Stages:

• Early
• Growth

 

Industries:

Consumer Products & Services

Information Technology

Software & Internet

 

Description:

Karlin Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund and an affiliate of Karlin Asset Management (see profile), a private investment firm managing over $1.4 billion of unleveraged equity capital. Karlin Asset Management is the family office of Gary Michelson, a spinal surgeon and inventor. In 2005, Michelson sold many of his spine-related patents to Medtronic for $1.35 billion. Karlin invests in a host of different investment strategies including value securities, distressed real estate and natural resources. The firm prefers to co-invest and will participate in follow-on rounds. Karlin focuses on companies in the U.S. (preferably on the West Coast) with a focus in enterprise software, commerce platforms and marketplaces. Typical investments range from $250,000 to $2,000,000. Additionally, the firm operates Karlin Fellows, an elite fellowship program for both members of the Karlin Ventures portfolio and other emerging industry leaders in LA's tech community. The Gary Karlin Michelson, M.D. Charitable Foundation, Inc. was founded in 1995 through a $100 million contribution from Dr. Michelson (it was later renamed the Michelson Medical Research Foundation in 2005). The firm has totaled $145 million in follow-on capital.