CIV is a venture capital firm based in Venice, California, focused on backing the boldest builders of critical infrastructure. Founded in 2022, CIV supports startups working at the intersection of technological ambition and societal necessity. The firm’s mission is to fund foundational innovation - companies building the infrastructure that will define the next century. CIV invests with a high-conviction, thesis-led approach and partners closely with founders from the earliest stages to help them scale transformational ideas into enduring institutions.
CIV invests in early-stage startups solving essential problems in physical, digital, and economic infrastructure. Its core areas of interest include AI infrastructure, climate and energy systems, supply chain resilience, cybersecurity, industrial automation, and frontier technologies like space and mobility.
The firm typically invests at the pre-seed through Series A stages, taking an active role in helping companies scale their operations and navigate complex markets. CIV focuses on transformational technologies that are both technically ambitious and commercially viable in large, under-innovated industries.
CIV’s debut vehicle, Fund I, closed in April 2025 with over $210 million in capital commitments. The fund is one of the largest first-time funds raised by a Los Angeles-based VC firm. It reflects strong backing from a range of institutional LPs aligned with CIV’s long-term infrastructure thesis. Fund I will support a focused portfolio of startups building the backbone of the next-generation economy, with capital reserved to continue supporting breakout companies through growth.
Leadership
CIV is led by a team of experienced operators, technologists, and investors with backgrounds in defense, government, and industrial innovation. While specific names are not listed publicly, the leadership team is known for its deep technical fluency, long-term orientation, and commitment to founder success.
Investment Strategy
CIV follows a concentrated, high-conviction investment approach. The firm makes a small number of investments each year to ensure each portfolio company receives hands-on support. CIV’s strategy emphasizes backing startups with clear technical differentiation, large market potential, and the ability to solve fundamental infrastructure challenges. The firm also assists founders with access to non-dilutive funding sources, strategic partnerships, and long-term capital support. CIV looks to build lasting companies in areas where infrastructure has not kept pace with innovation.
Notable Investments
CIV has invested in companies working on AI compute infrastructure, battery supply chain optimization, and space-grade manufacturing. Specific portfolio company names are not publicly disclosed.
