Forum Ventures: Partnering with Founders to Build and Scale B2B SaaS Startups
How Forum Ventures invests in startups through their Studio, Accelerator and Pre-Seed Fund
Founded a decade ago by Michael Cardamone, Forum Ventures focuses exclusively on B2B SaaS startups, leveraging three investment vehicles to support founders at every stage of their journey: a Venture Studio, Accelerator, and Pre-Seed/Seed Fund. To gain deeper insights into how Forum supports founders, I spoke with Olivia O'Sullivan, Partner and COO of Forum Ventures - a recap of that conversation below.
Note: On January 7th, we are hosting Olivia and Forum Ventures for an in person NYC talk - join us!
Forum Ventures’ Three Investment Vehicles
Forum operates through three distinct channels, each tailored to meet founders' needs based on their stage of development:
The Studio Fund
Who It’s For: Entrepreneurs with compelling ideas and market expertise but no product yet.
Support: Forum helps founders validate concepts, build MVPs, and take their products to market.
The Pre-Seed Accelerator
Who It’s For: Startups that are post-product and focused on refining their go-to-market strategy and raising capital.
Scale: Forum invests in 85–90 companies annually through this program.
The Pre-Seed/Seed Fund
Who It’s For: Early-stage startups with demonstrated customer traction.
Focus: Provides more traditional investments to fuel growth and scaling.
Focus Areas: Where Forum Ventures Invests
While Forum Ventures maintains a generalist approach within B2B SaaS, the team dedicates significant attention to the following sectors:
Healthcare
Fintech
Supply Chain and Logistics
E-commerce Enablement
Applied AI
Vertical SaaS
Inside Forum Ventures’ Studio Fund
The Studio Fund is where new companies are born, leveraging two distinct approaches:
Concept-Led: Forum identifies market opportunities through research and customer validation, then recruits founders to build startups in these spaces.
Founder-Led: Experienced entrepreneurs bring unique insights or problem statements to Forum, receiving hands-on support to validate and scale their ideas.
Forum’s studio process is designed to be fast and efficient, focusing on rapidly validating market opportunities and launching viable businesses. Companies in the Studio Fund benefit from:
$250,000 Initial Investment: To kickstart operations.
Comprehensive Support: Including product development, engineering, branding, and go-to-market strategy.
Revenue Milestones: Forum helps founders secure their first $100K–$200K in customer revenue.
Hiring Support: Assistance in recruiting a founding engineer.
Fundraising Guidance: Helping founders secure institutional capital for future growth.
Accelerator Program: Accelerating Growth and Fundraising
The Pre-Seed Accelerator is tailored for startups seeking to gain traction and refine their go-to-market strategies. Unlike traditional accelerators, Forum’s program is flexible and outcome-driven, ensuring startups progress at their own pace.
Key Features of the Accelerator:
Personalized Mentorship: Founders are paired with managing directors and experienced operators who act as fractional co-founders.
Rolling Applications: Founders can join at any time, avoiding the constraints of fixed cohort deadlines.
Fundraising Support: Forum connects startups with a network of investors, enabling them to secure 25+ meetings and run efficient fundraising processes.
Forum Ventures Founder Archetypes
Forum Ventures collaborates with a wide range of founders but is particularly well-suited for:
First-Time Founders: Entrepreneurs with deep industry expertise but limited fundraising experience.
Technical Founders: Builders seeking guidance on go-to-market strategies and sales.
Multi-Time Founders: Entrepreneurs looking for a supportive and resource-rich ecosystem.
Industry Veterans: Professionals with unique insights into specific problems or markets.
Gritty, Passionate Entrepreneurs: Individuals driven to create transformative B2B SaaS solutions.
Why Founders Choose Forum Ventures
Forum Ventures stands out by offering more than just capital—it provides founders with an experienced team that acts as a collaborative partner. From validating ideas to scaling operations and securing funding, Forum is committed to being hands-on throughout the journey.
If you’re an ambitious founder in the B2B SaaS space, Forum Ventures offers the resources, expertise, and network to help you build a successful business from the ground up.
Upcoming Lynx Collective Events
(Dec 12) Inside: Primary Ventures w/ Sam Toole - Join us for a fireside chat with Primary Venture Partners, New York's leading early-stage venture firm, managing over $1 billion in assets with a team of 50 full-time professionals. In this session, Partner Sam Toole will share insights into Primary's unique investment approach and his focus on the Health Tech sector.
(Jan 7) Inside: Forum Ventures W/ Olivia O'Sullivan - Forum Ventures is the leading early-stage fund, accelerator and venture studio for B2B SaaS startups. Founded in 2014, we’re on a mission to make the B2B SaaS journey easier, more accessible, and successful for early-stage founders. In this talk you'll hear from Olivia O'Sullivan about all the ways they invest in early stage startups.
(Jan 15) Connect & Capitalize: Investor-Founder Mixer - Come hang out at Connect & Capitalize: Investor-Founder Mixer, part of our monthly series bringing startup founders and VCs together. This is a chance to meet the investment teams at NextwaveNYC, Flybridge and select angel investors!