Blank Ventures

Blank Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California, with a dedicated focus on advancing financial innovation. The firm strategically invests at the intersection of fintech and commerce, seeking to identify and support companies that create sustainable competitive advantages and operational efficiencies within these domains. Rather than adopting a broad investment approach, Blank Ventures targets specific gaps where financial infrastructure converges with commerce infrastructure, aiming to unlock new economic value through enhanced financial systems and intelligent commerce experiences.

Founded in 2021 by Antoine Nivard, Hannah Chelkowski, and Abhi Tiwari, Blank Ventures was established by a team of seasoned investors, each bringing over a decade of experience in seed-stage venture capital across various sectors. The partners recognized a unique opportunity to concentrate on intelligent systems, financial services, and commerce, launching Blank Ventures to engage with companies at their earliest stages of formation. The firm operates with a founder-first philosophy, providing not only capital but also deep operational support, market insights, and strategic guidance to help startups build scalable and defensible technologies.

Blank Ventures maintains a concentrated portfolio, typically leading early-stage rounds with initial checks ranging from $500,000 to $2 million, aiming for a five to ten percent ownership stake. Their portfolio includes notable investments such as Playbook, a business and productivity software, and Neo Financial, a company in the financial software industry. The firm also participated in a Series A round for Novella, an AI-powered wholesale insurance broker. Blank Ventures is known for its hands-on approach, actively participating in the growth of its portfolio companies.

The Blank Ventures team, including General Partners Hannah C. and Abhi T., and Co-Founder and General Partner Antoine Nivard, brings collective decades of experience in operating financial services businesses, leading venture investments from seed to IPO, and serving on boards of private and public organizations. This expertise allows them to assist founders with product development, pricing strategies, go-to-market plans, and navigating regulatory and compliance hurdles. The firm's strategic LP network includes C-suite executives from large financial services companies, multi-billion dollar startups, global family offices, and industry conglomerates, providing a robust ecosystem for their portfolio companies.