Lightship Capital drives innovation and investment in the Midwest. We leverage corporate partnerships, executives in residence, and organizations from our region to build sustainable local ecosystems full of high growth companies led by women, people of color, and other underestimated founders. Our fund is modeled to offer underrepresented founders an alternative to traditional firms— enabling them to avoid the challenges associated with traditional funding. We join or lead rounds, we don’t require board seats to invest, and if/when we are invited to serve on the board— we strongly support the founder. We’re also willing to bridge our portfolio companies to their next round, and reserve capital so that we can participate in future rounds. At Lightship, we bet on the jockey, as much as we bet on the horse. Founded and managed by entrepreneurs, Lightship recognizes that early stage investment strategy begins with a great feeling about a company and its founder— and expands to include growth centric portfolio management built around key corporate and government alliances, access to professional services and training, and meaningful follow-on. Our approach is comprehensive and constructed to cultivate organic, sustainable growth.