Facts
- Sectors
- Venture Capital, Early-stage Investing, B2B, Technology
- Founded
- 1999
- Last fund
- Voyager Capital Fund VI, L.P. · 2023 SEC Form D
- Funds raised
- 4 funds SEC Form D filings
- Total capital
- $69.4M SEC Form D filings
Rapta Raises $8M Led by Voyager Capital and Access Venture Partners to Scale AI Quality Assurance for Defense and Aerospace
Rapta closed an $8 million funding round co-led by Voyager Capital and Access Venture Partners to expand its AI-powered Manufacturing Intelligence Platform for defense, aerospace, and precision manufacturing, with new board members Diane Fraiman and Kirk Holland. The funding aims to accelerate deployment of Rapta’s computer vision and process intelligence tools used by five of the top ten U.S. defense contractors to improve quality and reduce production delays.
Lake Oswego AI startup Rapta raises $8M from Voyager Capital, Access Venture Partners to scale QA platform
Lake Oswego AI startup Rapta raised $8 million from Voyager Capital and Access Venture Partners to expand its computer-vision manufacturing quality-assurance platform, aiming to hire engineers and sales staff. Founded in 2021, Rapta works with five of the top 10 U.S. defense prime contractors and has offices in Lake Oswego and Orlando.
UW Students Pitch AI Startup Ideas to Seattle Venture Capitalists After 10-Week Program at Pioneer Square Labs
University of Washington students from seven teams pitched AI-driven startup ideas to influential Seattle investors at Pioneer Square Labs, concluding a 10-week entrepreneurship program led by venture capitalist Greg Gottesman and UW professor Ed Lazowska. The event featured realistic pitch rounds, attracting prominent tech leaders as guests throughout the course.
Fundamentals for Startups – 10 Reasons Not to Take VC $$ presented to UW CoMotion Labs on Oct 3, 2025
A presentation titled "Fundamentals for Startups – 10 Reasons Not to Take VC $$," prepared for University of Washington CoMotion Labs on October 3, 2025, outlines arguments against accepting venture capital and acknowledges input from several Seattle-area VCs and others.
Seattle’s Agtech Startups Like Carbon Robotics Garner $157M to Drive Sustainable Farming Amid Industry Growth
Seattle and the Pacific Northwest are becoming a major hub for agriculture technology, driven by local tech talent, innovative farming, and advances in robotics and AI. Despite a dip in agtech investments from 2021 to 2022, startups like Seattle-based Carbon Robotics are raising significant funding and developing sustainable farming technologies.
Seattle’s Tech Sector Struggles with Microsoft and Amazon Layoffs, $146M Budget Deficit Projected
Seattle's tech scene faces challenges due to layoffs at Microsoft and Amazon, leading to decreased retail spending, restaurant closures, and a projected $146 million city budget deficit. Despite these setbacks, the AI boom may alter hiring trends and create new opportunities for startups in the region.
Seattle Startups Audiori and Elementrailer Launch AI Audio Detection and Electric Trailers in 2024 with Venture Capital Interest
The article spotlights four Seattle-based early-stage startups founded in 2024: Audiori develops AI-driven audio copyright detection; Elementrailer builds motorized electric trailers to help reduce vehicle range loss and fuel consumption; Fluidworks and Pivotal Build also highlighted but details are limited. Venture capitalist Austin Guyette provides investor insights, noting market potential and challenges for these innovative companies.
Nikesh Parekh Advises Microsoft and Amazon Execs on Engaging with Seattle Startups as Advisors, Board Members, and Investors
Nikesh Parekh shares a guide for Microsoft and Amazon employees on engaging with the Seattle startup ecosystem through roles like advisors or board members and by strategic investing, highlighting common practices and compensation details.
UKG Acquires Seattle-Based Scheduling Software Firm Shiftboard, Expanding Workforce Management Portfolio
UKG has acquired Shiftboard, a Seattle-based employee scheduling software company with over 500 customers, including major firms like BASF and Shell. Founded in 2002 and led by CEO Sterling Wilson, Shiftboard specializes in workforce scheduling across multiple industries and has raised $19.5 million in funding.
University of Washington Students Place Third in 2023 Global Venture Capital Investment Competition
University of Washington’s Foster School of Business offers a 10-week venture capital course finishing with a competition where students act as investors and analyze startup pitches. This year, the UW team placed third globally in the Venture Capital Investment Competition, their best result since 2015.
Madrona Venture Group Marks 30 Years with $770M Raised for New Funds, Continuing Strong Seattle Investments
Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle-based venture capital firm celebrating its 30th anniversary, has invested in major startups like Amazon and recently raised $770 million for two new funds to support about 40 investments. While expanding beyond the Pacific Northwest with a Palo Alto office, Madrona continues to focus most of its investments locally.
Seattle Venture Capitalists Urge Founders to Prioritize Practical AI Over Pursuit of AGI
Seattle venture capitalists at a Plug and Play event encouraged tech founders to focus on building practical AI products for specific industries rather than chasing artificial general intelligence (AGI), which they believe is uncertain and not imminent.
