Obvious Ventures
San Francisco, California · Invests in US · Website
Check size
🔒 $•• – $••Thesis
The most valuable companies of our time will be the ones solving humanity's biggest problems across planetary health, human health, and economic health. We back exceptional founders building breakthrough solutions that create both financial returns and positive impact.
Likely not a fit for
Pure consumer apps without meaningful impact, incremental improvements, non-values-aligned leadership
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Usually leads
- Typical decision
- ~2 weeks
- Warm intro
- Not required
- Involvement
- Takes a board seat
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Assets under mgmt
- $1B
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
10 contacts on file
Portfolio
Recursion Pharmaceuticals uses AI to discover new drugs, aiming to reduce the high failure rate of traditional drug discovery. They partner with industry leaders and leverage advanced data and machine learning models.
Planet Labs provides satellite imagery and earth data analytics, enabling high-frequency monitoring and analysis of the Earth's surface.
Gusto provides online payroll and HR solutions designed to support small businesses. With a focus on automating payroll processes and offering comprehensive HR services, Gusto aims to simplify the management of employee benefits, compliance, and talent management for over 400,000 businesses.
Beyond Meat produces vegan meat and plant-based meat substitutes, focusing on creating products that nourish and protect health while promoting sustainability.
Diamond Foundry accelerates mega tech industries with single-crystal diamond wafers, addressing thermal challenges in AI, electric vehicles, and wireless communication.
Virta Health offers a personalized nutrition program and expert support to reverse metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, focusing on sustainable weight loss and medication reduction.
Devoted Health is a healthcare company focused on improving the health and well-being of older Americans through comprehensive Medicare Advantage plans and personalized support.
Dexterity is a Redwood City, California-based Physical AI and robotics company specializing in using Physical AI to embed robots with human-like dexterity. By automating repetitive tasks, Dexterity’s full-stack robotics unlock the maximum value of the workforce, allowing employees to focus on higher-level, cognitive work.
Pyka.com offers free branded templates to engage customers through the GoDaddy app.
Forum Mobility delivers turnkey zero-emission solutions to help freight carriers confidently electrify their fleets, providing charging depots, electric truck leasing, and innovative financing.
Zanskar is an AI-native geothermal energy company focused on unlocking geothermal resources using data and advanced technologies to deliver affordable, carbon-free energy.
Ataraxis AI is a domain for sale, offering premium domain name purchase and leasing options.
Recent activity
- Jun 2026
Radical Numerics
Seed · Participated
- May 2026
Gray Swan
Series A · Participated
- Jan 2026
Zanskar
Growth · Lead
- May 2025
Inductive Bio
Series B · Lead
- Jun 2023
Inceptive
Series A · Lead
- Apr 2023
Ataraxis AI
Series A · Lead
Obvious Ventures in the news
TechCrunch
Gritt exits stealth with $32 million for robots to build solar plants — then, everything else
1 month ago
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 6/22/26
2 months ago
The Week’s 10 Biggest Funding Rounds: World-Model Startup Odyssey Leads With $310M In Slower Week For Large Deals
2 months ago
Di-Ann Eisnor: Waze to $1B Exit, Silicon Valley for All
3 months ago
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 6/1/26
3 months ago
Corgi hits $2.6B, $240M for laser fusion, and a Bach to Rock acquisition
3 months ago
VC firm Dimension scouting out $700 million for new fund | STAT
5 months ago
The Google-backed AI investors nobody took seriously in 2017 just raised $220 million
5 months ago
This venture capital firm believes investing in climate is ‘Obvious’—and just raised another $360 million to prove it
7 months ago
Utah's innovation economy and venture ecosystem growth in 2026
7 months ago
Twitter co-founder’s Obvious Ventures raised over $360m to target 'planetary, human, economic health'
7 months ago
Obvious Ventures lands fund five with a 360-degree view of planetary, human, economic health
7 months ago
Fleetzero Raises $43 Million Series A from Obvious Ventures, Maersk Growth, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, 8090 Industries and Others to Scale Shipping Electrification and Autonomy
7 months ago
$60 Billion Venture Capital Coalition Launches New Fund to Scale Climate Tech Startups
Sep 2025
All In Food Closes $4M Led by Obvious Ventures and Launches In Retail
Jun 2025
Obvious Ventures, co-founded by Twitter's Evan Williams, plans to raise $400 million fund
Feb 2025
Startup Bootstrapping: Putting Revenue Before Fundraising
Oct 2023
In brief: Venture capital firms join Mark Carney’s GFANZ with net zero commitments
Apr 2023
New biotech investor Cure Ventures closes first fund, raising $350M
Apr 2023
These Venture Veterans Have Launched A $350 Million Fund Aimed At Digitizing Life Sciences
Jan 2023
Obvious Ventures crosses $1 billion in assets for "world positive" startups
Jun 2022
Obvious Raises Two New Funds Focused on Social Impacts
Jun 2022
Nue Life Health raises $23M Series A Led by Obvious Ventures for psychedelics platform
Apr 2022
ConcertoCare Procures $105 Million in Series B Funds
Feb 2022
Why Obvious Ventures Decided to Lead Startup Torch's Series B Round
Feb 2021
Inato Raises $14 Million in Series A Funding from Obvious Ventures, Cathay Innovation, Serena and Fly Ventures
May 2020
Twitter co-founder Ev Williams' Obvious Ventures launches new fund
Jan 2020
Ex-Twitter CEO Ev Williams' VC firm just scored its first home run with the Beyond Meat IPO
May 2019
It’s Not So Obvious That This VC Firm Is Focused On Impact
Mar 2019
This Venture Capitalist Wants To Transform The Silicon Valley Mindset
Sep 2017
Obvious Ventures Closes Inaugural Fund at $123,456,789
May 2015
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