Anorak Ventures is a Los Angeles and San Francisco–based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2012 by Greg Castle. The firm backs highly specialized teams building differentiated technology, with a focus on aerospace and defense, critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and other frontier technology. Anorak has invested in more than 150 seed-stage companies, eight of which have reached $1 billion-plus valuations.
Anorak Ventures targets highly specialized teams with deep technical knowledge in niche areas, backing companies solving difficult engineering problems at the edge of what's technologically possible.
The firm's current focus spans aerospace and defense, critical infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and other frontier technology sectors, continuing a thesis that has run through four fund vintages since 2012.
In October 2026, Anorak Ventures announced Fund III, a $35 million vehicle marking the firm's fourth vintage after Fund 0 ($1.2 million, 2012), Fund I ($13.4 million, 2017), and Fund II ($24.5 million, 2021).
Limited partners in Fund III include Oculus co-founders Michael Antonov, Brendan Iribe, and Nate Mitchell, Framework founder Nirav Patel, former Rocket Companies CEO Jay Farner, and OpenGov CEO Zachary Bookman, alongside institutional backers including Goldman Sachs, Screendoor, Detroit Venture Partners, Verdis, Mangrove, Ronin, and Nimble Partners.
Fund III continues Anorak's seed-stage thesis, writing initial checks of $250,000 to $1 million into highly specialized teams building differentiated technology.
Leadership
Anorak Ventures is led by Greg Castle, Founder and Managing Partner, who has run the firm since 2012 and focuses on early-stage, disruptive technology.
Charlie Leggate joined as Partner in 2024; he previously co-founded and led Avie AI, a healthtech company acquired by Holland & Barrett in 2023.
Investment Strategy
The firm backs highly specialized teams with deep technical expertise in niche areas, investing internationally and helping portfolio companies unlock partnership and follow-on funding opportunities.
Notable Investments
Across four fund vintages, Anorak's portfolio includes:
Notable Exits
Anorak was an early investor in Oculus, which was acquired by Facebook for approximately $2 billion.
Greg Castle - Founder and Managing Partner
greg@anorak.vc
Charlie Leggate - Partner
charlie@anorak.vc
United States
