Incisive (adj): Intelligently analytical and clear-thinking: accurate and sharply focused.

Over 25 years of investing, I have identified seven meta themes and developed a screening process that has produced superior returns. My direct Angel investments have delivered 3x the returns versus my LP interests in other Venture funds, leading many co-investors to encourage me to syndicate deals through Incisive Ventures. Out of hundreds of deals across my desk, only a handful, the ones with my highest level of conviction, will be offered to the syndicate. How I process the funnel is described in detail on the blog. I invest a significant portion of each syndicate (typically 10-20%), so you can have confidence that our interests are aligned. A deeper dive into how IV is Upgrading the Syndicate here. There will be no co-syndications here, only deals that I do my own primary diligence on. In my process, I must first get to a "yes" for my personal check before sharing with the syndicate, this is a very differentiated high conviction process.

We invest in Angel and Venture-led deals with a target to improve returns by 25-75% versus a traditional 2/20 fund.

I am a serial entrepreneur who has also invested in over 100 deals as an angel, half a dozen as a venture partner at a major VC firm, and I am a limited in over a dozen VC funds. I am also the Founder of a leading Angel network, Element8. For my own companies as a 3x CEO, I have raised over $500M (including two IPOs) and bring all that experience and relationships. I have always generated the best returns doing deals with my friends, having a personal connection with the CEO and other investors and being helpful to the company. In the past, there was tons of friction getting Angels together. The Angel List platform significantly reduces the friction and that is why I have decided to bring my syndication here.

Incisive Ventures is a high conviction, thematic syndicate. Many of the founders I am betting on are prior relationships building their second, third, or fourth companies. I am personally invested in every deal and I will only present opportunities in which I have the utmost conviction. Join us and get access to our network of ideas, investors, entrepreneurs, and opportunities.

What you get

The highest conviction on thesis deals go into the Syndicate including oversubscribed, stealth, and proprietary deals from our network.

Martin writes a personal check of at least 10% of each syndicate.

We only make money when you make money.