Build your next startup with a dedicated team + Fortune 1000 corporate in your corner
Our venture studio is made for determined founders who are deeply passionate about a problem space or idea that aligns with those of our corporate partners.
We provide the initial capital to get you to launch as well as lead or co-lead your pre-seed and institutional seed funding rounds.
“Highline Beta’s venture studio model accelerated our growth by 1-2 years. We had a Fortune 500 corporate partner from day one, an investor in Highline Beta, a team of 5 people, an office and a ton of support that allowed me to focus on the business.”
— Greg Boutin, Founder and CEO, Relay
Leverage our proven model for creating companies (We’re with you every step of the way)
1. Finding Conviction
We start with an existing studio idea or one of your own. Together we rigorously test and iterate until we land on a validated venture-profile opportunity that we’re all excited about building.
3. Launching the MVP
We all roll up our sleeves and build the MVP, moving quickly but with the right continuous feedback loops to ensure we’re building the right product. We launch and go to market willing to do everything it takes to win.
2. Turning the Lights On
We incorporate the startup and you become Founder / CEO. We provide initial operating capital and turnkey services (e.g. office, legal, banking, accounting, and insurance), so you can focus on building the business.
4. Funding & Growth
We support your fundraising activities both operationally and with capital from our fund. Our studio team helps you hire your early team and continue to grow your business through to your seed stage funding.
Capital and funding
Deal terms:
$125k provided for initial runway capital (at incorporation)
6-9 months of hands-on support from Venture Studio team and Highline Beta partners
Founder owns 75% (Highline Beta owns 25%)
Highline Beta invests ~$250k @ pre-seed (after working with founder for 6-9 months)
Up to $1M total investment available through institutional seed round (or in follow-on rounds)
How to engage with the Venture Studio
Bring your own idea
If you’ve got an early idea of your own, but you haven’t incorporated a company yet, we’d love to hear about it. We’re looking for opportunities at the earliest stages.
We’re constantly exploring new opportunities and beginning the validation process. If you don’t have an idea, but you want to start a company, we’re looking for founders.
We work closely with our corporate partners to identify the right startups that unlock growth for both sides. When we build a startup through our Venture Studio, our corporate partners are one of our secret weapons.
Co-Creating High-Growth Ventures: American Family Insurance, a Fortune 500 company partnered with Highline Beta to build Relay, a high-growth venture focused on reinsurance. Relay just announced its US$2M seed round.
We engaged one of our corporate partners to help evaluate the opportunity we saw in the market. And after months of research and validation, alongside our team, Moselle was born. Today, Moselle is live offering trade businesses easy-to-use trade financing and currency exchange services.
FAQ
Q: How are you supporting founders with diverse backgrounds? A: At Highline Beta, we are committed to providing opportunities to individuals who identify as part of a marginalized and / or racialized group. We believe diverse founding teams yield better venture returns and have created, supported, and invested in many diversity and inclusion initiatives. For example, we’ve committed to equal (50%) representation of female founders in our venture studio companies.
Q: Do you have a specific focus on particular industries? A: We’re focused on opportunity areas that match those of our corporate partners. Today those industries include financial services / banking, insurance, health & wellness, supply chain, sustainability and DTC enablement.
Q: What kind of support can I expect from the venture studio team? A: Our team of seasoned startup builders and pre-seed investors have a proven track record of validating, building and launching startups that go on to raise 3rd party institutional funding. We take a hands on approach and live and breathe your startup alongside you, day in and day out.
The core Venture Studio team has decades of experience building and shipping products, with experience in product management, design and development. They will help you validate the opportunity, design and build an MVP, get traction, and then hire a team to join you as your startup moves out of the Venture Studio.
The Highline Beta partners (Marcus Daniels, Ben Yoskovitz and Lauren Robinson) have been building and investing in early stage startups for decades. The partners will work closely with you as a Founder in the Venture Studio to set yourself up for future success in fundraising, building a team and overall operations.
Q: What if I don’t have an idea? A: That’s completely fine! We have Founder in Residence opportunities available for you to look at. On occasion these will be specific to a particular opportunity we’re exploring, but you can also “apply” as someone that’s interested in starting a new company through our studio.
Q: Do you offer a salary for founders? A: Once we align on an idea, we incorporate a CCPC and setup an employment contract for you. We provide $125,000 in capital up front: $25,000 to cover initial operating setup costs, as well as $100,000 to cover salaries and other expenses (runway to get you to pre-seed funding.)
Q: How much equity do you take? A: At incorporation, we take 25% equity in exchange for $125,000 of initial capital to setup and incorporate your startup, as well as provide 6-9 months of runway to get you to pre-seed funding. We also co-lead your pre-seed round and invest in your institutional seed round, with up to $1M available beyond the initial capital.
Q: What kind of founders do you work with? A: Founders we work with could be a repeat entrepreneur, an experienced startup operator, or an accomplished corporate employee. In all cases, founders must be determined to build a big, venture-backable business as well as be early with their idea (no meaningful IP yet.)
