Capital Eleven

Capital Eleven is an investment firm headquartered in Meridian, Idaho, with a broad investment mandate across various asset classes. The firm actively builds and operates companies, invests in early-stage venture capital, and partners with operators for business acquisitions and growth. Additionally, Capital Eleven offers a comprehensive suite of M&A advisory, strategic advisory, and corporate finance services, aiming to foster strong leaders, superior outcomes, and a thriving economy in Idaho and beyond.

The firm was founded in 2009 by Travis Hawkes and David K. Gardner, who initially met as business students at Boise State University. Their entrepreneurial journey began by establishing and growing their own businesses, which they continue to operate. Driven by a strong belief in the potential of the Boise tech ecosystem and a desire to support founders, Capital Eleven expanded into seed-stage venture investing in January 2019. Over the years, the firm further diversified its operations by building out real estate investment and development teams, and a private equity team focused on business acquisitions. In early 2025, Capital Eleven Advisors was launched to formalize their advisory services.

Capital Eleven manages multiple limited partnership investment opportunities, including venture capital, real estate, fixed income, and private equity. Their venture portfolio includes investments in innovative startups and high-growth companies, with notable examples such as HyperIce, Ovation, Teal Communications, SponsorCX, Pest Share, and Tovuti. The firm typically invests at the seed stage, with initial checks ranging from $100,000 to $1 million, and has participated in Series A rounds for some portfolio companies. They have also seen exits from companies like Simply Eloped and Crave Kitchens.

The team at Capital Eleven comprises experienced professionals, including founders Travis Hawkes (CEO + Managing Partner) and David K. Gardner (Managing Partner). Key team members also include Stefanie Aragon (Chief of Staff), Kurtis Taylor (CFO), Aaron Chandler (General Counsel), and Brian Jorgenson (Head of Private Equity | Joint Ventures | M&A Advisory). The firm emphasizes investing in passionate entrepreneurs and projects with vision, leveraging their deep knowledge across various business types to execute complex transactions and provide valuable operational guidance to their portfolio companies.