UpWest

What is UpWest?

UpWest is an investment fund that specializes in the pre-seed and seed stage investment rounds, focusing on Israeli founders who are keen on establishing their operational headquarters in the United States right from the start. It is imperative for these founders to not only target the US market from inception but also ensure the CEO is physically present in the US. Therefore, UpWest does not show interest in businesses aiming at other geographies outside this scope.

The fund has a diverse portfolio, investing in a variety of sectors including Software, Business Solutions, FinTech, A.I. and Big Data, HealthTech, Web Security, Cloud Services, Developer Tools, Future of Work, Logistics, Payments, DeepTech, and initiatives focused on women. UpWest typically invests between $100,000 to $3,000,000, with their sweet spot of investment being around $1,500,000.

With assets under management amounting to $18,400,000, their investment thesis revolves around Israeli entrepreneurs with a strong connection to the US market, offering capital and support as they scale their business operations. The fund's expertise in strategy and acquisitions, along with the strong network in the Israeli ecosystem of investors, entrepreneurs, and startups, positions UpWest uniquely to provide substantial value beyond capital, helping startups gain momentum in critical early stages.

The personal background of UpWest's Gil Ben-Artzy, which includes his tenure with Yahoo! and the Boston Consulting Group, reflects the fund's commitment to fostering the success of startups with strong connections to both the US and Israeli business landscapes.