Avenue Growth Partners is a Washington, D.C.-based early growth equity firm co-founded by Ryan Russell and Brian Goldsmith, backing category-defining vertical technology companies. The firm takes a concentrated portfolio approach, making a small number of investments per fund to ensure each portfolio company receives full partner attention. Fund II closes significantly oversubscribed at its $155M hard cap, nearly double the $83M debut fund.
Avenue backs vertical AI and software companies at the early growth stage, typically Series A, in sectors including life sciences, legal, trucking and logistics, equipment dealerships, childcare, and other complex, specialized industries where AI-native platforms can build deep workflow lock-in.
The firm's thesis is that AI is making it possible for small teams to build deeply embedded products in industries historically too complex or specialized to automate efficiently.
Avenue Growth Partners Fund II closed at $155M on July 21, 2026, at its hard cap, significantly oversubscribed from an initial target of $125M.
LPs include Accolade Partners, Fairview Capital, GCM Grosvenor, Partners Capital, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, spanning public pensions, private foundations, funds of funds, and family offices.
Fund II has already deployed into Scispot ($8M Series A led by Avenue) and Billables AI ($10M Series A led by Avenue). Legal counsel was Goodwin Procter LLP.
Leadership
Ryan Russell is Co-Founder and Partner.
Brian Goldsmith is Co-Founder and Partner.
Annie Rosen is CFO and Partner.
Oscar Lee is Vice President.
Diana Stettner is Vice President.
Investment Strategy
Avenue leads Series A rounds in vertical technology companies, writing concentrated checks to take meaningful ownership positions.
The firm's concentrated portfolio model, fewer investments per fund with deeper operational involvement, is the defining structural choice. Post-investment support focuses on building the operational playbook to scale, hiring, and preparing companies for recapitalization or strategic exit.
Two Fund I portfolio companies, Hive and Minga, have completed recapitalizations with later-stage growth equity and buyout firms.
Notable Investments
Notable Exits
hello@avenuegp.com
Ryan Russell — Co-Founder & Partner
ryan@avenuegp.com
Brian Goldsmith — Co-Founder & Partner
brian@avenuegp.com
Annie Rosen — CFO & Partner
annie@avenuegp.com
United States
