Next Ladder Ventures

NextLadder Ventures is a pioneering investment firm dedicated to empowering millions of Americans by investing in transformative Navigation Technology (NavTech) solutions. The firm's core mission is to help individuals and families overcome barriers to economic mobility and achieve economic security, dignity, and empowerment. They focus on people-centered, tech-enabled solutions that assist Americans in navigating pivotal life moments, strengthening community ties, and taking control of their economic futures. NextLadder Ventures aims to provide the tools, technology, and support necessary to help people achieve the American Dream on their own terms by 2040.

The firm employs a unique approach by blending philanthropic and market capital, deploying fit-for-purpose funding mechanisms such as grants, equity investments, and revenue-based financing. This allows them to scale effective solutions rapidly. NextLadder Ventures focuses on three key areas: direct solutions for people by backing early-stage NavTech companies, market building to grow the ecosystem of impact-focused developers and investors, and establishing quality, safety, and trust through shared standards and safeguards. Their initial investment priorities include financial health, career navigation, and access to benefits and social services, with future explorations into housing, legal aid, justice and re-entry, caregiving, and mental and physical health.

NextLadder Ventures was announced in July 2025 as a $1 billion initiative, founded by a coalition of major philanthropies including Ballmer Group, Gates Foundation, Stand Together, Valhalla Foundation, and individual funder John Overdeck. The initiative is set to run for 15 years, with a plan to deploy its capital over seven years to support the development of AI-native tools. Notable early investments include Rasa, a legal services company, and Forage, a financial software company. Anthropic has joined as an inaugural AI partner, providing expertise and technology to support NextLadder's AI-native capabilities and portfolio organizations.

The leadership team includes Lauren Loktev, who joined as Managing Director of Investments, and Brigitte Hoyer Gosselink, who serves as Managing Director of Product. Their collective expertise in venture capital, AI, and social impact initiatives drives the firm's strategy to back entrepreneurs and technologists who are building breakthrough technologies to expand opportunity and remove barriers for Americans.