Seligman Ventures is the venture capital arm of Seligman Investments, a Menlo Park-based technology investor that manages approximately $30 billion across public and private markets. Launched in February 2026 with $500 million, the venture platform doubled its deployable capital to $1 billion within seven months, extending Seligman's research-driven public market strategy into early-stage and growth-stage private technology companies. The firm operates within the broader Seligman Investments platform, part of Columbia Threadneedle Investments, the global asset management arm of Ameriprise Financial.
Seligman Ventures invests across early-stage to pre-IPO technology companies, with a strong concentration in AI's physical infrastructure, including semiconductors, networking hardware, and power and cooling systems for data centers, alongside cybersecurity and cloud infrastructure.
The firm pursues a barbell strategy, pairing early-stage bets with late-stage and pre-IPO checks, and holds six board seats and three board observer positions across its portfolio.
Seligman Ventures doubled its deployable capital to $1B on September 28, 2026, up from the $500M it launched with in February 2026.
The firm has deployed more than $300M across 14 investments to date and expects to make five to 10 new investments over the next 12 months.
Managing Partner Umesh Padval said deal flow has run 10 to 15 times higher than anticipated, reflecting a broader market shift toward capital-intensive AI infrastructure investing.
US and Canadian venture investment reached $392B in the first half of 2026, with roughly $10.7B directed to semiconductor startups.
Leadership
Seligman Ventures is led by managing partner Umesh Padval, a former public company CEO, board member and seasoned investor, who focuses on seed to pre-IPO investments across cybersecurity, AI infrastructure, cloud infrastructure and modern data center technologies.
He is joined by managing partner Ashish Kakran, who concentrates on early-stage investments across cloud infrastructure, AI and cybersecurity.
Eddie Ackerman serves as CFO and operating partner, overseeing fund-level financial operations while working directly with portfolio founders on finance strategy, fundraising and M&A preparation.
The broader Seligman Investments platform is led by chief investment officer Paul Wick, who also oversees the roughly $29 billion Columbia Seligman Technology and Information Fund and a $7.5 billion technology hedge fund business.
Investment Strategy
Seligman Ventures applies a research-intensive, infrastructure-first approach, pursuing a barbell strategy that pairs early-stage bets with late-stage and pre-IPO checks.
The firm targets core enabling technologies in AI, cybersecurity and cloud systems, often backing technical founders building foundational layers of enterprise infrastructure, and takes an active governance role with six board seats and three board observer positions across its portfolio.
Notable Investments
Umesh Padval - Managing Partner
Ashish Kakran - Managing Partner
ashish.kakran@seligman.com
Eddie Ackerman - CFO & Operating Partner
Paul Wick, Fund Manager
paul.wick@seligman.com
United States
