Startups - GrowthX

Who We Invest In?

We're looking for founders with a GrowthX Mindset: learn-it-alls (not know-it-alls). Founders choose GrowthX because of our deep expertise in commercializing innovation (i.e., finding product-market fit). We rarely invest in founders who only want our money. The GrowthX Market Acceleration Program (MXP) is available exclusively to our portfolio companies in exchange for 5% equity that vests throughout the program only when market milestones are achieved.

How Much We Invest?

Our first check is typically between $100,000 and $250,000 and our Limited Partners frequently write checks alongside of us in the amount of $500,000 to $1,000,000. We make follow-on investments in founders that keep us current throughout the journey.

Is GrowthX a Good Fit?

The best way to get our attention is through a warm introduction from someone who knows us. Please be prepared to share your pitch deck, financial model and cap table. Your cap table should include details of any outstanding convertible instruments. We do not invest in Limited Liability Companies.

The MXP Program
The MXP Program
The MXP Program

Market Development Expertise

The cost and complexity of product development has been drastically reduced and has become more predictable. Consequently, the biggest risk for most startups has shifted from prototyping a product to getting it to market.

While many programs aim to help founders develop products and raise money, our proprietary Market Acceleration Program (MXP) helps founders develop markets and make money.

The MXP is designed to help founders to identify scalable and profitable sources of revenue generation by developing, testing and validate various market hypotheses.

The goal of the MXP is to guide founding teams towards product-market fit and reduce the time and capital required get there.

Next: Product-Market Fit
Finding Product-Market Fit

The only sustainable way to find product-market fit is to create a continuous feedback loop between the startup and its customers. Founders must methodically go through a process to identify which markets are scalable and demonstrate enough need today that they are willing to purchase their technology. We call this Market Development and it differs from sales.

Sales is the pursuit of revenue for the purpose of profit; market development is the pursuit of revenue for the purpose of learning. The market development process focuses on enabling the startup to organize itself so it can learn from customers, respond to their feedback and iterate on go-to-market strategies in real time.

Unlike traditional accelerators that teach founders how to build a minimally viable product and raise money; the MXP teaches our founders how to market their product and make money.

Next: Joining the MXP
Joining the MXP

The MXP is rigorous. Founding teams must be prepared to focus their time, energy and resources on market development. Companies are required to implement leading tools and proven systems to collect traction data and analyze results.

Participants must provide GrowthX with clear visibility of their entire revenue pipeline. At the end of each phase, a company must be certified as having successfully completed the requirements to advance to the next phase.

Our percentage ownership increases upon certification of each of the three phases of the program, for a total of 5% of equity in addition to the amount purchased by the investment from GrowthX.

Back: Market Development Expertise

“We chose GrowthX as investors for their B2B expertise, for sharing our belief that success comes from customer revenue first and their stellar Market Acceleration Program. The team helped Contentools with their mapped out methodology applied to go-to-market, allowing us to replicate the step-by-step process to our own reality and scale.”

Emilia Chagas • Founder & CEO, Contentools
"Before investing in my company I always felt that the interactions with GrowthX were more of a mentor/mentee relationship where they truly wanted to see me succeed and not just for their own economic gains. They are a great team that perfectly balances humanity, the need to create value (for all involved) and unique skills focused on accelerating the growth of promising companies."

Eric Howie • Founder & CEO, Life Detection Group
“With GrowthX, you have a team that’s working with you and thinking on how to adapt the general process to your market. They work with you! They understand the little aspects of your business, that’s the difference. They’re re ally involved in operation of the sales process.”

Agustina Sartori • Founder & CEO, GlamSt [Acquired by ULTA]
"GrowthX was instrumental to us in raising our round after completing the Matter accelerator program. Andrew took the time to learn our business and not only helped us to source capital, but guided the process to ensure everything was smooth, efficient and expedient."

Rebecca Eydeland • Founder & CEO, Mingyian
"GrowthX has been a fantastic partner in growing my business. The team is extremely supportive and eager to help with anything we need, whether it’s a simple introduction to someone in their network, or more hands on advice on go-to-market initiatives. I feel lucky to have found such a talented and passionate group and would recommend GrowthX as a partner."

Thatcher Spring • Founder & CEO, GearLaunch
"GrowthX is one of the most helpful VC’s I’ve had the privilege of working with. Long before deciding to join InHerSight’s second round the team was adding value, brainstorming ways to enhance the platform, reaching into their network to make meaningful connections, and being genuinely accessible and approachable."

Ursula Mead • Founder & CEO, InHerSight
“I chose GrowthX because the partners are all experienced operators and different from typical SV investors, so having that grounding is very helpful to build a truly long lasting business. During the process, they were very transparent and their focus on nailing true customer need before scaling resonated with me.”

Pavan Boob • Founder & CEO, FleetPanda
“I’ll admit it, marketing doesn’t come naturally to Slope’s team of engineers, logisticians, and software developers. GrowthX used their market development expertise to help us think exponentially about novel ways to spread our message to our target audience. The team at GrowthX is more than just a group of check writers, they are partners who help us reach our full potential.”

Rust Felix • Founder & CEO, Slope.io
“Having GrowthX on your side is like having a co-founder that is an absolute authority on lean thinking, business strategy and achieving product-market fit.”

Sashank Purighalla • Founder/CEO, BOS Framework

The Stewardship Pledge For the Innovation Investor

The venture capital industry can no longer ignore the ethical and moral issues that arise alongside its investment activities, from power imbalances, lack of inclusion, or conflicts of interest. There is an ethical and moral imperative for a proactive and affirmative approach from the investor community.

The Stewardship Pledge, pioneered by the Kauffman Fellowship, is an attempt to respond to this need.

As innovation investors, we recognize:

Our industry of innovation capital has the power to drive both private value creation and sustainable, positive societal transformation;
Our purpose is to direct capital and expertise to create shared value by accelerating the pace of innovation through company formation and growth;
Our investment decisions affect the well-being of individuals inside and outside of GrowthX, the companies in which we invest, our capital partners, the industries in which we work, and beyond, both today and in the future; and
Our behavior must set an example of integrity and mutual respect, eliciting trust and esteem from the multiple stakeholders we serve.

We will remain accountable to our peers and to society for our actions and for upholding these standards.

The Pledge

We will not advance our own interests at the expense of GrowthX, our investee companies, our capital partners, or society.

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The Pledge

We will manage our investments with loyalty and care and we will report the performance and risks of our organization and our investee companies accurately and honestly to our capital partners.

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The Pledge

We will understand and uphold, in letter and in spirit, the laws and contracts governing our conduct and that of GrowthX and our investee companies, and refrain from corruption, unfair competition, or other business practices harmful to society.

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The Pledge

We will recognize the power imbalance inherent in the relationship between investor and entrepreneur, and will not abuse our position, engage in sexual harassment or discrimination, or condone it in the organizations and communities around us.

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The Pledge

We will protect the human rights and dignity of all people impacted by GrowthX and our investee companies, and oppose discrimination both within our investee companies and in the process of selecting investments.

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The Pledge

We will promote a culture of inclusion, seek out diversity of all types, and foster a sense of belonging among all the organizations and communities in which we work. To further continuing awareness and action, we will participate to the extent of our abilities in open discussion and reporting across our industry as well as encourage others to do the same.

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The Pledge

We will develop ourselves, and coach, mentor, and apprentice the next generation of investors.

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The Pledge

We will work with our stakeholders to support sustainable inclusive prosperity and to minimize the negative consequences of our actions to the environment and society.

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