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United States / Direct investor

Seeding bold engineers.

Engineers backing technical founders at the earliest stages, from frontier hardware to the software tools used to build it.

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Typical initial cheque, current website$3M-$5M
StagePre-seed & seed
Fund IV, announced Nov 2025$190M
Official directory68 companies

01 / The fund

Engineering risk, from the start

Root Ventures leads initial rounds for founders tackling difficult technical problems. Its team has built robotics, hardware, software and machine-learning systems. The firm also backs engineering tools that help other builders work on harder problems.

The current official site gives a typical initial cheque of $3M-$5M and says two-thirds of its funds are held in reserve for follow-on investing. Fund IV was announced in November 2025 at $190M. This supersedes the earlier $250M fundraising target; older Fund III profiles still show $1M-$3M cheques and are not used as current terms.

Partners remain approachable through the official fund route. Lee Edwards explicitly says LinkedIn is not his preferred pitch channel; the profile links below identify people, not a promise that a cold LinkedIn pitch is the best route.

Official Fund IV announcement ↗ · November 2025 fund report ↗

02 / Portfolio

Explore by sector

All 68 companies in the current official directory. The directory mixes current and historical investments; it does not provide a complete active/exited split. Nine independently verified acquisition or business-transition notes are shown without claiming every other company is still active. Sector groups are DTT technology groupings.

BioTech 4

Wildtype Foods logo
Wildtype Foods ↗

Wildtype creates organic, clean, high-quality, animal-free meat.

Holding source ↗
Ruby Robotics logo
Ruby Robotics ↗

Robotics and AI to prepare, image and assess tissue samples during biopsy procedures.

Holding source ↗
Instance logo
Instance ↗

Tools for synthesizing DNA.

Holding source ↗
Integrated Biosciences logo
Integrated Biosciences ↗

Integrated uses optogenetics and ML to discover drugs for neurodegenerative and age-related diseases.

Holding source ↗

Energy & Materials 5

Nautilus Labs logo
Nautilus Labs ↗
AI platform acquired by Danelec, 2023

Nautilus Labs allows maritime fleets to optimize shipping routes and energy costs in real time.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
ChargeLab logo
ChargeLab ↗

ChargeLab builds API- and software-defined EV charging networks.

Holding source ↗
TruckLabs logo
TruckLabs ↗
Acquired by ConMet, 2023

TruckWings automatically closes the cab-to-trailer gap to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
Crux logo
Crux ↗

Crux automates critical energy infrastructure.

Holding source ↗
Digichem logo
Digichem ↗

Digichem prototypes and manufactures custom molecules online.

Holding source ↗

Physical AI 14

Tortuga AgTech logo
Tortuga AgTech ↗
IP/assets and team acquired by Oishii, 2025

Robots for harvesting delicate fruit, including strawberries and grapes.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗

Stellar Pizza is building the future of automated food production.

Holding source ↗
Dusty Robotics logo
Dusty Robotics ↗

Dusty Robotics automates layout in complex construction projects.

Holding source ↗
Seismic logo
Seismic ↗

Seismic augments strength and safety for workers through soft robotics.

Holding source ↗
Mashgin logo
Mashgin ↗

Computer-vision checkout that identifies items without scanning each barcode.

Holding source ↗

Creator builds fully autonomous hamburger robots.

Holding source ↗
ApolloShield logo
ApolloShield ↗

ApolloShield safeguards airspace from autonomous and remote piloted aircraft.

Holding source ↗
Skycatch logo
Skycatch ↗
Acquired by Caterpillar, 2026

Skycatch provides high resolution 3D mapping and modeling of high-value infrastructure.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
Shaper logo
Shaper ↗

Shaper Tools makes the Origin, a handheld, auto-correcting CNC.

Holding source ↗

Righthook reduces the time and cost required to develop autonomous vehicles.

Holding source ↗

SixWheel brings autonomy and electrification to long haul trucking operations.

Holding source ↗
Vibe Robotics logo
Vibe Robotics ↗

Vibe Robotics, founded by Kai Backman and Luke Church, builds novel programming interfaces for robotics.

