About
Lewis & Clark Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2014 and based in St. Louis, Missouri, with a deliberate mission to identify and fund high-potential companies in overlooked geographies across the American heartland. The firm was established by former founders and operators who recognized that innovation and entrepreneurial talent exist well beyond coastal venture hubs, and the firm's investment thesis centers on backing bold founders building category-defining B2B software, fintech, and digital health companies in the late seed through Series A stages. The firm typically deploys $2 million to $3 million in initial checks, with flexibility to scale investments in either direction, and has made 36 total investments across multiple fund vehicles including Lewis & Clark Ventures I (2016 vintage) and Lewis & Clark Ventures II. The team's operational background allows them to provide hands-on guidance and support beyond capital, with a focus on companies that solve real problems for businesses rather than consumer-facing applications. Portfolio companies have ranged across Series A investments averaging $7.31 million and Series B follow-ons averaging $8.35 million, demonstrating the firm's capacity to support companies through later growth stages. The firm has established itself as a meaningful player in Midwest venture capital, differentiating itself through deep regional knowledge, operator mentality, and conviction that the best founders and ideas are not concentrated on the coasts. Investors in Lewis & Clark Ventures funds gain exposure to early-stage technology companies with genuine Midwest roots and founders committed to building from the region rather than relocating to traditional venture capitals.