Organization · Venture Capital

UP.Partners

UP.Partners is a venture capital firm based in Santa Monica, California, focusing on seed and early-stage investments in mobility technologies across various domains, including land, sea, air, and space.

Venture CapitalFunderEvent hostPublisher

Overview

What UP.Partners does

What UP.Partners is

UP.Partners is a venture capital firm based in Santa Monica, California, focusing on seed and early-stage investments in mobility technologies across various domains, including land, sea, air, and space.

How it participates in the startup ecosystem

The current public profile supports funder and event host and publisher 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 2020
Approximate age
About 6 years
Structured capabilities
Funder · Event host · Publisher
Last reviewed
March 16, 2026

Official channels

Find UP.Partners elsewhere

Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.

Capability profile

UP.Partners as a funder

Investment thesis

UP.Partners focuses on transforming the movement of people and goods through innovative mobility solutions across various transportation modes, including land, air, sea, and space.

Focus narrative

The investment focus of UP.Partners encompasses a wide range of mobility solutions, including sensing and perception technologies, automation, logistics optimization, energy systems, space infrastructure, and digital industry innovations. The organization aims to support ventures that enhance the efficiency and sustainability of transportation across various modes.

Value beyond capital

UP.Partners adds value to its portfolio companies through extensive corporate partnerships, industry expertise, and a multi-strategy operational model that includes venture funding, co-creation through UP.Labs, and a dedicated energy/mobility fund via UP.Abundance. This approach enables startups to leverage resources and insights from established industry players.

Terms and economics

Typical check
$1,000,000–$5,000,000
Sweet spot
$3,000,000

Focus and fit

Stages
Seed · Series A · Growth Equity
Regions
Global · United States

Availability

Currently deploying
Yes

Portfolio and track record

Recorded portfolio count
40

Portfolio context

Notable portfolio companies include Kolors, an intercity bus network enhancing customer experience; Loft Dynamics, which improves flight training safety; Teleo, converting fleets into teleoperated autonomous robots; Metropolis, providing checkout-free payment solutions; Beta Technologies, developing eVTOL vehicles; Aerialoop, the first commercial urban drone delivery airline; Range, electrifying commercial transportation; Skydio, a manufacturer of autonomous drones; and Axiom, which provides missions to the International Space Station.

Capability profile

UP.Partners as an event host

Event focus

UP.Partners invests in companies innovating within the transportation sector, focusing on vertical AI startups that address operational challenges and enhance efficiency. They collaborate with leading organizations to develop solutions that provide substantial operational gains and create immediate value.

Format narrative

UP.Partners operates as a venture capital firm and a venture lab, collaborating with corporate partners to create startups that address specific industry challenges.

Participant value

Attendees gain insights into the latest trends in mobility and opportunities for collaboration with industry leaders.

Format and cadence

Event types
summit
Recurrence
annual
Modality
in-person
Startups can present
No

Availability

Registration state
Accepting

Audience and fit

Selection criteria
invite-only
Stages
Seed · Pre-seed
Audience
Founders · Investors

Speakers and past editions

Speakers

Key team members include Ben Marcus, Cyrus Sigari, Adam Grosser, and Luciano Froes.

Past editions

UP.Summit is an annual, invitation-only gathering of leaders in the mobility sector, focusing on innovation and collaboration.

Capability profile

UP.Partners as a publisher

Editorial focus

UP.Partners is an investment firm dedicated to the transportation sector, focusing on innovative technologies that enhance the movement of people and goods across various modes of transport, including ground, air, sea, and space. They invest in vertical AI startups that address operational challenges and enhance efficiency, collaborating with leading organizations to develop impactful solutions.

Audience value

UP.Partners provides substantial operational gains and immediate value through investments in innovative transportation technologies and collaborations with industry leaders.

Format and cadence

Content formats
research-report and podcast

Availability

Guest pitch state
Not currently accepting

Audience and focus

Audience
Investors · Founders

Flagship work and coverage

Flagship properties

The Moving World Report: An annual report detailing macro and micro trends in mobility. Podcasts discussing innovation in venture capital and corporate partnerships.

Common questions

What to know about UP.Partners

Upseed classifies UP.Partners under the Venture Capital organization type. Its current public profile includes funder, event host, and publisher capabilities.

Next step

Keep comparing startup organizations

Return to the organization index or continue through a verified sector, place, peer, or program connected to this profile.

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 16, 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.