Organization · Venture Capital
Matchstick Ventures
Matchstick Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Colorado and Minnesota, focusing on technology startups in underserved ecosystems. The firm emphasizes a founder-first approach, providing capital, connections, and community support.
Overview
What Matchstick Ventures does
What Matchstick Ventures is
Matchstick Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Colorado and Minnesota, focusing on technology startups in underserved ecosystems. The firm emphasizes a founder-first approach, providing capital, connections, and community support.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports funder and community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Venture Capital
- Founded
- Founded in 2013
- Approximate age
- About 13 years
- Structured capabilities
- Funder · Community
- Last reviewed
- March 30, 2026
Official channels
Find Matchstick Ventures elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
Matchstick Ventures as a funder
Investment thesis
Matchstick Ventures invests in early-stage technology companies in underserved startup ecosystems, focusing on diverse founders and innovative ideas.
Focus narrative
Matchstick Ventures specializes in pre-seed and seed-stage investments, offering capital ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million. The firm emphasizes backing diverse founders and innovative ideas across various sectors, while also providing hands-on support, mentorship, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and investors.
Value beyond capital
Matchstick Ventures adds value to its portfolio companies through hands-on support, mentorship, and access to a robust network of successful entrepreneurs and investors, fostering strong relationships with founders.
Terms and economics
- Typical check
- $500,000–$1,500,000
Focus and fit
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Regions
- North AmericaUnited States
Availability
- Currently deploying
- Yes
Portfolio and track record
- Recorded portfolio count
- 100
Portfolio context
Matchstick Ventures has invested in over 100 companies since its inception. Notable portfolio companies include: Automate.Clinic (AI-driven clinical teams), Paperstack (working capital for e-commerce), Locate.ai (AI brokerage for commercial real estate), Juno (enterprise travel management), Cast Finance (AI-native accounting), Maggie's Refuel (modern convenience store), and Intelligems (profit optimization for e-commerce).
Capability profile
Matchstick Ventures as a community
Community overview
Matchstick Ventures is an early-stage technology investment firm founded in 2015, with a focus on supporting the creation and growth of technology companies in underserved startup ecosystems, particularly those located 'between the coasts' of the United States. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Boulder, Colorado, Matchstick Ventures aims to foster founder-first relationships and provide capital, resources, and community support to ambitious entrepreneurs.
Community focus
Matchstick Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups, emphasizing backing diverse founders and innovative ideas across various sectors. The firm is committed to building strong relationships with entrepreneurs, offering hands-on support, mentorship, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and investors.
Member value
Members benefit from access to capital ranging from $500,000 to $1.5 million, mentorship, and a supportive community that fosters collaboration and growth. Matchstick Ventures also emphasizes diversity in its portfolio, with a significant portion led by underrepresented founders.
Membership
- Recorded members
- 400
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- rolling-admissions
- Commitment
- light
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- community
- Selection criteria
- open
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed
- Regions
- North America
Community activity
Events and activity
Matchstick Ventures serves as a community hub for founders in underserved markets, hosting networking events and providing opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with each other and with investors.
Notable members
Notable members include co-founders Nathaniel Zola and Ryan Broshar, along with a diverse portfolio of over 100 companies, including Automate.Clinic, Paperstack, and Locate.ai.
Common questions
What to know about Matchstick Ventures
Upseed classifies Matchstick Ventures under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder and community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
March 30, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.