Halogen Ventures is a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm founded in 2015 by Jesse Draper. The firm focuses on early-stage consumer technology companies, with a particular commitment to backing women founders. Halogen operates with a mission-driven approach, aiming to close the gender investment gap while building scalable businesses that serve the evolving needs of families.
Halogen invests in early-stage startups, including pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds. The firm’s core investment focus is on the Future of Family category, which includes sectors such as:
Halogen only backs companies with at least one female founder.
In June 2025, Halogen Ventures closed its third fund with $30 million in capital commitments. The fund targets the $7.5 trillion Future of Family market and is designed to support companies building solutions in five primary verticals:
Limited Partners in this fund include The State of Alabama through Innovate Alabama, Fenwick’s Fund of Funds, Candace Nelson (founder of Sprinkles), Gingerbread Capital, Mike Evans (founder of Grubhub), and Lanyon Advisors.
The fund continues Halogen’s focus on female-founded companies with high potential to address underserved markets in the consumer family space.
Leadership
Halogen Ventures is led by founding partner Jesse Draper, alongside partners Ashley Balla, Jennifer Kwan Mandelbaum, Adriana Gadala-Maria Ochi, and Julia Richter. The leadership team brings a combination of investment expertise, operational experience, and a deep commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs.
Investment Strategy
The firm employs a hands-on investment approach, focusing on startups that are redefining the consumer family experience. Halogen prioritizes companies that are solving real pain points for modern families, particularly those overlooked by traditional VC. The team supports founders not only with capital, but with access to networks, advisors, and strategic mentorship tailored to high-growth consumer markets.
Notable Investments
Halogen Ventures has backed over 75 companies, including:
These companies span a range of categories from at-home health testing and family mobility solutions to DTC products and digital marketplaces for new parents.
Notable Exits
The firm has achieved several significant exits, including the acquisition of This is L. by Procter & Gamble, Squad by Twitter, and Eloquii by Walmart, reflecting Halogen’s ability to identify and scale high-potential consumer companies.
Other
Halogen Ventures is highly focused on providing long-term partnership beyond capital. The firm actively supports its portfolio with branding, hiring, strategic positioning, and introductions within its robust founder and operator network. Halogen’s strong LP base and regional partnerships, such as with Innovate Alabama, also position it to support growth in undercapitalized markets.