Holding source ↗
Loombotic logo
Loombotic ↗

Loombotic automates wire harness manufacturing.

Holding source ↗
PhyAgents logo
PhyAgents ↗

PhyAgents is a stealth robotics company building physical AI for critical infrastructure.

Holding source ↗

Semiconductors 3

Radical Semiconductor provides hardware security down to the individual IC.

Holding source ↗
Gen Alpha logo
Gen Alpha ↗

Gen Alpha builds AI copilots for analog and mixed-signal chip design to simplify workflows.

Holding source ↗
DeepWeave logo
DeepWeave ↗

DeepWeave helps semiconductor teams generate better PPA solutions to deliver more highly performant chips.

Holding source ↗

Space Tech 1

Kayhan logo
Kayhan ↗

Kayhan’s spaceflight operations platform allows satellite operators to focus on their core mission.

Holding source ↗

Others 41

Esper logo
Esper ↗

Esper is devops for devices, allowing teams to build and manage enterprise hardware.

Holding source ↗
Meroxa logo
Meroxa ↗

Meroxa is a platform for software engineers to build mature, scalable data engineering infrastructure with a single command.

Holding source ↗
Particle logo
Particle ↗
Acquired by Digi, 2026

Hardware, connectivity and cloud services that help developers build and manage connected devices.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
Daily logo
Daily ↗

Daily makes it easier for developers to add video to websites and apps.

Holding source ↗
HASH logo
HASH ↗

HASH is an open-source, self-building database that grows and maintains a typed graph of entities on your behalf.

Holding source ↗
Superconductive logo
Superconductive ↗
GX Cloud to FICO; GX Core separate, 2026

Great Expectations built data-quality checks for data pipelines; GX Cloud and GX Core now have separate paths.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
Okteto logo
Okteto ↗

Okteto is ephemeral environment for developers.

Holding source ↗
Privacy Dynamics logo
Privacy Dynamics ↗
Acquired by Xata, 2026

Privacy Dynamics ensures your customers' data privacy without slowing down your team.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
nTopology logo
nTopology ↗

Engineering design software for complex manufactured parts, now branded nTop.

Holding source ↗
Instrumental logo
Instrumental ↗

Instrumental generates real time insights for mass manufacturing.

Holding source ↗
Versatile logo
Versatile ↗

Versatile is an onsite construction data provider for accelerating schedules.

Holding source ↗
ThruWave logo
ThruWave ↗

Thruwave increases the efficiency and transparency of high volume logistics operations.

Holding source ↗
Seam logo
Seam ↗

Seam provides an API for managing building systems.

Holding source ↗
Nordsense logo
Nordsense ↗

Nordsense optimizes pickup routes for waste management fleets.

Holding source ↗
Sensable logo
Sensable ↗

Computer vision that helps teams understand workforce and operational activity.

Holding source ↗
IaSQL logo
IaSQL ↗

IaSQL is the next evolution of infrastructure management, allowing you to manage your infra in a database instead of stateless config files.

Holding source ↗
Cape logo
Cape ↗
HPE acquisition announced, 2018

Tools for remotely monitoring, testing and repairing enterprise networks.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗
Zed logo
Zed ↗

Zed is a fully-native desktop code editor focused on high performance, clean design, and real-time collaboration.

Holding source ↗
AllSpice logo
AllSpice ↗

Collaboration and testing platform for hardware teams.

Holding source ↗
Quilter logo
Quilter ↗

AI-assisted circuit-board layout, guided by the physical requirements of the design.

Holding source ↗
Adept logo
Adept ↗

Useful general intelligence.

Holding source ↗
Aperture Data logo
Aperture Data ↗

Aperture manage images and videos with a database purpose-built for data science and machine learning.

Holding source ↗
SuperTokens logo
SuperTokens ↗

SuperTokens is Open Source solution for user authentication.

Holding source ↗
Fudge logo
Fudge ↗

An AI operator that works inside Shopify stores, handling storefront changes and other store tasks.