Seattle Startup Overland AI Raises $32M Series A to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Tech for U.S. Military
Seattle startup Overland AI raised $32 million in a Series A funding round led by 8VC to advance its off-road autonomous driving technology for the U.S. military. The company, founded in 2022, has contracts with the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and DARPA to develop systems enabling robotic vehicles to operate in complex terrain without GPS or human drivers.
Seattle VCs Forecast AI Dominance and Crypto Skepticism in 2025 Tech Landscape
Seattle venture capitalists predict AI will dominate tech trends in 2025, emphasizing its integration into consumer interactions and infrastructure. While AI is expected to advance, some also view crypto as the most overhyped technology.
Voyager Capital’s James Newell Calls for More Risk-Taking Angel Investors in Seattle Startup Ecosystem
James Newell of Voyager Capital highlights Seattle's need for more angel investors willing to make riskier startup bets and write 'low-conviction' checks, a practice common in Silicon Valley but less so in Seattle's culture. He notes the lack of experienced angel investors and the region's understated approach to investing as barriers to a more vibrant startup ecosystem.
'Seattle Freeze' Social Dynamic Criticized and Debated at WTIA FullConTech; Industry Leaders Call for Action in Seattle Startup Scene
Discussion about the 'Seattle Freeze' social dynamic resurfaced at the WTIA FullConTech conference, highlighting challenges for startup founders in Seattle. Industry leaders debated the issue, with some urging focus on actionable solutions over complaints.
Clarivate Acquires Seattle-Based Patent Automation Startup Rowan TELS Corp.
Clarivate, a London-based software company, acquired Rowan TELS Corp., the maker of an automated patent drafting tool, with Rowan’s development team remaining in Seattle. Rowan was founded in 2018 and merged with TurboPatent in 2019, backed by Seattle investors including Voyager Capital.
Tom Huseby, Founder of SeaPoint Ventures and Seattle Tech Investor, Dies at 76 from Pancreatic Cancer
Tom Huseby, founder of SeaPoint Ventures and longtime Seattle tech investor and advisor, passed away at 76 in June 2024 due to pancreatic cancer. Remembered for his wisdom, wit, and deep kindness, he significantly impacted numerous technology startups over 25 years.
UW Spinout Overland AI Raises $10M to Develop Off-Road Autonomous Tech for U.S. Military
Seattle startup Overland AI raised $10 million to advance its off-road autonomous driving technology, which is being developed for U.S. military use. The company recently secured a potential $18.6 million contract with the U.S. Army to develop its OverDrive platform for robotic combat vehicles.
Seattle VCs James Newell and Jason Stoffer Debate UW vs. Michigan as Football and Tech Rivalry Heats Up
Seattle-area venture capitalists James Newell (University of Washington) and Jason Stoffer (University of Michigan) engage in friendly tech investor football rivalry ahead of the College Football Playoff championship. Both praise their universities' engineering programs and entrepreneurial impact while playfully debating their teams' prospects.
Sustainable Chicken Sandwich Startup Mt. Joy Raises $1.5M and Opens First Seattle Restaurant
Entrepreneur Robbie Cape launched Mt. Joy, a sustainable chicken sandwich startup, opening a Seattle brick-and-mortar location after a food truck debut and raising $1.5 million from notable investors. The restaurant emphasizes sustainable farming and locally sourced ingredients to promote regenerative agriculture.
Seattle VC Firm Fuse Raises $250M Second Fund to Back 30-35 Pacific Northwest Startups
Seattle-based venture capital firm Fuse raised $250 million for its second fund to invest in early-stage enterprise software startups across the Pacific Northwest, aiming to back 30-35 companies despite a broader venture capital slowdown. Founded in 2020 with an initial $170 million fund, Fuse credits its growth to the strong local talent and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Voyager Capital Targets $100M Sixth Fund to Support Early-Stage B2B Startups in the Pacific Northwest
Voyager Capital is aiming to raise $100 million for its sixth fund to invest in early-stage B2B startups in the Pacific Northwest, targeting software, SaaS, AI, and cloud infrastructure sectors. Founded in 1997, the firm has backed over 75 companies and manages more than $520 million in assets.
Seattle Venture Capital Investment Falls to $1.11 Billion in H1 2023, Yet Investors Stay Bullish on AI and Talent
Despite a significant decline in venture capital investments in Seattle, local investors remain optimistic about the region's future, driven by its strong talent pool and growth in generative AI. Seattle startups raised $1.11 billion in the first half of this year, down from $4.02 billion last year, reflecting a cautious shift toward profitability amid a market downturn similar to the dot-com bubble.
Groopit Raises $3.5M to Expand Employee Data Crowdsourcing Platform with Generative AI Tools
Groopit, an employee data crowdsourcing startup founded by ex-Microsoft leaders Tammy Savage and John Vert, raised $3.5 million to expand its go-to-market strategy and develop generative AI tools. The company's platform gathers real-time insights from employees across multiple tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack, applying a unique 'crowdsolving' model to business data collection.
Fund History
People
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Austin Guyette Partner
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Bill McAleer Managing Director
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Erik Benson Managing Partner
