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Matchstick Ventures

Helping Startups Strike

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Description

Matchstick Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm with headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a significant presence in Boulder, Colorado. As of 2026, the firm is a primary driver of the "North" and "Rockies" startup ecosystems, specializing in being the first institutional partner for impactful software companies. 
  • Pre-Seed & Seed: This is the firm’s core focus. They aim to be the "first check" in, often investing at the formation stage.
  • Follow-on: They reserve significant capital to support their high-performing companies through Series A and beyond.
  • Method: Founders can engage through the Matchstick Ventures "Connect" portal or via professional referrals from their network of founders and operators.
  • Materials: A pitch deck that clearly defines the "why now" and the technical or market insight driving the business is required.
  • Founder Profile: They look for "authentic" founders building companies that have a "disproportionate impact" on their industry or community.
  • Techstars Connectivity: They maintain strong ties to Techstars Boulder and Techstars Anywhere, often serving as a primary source for follow-on funding for those graduates.
  • Rolling Basis: Matchstick Ventures evaluates and invests in companies year-round.

Eligibility

  • Geography: Primarily focused on the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and the Rockies (Colorado) regions, though they selectively invest across the U.S.
  • Sectors: SaaS, Fintech, Future of Work, and "Impact-Tech" (technologies solving massive societal or industrial problems).
  • Business Model: Preference for capital-efficient software or tech-enabled service models.

Process

  1. Direct Screening: The investment team reviews submissions for market size and technical defensibility.
  2. High-Trust Diligence: A 3–5 week process focused on founder background, early customer feedback (if available), and technical architecture.
  3. Active Partnership: Post-investment, they provide hands-on support in "founder-to-CEO" transitions, go-to-market (GTM) strategy, and future fundraising.
  4. Community Hub: Founders gain access to the Matchstick community, which facilitates peer-to-peer learning and talent sharing. 

What an Applicant can Obtain

  1. First Institutional Capital: Funding to bridge the gap from a prototype to a scalable business.
  2. Strategic Mentorship: Direct coaching from partners with deep operational and exit experience.
  3. Hiring Support: Access to a curated network of talent in the Minneapolis and Boulder tech hubs.
  4. The "Matchstick Network": Introductions to Tier-1 coastal VC firms for subsequent funding rounds.