Holding source ↗
Kodra logo
Kodra ↗

Tools for automating software through code-controlled browser sessions.

Holding source ↗
Topologic logo
Topologic ↗

Design and automation software for textile manufacturing.

Holding source ↗
CADY Solutions logo
CADY Solutions ↗

CADY automates the electrical schematic analysis process.

Holding source ↗
Sublayer logo
Sublayer ↗

Sublayer is AI-assisted coding that works the way you do.

Holding source ↗
Nullify logo
Nullify ↗

Nullify performs product security tasks alongside your developers.

Holding source ↗
Trieve logo
Trieve ↗
Acquired by Mintlify, 2025

Trieve provides infrastructure for building AI search into your applications.

Holding source ↗ Transition source ↗

Breakpoint uses AI to detect failures in computer vision models and re-trains them to prevent future issues.

Holding source ↗
Determinate Systems logo
Determinate Systems ↗

Determinate provides enterprise-grade solutions for Nix package management.

Holding source ↗
Hunch logo
Hunch ↗

Hunch provides collaborative data exploration and visualization tools for non-technical users.

Holding source ↗
Illoca logo
Illoca ↗

Plamo, a 3D workspace for architecture and design, using AI tools to help create and edit models.

Holding source ↗
Latent Technology logo
Latent Technology ↗

Latent helps animators and game developers create life-like 3D assets with AI-powered tools.

Holding source ↗

Patterns provides tools and infrastructure for developing modern AI applications efficiently.

Holding source ↗
Subtrace logo
Subtrace ↗

Subtrace automatically tracks all HTTP requests coming in and going out of your production backend.

Holding source ↗
Loopwork logo
Loopwork ↗

Loopwork is building the next generation of agents.

Holding source ↗
Feather logo
Feather ↗

Finite Systems builds browser-based engineering simulation and analysis tools.

Holding source ↗
Ground Control Dev logo
Ground Control Dev ↗

Ground Control Dev runs facilities management for factories, from site selection and design through construction and operations.

Holding source ↗
Lithos Computer logo
Lithos Computer ↗

Fabro runs coding agents through defined workflow graphs rather than a single chat loop.

Holding source ↗

03 / Team & connect

Investment team

Avidan Ross

Avidan Ross

Managing Partner

Industrial robotics, embedded systems and technical founders

LinkedIn profile ↗
Lee Edwards

Lee Edwards

Partner

Developer tools, data infrastructure, applied AI and computer vision

LinkedIn profile ↗
Zodi Chalat

Zodi Chalat

Associate

Developer tools, engineering tools, hardware and machine learning

LinkedIn profile ↗

Four partners and one investing associate from the current official team. Operations roles are excluded. Official role labels are preserved; some LinkedIn headlines use General Partner rather than Partner.

Official fund website ↗

04 / Fund network

Limited partners

Six Fund IV backers named in partner Lee Edwards' November 2025 announcement and corroborated by Newcomer. Names are kept at the level publicly disclosed; unspecified Loyola, DuPont or Brown entities are not expanded into guessed legal investors. No individual LP was verified.

University of Chicago

Institutional LP, Fund IV

Named among the backers of the $190M fourth fund. Commitment amount not disclosed.

Partner announcement ↗

Adams Street

Institutional LP, Fund IV

Named among the backers of the $190M fourth fund. Commitment amount not disclosed.

Partner announcement ↗

State of New Mexico

Public institutional LP, Fund IV

Named among the backers of the $190M fourth fund. Commitment amount not disclosed.

Partner announcement ↗

Loyola

Institutional LP, Fund IV

Named among the backers of the $190M fourth fund. Commitment amount not disclosed.

Partner announcement ↗

DuPont Trust

Institutional LP, Fund IV

Named among the backers of the $190M fourth fund. Commitment amount not disclosed.

Partner announcement ↗

Brown Advisory

Institutional LP, Fund IV

Named among the backers of the $190M fourth fund. Commitment amount not disclosed.

Partner announcement ↗