Twine Ventures

Twine Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in mission-driven founders developing enabling technologies such as data, AI, and software infrastructure to transform human health, planetary health through climate solutions, and financial empowerment via fintech. The firm acts as a first-check investor, providing nimble support to audacious teams from the outset of their journey in sectors undergoing generational shifts, including healthcare systems moving toward outcomes-based care and climate-impacted industries.

Founded in 2021 by Leshika Samarasinghe, a Sri Lankan immigrant with experience as an early product team member at Google, founding member of ARPA-E under the Obama administration, and Managing Partner at The Production Board venture studio, Twine Ventures raised a $25 million debut Fund I with limited partners including The California Wellness Foundation, Foundry Group, and Reid Hoffman. Samarasinghe co-leads with Ethan Yeh, PhD, a former Head of Data Science at Stripe, director at Twitter, and health economist at the World Bank. The firm now prepares for a $50 million Fund II, emphasizing diverse-led funds and investments.

Twine Ventures' portfolio features over 25 companies, including Airship modernizing sales for trades, Alaffia using AI for healthcare payments integrity, Alchemy improving pharmacy services for vulnerable populations, Alpha Grid optimizing EV charging, Apella Technology enhancing surgical outcomes, Waltz Health rewiring prescription affordability, Waymark enabling Medicaid community care, and climate-focused ventures like Verse providing clean power and Plover Parametrics for climate-resilient insurance. Recent news highlights investments like Alchemy's $31M raise and Waymark's $42M funding with CVS participation.

The team brings deep operator expertise: Samarasinghe specializes in go-to-market strategies and Series A fundraises, while Yeh supports from inception to IPO across tech, policy, and research. Based in San Francisco, they prioritize hands-on involvement in messy early stages, focusing on purpose-profit alignment, diversity with about 50% of investments in women or BIPOC-led companies, and impact metrics in human, societal, and planetary health.