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We’re excited to share an update on one of our recent investments—Health Care Originals, a standout in respiratory health innovation.Why We Invested Health Care Originals has developed a patented wearable for asthma and COPD management that doesn’t just passively track symptoms—it actively prevents attacks. What stood out to us:<ul><li>AI-driven personalization: Their tech learns baseline respiratory patterns and uses AI to alert users and caregivers before deterioration happens. Future iterations will incorporate LLMs trained on proprietary care prompts, enabling scalable, intelligent patient guidance.</li><li>Validated impact: Clinical studies and 3rd party reports rank HCO’s device “best in class” with published evidence of significantly improved outcomes.</li><li>Unique IP moat: Rather than algorithm patents, HCO holds strong IP in device design and integration with the human body—an often overlooked but critical layer of protection.</li><li>First-mover advantage: HCO is building what continuous glucose monitors are for diabetes—only for respiratory care.</li></ul>D3VC Due Diligence Highlights Our questions focused on AI integration, commercialization timelines, market traction, and technical scalability. Key insights from their team:<ul><li>Sales Cycle &amp; Adoption: Their 12K-member waitlist converts as soon as payer contracts are signed. The sales cycle is ~9–18 months, targeting payers and MCOs directly.</li><li>AI Strategy: Already deployed for personalized baselines; future AI will handle care automation, making the solution more scalable.</li><li>Miniaturization &amp; Integration: Customers prefer current form factor for comfort and usability. HCO's onboard processing opens the door for third-party integrations in the future. </li><li>Resilient Trajectory: Past funding “gap” was due to a pivot post-COVID. That same pivot led to major contracts and a derisked, validated product in a new market. </li></ul>What’s Happening Now&nbsp; Recent internal updates from the CEO (shared with permission, but not yet public):<ul><li>Selected by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America to lead a rollout in Texas.</li><li>Approved as a Preferred Purchasing Partner by a healthcare coalition covering 400,000 lives—$5.8M ARR at full deployment.</li><li>Near-term MCO contract for 4,000 patients in Texas ($3M ARR), with 3 additional states and up to 10,000 members planned next year ($7.8M ARR).</li></ul>Media Recognition Health Care Originals was recently featured in <a data-mce-href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geristengel/2025/04/21/reg-cf-activates-asthma-and-copd-care-investor-evangelists-for-hco/" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/geristengel/2025/04/21/reg-cf-activates-asthma-and-copd-care-investor-evangelists-for-hco/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Forbes</a>, highlighting how Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) enabled them to secure the necessary funding to bring their innovative, affordable respiratory disease solutions to a broader audience. The article emphasizes the role of investor evangelists in supporting HCO's mission to improve asthma and COPD care.Why It Fits the D3VC Thesis At D3VC, we leverage AI and proprietary data to identify companies with early signals of success. HCO checked every box—mission-driven founder, non-obvious competitive moat, and a business model built for ROI in a high-cost, underserved market.Our model saw HCO’s follow-on potential early, and the investment committee’s qualitative review confirmed it: this is the kind of founder-led, category-defining startup that delivers both impact and outsized returns.

D3VC Portfolio Update: Health Care Originals (HCO)

D3VC Investment: August 2024 | Netcapital Raise: $3.3M (part of $30M seed round)Since our investment in EarthGrid, the company has continued to validate our thesis: that breakthrough infrastructure companies can deliver both massive financial potential and transformative impact. Here’s what’s new:&nbsp; Major Technical Milestone: Tunnel Boring Robot (TBR) Last month, EarthGrid hit a critical engineering milestone by successfully testing the final core subsystem of its Tunnel Boring Robot—the continuous solid-state spoils removal system. After over a year of simulations on high-performance computing systems and seven physical iterations, the breakthrough system—with no moving parts—passed testing in April 2025.Why it matters: This innovation dramatically reduces mechanical complexity, boosts reliability, and reinforces EarthGrid’s ability to outcompete traditional boring methods. With this last subsystem in place, the team is now integrating it into the full TBR system.Next step: Field testing begins this fall near Fresno, CA, boring tunnels 1 meter in diameter. Commercialization of the TBR is expected in 2026.&nbsp;$18B Joint Venture with EnerTech (KIA) As previously shared, EarthGrid partnered with EnerTech, a Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) entity, to deploy $18 billion in underground infrastructure projects in four phases, starting in the U.S. and expanding globally.Timeline Update:<ul><li>2025: Focused on signing contracts for U.S.-based JV projects.</li><li>2026: Revenue expected to begin as projects move into deployment.</li><li>A Commercialization Round is in the works to accelerate progress on the JV and unlock capital sooner. </li></ul>This JV positions EarthGrid to become a keystone player in solving grid congestion, deploying clean energy, and modernizing critical infrastructure with unmatched speed and efficiency.Global Recognition: Startup World Cup Winner EarthGrid won the $1M Grand Prize at the 2024 Startup World Cup, beating out 1,000+ startups globally. The win signals high confidence from global investors in EarthGrid’s long-term vision and team execution.Strategic Regulatory Moat With telecom utility status in 46 states, EarthGrid is uniquely positioned to build and operate high-speed broadband and utility corridors beneath public roadways—creating multiple monetization pathways from fiber, power, and robotic freight.&nbsp;Why It Matters to D3VC Our AI identified EarthGrid as an outlier early—combining hard tech, clean infrastructure, regulatory edge, and commercial ambition. The company’s rapid technical progress and global momentum continue to validate our data-driven investment process.We believe EarthGrid is not just building tunnels—they’re building the infrastructure backbone for the 21st century.

