# Version One Ventures

Version One Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on investing in AI and technology startups, supporting founders from seed to Series A.

Version One Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology companies, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Founded in 2011 by Boris Wertz, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco, California, and has backed more than 100 startups. Version One typically leads seed rounds and often participates in Series A rounds, providing capital and operational support to founders building transformative products.

The firm's investment thesis centers on the belief that AI will reshape every industry, and it seeks to identify founders who can leverage [AI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) and [machine learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/machine-learning) to create durable competitive advantages. Version One has backed companies across sectors including healthcare, fintech, developer tools, and consumer applications, with notable portfolio companies such as [commure](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/commure), [omniscient](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/omniscient), and [insta-academy](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/insta-academy).

## Investment Approach

Version One Ventures focuses on early-stage investments, typically writing checks between $1 million and $3 million. The firm prefers to lead seed rounds and often takes board seats, working closely with founders on product strategy, hiring, and go-to-market planning. The team at Version One brings operational experience from companies like [AWS](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/amazon-web-services) and [google-cloud](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/google-cloud), which informs their guidance on scaling technical infrastructure and AI systems.

The firm's investment committee evaluates opportunities based on the strength of the founding team, the clarity of the problem being solved, and the potential for AI to create a defensible moat. Version One has a particular interest in applied AI, where [large language models](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) and [transformer architectures](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/transformer) are used to solve real-world problems in industries such as healthcare, finance, and logistics.

## Portfolio and Impact

Version One's portfolio includes a range of AI-driven companies. For example, [commure](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/commure) builds infrastructure for healthcare AI, enabling providers to deploy models securely. [omniscient](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/omniscient) applies AI to organizational decision-making, while [insta-academy](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/insta-academy) uses AI for personalized education. The firm also invested in [fermata](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/fermata), which applies AI to agriculture, and [bigbear-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/bigbear-ai), which provides AI-powered analytics for defense and intelligence.

The firm has seen several successful exits, including the acquisition of [cruise](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/cruise) by general-motors (though not a direct portfolio company, it illustrates the firm's interest in autonomous systems). Version One's returns have been strong, with multiple funds outperforming benchmarks, and it has raised over $300 million across its funds as of 2024.

## Team and Leadership

Boris Wertz, the founder and general partner, previously served as COO of abebooks, an online marketplace acquired by [amazon](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/amazon). He is a prominent figure in the venture capital community and writes extensively about startup strategy. The team also includes partners with backgrounds in engineering and product management from companies like [microsoft](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/microsoft) and [apple](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/apple). The firm's advisory network includes experts in AI research, such as [michael-jordan](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/michael-jordan) and [daphne-koller](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/daphne-koller), who provide technical due diligence.

## AI Focus and Future Outlook

Version One Ventures has increasingly focused on AI since the mid-2010s, recognizing the transformative potential of [deep learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/deep-learning) and [generative AI](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai). The firm believes that AI will become a core component of every software product, and it seeks to back founders who can integrate AI seamlessly into user experiences. As of 2025, Version One is actively investing in AI infrastructure, vertical AI applications, and AI-native developer tools.

The firm's future outlook is optimistic, with plans to expand its investment team and launch a new fund dedicated to AI startups. Version One also hosts an annual AI summit that brings together founders, researchers, and industry leaders to discuss trends and opportunities in the field.

## Conclusion

Version One Ventures has established itself as a key player in early-stage AI investing, with a track record of backing successful startups and a clear thesis on the importance of AI. By combining capital, operational expertise, and a deep network in the AI community, the firm supports founders in building companies that can scale and endure. As AI continues to evolve, Version One is well-positioned to identify and nurture the next generation of transformative technology companies.

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Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/version-one-ventures
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
Last updated: 2026-09-05T14:08:04.122667+00:00