Refiners I

Refiners I is a venture capital fund managed by The Refiners, an accelerator established in 2016 and based in San Francisco, California. The fund primarily focuses on investing in pre-seed and seed-stage startups across both business-to-consumer and business-to-business sectors. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by international entrepreneurs, The Refiners offers a specialized three-month program that provides funding, networking, and mentorship opportunities within the dynamic environment of Silicon Valley. The goal is to equip startups with the essential tools and expertise needed to expand their vision and scale globally, ensuring they receive comprehensive support tailored to their specific needs.

Carlos Diaz

Co-Founder and General Partner

Pierre Gaubil

Co-Founder and General Partner

Past deals in Messaging

Lovebox

Seed Round in 2017
Lovebox is a company that specializes in creating emotional connections through innovative technology. Their flagship product, LoveBox, serves as a dedicated channel for exchanging messages between loved ones. The device notifies users with a physical cue—a shaking heart—when they receive a message from their designated partner via the accompanying mobile app. This unique blend of digital interaction and tangible feedback allows individuals to send photos, love notes, drawings, or stickers, enhancing traditional communication with personalized expressions of affection.

Talkus

Seed Round in 2017
Talkus SAS, established in 2016 and headquartered in Saclay, France, specializes in developing an online platform that facilitates conversational engagement solutions tailored for the marketing industry. The company offers a multi-channel messaging system coupled with real-time website content personalization, enabling businesses to enhance customer interactions across various platforms. Their suite of products is designed to empower small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) by providing simple yet effective tools to acquire more leads, retain customers, and boost sales. Notably, Talkus is integrated within Slack, allowing teams to manage client communications and monitor progress without leaving their preferred collaboration platform.

BluPods

Seed Round in 2016
BluPods, Inc. is a messaging platform designed to enhance parent engagement within the educational ecosystem. Incorporated in 2014 and based in Corte Madera, California, the company provides a mobile application that facilitates effective communication between educators and families. Its platform allows users to manage essential school activities, such as field trips, parent-teacher conferences, and volunteer requests, while streamlining workflows that require parental involvement. By integrating with existing school district systems, BluPods enables what it terms "Integrated Actionable Messaging for Families," which enhances engagement metrics, improves response rates, and fosters support for school initiatives. In doing so, BluPods aims to save educators valuable time and resources while promoting a more connected school community.
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