Next Coast Ventures

Next Coast Ventures is an Austin, Texas-based venture capital firm that partners with entrepreneurs to invest in emerging, "next coast" companies at critical stages of development, aiming to launch them into hyper-growth. The firm employs a thematic investing approach, focusing on high-growth startups outside traditional coastal tech hubs, with a significant concentration of investments in Texas and other emerging technology centers. Their investment strategy is built around supporting disruptive businesses in large markets, leveraging macro trends and specific themes such as the future of work, online learning, and self-care.

Founded in 2015 by Michael Smerklo and Thomas Ball, Next Coast Ventures was established with the vision of creating a different kind of venture capital firm, one "built for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs." The founders aimed to share their extensive operating and investing experience to help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of building and scaling businesses, reducing the learning curve for new ventures. This ethos is reflected in their hands-on approach and the comprehensive platform resources they offer to portfolio companies.

The firm's portfolio includes notable companies such as UpEquity, which is revolutionizing home buying; Workweek, reimagining business media; Everly Health, transforming healthcare access through at-home diagnostic solutions; and Diligent Robotics, creating hospital automation with socially intelligent robots. Other significant investments include Sift, an AI-powered fraud detection platform, and AlertMedia, a cloud-based emergency communication software. Next Coast Ventures typically invests in early-stage companies, ranging from Seed to Series A, and also provides follow-on capital through opportunity funds, and has an ETA fund for entrepreneurs acquiring and scaling small to medium-sized businesses.

The Next Coast Ventures team comprises partners who were successful operators before transitioning into venture capital, offering pragmatic advice rooted in personal experience. They provide portfolio companies with "Roll Up Your Sleeves" help, access to an expert network of over 150 operators, and company-building playbooks. Key team members include co-founders Michael Smerklo and Thomas Ball, along with partners like Jonathan Kaplan, Adam Rogers, Anthony Walker, and Dustin Sellers, all contributing to the firm's mission of supporting founders through their growth journey.