Drive Capital

Drive Capital is a venture capital firm based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2012. The firm focuses on investing in innovative technology, healthcare, and consumer companies located in the Midwest, aiming to support entrepreneurs who are addressing significant market opportunities. Drive Capital targets a range of sectors, including information technology, financial services, mobile, life sciences, and consumer products, and is willing to invest from $100,000 to tens of millions in startups at various stages of development. The firm emphasizes partnerships with entrepreneurs who have ambitious goals and seek to build sustainable, large-scale companies. Its investment strategy encompasses the broader Midwest region, extending from Pittsburgh to Kansas City to Minneapolis. Founded by experienced venture capitalists Mark Kvamme and Chris Olsen, Drive Capital aims to drive growth and innovation in the heartland of America.

Molly Bonakdarpour

General Partner

TJ Dembinski

Partner

Masha Khusid

Partner

Yasmine Lacaillade

Network Partner

Marcos Martinez-Villalba

Partner

Erandi De Silva

Partner

Nick Solaro

Partner

John Volquez

Partner

Past deals in Ohio

Path Robotics

Series D in 2024
Path Robotics, Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio, specializes in the manufacture of autonomous welding robots. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on designing robotic welding systems that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance precision and adaptability in manufacturing processes. These advanced systems automate repetitive welding tasks, helping manufacturers boost productivity while reducing initial costs. By addressing workforce challenges in the manufacturing sector, Path Robotics offers effective automation solutions that streamline operations. Their robots are engineered to autonomously locate and weld seams, significantly reducing production time and improving quality by minimizing errors and inconsistencies. This technology enables industries to simplify their production processes and enhance overall efficiency.

Forge Biologics

Series C in 2022
Forge Biologics is a gene therapy development engine, focused on enabling access to life-changing gene therapies and helping bring them from an idea into reality. The company partners with innovators in the gene therapy community: scientists, physicians, biotech/pharma companies, and patient groups. It was founded in 2020 and headquartered in Grove City, Ohio.

Path Robotics

Series B in 2021
Path Robotics, Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio, specializes in the manufacture of autonomous welding robots. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on designing robotic welding systems that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance precision and adaptability in manufacturing processes. These advanced systems automate repetitive welding tasks, helping manufacturers boost productivity while reducing initial costs. By addressing workforce challenges in the manufacturing sector, Path Robotics offers effective automation solutions that streamline operations. Their robots are engineered to autonomously locate and weld seams, significantly reducing production time and improving quality by minimizing errors and inconsistencies. This technology enables industries to simplify their production processes and enhance overall efficiency.

Forge Biologics

Series B in 2021
Forge Biologics is a gene therapy development engine, focused on enabling access to life-changing gene therapies and helping bring them from an idea into reality. The company partners with innovators in the gene therapy community: scientists, physicians, biotech/pharma companies, and patient groups. It was founded in 2020 and headquartered in Grove City, Ohio.

Beam

Series E in 2021
Beam Technologies Inc. is a dental benefits company based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2012. It specializes in providing digital-first dental insurance plans that emphasize preventive care and ease-of-use. Beam’s offerings include dental insurance, which features perks such as floss, toothpaste, and the Beam Brush—a wirelessly connected toothbrush that allows users to track and monitor their brushing habits through a smartphone app. The company incorporates rewards for maintaining good dental hygiene into its policy pricing, making it a unique player in the dental benefits market.

Circulo

Series A in 2021
Circulo Health is a Medicaid insurance company of the future, providing tech-enabled care to the sickest and poorest populations. Circulo is based in Columbus, Ohio, the emerging insurtech capital of the U.S.

Physna

Series B in 2021
Physna LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializes in geometric deep-learning and 3D search technology. The company has developed a software platform that analyzes, compares, and codifies 3D models, facilitating quality control and automated inspection in various industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and consumer goods. Physna also owns Thangs.com, a rapidly growing 3D community and search engine. By transforming 3D files into a structured format that software applications can understand, Physna aims to bridge the gap between physical objects and digital code. This innovation enables broader access to 3D design and analysis, fostering advancements in product design, 3D printing, augmented and virtual reality, and other fields, thus supporting increased efficiency and productivity in manufacturing.

