Investor Profile: Hemisphere Ventures — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

If you are building frontier technology and hunting for early-stage startup funding, Hemisphere Ventures is a name worth knowing. The U.S.-based venture capital firm was founded in 2014 by Lisa Rich with her founding partner Jeff Rich, and has since backed more than 210 companies across space, synthetic biology, robotics, drones and cybersecurity. It was the first investor in both Axiom Space and Umbra, two of the most closely watched names in commercial space.

Thesis

Hemisphere invests at the intersection where software, hardware and artificial intelligence compound into new capabilities. Lisa Rich has described the firm's pattern-spotting approach: the falling cost of starting deep-tech companies, from rented lab space for synthetic biology to cheaper sensors and compute, means small teams can now attempt what once required nation-state budgets. The firm calls itself founder-friendly, takes early positions in technically ambitious teams, and is comfortable being the first institutional believer, as it was with Axiom Space and Umbra.

Sectors and stages

The firm targets early-stage investments across space, cybersecurity, biotechnology, nanotechnology, drones, robotics and synthetic biology. Its portfolio is overwhelmingly U.S.-built, and in November 2024 Hemisphere opened its first office outside America in Singapore, led by newly promoted Managing Partner Chip Whittemore, to connect its American network with Southeast Asian founders and co-investors.

Fund size and cheque size

Neither total assets under management nor typical cheque sizes are publicly disclosed. The firm has never announced a fundraise in the press, so founders should approach with a clear sense of how much they need rather than anchoring to a published range.

Notable portfolio

Space names dominate the highlight reel: Axiom Space, Umbra, Lynk Global, Slingshot Aerospace (exited), Voyager Space Holdings (exited), Ursa Space Systems, Radian Aerospace, OrbitFab, Orbital Insight, PlanetiQ, HawkEye 360, LeoLabs, Nanoracks and Sen. Beyond space, the portfolio spans Boom, Cerebras Systems, Gecko Robotics and BillionToOne, with public-market outcomes including Ginkgo Bioworks, Planet, Pillow, Zum and Weave, plus exits such as Unsplash, Symba and Teachable.

Partners

Lisa Rich founded the firm and leads it; she is also the founder and COO of Xplore, a deep-space exploration company. Her founding partner is Jeff Rich. Chip Whittemore serves as Managing Partner and heads the firm's Singapore expansion.

Programs, credits and perks

The firm publicly describes itself as both a venture capital and consulting firm, but it advertises no accelerator, grant program or startup credits scheme. Support comes through the partners' operating and investing experience rather than a structured program.

How to apply for funding

Hemisphere publishes no application form or pitch portal. The firm's website lists [email protected] as its contact, and that email is the honest route in: a concise note explaining the frontier-tech problem you solve is the way to start the conversation.