Lattice Ventures

Lattice Ventures Research

Investment Thesis

Lattice Ventures is a network-driven early-stage venture capital firm based in New York that invests in entrepreneurs who personally understand the problems they plan to solve. Founded by Brittany Laughlin and Vanessa Pestritto, the firm believes that meaningful business building requires a combination of big vision, strong skills, deep insights, and rooted passion in the outcome. The fund's core philosophy is that connections to experienced operators, peers, and industry experts at critical inflection points can dramatically accelerate company growth.

Lattice invests across multiple emerging technology sectors with a focus on companies pursuing industries hungry for innovation where technology creates defensible network effects. The firm has positioned itself as a value-add seed investor that provides not just capital but also operational advice, talent sourcing, and access to its growing network of industry experts and operators.

Investment Focus and Thesis Areas

Lattice Ventures has evolved its investment thesis over time, with documented deep expertise in multiple sectors:

1. Blockchain & Cryptocurrency (2017-2025) Lattice has been an early investor in blockchain technology, recognizing its transformational potential similar to the Internet. The firm believes blockchain will decentralize creation and contribution, creating more opportunities for entrepreneurs. Notable thesis statements include focus on raising capital structures (ICOs, secondary markets), corporate governance in crypto (legal, accounting standards), security, community building, and talent acquisition in blockchain development. Recent investments include Camp Network (Series A, 2025) and OpenSocial Protocol ($5M funding, Feb 2025). The firm acknowledges both the potential and risks (volatility, security, regulation) and focuses on surrounding entrepreneurs with expert networks.

2. Future of Work & AI-Enhanced Workforce (2017-Present) Vanessa Pestritto wrote extensively about AI's impact on workforce transformation, focusing on accessible machine learning tools and infrastructure. The firm evaluates AI marketplaces, deep learning developer tools, and platforms for non-developers to leverage AI benefits. This aligns with a focus on companies that can build strong data feedback loops and developer networks.

3. Underserved Workforce Benefits & 1099 Economy (2017-Present) A significant thesis addresses a gap in the US labor market: as work shifts from full-time to part-time and contract roles, millions lose access to healthcare, financial security, and education benefits. Lattice targets entrepreneurs addressing this gap with tech-enabled solutions. The firm invested in WorkRails early, which helps software companies deliver professional services and connects consultants with work, addressing utilization and business development pain points.

4. Borderless E-Commerce & Global Trade Lattice identified an opportunity in borderless e-commerce, focusing on companies bringing high-demand products online for the first time across borders. The thesis emphasizes companies with expert entrepreneurs, shared belief in tech adoption and distribution, and clear market focus.

5. Fintech & Payments (2019-Present) The firm has deep investment experience in fintech and payments infrastructure, with portfolio companies like API Fortress providing API security and payment processing solutions. The firm targets both fintech infrastructure and payments platforms.

Stage Focus & Check Size

Lattice Ventures is a seed-stage focused investor:

• Primary Stage: Seed ($1M-$3M typical range)
• Secondary Stages: Pre-Seed and Series A follow-ons
• Check Size Range: $250K - $500K estimated based on public data
• Fund History: Inaugural fund closed at $2M+ (2017). Recent data suggests the firm continues to make seed investments at modest check sizes.

Recent Activity & Fund Status

As of 2025, Lattice Ventures shows:

• Portfolio Count: 14+ companies invested
• Recent Investments: 6+ investments in 2025 (as of Nov 2025)
• Latest Known Investments:
  • Camp Network - Series A lead (April 2025)
  • OpenSocial Protocol - SocialFi funding round (Feb 2025)
  • Sats Ventures - Seed investment (2025)
  • Project Eleven - Investment (2025)
  • Glow Labs - CleanTech investment with Protocol Labs, Union Square Ventures, Framework Ventures
  • Alef - Software Development Application (2025)
• Fund Status: Actively deploying with steady deal flow
• Last Known Activity: December 2025

Portfolio Companies

Lattice Ventures' portfolio includes a diverse mix across sectors:

Documented Portfolio Companies:

• API Fortress (API security testing platform) - Early stage
• Access Bazaar (E-commerce platform) - Early stage
• Neema (Future of work/HR-related) - Early stage
• Nexgent (Enterprise solutions) - Early stage
• Planted (Food/beverage tech) - Early stage
• Swoonery (Consumer/e-commerce) - Early stage
• Tara.ai (AI-enhanced workforce/product management) - Seed
• WorkRails (Professional services marketplace for consultants) - Seed to growth
• Camp Network (Blockchain/community/network effects) - Series A
• OpenSocial Protocol (SocialFi) - Seed
• Sats Ventures (Crypto/blockchain) - Seed
• Project Eleven (Undisclosed sector) - Early stage
• Glow Labs (CleanTech) - Seed
• Alef (Software development applications) - Early stage

The portfolio demonstrates Lattice's diverse thesis coverage: fintech/payments, blockchain infrastructure, future of work, AI infrastructure, e-commerce, and emerging cleantech.

