Investor Profile: Tusk Venture Partners — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

Tusk Venture Partners is a New York early stage firm built on a simple insight: in regulated markets, policy is not a side issue, it is the go to market plan. For founders asking how to get funding from Tusk Venture Partners, the first question is therefore whether regulation helps, blocks or defines the business, and whether the team has a credible plan to work with lawmakers, regulators and incumbents.

Investment thesis

The firm invests in early stage technology companies operating in highly regulated markets, or creating new categories where no regulatory framework yet exists. That includes businesses that must win licences, change rules, build trust with public officials or navigate complex compliance before they can scale.

Sectors and stages

Its core sectors are fintech, digital health, transportation and gaming, with consumer internet also in scope where regulation is central. Its core stages are seed and Series A, with follow on investment into later rounds for breakout companies. Geographically it focuses mainly on North America, although its portfolio companies serve national and global markets.

Fund size and cheque size

Tusk Venture Partners closed its third flagship fund, Fund III, at $140 million in May 2022, double the $70 million raised for its second flagship fund in late 2019. It also closed a first opportunity style fund of $60 million to support breakout portfolio companies. Initial cheques from Fund III were reported as up to $7 million.

Notable portfolio

Its best known exits include Coinbase, which went public through a direct listing; Lemonade, the insurance platform that went public in 2020; and FanDuel, acquired by Flutter. Other portfolio names include Ro in telehealth, Bird in micromobility, Circle in digital finance, Kodiak Robotics, BRINC in drones, Wheel in clinician networks and Doctronic, an AI healthcare platform that raised a Series B round in 2026 with Tusk Venture Partners participating.

Partners and team

The firm was co founded by Bradley Tusk, a longtime political strategist who previously worked on Michael Bloomberg's mayoral campaigns and advised Uber on its early regulatory battles, and Jordan Nof, formerly a director at Blackstone. Michaela Balderston was promoted to partner around the Fund III close.

Programs and perks

Tusk Venture Partners does not run a verified open accelerator programme. Its platform is its regulatory, communications and strategic network: help framing policy arguments, engaging public officials, managing reputation risk and building partnerships that reduce regulatory friction.

How to apply for funding

There is no verified open pitch portal, so founders should approach through the firm's website contact route or through a warm introduction from a portfolio founder, policy adviser or co investor who understands the regulatory angle.