Heretic Ventures

About Heretic Ventures

Heretic Ventures is an investment firm led by Mariam Naficy, the founder and chairman of Minted, with a focus on seeding and scaling disruptive companies in various stages of development. Specializing in investments within the realms of software, including web marketplaces and SaaS platforms, media, retail, and e-commerce, as well as the consumer sector, Heretic Ventures aims to identify and empower visionary entrepreneurs. The fund's investment range is broad, offering a minimum investment of $100,000, a maximum of $5,000,000, and a sweet spot of around $1,500,000 for select ventures. With a hands-on approach, the fund leverages the extensive experience of its team, which includes expertise in AI/ML led by Hakan Gunturkun, software engineering directed by Aljosha 'Yosh' Novakovic, generative AI vetted by Andrew Carr, business incubation managed by Sida Li, and venture strategy and development overseen by Peter Sjolander. The collective background includes a blend of industry and academic experience, startup founding and scaling, as well as strategy and product incubation. Positioning itself at the intersection of technology and media, Heretic Ventures concentrates on pre-seed to Series B stages, including Seed and Series A, guiding companies through critical development phases. The fund is supported by prominent Silicon Valley names who provide advisory roles in company selection and mentorship. They're dedicated to fostering an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation in media, social networks, and commerce, with ongoing efforts to attract talent that embodies the entrepreneurial spirit.