Team & Background

Brittany Laughlin - Managing Partner

• Background: General Manager at Union Square Ventures ($1B+ AUM), where she worked with portfolio companies including Etsy, Twitter, SoundCloud, Tumblr, Lending Club, and Kickstarter
• Entrepreneurial Experience: Founded VetsinTech NYC (nonprofit transitioning military veterans to tech) and gtrot (social travel recommendation engine, acquired by Groupon)
• Education: BA in Marketing and International Business from NYU Stern
• Writing/Expertise: Writes about building great companies, venture investing, tech, and travel (likesandlaunch.com, @br_ttany)

Vanessa Pestritto - Partner

• Background: Executive Director of New York Angels (largest angel syndicate in NYC, reviewed 5000+ companies)
• Experience: Technology management consulting, product development, business operations restructuring, marketing, and sales at small businesses
• Education: BS in Economics and International Business from NYU Stern
• Writing/Expertise: Writes about tech, angel investing, networking, and career (vanessa.vc, @vanessadice)

The team combines deep venture experience (USV pedigree), angel network expertise, and hands-on operational knowledge. Their ability to source and evaluate deal flow across multiple industries is a core asset.

Decision Process & Investment Philosophy

• Decision Structure: Partnership model - both partners collaborate on investment decisions
• Lead Tendency: Mixed (leads when aligned with thesis, co-leads with other networks)
• Warm Introductions: Strongly preferred (network-driven firm)
• Board Involvement: Typical for seed investments
• Value Add: Growth acceleration, talent sourcing, operator network access, industry expert connections
• Timeline: Network-driven sourcing suggests potential deal flow from NYA and USV networks

Geographic & Sector Preferences

Geographic Focus: US-based companies (with emphasis on NYC network but national reach)

Sector Tags Identified:

• Fintech & Payments (primary)
• Enterprise Software & Workflow Automation
• Developer Tools & Infrastructure
• E-commerce & Marketplaces
• HR/HR Tech (Future of Work)
• CleanTech (emerging)

Sector Anti-Patterns: Limited hardware focus, though some infrastructure plays.

Notable Characteristics

1. Network Effects Philosophy: Deeply committed to network-effect defensibility - both in thesis direction and in how they operate (building networks of experts for portfolio companies)
2. Value-Add Model: Beyond capital, they provide operational guidance, talent networks, and expert connections - especially valuable for seed companies
3. Diverse Expertise: The partnership combines venture capital acumen (Laughlin/USV) with angel network mastery (Pestritto/NYA)
4. Thoughtful Thesis Evolution: Blog posts from 2017-2018 show deep thinking about emerging trends (blockchain, AI, 1099 economy) - they were early on many themes
5. Founder-Friendly: Emphasis on funding entrepreneurs who understand their problems creates founder-first orientation

Recent Trends & Activity (2024-2025)

The firm remains actively deploying with consistent deal flow:

• Demonstrated focus on blockchain and network-effect investments (Camp Network Series A lead)
• Continued interest in network-effect plays (OpenSocial Protocol - SocialFi)
• Emerging interest in cleantech (Glow Labs investment)
• Ongoing seed-stage commitment across diverse sectors

The lack of recent high-profile exits or mega-rounds suggests the portfolio is still in growth/scale phase, with Camp Network (Series A) being one of the more mature current investments.

Founder Profile

Lattice looks for founders who:

1. Personally understand the problems they're solving (deep domain expertise)
2. Have big vision backed by strong skills and deep insights
3. Demonstrate rooted passion in their outcome
4. Can benefit from extended networks of operators and industry experts
5. Are building defensible companies through network effects

The firm's history of backing diverse sectors suggests flexibility to founders with strong conviction and understanding of their problem domain.