not explicitly the right time. Venture is something we need in our economy at all times. Now is not better than any other particular time. The question is, why ever stop? When we look at the challenges we’re facing in food and healthcare the reality is there is someone, somewhere who has an insight about how to build a product that will solve those problems. And if they put the right resources to it, they will succeed. As long as we need new technology to make life better or make our lives more enjoyable, we need venture capital to help fuel those entrepreneurs.

What is iSelect as a product?

iSelect is a very unique product, but when you break it into its parts it’s fairly easy to understand. On the front end we’re a traditional venture capital fund. We have a diligence process. We have an investment process. We have categories of industries where we have focus and real expertise, and we invest in companies in those areas that meet requirements for the fund. On the back end we’re unique in that we don’t raise a large amount of capital at one time and deploy it over the life of our fund. Each deal that we bring onto the fund, our investors have to prove and determine to invest in that deal. We have to constantly prove our diligence standards. It’s accessible, transparent and easy for investors to come in and see our comprehensive process.

What is the ideal iSelect company?

We are looking for founders that are passionate and we want the problem they’re trying to solve to be big, real, and painful. We want the solution to be revolutionary and we want our capital to be able to help them solve that problem. We want to know that they have customers involved and that the solution they’ve come up with actually meets those customers’ and market needs. And we want the team to be capital efficient with the money they’re spending.

What does the ideal iSelect company look like?

We’re looking for a company that has an opportunity to have a 10x return to our investment or greater in a period of three to seven years. What excites us at iSelect are companies that are solving big problems. We want companies that are going to be the Monsantos of the future. Not just in the size and the scope, but the impact they have on people’s lives. We want to create positive impacts on people’s lives, so we invest in areas like agricultural production and areas like producing healthy foods for our kids. They are problems that impact real people’s lives on a daily basis. That’s what we’re trying to do at iSelect. We’re trying to solve the big problems out there. Find ways to bring capital to the entrepreneurs who are the real heroes out there getting up every morning, beating away at these things that are problems that you and me and everyone else faces in their everyday lives.

What is iSelect?

iSelect is a venture capital firm. What that means is we look at hundreds and hundreds of different companies and we apply tough diligence standards to each of them, looking at whether the team has a good plan for growing the business, whether the team is qualified and credible, and more. We do that to resolve the few who provide the best opportunities for investors. And then iSelect takes that smaller set of investments and goes to investors who are interested in venture capital and provides a way for them to invest in these companies, either individually or all at once. We co-invest alongside other venture capitalists. We source transactions through to an exit where the company would become public or get bought. And we manage that whole investment process on behalf of our investors.

Empowering Entrepreneurs and Their Success