TMV Research
Investment Thesis
TMV is a purpose-driven early-stage venture firm founded by Soraya Darabi and Marina Hadjipateras, backing "early-stage entrepreneurs shaping the industries that run the world." The firm's public positioning emphasizes "deep expertise" and "true partnership," seeking founders who "understand distribution as deeply as they grasp the underlying problem." TMV frames itself around three focus areas: AI & Automation, Health & Bio, and Logistics & Maritime, with a fourth emerging vertical, Lifecycles, covering sustainability and circular-economy businesses. The firm's tone is deliberately conviction-forward: leadership has said "the founders who will define the next decade aren't waiting for permission. Neither are we."
Sector Focus
AI & Automation — applied AI and automation tooling across research, creative, and enterprise workflows (AMI Labs, Lovable, Mermaid Chart, Tali AI, PictureStudio, Found AI, Resultid).
Health & Bio — digital health delivery, biotech/pharma data, and mental health, the firm's largest single category by portfolio count (Kindbody, Cityblock, Parsley Health, Slingshot AI, Novellia, Roon, Forta, Fabric Health).
Logistics & Maritime — freight, port/maritime technology, and supply-chain software, including a dedicated $200M sub-fund (TMV Logistics) launched in 2026 (Portcast, OpenTug, Secro, Harbor Lab, Nodal, Channel 19).
Lifecycles — sustainability and circular-economy businesses (Ridwell, Great Wrap-style recycling/reuse models).
Stage Focus
TMV invests from pre-seed through Series B, with a concentration at seed and Series A. The firm frequently leads seed and Series A rounds for portfolio companies it originates, and participates alongside other leads in later or adjacent rounds (e.g., Series B follow-ons for Topline Pro, Series A participation in Novellia and Weave Bio).
Check Size
Typical check size ranges roughly $250K–$10M, with reporting citing a partner sweet spot near $1M for initial checks and larger commitments reserved for follow-ons and fund-led rounds (e.g., the $200M TMV Logistics vehicle backing larger maritime deals).
Lead Tendency
TMV both leads and participates. Recent examples of leading: Slingshot AI (Series A), OpenTug (Series A), Portcast (Series A), Roon (Series A), Forta (Series A), Topline Pro (original Series A). Recent examples of participating: Novellia (Series A), Weave Bio (Series A), Secro (Series A), Topline Pro's later Series B.
Recent Activity
TMV launched TMV Logistics, a dedicated $200M fund for maritime and logistics technology, announced in 2026 — its most significant recent structural move. Portfolio momentum in 2025–2026 includes: Weave Bio's $20M Series A for pharma regulatory AI, Secro's $10M Series A, TandemStride's $5.5M raise for trauma-survivor support, Topline Pro's $27M Series B, Slingshot AI's public debut of its AI-powered therapy product after raising $93M, and continued attention on AMI Labs (Yann LeCun's world-model startup), which raised roughly $1.03B and was reported at a $3.5B valuation — among the highest-profile companies associated with the firm's AI vertical, though TMV's exact check size in that round is not disclosed. Novellia, a real-world pharma data company, also won a 2026 Fierce Outsourcing innovation award.
Portfolio Highlights
The portfolio spans roughly 58 active companies across AI & Automation, Health & Bio, and Logistics & Maritime. Notable names include Kindbody (fertility/women's health, reported unicorn valuation), Cityblock (value-based healthcare), Parsley Health (functional medicine), Ridwell (recycling, reported at 130,000+ customers), Lovable (AI app-building platform), Mermaid Chart, Slingshot AI, Roon, Forta, Portcast, OpenTug, Secro, Topline Pro, Bonside (private-credit vehicle addressing a reported $2.9T market), and Novellia.
Team
- Soraya Darabi — Founder & Managing Partner. Previously founded Foodspotting; recognized as one of Private Equity International's "Women of Influence 2025."
- Marina Hadjipateras — Founder & Managing Partner. Focus on logistics, operations, and financial diligence.
- Azzi Agnelli — General Partner, TMV Lifecycles (sustainability/impact vertical).
- Emma Silverman — Partner.
- Joshua Gold — Principal.
- Tim Shey — Venture Partner.
- Darshan Somashekar — Venture Partner.
- Joshua Gilbert — Chief Financial Officer.
- Sean Villafranca — Creative Director.
- Justin Kazmark — Communications/PR.
Decision Process
TMV operates as a partnership between its two co-founders (Darabi and Hadjipateras) with support from a small partner/principal team (Agnelli, Silverman, Gold) and venture partners for domain-specific diligence. This structure points to a partnership decision process rather than a solo-GP or large investment-committee model.
Founder Preferences
TMV's public messaging and portfolio pattern favor founders with strong domain expertise in regulated or operationally complex industries (healthcare, logistics/maritime, biotech), a track record of building distribution alongside product, and conviction to move without waiting for external validation. The firm has a demonstrated track record backing women- and minority-led teams (Kindbody, Cityblock, Parsley Health, Slingshot AI).
Geographic Focus
TMV maintains offices in San Francisco, New York, and London, with New York as its primary headquarters. Its portfolio is predominantly US-based, with selective international exposure through its logistics/maritime vertical, which by nature spans global shipping lanes and ports.