Portfolio Company Update: EarthGrid PBC

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At D3VC, we believe the future of early-stage venture investing lies in the strategic application of data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Our proprietary investment model, developed using the most comprehensive dataset from Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA), helps us identify startups with the potential for outsized returns while minimizing risk.What sets D3VC apart is our access to the industry’s only 100%-complete database of online investment transactions. This dataset, covering over 8,000 companies since 2016, provides us with deep insights into which startups are most likely to succeed. Our AI algorithm, trained on this data, identifies patterns that indicate whether a company is on track for follow-on financing or other markers of success.However, our approach isn’t just about picking winners. Instead, D3VC takes a broad, diversified approach, with a goal to invest in 200–300 early-stage startups. This level of diversification—much higher than traditional venture funds—will allow us to lower risk while maintaining the potential for significant returns. In fact, our AI-driven model has consistently outperformed traditional benchmarks, currently estimating annualized returns of 19.4%, compared to 7.2% for the S&amp;P 500.Our investment process combines the speed and precision of AI with the expertise of our human investment committee. The AI narrows down hundreds of opportunities to a select few, which our team then reviews and validates. By blending human judgment with cutting-edge technology, we can efficiently identify and invest in high-potential companies, positioning our investors for long-term success.At D3VC, we’re not just transforming venture capital—we’re building the future of it.

