Fitz Gate Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in the United States, focused on backing technology-driven startups emerging from strong technical and academic roots. The firm operates as a generalist fund with a clear bias toward deep tech and research-led innovation. Fitz Gate Ventures is known for its close ties to universities, operators, and subject matter experts, and for taking an active role in helping founders commercialize complex technologies.
The firm invests in early-stage startups across a broad range of technologies, with a sub-focus on deep tech. Fitz Gate Ventures has particular interest in companies built on defensible intellectual property, including technologies originating from academic research and university labs. Its scope spans hardware, software, and frontier technologies with long-term commercial potential.
Fitz Gate Ventures recently closed its third venture capital fund, Fitz Gate Ventures III. While the firm has not disclosed the fund’s final size publicly, the close brings total assets under management across three funds to approximately $70 million.
Fund III is structured as an early-stage vehicle, writing initial checks between $500,000 and $1 million, with meaningful reserves allocated for follow-on investments. The fund is designed to lead rounds, co-invest with other funds, or invest independently depending on the opportunity. Rice University’s Office of Innovation participated as an anchor investor, reinforcing the firm’s deep connection to academic ecosystems and research commercialization.
Fund III continues Fitz Gate’s strategy of supporting founders early while leveraging its extended network to accelerate customer access and future fundraising.
Leadership
Fitz Gate Ventures was founded by General Partners Jim Cohen and Mark Poag. Both founders bring extensive experience in venture investing, technology evaluation, and academic engagement. Cohen and Poag have also taught venture capital investing at Princeton University’s Graduate School and Rice University’s Jones School of Business for the past seven years.
Investment Strategy
The firm’s investment strategy is built around a broad, expert-driven network. Fitz Gate Ventures works with hundreds of founders, venture capitalists, university faculty members, Fortune 500 executives, and technical specialists to source and diligence opportunities. This same network supports portfolio companies through customer introductions, strategic partnerships, and access to follow-on capital. The firm is particularly active in helping startups translate advanced research into viable commercial products.
Notable Investments
Fitz Gate Ventures has invested across a wide range of technologies, including chips, metamaterials, and quantum computing.
Notable investments include Quantum Circuits, Inc., alongside companies that have licensed intellectual property from institutions such as Princeton, Yale, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Virginia Tech, Baylor College of Medicine, and Vanderbilt.
Notable Exits
The firm has achieved exits across its earlier funds, though specific outcomes have not been publicly detailed in connection with the most recent fund.
Other
Fitz Gate Ventures is especially well suited for teams commercializing university-originated IP or technically complex products.
The firm is comfortable with longer development cycles and brings uncommon access to academic and enterprise networks.
Fitz Gate is often a strong fit for founders seeking an early lead investor with deep technical curiosity and hands-on engagement.
United States
