Big challenges. Passionate people. Smart solutions. This is what you’ll find at 1848 Ventures. We help business owners manage uncertainty and discover opportunity in risk. We’re not aiming for incremental improvement – we’re breaking new ground. And when we see opportunity for innovation, we have the freedom, resources, and culture to make it happen. We’re champions of business owners everywhere. After all, it’s this startup ethos and entrepreneurial spirit that 1848 Ventures – and our parent company, Westfield – was founded on. Westfield, a leading provider of commercial insurance, established 1848 Ventures in 2018 to expand beyond conventional property and casualty insurance products and address the broader risks small business owners face every day. We meet our customers where they are, partnering together to deliver digital solutions that improve their bottom line. We know that in order to succeed, we need the right people to make it happen. We start by building a team with a diverse set of voices, backgrounds, and experiences. We’re looking for the innovators. The pioneers. The change agents. The people who aren’t afraid to ask, “What if…?” and try it anyway. This is the place for self-starters, go-getters, and anyone who wants to see a good idea become a great reality. At 1848 Ventures, we help people build careers. Based in Northeast Ohio near Cleveland, our team members grow their creative and commercial skill sets, applying their talents to a wide range of portfolio concepts. And who we are drives what we do – our values empower a thriving culture that allows for true innovation, learning, and growth.
25madison is a venture and innovation platform that connects bold founders with business leaders to transform ideas into economic value. The company incubates and invests in AI-native and tech-enabled businesses, focusing on sectors like healthcare, supply chain, and B2B software. Their unique model facilitates business transformation by linking disruptors with private equity firms and portfolio companies, aiming to catalyze value creation. With a strong emphasis on innovation and strategic partnerships, 25madison positions itself as a key player in the venture capital landscape, particularly in the AI and tech sectors.
Camplight is a venture-building platform cooperative that has been crafting meaningful software since 2012. The company focuses on evolving human collaboration through software craftsmanship, offering services in various sectors including Ed Tech, Fin Tech, and AI Product Development. With a self-managed structure, Camplight emphasizes transparency, collaboration, and shared ownership among its members, who are all stakeholders in the cooperative. The company has successfully partnered with over 80 organizations, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of at least 36%. Camplight's diverse product offerings include tools like Assista and Moodlight, which enhance team collaboration and productivity.
Charge Lab is the operating system for EV chargers, providing back-end software for North America's leading EV charger manufacturers, turnkey installers, and network operators. Their platform offers a full-stack solution for smart EV charging, enabling fleets, charging networks, and EV charging solution providers to build scalable infrastructure. Charge Lab differentiates itself with a software-first approach, compatibility with over 30 OCPP chargers, and a commitment to user experience for EV drivers. The company is positioned at the forefront of the rapidly evolving EV market, supporting the transition to electric vehicles with innovative solutions that optimize charging for grid capacity and sustainability.
Data Braid is an innovative company that provides a unified API infrastructure to automate policy servicing tasks for insurance brokers and insurers. By connecting directly to insurers' systems, Data Braid enables brokers to reduce manual work, improve processing times, and enhance client self-service capabilities. Their solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing systems, allowing for quick adoption without the need for extensive development resources. With a focus on efficiency and scalability, Data Braid positions itself as a key player in the insurance technology space, partnering with top insurers in Canada to deliver a best-in-class experience for both brokers and policyholders.
We’ve designed a unique platform for entrepreneurs with a proven track record and domain expertise to start their next business by combining access to venture capital investment, hands-on support, and a vast network of partners. Since 2016, Diagram has raised over $400M and has launched/invested in 25+ companies. Our ecosystem is home to 200+ angel investors and an extended global network of corporate partners, investors, and builders. Diagram is part of Sagard, a global multi-strategy alternative investment platform with over $25B in AUM.
Entrepreneur First invests in exceptional individuals to build startups from scratch, helping them find co-founders, develop ideas, and secure funding. With a focus on high-potential founders, EF has built over 300 companies valued at over $10B, leveraging a global network of investors and industry experts. Their unique programs foster collaboration among ambitious individuals, enabling them to create technology companies that can shape the future.
Expa is a startup studio and venture fund that supports founders in building and scaling innovative companies. Founded by Uber co-founder Garrett Camp, Expa leverages a team of experienced builders and operators to provide practical advice in product design, branding, engineering, operations, and recruiting. With a portfolio that includes dozens of companies and a community of over 100 founders, Expa has reached hundreds of millions of users, positioning itself as a key player in the startup ecosystem. The firm operates from multiple offices in major cities, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among entrepreneurs.
Fig Financial is a fully digital lending platform that offers personal installment loans with a focus on a seamless user experience. Backed by Fairstone Bank and developed in collaboration with Koru, Fig provides competitive interest rates starting at 8.99%, with no early repayment fees and funding in as little as one business day. The company has gained significant traction, with over 14,000 customers and more than $250 million in funded loans, positioning itself as a trusted option for Canadians seeking financial solutions for debt consolidation, home improvements, and unexpected expenses.
Flagship Pioneering is a biotechnology company that invents platforms and builds companies aimed at transforming human health and sustainability. With a focus on bioplatforms, the company has founded over 100 first-in-category ventures, leveraging rigorous science and entrepreneurial leadership to navigate from bold ideas to transformational outcomes. Flagship Pioneering's unique model allows for the in-house conception, creation, and capitalization of innovative solutions, positioning it as a leader in the biotech industry with significant traction and a commitment to a sustainable future.
Forum ventures is the leading early-stage fund, program and community for b2b saas startups. Founded in 2014 as acceleprise, we’re on a mission to make the b2b saas journey easier, more accessible and successful for early-stage founders, through funding, high touch programming, corporate perks and introductions, and an active saas community. Forum for founders, our pre-seed program, provides founders with $100k in funding and 15 intense weeks of talks, events, mentorship and 1:1 guidance focused on go to market and fundraising. Forum seed, our seed fund, backs exceptional saas startups at the seed-stage both from within and outside of our pre-seed program. With over 400 portfolio companies, forum founders have gone on to raise ~$1b in follow-on funding from nea, andreessen horowitz, uncork capital, 8vc, founders fund, menlo ventures, canaan, bowery capital, susa ventures, salesforce ventures, sv angel, true ventures and many more.