How D3VC is Transforming Venture Capital with AI and Data

We are thrilled to provide you with an update on our latest activities at D3VC. Over the past month, we made three strategic investments, further expanding our portfolio in the hospitality, crowdfunding, and sports sectors. Below are the details of the companies we've added to our growing list of investments. Other than scoring high on our algorithm, these companies showcase how we are diversifying within the space. &nbsp; 1. Gin &amp; Luck Industry: Food &amp; Beverage Website: <a href="http://www.ginandluck.com/&nbsp;" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="http://www.ginandluck.com/">Gin &amp; Luck</a> Gin &amp; Luck is a leader in the modern cocktail and hospitality movement, recognized for creating the world-renowned Death &amp; Co brand. (If you haven’t checked out one of their locations, it is worth a visit). With a focus on experience-driven establishments, Gin &amp; Luck continues to scale its operations through new restaurant openings, a line of retail products, and a hotel partnership. Their innovative approach to hospitality, paired with a strong focus on brand equity and customer experience (their online reputation is impressive), positions them as a key player in the expanding food &amp; beverage space. &nbsp; 2. Wefunder Industry: Financial Services Website: <a data-mce-href="http://www.wefunder.com" href="http://www.wefunder.com">Wefunder</a> Wefunder is a pioneering investment crowdfunding platform that connects startups and small businesses with individual investors. As one of the leading platforms in the space, Wefunder has facilitated over $800M in funding for more than 1,900 companies. With their proven ability to empower diverse entrepreneurs and provide investors with access to early-stage deals, Wefunder continues to drive democratization in private equity investing. If you are putting two and two together, Wefunder is one of the many online investment platforms through which we at D3VC invest. We firmly believe in their future as they’ve been a leading platform since the industry launched, run a lean operation, and are very focused on cash flow. &nbsp; 3. Oakland Roots Industry: Sports, Community Engagement Website: <a href="https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/&nbsp;" data-mce-href="https://www.oaklandrootssc.com/">Oakland Roots</a> If you follow sports, you will see the growing interest in soccer, particularly with each successive World Cup. Oakland Roots is more than just a professional soccer club; it is a movement that integrates sports, community activism, and social justice. The organization stands out by merging high-quality soccer with initiatives that impact underprivileged communities in Oakland, setting a new standard for how sports teams can drive meaningful social change. Oakland Roots has quickly garnered attention and partnerships with key investors who are passionate about its mission. Oakland Roots shows this interest in seats filled, revenue growth, and investor engagement. &nbsp; D3VC's Mission and Strategy in Action Altogether, we have made three investments in Healthcare, Biotechnology, and Life Science. Two Financial Services ones. And one each in Transportation &amp; Logistics, Energy &amp; Utilities, Food &amp; Beverage, and Sports. Our diversification strategy continues to expand as we seek the best in each sector among current active investment crowdfunding offerings, currently at 620. &nbsp; Other News • Our managing principal, Sherwood Neiss, has <a data-mce-href="https://a9a74628.streak-link.com/CKUChZFKCoRLnCJs6QfG1-lf/https%3A%2F%2Fcrowdfundcapitaladvisors.com%2Funlocking-small-business-potential-how-investment-crowdfunding-can-drive-economic-growth%2F%3Fmc_cid%3D570e87985f%26mc_eid%3D0856adaed4" href="https://a9a74628.streak-link.com/CKUChZFKCoRLnCJs6QfG1-lf/https%3A%2F%2Fcrowdfundcapitaladvisors.com%2Funlocking-small-business-potential-how-investment-crowdfunding-can-drive-economic-growth%2F%3Fmc_cid%3D570e87985f%26mc_eid%3D0856adaed4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">encouraged the Presidential candidates to focus their economic agenda on startups through a $2B co-investment fund</a>.&nbsp; • The investment crowdfunding industry saw a solid start to the end of the year rush with new deals despite a dip in total investors. A copy of the monthly report is attached for your review. It also highlights Shark Tank issuers that have used investment crowdfunding to raise capital after appearing on the show. • Sherwood Neiss will speak about D3VC and tax policies to promote investment crowdfunding at the Crowdfunding Professional Associations’ 2024 Summit in Washington, DC, next week.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Thank you again for your support. If you have any questions or want more details about our recent investments, please get in touch with us!

October 2024 - D3VC Investment Update: 3 New Investments, Policy Proposal, Speaking Event

<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-weight: inherit; font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));" data-mce-style="font-family: inherit; font-size: calc(18px * var(--body-fontSize, 1)); font-weight: inherit; font-style: var(--body-fontStyle, normal); background-color: rgba(249,250,251,var(--tw-bg-opacity));">In a <a href="https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/q3-2024-pitchbook-analyst-note-vc-returns-by-series-part-iv?utm_campaign=analyst_note&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_source=research_pitch&amp;utm_content=q3_2024_pitchbook_analyst_note_vc_returns_by_series_part_iv" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-href="https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/q3-2024-pitchbook-analyst-note-vc-returns-by-series-part-iv?utm_campaign=analyst_note&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_source=research_pitch&amp;utm_content=q3_2024_pitchbook_analyst_note_vc_returns_by_series_part_iv">recent report from Pitchbook</a>,&nbsp;the data confirms a well-known reality in venture capital. While seed-stage investments offer the highest rate of annualized returns, they also come with the highest risk of failure. Seed-stage investments, according to the report, deliver an impressive 25.5% annualized return, outpacing later-stage investments. However, they come with a significantly higher likelihood of failure, with 38.6% of these startups closing their doors before raising follow-on funding​​.At D3VC, we are deeply familiar with both the potential and the pitfalls of seed-stage investing. Our investment philosophy is built around capturing the upside potential while strategically minimizing the risks. To achieve this, we leverage proprietary technology, specifically an algorithm we developed and backtested against eight years of data. This algorithm identifies key signals indicating whether a startup is likely to raise follow-on financing or face potential failure. By focusing only on startups that score highly in our algorithm, we aim to reduce the likelihood of investing in companies that may go out of business.Beyond our algorithm, we also conduct thorough due diligence on every investment opportunity. Our process involves asking founders critical questions about their team, technology, intellectual property, and overall business strategy. We always consider their potential exit options—whether through acquisition or IPO—and focus on whether their trajectory aligns with that of a company positioned for long-term success. By maintaining this disciplined approach, we aim to further mitigate the risks associated with seed-stage investing.While we are in the early stages of building and executing our post-investment strategy, our vision is to provide ongoing support to our portfolio companies. Although we haven’t yet implemented this model fully, we aim to offer operational guidance, connect startups with experienced mentors, and assist with follow-on funding efforts to help them grow. Additionally, since the founders of D3VC were instrumental in writing the investment crowdfunding law, we possess deep knowledge of the regulatory landscape and are committed to ensuring that our portfolio companies remain compliant. This focus on compliance will further protect our investments by keeping companies on track and aligned with legal requirements.While it’s true that not every seed investment will succeed, the potential rewards for those that do can be exceptional. According to Pitchbook, successful seed-stage startups can deliver returns as high as 50x​. This makes seed investing a high-risk, high-reward venture. However, by relying on our algorithm, conducting rigorous due diligence, and offering strategic support to portfolio companies, D3VC aims to maximize returns while minimizing the risk of failure.