Beam

Venture Round in 2021
Beam Technologies Inc. is a dental benefits company based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2012. It specializes in providing digital-first dental insurance plans that emphasize preventive care and ease-of-use. Beam’s offerings include dental insurance, which features perks such as floss, toothpaste, and the Beam Brush—a wirelessly connected toothbrush that allows users to track and monitor their brushing habits through a smartphone app. The company incorporates rewards for maintaining good dental hygiene into its policy pricing, making it a unique player in the dental benefits market.

Olive

Venture Round in 2020
Olive deploys the AI workforce built specifically for healthcare, delivering hospitals and health systems increased revenue, reduced costs, and increased capacity. Olive automates repetitive, high-volume tasks and workflows, monitoring their performance, identifying improvements, and finding opportunities for new work. Olive gives power back to providers through her ever-growing, unparalleled intelligence made up of shared memories, collective wisdom, and global awareness, learning like a network so hospitals never have to solve the same problem twice. Olive was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Olive

Series F in 2020
Olive deploys the AI workforce built specifically for healthcare, delivering hospitals and health systems increased revenue, reduced costs, and increased capacity. Olive automates repetitive, high-volume tasks and workflows, monitoring their performance, identifying improvements, and finding opportunities for new work. Olive gives power back to providers through her ever-growing, unparalleled intelligence made up of shared memories, collective wisdom, and global awareness, learning like a network so hospitals never have to solve the same problem twice. Olive was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Forge Biologics

Series A in 2020
Forge Biologics is a gene therapy development engine, focused on enabling access to life-changing gene therapies and helping bring them from an idea into reality. The company partners with innovators in the gene therapy community: scientists, physicians, biotech/pharma companies, and patient groups. It was founded in 2020 and headquartered in Grove City, Ohio.

Olive

Series E in 2020
Olive deploys the AI workforce built specifically for healthcare, delivering hospitals and health systems increased revenue, reduced costs, and increased capacity. Olive automates repetitive, high-volume tasks and workflows, monitoring their performance, identifying improvements, and finding opportunities for new work. Olive gives power back to providers through her ever-growing, unparalleled intelligence made up of shared memories, collective wisdom, and global awareness, learning like a network so hospitals never have to solve the same problem twice. Olive was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Root

Series E in 2019
Root Insurance Company is a property-casualty insurtech based in Columbus, Ohio, that specializes in car insurance and renters insurance. Founded in 1998 and rebranded in 2016, Root leverages smartphone technology to analyze driving behavior, such as braking patterns and speed, to identify safe drivers. This innovative approach allows the company to offer personalized and affordable car insurance rates by insuring only those deemed safe drivers. In addition to car insurance, Root provides app-based renters insurance that is straightforward and tailored to meet consumer needs. Root operates as a subsidiary of its parent company, Root, Inc., which aims to transform the traditional insurance industry through technology-driven solutions.

Physna

Series A in 2019
Physna LLC, founded in 2015 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializes in geometric deep-learning and 3D search technology. The company has developed a software platform that analyzes, compares, and codifies 3D models, facilitating quality control and automated inspection in various industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and consumer goods. Physna also owns Thangs.com, a rapidly growing 3D community and search engine. By transforming 3D files into a structured format that software applications can understand, Physna aims to bridge the gap between physical objects and digital code. This innovation enables broader access to 3D design and analysis, fostering advancements in product design, 3D printing, augmented and virtual reality, and other fields, thus supporting increased efficiency and productivity in manufacturing.

Beam

Series D in 2019
Beam Technologies Inc. is a dental benefits company based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2012. It specializes in providing digital-first dental insurance plans that emphasize preventive care and ease-of-use. Beam’s offerings include dental insurance, which features perks such as floss, toothpaste, and the Beam Brush—a wirelessly connected toothbrush that allows users to track and monitor their brushing habits through a smartphone app. The company incorporates rewards for maintaining good dental hygiene into its policy pricing, making it a unique player in the dental benefits market.

