Calibrate Venture Partners

Calibrate Venture Partners is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in deep-tech, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation companies. The firm identifies technical breakthroughs and partners with founders to transform these innovations into scalable commercial advantages. Their investment strategy targets industries undergoing significant technological transformation, including transportation & logistics, food & agriculture, health, and manufacturing, with the goal of driving a productivity revolution.

Calibrate Ventures was co-founded in 2017 by Jason Schoettler and Kevin Dunlap. Both founders bring over two decades of experience in the venture capital landscape, having previously served as Managing Directors at Shea Ventures, where they focused on early and growth-stage venture-backed companies. Their shared mission is to support technologies that lead to substantial gains in productivity and contribute to improving human lives.

The firm primarily invests in early-stage AI and automation startups, typically at the Seed or Series A stage. Calibrate Ventures' portfolio includes a diverse range of companies such as GridAero, Vibranium Labs, Sydekick Robotics, Manifold, SigIQ.ai, FarmWise Labs, KronosAI, FortyFive Labs, Sensei Robotics, Built Robotics, Embodied, HealthTensor, Parallel Domain, Trellis, Regard, Alpha, Broadly, Soft Robotics, and XStream Trucking. These investments span various sectors including aerospace & defense, business/productivity software, automation/workflow software, enterprise systems (healthcare), educational software, and machinery.

The Calibrate Ventures team is composed of experienced investors and operators with deep technical expertise. Co-founders Jason Schoettler and Kevin Dunlap lead the firm, leveraging their extensive backgrounds in venture capital and technology. The team also includes key personnel such as Katie Vasquez (Investor), Nick Nolan (VP, Capital Formation and Corporate Development), Daniel Murray (Venture Partner), Paolo Pirjanian (Venture Partner), John Morrissey (Senior Advisor), Tony Di Bona (Chief Financial Officer), Kate Fry (Finance and Accounting), Carrie Zawistowski (VP of Portfolio Finance), and Kelly Fergus-Bentall (Operations). Aimée Leifer also serves as a Venture Partner, contributing her senior executive experience in scaling high-growth technology startups.