Balancing High Rewards and Risks: How D3VC Navigates Seed Stage Investments to Maximize Returns and Minimize Failures

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We are excited to share that D3VC has made two strategic investments in August, further expanding our portfolio in the healthcare and energy sectors. Below are the details of the companies we have added to our growing list of investments: 1. Deverra Therapeutics - Industry: Healthcare, Biotechnology, and Life Sciences. Website: deverratx.com. Deverra Therapeutics is at the forefront of revolutionizing immune cell therapies for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Their lead asset, Dilanubicel, has shown promising results, significantly improving remission rates in leukemia patients during a Phase 2 clinical trial. Deverra is now on the cusp of a pivotal trial that could lead to FDA approval, targeting the $3.5B+ global acute myeloid leukemia market. Deverra has been granted Fast Track designation, allowing them to expedite the development and review process with the FDA. We also spoke with Prevail Partners, the venture group leading Deverra's post-Crowdfund round. We were very impressed with their deep focus on life sciences, data-driven approach, and ability to expedite clinical trials toward FDA approval. Their strategic positioning includes potential license deals with major pharmaceutical companies, which enhances the investment's potential. 2. EarthGrid - Industry: Energy and Utilities. Website: earthgrid.io. EarthGrid is redefining infrastructure with Its vision of a global network of underground utility tunnels. These tunnels will carry clean energy, water, high-speed data, and e-commerce goods; all moved by a plasma-powered robot at a fraction of the cost and time of conventional methods. EarthGrid holds a patent for its plasma laser technology, a critical component of its innovative tunneling approach. The company currently has four purchase orders, with the first expected to close by the end of the year. This initial project will focus on underground wires, a significant step towards realizing their broader global vision of transforming infrastructure. EarthGrid's innovation has the potential to drastically reduce the environmental impact and cost of infrastructure development while also connecting underserved communities around the world. These investments align perfectly with D3VC's mission to leverage AI and data science to identify and support early-stage companies with the potential to generate outsized returns. We are confident that these companies will play a significant role in transforming their respective industries.A Positive Outlook on Venture Capital Returns. A recent PitchBook study analyzed venture capital returns and reported an annualized return of 25.5%. We were pleased to see that this data conforms to our own predictions and supports our confidence in the potential of early-stage investing. You can go ahead and read that here. Investment Crowdfunding: A Groundbreaking Financial Innovation. We’re proud to share that Investopedia recently ranked investment crowdfunding as one of the 25 groundbreaking financial innovations from the past 25 years. This recognition highlights the significant impact that crowdfunding has had on democratizing access to capital and creating opportunities for early-stage companies. You can read more about this achievement here. Seeking Introductions to Potential Investors. As we continue to grow, we seek introductions to high-net-worth individuals, funds of funds investors, family offices, and others who might be interested in what we are doing at D3VC. We would greatly appreciate your referrals if you know anyone who would be a good fit. Please feel free to contact me directly at sneiss@d3vc.ai. As always, thank you for your continued support. If you have any questions or would like to discuss these investments in more detail, please feel free to reach out.

Blog

D3VC Portfolio Update: Health Care Originals (HCO)

Portfolio Company Update: EarthGrid PBC

How D3VC is Transforming Venture Capital with AI and Data

October 2024 - D3VC Investment Update: 3 New Investments,...

Balancing High Rewards and Risks: How D3VC Navigates Seed...

September 2024 - D3VC August Investment Update: Deverra T...