LvlUp Ventures — Funding for the Best Founders
Back to deckFunding for the Best Founders
LvlUp Ventures is a global venture ecosystem: 13 funds and programs, one application — from a first check to $20M non-dilutive capital.
Bertrand Gonthier · Dealflow Partner, LvlUp Ventures
PitchBook & LSEG, 2026
$650M+ deployed · 1,000+ companies backed · $12.5B+ portfolio market value
1. Funding for the Best Founders
Founders Already Have Ideas. They Need Doors.
Most early-stage founders lose months finding out which fund even matches their stage.
LvlUp collapses that into one application, reviewed across 13 funds and programs — from a first $1K check to $20M in non-dilutive capital — with a named VC on the other side.
- No portal black hole — founders get a real contact
- Idea stage through pre-IPO, equity and non-dilutive
- Free programming for founders who aren't check-ready yet
2. Founders Already Have Ideas. They Need Doors.
One of the Largest Venture Ecosystems Globally
$650M+
Capital deployed
1,000+
Companies backed
$12.5B+
Portfolio market value
750+
Alliance partners
40%+
Female or POC founders
15,000+
Founders supported / year
3. One of the Largest Venture Ecosystems Globally
Expanding North: LvlUp Ventures' Growing Presence in Canada
Canada has emerged as a key focus market, offering a unique combination of technical talent, strong academic institutions, and rapidly evolving startup ecosystems.
From Toronto and Montreal to Vancouver and Waterloo, we're seeing a new generation of builders developing companies that are not only competitive locally, but positioned to scale globally.
4. Expanding North: LvlUp Ventures' Growing Presence in Canada
Invest Ottawa joins the LvlUp Innovation Alliance
We're proud to welcome Invest Ottawa, on behalf of the City of Ottawa, as the newest member of the LvlUp Innovation Alliance.
The LvlUp Innovation Alliance connects investment firms, corporations and institutions directly to the LvlUp pipeline, so a single application can lead to investment, pilots or partnerships.
5. Invest Ottawa joins the LvlUp Innovation Alliance
A Thousand Bets on Bold Founders
A snapshot of the companies building across our funds.
1,000+
Startups backed
$1B+
Raised to date
$12.5B+
Market value
Golden Goose$2.5B valuationSeed Fund
Cosmic Wire$500M valuationSeed Fund
Carro$500M valuationSeed Fund
Versus$300M valuationSeed Fund
AraxIPO exit · OTC: ARATSeed Fund
SensateTIME Best InventionCPG Fund
BoldHueTIME Best InventionCPG Fund6. A Thousand Bets on Bold Founders
LvlUp Portfolio Intelligence
A public platform built on 1,500+ portfolio and program companies and 25,000+ startup applications every year.
What it delivers
- Visibility: every portfolio and program company gets a public profile built from the inside out — from what founders report directly to their investor.
- Benchmarking: founders track revenue growth, fundraising and traction against anonymized peers by industry, stage and geography.
- Commercial opportunity: we connect companies with customers, capital, enterprise pilots and strategic partners across the portfolio.
Early findings from the pipeline
- AI accounts for 52% of quarterly applications.
- AI seed-stage founders target $1.8M raises, versus $1.5M across the broader pipeline.
- 83% of CPG applicants already sell direct to consumer.
Live today: full portfolio database, AI and Consumer & CPG showcases — lvlup.vc/portfolio-intelligence
7. LvlUp Portfolio Intelligence
13 Ways We Back Founders
From idea-stage checks to $20M in non-dilutive growth capital — across stages, sectors, and business models.
13 of 13 funds
8. 13 Ways We Back Founders
First Check Fund
A founder's first institutional capital, written at idea stage — before a data room or even company formation. LvlUp is targeting 1,000 First Check investments in 2026.
$1K–$10K
Cash at idea stage, plus access to $10M in perks.
Fund details
- Idea-stage, pre-formation, or pre-seed
- Sector- and geography-agnostic
- No data room required — a deck and a conversation is enough
- No entity required: apply before you incorporate
- Invested through standard SAFEs at the round's valuation
- No promise of funding; every application is reviewed
9. First Check Fund
Seed Fund
A traction-driven seed fund investing in promising companies from Pre-Seed through Series A.
$100K–$250K
Typical investment range per portfolio company.
Fund details
- Pre-Seed to Series A
- Sector-agnostic
- Early traction and execution matter
- Hands-on support across product, growth, and go-to-market
10. Seed Fund
Flagship Fund
LvlUp's larger-capital path for high-growth, post-revenue companies from Seed through pre-IPO.
Up to $5M
Early stage — up to $100M for later-stage opportunities.
Fund details
- High-growth, post-revenue companies
- Seed through pre-IPO
- Designed for larger, high-conviction opportunities
- Investment size and structure depend on stage and diligence
- Public LPs include Joyy Inc. (NASDAQ-listed), the Royal Family of Dubai and North Audley (family office of Elliott Management's founder)
11. Flagship Fund
CPG and E-Commerce
CPG Fund
Up to $250K
Physical products sold direct to consumers: food, beverage, wellness, apparel, beauty, and electronics. From $1K+ MRR, with follow-on up to $250K. SHOPLINE is anchor investor.
