Dipalo Ventures Fund
Transitioning connected hardware startups from
prototype to design and manufacturing at scale accelerating
technology innovation and have a profound impact on society.
ABOUT US
US Midwest-focused Fund investing at pre-seed and seed rounds in connected hardware – physical product startups innovating at the intersection of hardware and software.
We are an extended team and partner ecosystem of ex-Motorola/Google product experts, bringing a unique design and engineering focused methodology to venture capital.
There’s a tremendous amount of craftsmanship in between a great idea and a great product.
Why Dipalo
Traditional Accelerators and VC do not go far enough in supporting startups that are at the intersection of hardware and software. Operational experience in VC is often missing but can improve outcomes.
Connected hardware is a challenge to find funding
US venture capital is increasingly concentrated and very little goes into physical products or hard tech related investments.
Deep knowledge design and engineering are needed
The complexities of creating physical products require startups to not only have access to capital, but to have support in design and engineering.
Most funding is concentrated on the coasts
The underfunded gap is even more pronounced in the US Midwest, a region rich in manufacturing pedigree, engineering talent and thriving startup ecosystems.
Our Method
Dipalo Ventures de-risks investment by incorporating design and engineering reviews in our due diligence process via a 6-week Residency program. In the Residency we help startups solve specific design and engineering issues before making the first pre-seed investment.
Learn MoreWho We’re Looking For
Dipalo is looking for amazing startups that fit our criteria
- Unique product Ideas
- Potential for disruption in an industry
- A team that’s open to the process
- Products that are design centered
- The overall valuation of the business
To participate in our Residency
- Need to have a prototype available or in progress
- Some technical team in place
- Have had a first institutional check
