Animo Ventures

Animo Ventures is a Miami-based seed-stage venture capital firm dedicated to backing early-stage founders. The firm focuses on investing in US-based companies, typically deploying capital ranging from $500,000 to $2.5 million from the ideation stage through early traction. They are known for their 'radically founder-focused' approach, emphasizing direct engagement between founders and General Partners, without layers of associates or analysts. Animo Ventures aims to be the most active investor on a company's cap table, providing holistic support beyond just capital.

The firm was founded in 2018 by Nico Berardi, who previously started Miami Angels and worked with Resolute Ventures. Antonio Osio, also a General Partner, brings a diverse background in venture capital, hedge funds, and corporate law, having previously been a managing partner at Capital Invent. Operations Partner Caro Acevedo and Operations Director Vicky Franco complete the core team, bringing expertise in managing complex processes and client relations. The partners' cross-cultural backgrounds, with roots in Argentina and Mexico, contribute to a global perspective in their investment strategy.

Animo Ventures maintains a broad investment mandate, actively investing across sectors such as fintech, enterprise software, digital health, business-to-business (B2B), and consumer-facing technology. Notable portfolio companies include XFX (Financial Software), Upside Robotics, DeepTrust (Network Management Software), Nearpod, Intello, Morty, and Ironclad. The firm also recently participated in a $6.2 million seed round for Foyer, a first-time homebuyer savings platform, and a $5 million funding round for Atarraya, an aquaculture/fishing technology company.

With approximately $140 million in assets under management across two funds, Animo Ventures closed its second fund, Fund II, at $78 million in July 2022. The firm is committed to supporting its portfolio companies through dense networks for fundraising, hiring, and operational challenges, often leading or co-leading investment rounds and reserving a significant portion of its fund for follow-on investments.