E-Commerce Ecosystem Builders
Up to $100K
Tools and infrastructure serving online merchants: checkout, loyalty, payments, logistics, automation, and merchant workflows.
12. CPG and E-Commerce
Small Business Fund
Capital and operator support for physical retail, local services, and other brick-and-mortar businesses pursuing growth or expansion.
Up to $100K
Equity or revenue-share, plus up to $1M in non-dilutive financing.
Fund details
- Brick-and-mortar businesses only
- Growth or expansion use case
- Physical retail, services, and local businesses
- Hands-on operating support
13. Small Business Fund
Non-Dilutive Capital
Growth capital for qualifying companies that want to preserve ownership.
$25K–$20M · no equity
- CPG Non-Dilutive — CPG growth financing, US incorporated with revenue traction
- Tech Non-Dilutive — AI, fintech, climate, hardware, gaming, healthtech, $10K+ MRR
- Real Economy — retail, healthcare, services, trades, $10K+ MRR
$25K–$20M · B2B SaaS
The B2B SaaS Accel Fund blends non-dilutive growth financing with VC support. Stated criteria: $10K+ MRR and US incorporation — confirm current terms before applying.
14. Non-Dilutive Capital
LvlUp Labs and Accelerators
For founders who aren't ready for a check yet.
LvlUp Labs — free, no equity
- Masterclasses, investor office hours, perks, community
- Flexible virtual programming
- Fast-track to Investment Committee review for relevant companies
Specialized accelerators
- Marketing Edge — up to $25K upfront + up to $250K follow-on, for acquisition and retention
- Labs CPG — up to $20K + performance-based follow-on, backed by SHOPLINE
- Multi-week virtual programs, partner-sponsored, $10/month subscription
15. LvlUp Labs and Accelerators
One Application. More Paths.
13 active partner funds
Insight Partners
Alumni Ventures
Expert Dojo
Outlander VC
NewRoad Capital Partners
Capital Midwest Fund
Wildwood Ventures
Brickyard
Emerging Ventures
Musa Capital
activeangels Network
Ship Studio
B123 GroupA deal that isn't a fit for LvlUp can still find a home — no extra work from the founder.
How it works
- One application opts into LvlUp's 13 funds and programs
- Corporate alliance for pilots, CVC and M&A: Fidelity Labs, L'Oréal Groupe, Google, Samsung
- Ecosystem initiatives and over $10M in perks
- Partner and LvlUp investment decisions remain independent
- No extra promise of funding, introductions, or acceptance
16. One Application. More Paths.
Where Founders Come to Build What's Next
LvlUp's new division supports founders beyond funding: VC-led sessions built around real outcomes. Less theory, more building, pitching and connecting.
Six initiative families
- Capital Raise Series — build your round, model and data room
- LvlUp Ventures Pitch — competitions and Demo Days
- Founder Buildathons — one problem, something built by the end
- Corporate Innovation — challenges, hackathons, market access
- Regional Initiatives and Power of the Pitch Week
Open now
- Oct 20 · Breakthrough Startup Competition · Uber for Business
- Oct 22 · Structuring Your Round & Financials · Xero
- Oct 26 · Email as Your Growth Engine · Campaigner
- Oct 30 · Building the AI-Native Company · Zoom
- Nov 5 · AI Search & Discoverability Hackathon · Semrush
Details and registration: lvlup.vc/ecosystem-initiatives. Participation does not affect investment decisions.
17. Where Founders Come to Build What's Next
Demo Day and Pitch Competition
Quarterly, in person in New York and Los Angeles and virtually — where founders, scouts and investors meet.
What happens
- Final presentations from founders completing the virtual accelerator programs
- Product showcases and live pitch competitions
- Facilitated conversations between founders and investors
Where
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Virtually, open to founders anywhere
18. Demo Day and Pitch Competition
Power of the Pitch Week
November 16–20 · Virtual. Five days of founder pitches before industry panels and hundreds of investors, operators, and innovation leaders.
Investor readiness tracks
- Education, resources and practical frameworks before you pitch
- A stronger company — not just a better pitch
- Up to 3 complimentary tickets for Pitch Week and investor roundtables
~1 in 3
About 1 in 3 participating companies has historically received an investment offer.
- Recognition, awards and potential funding
- Selection and funding not guaranteed
- Sponsor-platform activation may be required
19. Power of the Pitch Week
LvlUp Ventures Pitch × Uber for Business
The Breakthrough Startup Competition — recognizing emerging companies with the potential to become category-defining businesses.
Judging panel
- Aaron Golbin — General Partner, LvlUp Ventures
- Todd Bouman — former CEO of SHARP, former CMO of Samsung Electronics
- Deepak Peschard — former COO of HSBC UK
What selected founders get
- A guaranteed 2-minute live pitch plus Q&A and direct panel feedback
- Winner featured across LvlUp and Uber channels reaching 250,000+ people
- Open only to eligible new Uber for Business customers — don't create an account before acceptance
20. LvlUp Ventures Pitch × Uber for Business
One Application, 13 Funds and Programs
It takes a few minutes — and it reaches every LvlUp fund and program at once.
Apply with the link below — or book a call first if you have questions. No cost, no obligation — selection and funding are never guaranteed.
Selection and funding are not guaranteed. LvlUp and partner investment decisions remain independent.
21. One Application, 13 Funds and Programs