BOSTON— Venture Guides, the Boston-based early-stage venture capital firm, has announced the close of its second fund, raising an impressive $262.5 million in just eight weeks. The fund, which was oversubscribed despite broader economic challenges, marks a 21% increase over the firm’s inaugural $216.5 million Fund I, highlighting strong investor confidence in Venture Guides’ distinctive, hands-on approach to venture investing.
Founded in 2023, Venture Guides specializes in infrastructure software companies and operates with a unique model centered on “active guiding” and team-based investing. The firm’s second fund drew continued support from 100% of its previous family office backers while attracting new institutional investors. General Partners once again led by example, increasing their own stake to 11% of the fund’s total—a notable rise from 10% in Fund I.
“Our swift, oversubscribed close is a testament to the demand for a new approach to venture investing,” said Benjamin Nye, Managing Partner at Venture Guides. “We’re committed to providing both capital and tailored guidance that helps founders navigate early-stage growth and build category-defining businesses.”
Venture Guides’ approach combines deep domain expertise with close founder engagement. The firm’s in-house VG Sales training academy and proprietary go-to-market strategies have earned praise from entrepreneurs and investors alike. Portfolio companies benefit not only from capital but also mentorship in recruiting, finance, budgeting, and scaling operations.
One such company is Elastio, an infrastructure software startup focused on ransomware resilience. “Venture Guides stood out to us because of its strong guiding experience and exceptional track record,” said Naj Husain, Elastio’s founder and CEO. “Their support helped us accelerate our go-to-market success and build resiliency into our core offering.”
Since its founding, the firm has grown to 21 professionals and built a portfolio of 11 core companies. Ten of those startups have co-located at Venture Guides’ headquarters at 100 Causeway Street in Boston—a move that reflects the firm’s dedication to fostering a collaborative and innovation-driven environment.
Boston city officials also applauded Venture Guides’ contributions to the local economy. “By helping these innovators organize and launch their go-to-market operations, Venture Guides boosts our local economy, creates high-quality jobs, and makes our city a top destination for technological advancement,” said Segun Idowu, Boston’s Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion.
With Fund II ready for deployment, Venture Guides plans to begin investing in Q3 2025, continuing its mission to support infrastructure software startups with the capital and strategic guidance necessary to thrive in a competitive global market.
