Mendoza Ventures
About Mendoza Ventures
Boston-based VC investing in AI, fintech, and cybersecurity across seed to growth stages with a focus on diverse founders.
Adrian and Senofer Mendoza, a married couple who had built and run startups in the Boston ecosystem, founded the firm in 2016 as a pilot fund. After an exit, they decided to focus on seed-stage companies and launched their second fund in 2019. Both are listed as general partners. Their third fund, a $100 million vehicle, held a first close in January 2023 with Bank of America as anchor investor, alongside Grasshopper Bank. The firm lists offices in Boston and San Francisco. Public listings name several other partners, but the sources reviewed do not say which partner leads AI deals.
The firm names AI, cybersecurity and fintech as its three sectors and says it invests where its partners have direct domain experience. It caps the active portfolio at 12 to 15 companies and meets portfolio founders weekly, according to its website. Examples include Wabbi, an AI-powered enterprise platform backed in a 2021 seed round, and Ekos.AI, which PitchBook records as a 2023 deal. Third-party profiles say the firm's portfolio is largely led by immigrants, people of color and women, though the figures they give vary.
Fund III is described as an early growth fund, and a founder profile says it targets Series A to C rounds. Directories list the firm's stages as pre-seed through Series B or later. Reported check sizes conflict: one directory gives $500K to $5M, another $250K to $750K, and a third $100K to $500K. The firm's own site does not publish a check size in the material reviewed, so founders should confirm terms directly with the firm.
- Wabbi: AI-powered enterprise platform; PitchBook lists a seed round dated November 2021.
- Ekos.AI: AI-branded platform software company; PitchBook lists a deal dated June 2023, with the round type not given.
- Senso.ai: AI platform; round size and date are not public in the sources reviewed.
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/233736-58
- pitchbook.com/profiles/fund/17095-96F
- crunchbase.com/organization/mendoza-ventures
- citybiz.co/article/366412/mendoza-ventures-closes-100m-third-early-gro
- globalfintechseries.com/b2b/mendoza-ventures-announces-a-first-close-o
- mendoza-ventures.com
- mendoza-ventures.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Mendoza_Ventures_One_P
- linkedin.com/in/senofermendoza
Investing activity
Mendoza Ventures is listed on Lounge as a venture capital investor based in Boston, United States. The deals desk records Series A and later AI rounds and seeds over $10M, so smaller checks may not show here yet.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about Mendoza Ventures
When was Mendoza Ventures founded?
Mendoza Ventures was founded in 2016 by Adrian and Senofer Mendoza, starting as a pilot fund before its second fund launched in 2019.
Which AI companies has Mendoza Ventures backed?
Public records list Wabbi, an AI-powered enterprise platform, Ekos.AI and Senso.ai among its AI-related investments.
What stages does Mendoza Ventures invest in?
Directories list pre-seed, seed, Series A and Series B or later. Its third fund is described as targeting Series A to C rounds.
How large is Mendoza Ventures Fund III?
The third fund targets $100 million. Its first close in January 2023 was led by Bank of America, with Grasshopper Bank among the investors.
Does Mendoza Ventures publish its check size?
The firm's site did not publish one in the sources reviewed. Directories report differing ranges, so confirm the check size with the firm before pitching.
Where is Mendoza Ventures based?
Mendoza Ventures is based in Boston, United States.
How can founders reach Mendoza Ventures?
Founders on Lounge can see Mendoza Ventures's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add Mendoza Ventures to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.