Snatched Ventures Research
Investment Thesis
Snatched Ventures is a San Francisco-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2025 by Kevin Colas and Alessandro Zago. The firm backs DeepTech startups at the intersection of eight science-based technologies — AI/ML, materials science, advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, optics, electronics, robotics, and blockchain — that drive sustainable operational transformation and efficiency. Snatched targets companies that create new categories and reshape industries through breakthrough technology with immediate deployment potential, rather than purely experimental or distant-timeline innovations.
The firm invests across six thematic areas: transportation & logistics, energy & water, food & agriculture, fashion & beauty, precision medicine & aging, and retail & e-commerce. Each of these sectors represents large-scale operational systems ripe for disruption through deep technological innovation.
Investment Criteria
Snatched Ventures applies two proprietary frameworks to evaluate opportunities:
5P Framework: Potential, People, Predictability, Product, Price — evaluating the quality of the opportunity across five dimensions before an investment decision.
4Fs Filters: Strict financial underwriting criteria requiring: minimum $1M in early revenue, 50%+ gross margins, 0.25x cash conversion score, 3x revenue-to-capex ratio, and a minimum 10% ownership target per investment.
These filters ensure the firm backs companies with proven commercial traction and strong unit economics, distinguishing Snatched from purely idea-stage or R&D-heavy investors in the DeepTech space.
Stage Focus
Primary focus on Series A investments, with opportunistic participation at Series Seed and Series B. The firm's 4Fs criteria requiring $1M minimum revenue typically align with late pre-seed to early Series A stage for DeepTech companies with capital-intensive development cycles.
Check Size
Targeting approximately $500K–$5M per investment to achieve minimum 10% ownership stakes at Series A stage. The fund reserves capital for follow-on investments to support portfolio companies through subsequent rounds.
Fund Information
Snatched Ventures Alpha, LP was formally launched in February 2025, targeting $100M with an initial close of $30M. Limited partners include a value-added mix of financial, corporate, family office, and strategic LPs. The Empire Angel Collective (EAC), founded by Kevin Colas in November 2020, served as the de facto Fund I, deploying ~$10M across 40+ startups with strong DeepTech exposure. The EAC is now deploying exclusively in DeepTech by vintage (4 investments in 2024), with EAC advisors committed to roll into Snatched Ventures Alpha as warehouse investments.
Prior track record from the founders' combined platforms: 4.4x TVPI, 151% DPI, 1.6% loss ratio across 24 transactions with 22 companies, including 5 unicorns, 1 IPO exit, and 3 acquisitions.
Lead Tendency
Snatched Ventures targets minimum 10% ownership per investment, suggesting they lead or co-lead rounds. They bring not just capital but a network of 150+ global corporations across their six thematic areas and leverage the AI-enabled 'Jolt.Ninja Platform' for sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio monitoring.
Team
Kevin Colas, Managing General Partner: 25+ years experience in strategy and public/private GP and LP investment. Founded the Empire Angel Collective (November 2020) and previously served as CIO at OceanIQ Capital. Holds FINRA Series 7, 66, and 65 certifications. MBA from Hult International Business School. Based in Oakland, California.
Alessandro Zago, Managing Partner: 25+ years experience as a global tech business development executive and investment professional. Previously led DeepTech investments at Hyundai's corporate venture arm and Chemonics International, and served as VP of New Ventures and Innovation at Enplas. Earlier roles at BMW and Siemens span automotive and industrial tech. PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and MBA from INSEAD. Based in San Francisco.
Portfolio Highlights
The portfolio spans 25+ companies across DeepTech sectors, reflecting both EAC-era investments and new Snatched-era deals:
AI/ML & Data: Tomorrow.io (weather intelligence, Series D), Tekion (AI-native automotive cloud, Series C), Metadata.io (B2B demand generation AI, Series A), Syrup (AI inventory optimization, Seed), Miros (autonomous vehicle perception, Seed), Avatar Medical (AI medical imaging, Seed)
Robotics & Automation: Gatik (autonomous middle-mile logistics, Series A), Simbe Robotics (retail inventory robots, Series A), Danu Robotics (agricultural robotics, Seed), Indigotech (Seed)
Biotechnology & Life Sciences: Amprion (prion disease diagnostics, Series B), Ancilia Bio (AAV gene therapy, Pre-Seed), Nucleus (longevity biotech, Seed), Eat Just (alt-protein/cultivated meat, Series F), Artemys Foods (cultivated beef, Series A)
Material Sciences & Energy: Factorial Energy (solid-state batteries, Series C), Solid Power (solid-state battery cells, Series A), Solarcore (nano-porous insulation, Series A), EPS Energy (distributed solar, Series A), Tidal Vision (chitosan biomaterials, Series A), Ekoa (flax fiber composites, Series A)
Advanced Manufacturing: Arevo (continuous carbon fiber 3D printing, Series B), Beanstalk Farms (vertical farming, Series A)
Optics/Electronics: Openlight Photonics (silicon photonics, Series A), Kura Tech (AR optics, Seed)
Geographic Focus
San Francisco headquartered with global investment reach. The founders bring extensive international networks from prior roles at BMW, Siemens, Hyundai, and Chemonics, with a network spanning 150+ global corporations. Investments are primarily US-based but selectively international given the global nature of DeepTech adoption and the founders' international backgrounds.
Decision Process
Two-GP partnership between Kevin Colas and Alessandro Zago, making joint investment decisions. The firm uses AI-enabled processes through the Jolt.Ninja Platform for sourcing and portfolio evaluation. Uses a structured 5P + 4Fs evaluation framework ensuring consistent and rigorous underwriting.
Co-Investors and Corporate Network
The founders bring deep corporate relationships spanning BMW, Siemens, Hyundai, and Chemonics, providing DeepTech portfolio companies strategic access to corporate pilots, distribution partnerships, and enterprise customers. The firm's 150+ global corporate connections across six thematic areas differentiate it from purely financial VCs.