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Axel Rejimers | Managing Director
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(201) 747-4718
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Rebecca Lacy | Managing Director
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(573) 880-2974
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Overview
Raising $150 Million to invest in the transformation of American industry
- A renaissance in US manufacturing is under way, driven by rapidly developing and deploying ‘Industrial Revolution 4.0’-technologies
- These include robotics, AI, advanced manufacturing, electrification, energy storage, and grid management
- Fund VII backs capital-efficient companies leading this transformation across energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure
Fund Objectives
Investing in US dynamism – Seizing the Inflection Point in US Manufacturing & Energy
Supply chain realignment, policy tailwinds, and breakthrough technologies are creating a wave of investable opportunities overlooked by traditional venture capital
Where ffVC Invests
Fund VII targets three sectors driving the US industrial resurgence—and historically undercapitalized by traditional venture
Advanced Manufacturing
Robotics, automation, smart supply chains, new materials
Next-Gen Energy
Grid innovations, industrial electrification, energy efficiency
AI-Enabled Efficiency
Grid innovations, industrial electrification, energy efficiency
ffVC’s Edge
Purpose-Built for Capital-Efficient Industrial Innovation
Prioritizing fundamentals: capital efficiency, scalability, and alignment with national growth priorities
Opportunities from Industry
4.0-Driven US Manufacturing Renaissance
Industry 4.0 Acceleration
Technologies like AI, IoT, robotics, big data, and additive manufacturing are growing at ~20% CAGR globally, transforming how products are designed, built, and delivered
US Policy Tailwinds & Capital Inflow
Federal and state policies – CHIPS Act, Inflation Reduction Act, DoD re-shoring initiatives – are injecting $50B+ in funding and massive tax credits, de-risking US advanced manufacturing investments
Investor Implication
This is a structural shift, not a cycle. The convergence of deep tech and federal industrial strategy is creating an unprecedented VC entry point into next-gen manufacturing
ffVC’s Track-record of Success – Driven by Expertise and Positioning
Deep expertise in backing AI-native startups across energy, manufacturing, and logistics — sectors core to U.S. industrial transformation
Working with 25%+ of national tech hubs supported by CHIPS Act, IRA, and federal reshoring initiatives
Series A graduation rate: 73% (2.7x industry avg); Series B: 49% (5x avg)
24% failure rate vs. 60–67% VC industry average
9 of ffVC portfolio companies have grown into Centaurs i.e., a $100m revenue run rate
$1.5B of annualized revenue from portfolio companies
Team / Governance
John Frankel, ffVC Partner
Founded ff Venture Capital in 2008
- 21 years with Goldman Sachs, held executive roles in technology development, capital markets, and institutional sales
- MA from New College, Oxford (Mathematics & Philosophy)
Michael Woods, Woods Capital
Founded Woods Capital in 2019
- Former CEO & COO of Rothschild Asset Management and Global Partner and former CEO of Deutsche Asset Management
- Over 30 years of experience in the financial business
Alex Katz, ffVC Partner
General Counsel and Investing Partner
- 30+ years of experience in finance, tax and legal
- Juris Doctor from Temple University – James E. Beasley School of Law
Dr. Donald Basile, Woods Capital
20+ Years in Venture Backed Technology Industry
- Stanford Ph.D. Distributed Computing
- Co-Founder and CEO two VC backed Startups from concept to NYSE public companies
- Investor in over 30 technology companies
Specific Risks
- Market Cycle Risk: Macro volatility, recessionary pressure, or shifts in interest rates may impact portfolio performance and exit timing
- Regulatory and Policy Risk: Changes to energy subsidies, AI regulation, or industrial policy could affect specific portfolio company economics or market demand
- Illiquidity Risk: As with all private market funds, interests are illiquid, and capital may be tied up for 10+ years
- Capital Scarcity / Follow-On Risk: Some portfolio companies may struggle to raise subsequent rounds, impacting fund returns and requiring reserve capital allocation
- Emerging Technology Adoption Risk: AI and industrial automation solutions face adoption lags, integration complexity, or stakeholder resistance
- Key Person Risk: The fund’s success relies on the continued involvement of senior partners. Loss of key team members could impair investment execution
- Concentration Risk: Despite targeting 35+ companies, thematic or sector clustering (e.g., grid tech, AI-enabled logistics) may create unintended exposure
- Valuation Risk: Especially in early-stage rounds, pricing may not reflect intrinsic value. Mispriced entries may lead to suboptimal MOIC/DPI outcomes
- Exit Environment Risk: Delays or shifts in IPO/M&A activity can affect cash flow, DPI timelines, and fund duration
- Technology Obsolescence: The pace of innovation in AI, battery, and energy software means products can become outdated rapidly, eroding value
- Geopolitical Risk: U.S.–China trade dynamics, battery supply chain disruptions, or international industrial policy shifts may indirectly impact investments
- Private securities are speculative, illiquid, and carry a high degree of risk – including the loss of the entire investment
