Max Ventures

About The Fund

Max Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York City with a broad geographic reach. They position themselves as first-check investors, leading or co-leading rounds, with a primary focus on digital health, SaaS, and digital commerce sectors. They emphasize their capacity not only as investors but also as company builders, having co-founded seven venture-backed companies. Their active partnership philosophy at the newborn stage of a company asserts that they deliver outsized impact for their portfolio companies. The firm commits to being valuable partners for startups navigating the initial challenges of company building. With a diverse range of investment specialties including Early, Seed, and Series A stages, Max Ventures operates rather dynamically within the technology sector. Their investment range varies from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $5,000,000, with a sweet spot around $1,500,000 for investments. The leadership team boasts substantial industry experience; Founding Partner Ryan Darnell has made over 70 seed investments and co-founded six VC-backed companies. Co-Founder Sophie Stenbeck has 15 years of active investment experience and a strong background in philanthropy, whereas Partner Matthew Weinberg brings insights from his tenure as an Obama Administration White House appointee and has led key investments at Max Ventures. Their diverse portfolio and strategic approach underline their commitment to fostering innovation and growth within the realms of Media, Retail (& E-Commerce), HealthTech (& Fitness), Medical Devices (& Hospital Services), Healthcare (& Wellness), and Mobile industries.