Path Robotics

Series A in 2018
Path Robotics, Inc., based in Cleveland, Ohio, specializes in the manufacture of autonomous welding robots. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on designing robotic welding systems that utilize artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance precision and adaptability in manufacturing processes. These advanced systems automate repetitive welding tasks, helping manufacturers boost productivity while reducing initial costs. By addressing workforce challenges in the manufacturing sector, Path Robotics offers effective automation solutions that streamline operations. Their robots are engineered to autonomously locate and weld seams, significantly reducing production time and improving quality by minimizing errors and inconsistencies. This technology enables industries to simplify their production processes and enhance overall efficiency.

Finite State

Seed Round in 2017
Finite State, Inc. is a cybersecurity company focused on securing Internet of Things (IoT) devices, networks, and supply chains. The company offers a platform that conducts in-depth firmware analysis to identify vulnerabilities that may affect connected devices. This platform generates comprehensive risk reports for each device, detailing an overall risk score, a software bill of materials, known vulnerabilities, potential backdoors, and other security deficiencies. Finite State's services are designed to enhance vulnerability management and threat intelligence for clients in various sectors, including automotive, healthcare, energy, and critical infrastructure. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the company employs advanced techniques such as static and dynamic analysis, reverse engineering, and machine learning to provide insights into the security posture of IoT ecosystems.

Beam

Series B in 2017
Beam Technologies Inc. is a dental benefits company based in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 2012. It specializes in providing digital-first dental insurance plans that emphasize preventive care and ease-of-use. Beam’s offerings include dental insurance, which features perks such as floss, toothpaste, and the Beam Brush—a wirelessly connected toothbrush that allows users to track and monitor their brushing habits through a smartphone app. The company incorporates rewards for maintaining good dental hygiene into its policy pricing, making it a unique player in the dental benefits market.

Olive

Series C in 2016
Olive deploys the AI workforce built specifically for healthcare, delivering hospitals and health systems increased revenue, reduced costs, and increased capacity. Olive automates repetitive, high-volume tasks and workflows, monitoring their performance, identifying improvements, and finding opportunities for new work. Olive gives power back to providers through her ever-growing, unparalleled intelligence made up of shared memories, collective wisdom, and global awareness, learning like a network so hospitals never have to solve the same problem twice. Olive was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Olive

Series B in 2015
Olive deploys the AI workforce built specifically for healthcare, delivering hospitals and health systems increased revenue, reduced costs, and increased capacity. Olive automates repetitive, high-volume tasks and workflows, monitoring their performance, identifying improvements, and finding opportunities for new work. Olive gives power back to providers through her ever-growing, unparalleled intelligence made up of shared memories, collective wisdom, and global awareness, learning like a network so hospitals never have to solve the same problem twice. Olive was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Roadtrippers

Series A in 2013
Roadtrippers, Inc. operates a web and mobile platform designed for road trip enthusiasts, enabling users to discover, plan, and book travel experiences. Founded in 2011 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio, the company offers a comprehensive database of points-of-interest such as diners, roadside attractions, and accommodations, categorized for easy navigation. The platform includes features like instant fuel-cost estimation, route exploration within a specified distance, and a virtual concierge offering personalized travel suggestions and weather forecasts. Users can also create and share their own travel guides, fostering a community-oriented approach to road trip planning. Roadtrippers aims to simplify the travel experience by integrating discovery, planning, and navigation into a single, user-friendly application that synchronizes seamlessly across devices.

Olive

Series A in 2013
Olive deploys the AI workforce built specifically for healthcare, delivering hospitals and health systems increased revenue, reduced costs, and increased capacity. Olive automates repetitive, high-volume tasks and workflows, monitoring their performance, identifying improvements, and finding opportunities for new work. Olive gives power back to providers through her ever-growing, unparalleled intelligence made up of shared memories, collective wisdom, and global awareness, learning like a network so hospitals never have to solve the same problem twice. Olive was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.
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