Ken Horenstein
Ken Horenstein is currently a Mentor at CoMotion at University of Washington, Founder & General Partner at Pack Ventures, and Co-founder at Venture Out. He founded Pack Ventures, which is still running, and co-founded Venture Out, which closed. He has expertise in venture capital and startup community building.
GeekWire reports: Seattle Tech Week 2026 — AI dominates 250+ events as investors and job-seekers flock to Seattle
GeekWire's Todd Bishop reports from Seattle Tech Week 2026, where AI dominated conversations across more than 250 events and drew significant Bay Area investor interest and job-seeking attendees. Panels and speakers from OpenAI, Mistral AI, Ascend, Oumi and others highlighted debates about foundation models, enterprise data access, and the rush to build on third-party AI.
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 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.
Universities Explore Diverse Venture Fund Models as Only One-Third of US Research Schools Currently Have Funds
Universities are increasingly considering launching venture funds to boost spinout creation and meet government expectations for economic impact, though only about a third of US research universities currently have one. Models vary widely—from university-run funds to partnerships with other universities or external VC firms—so institutions can tailor structures like single dedicated funds or multiple coexisting vehicles.
The Hidden Truth of Venture and AI with GP of Pack Ventures Ken Horenstein
In this episode of The Shift AI Podcast, host Boaz Ashkenazy, founder and CEO of Augmented AI, sits down with Ken Horenstein, the founding partner of Pack Ventures, a venture firm that supports startups emerging from the University of Washington's vibrant tech ecosystem. Ken shares his journey from growing up in Vancouver, Washington, to becoming a key player in Seattle's venture capital scene, with previous roles at Microsoft's M12 and Venture Out. Ken and Boaz delve into the art of identifying what’s truly necessary for startup success. Drawing from his experience working with highly technical research scientists, Ken offers a…
Pack Ventures partners with University of Washington, raises $30M fund to back UW founders
Pack Ventures, an independent VC fund, has formalized a partnership with the University of Washington and CoMotion to support UW-affiliated startups, launch its second fund, and is raising $30 million with over 50 investors so far. Founder Ken Horenstein says the fund will lower investment barriers for alumni, attract faculty and students, boost philanthropy, and he has pledged up to 2% of his personal proceeds to the UW.
Pack Ventures Seeks $30M for Second Fund to Invest in University of Washington-Linked Startups
Pack Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on University of Washington-linked startups, raised $5 million for its first fund and is now aiming to raise $30 million for a second fund to expand its investments. The firm has established a preferred partnership with UW and co-invests with other Seattle VCs in companies across life sciences, software, and healthcare sectors.
Seattle Venture Capitalists Say Founder Support, Not Local Money, Is Key Missing Piece in Startup Ecosystem
Seattle's startup ecosystem is often criticized for a lack of local venture capital firms, but experts highlight that the true opportunity lies in fostering greater founder-to-founder investment and community support to strengthen the scene. Panelists at the Seattle AI Investor Summit emphasized that being a net importer of investment capital is positive, and more connectivity among founders could boost the city's startup success.
Aviel Ginzburg Launches Seattle Foundations to Support Tech Startups with Non-Equity Accelerator in Capitol Hill
Aviel Ginzburg and a team of entrepreneurs are launching Seattle Foundations, a new invite-only entrepreneurial community and shared workspace in Seattle, aiming to support tech founders with mentorship and resources without taking equity. The initiative, set to open later this year in Capitol Hill, will offer co-working space, events, and six-month memberships focused on startup acceleration.
Archive: How to Get Investors to Really Listen to Your Pitch (Fundamentals for Startups)
(https://comotion.uw.edu/) When it comes to getting a crucial callback from a potential funder, an effective presentation goes a long way. In this talk, Ken Horenstein, founder and general partner of Pack Ventures; Elizabeth Cross Nichol, program and grant manager at Life Science Washington; and Elisa La Cava, principal at Trilogy Equity Partners shared insights on what they listen for when taking a pitch from a startup. UW and Microsoft alumnus Ken Horenstein invests in UW-affiliated projects; Elizabeth Cross Nichol is a former clinician and hospital administrator; and Elisa La Cava, formerly of Madrona, focuses on early-stage tech companies.
Pack Ventures launches Seattle syndicate to back UW-linked startups, pledges 10% of future profits to University of Washington
Pack Ventures, a new early-stage Seattle VC, will invest $100K–$200K checks in startups tied to the University of Washington and has already backed five companies including Jeeva Wireless, Talus.bio and Monod Bio; the firm will return 10% of individual future profits to UW. The syndicate includes more than 35 founding investors from the Seattle VC and entrepreneur community and will target AI, robotics, computational biology, enterprise software and other high-growth areas.
Pack Ventures launches 506(c) pre-seed fund to back University of Washington founders, pledges 10% of returns to UW
Pack Ventures (Pack VC), a pre-seed and seed 506(c) fund, launched to invest in University of Washington-affiliated founders and broaden accredited investor access; leaders pledge 10% of personal fund returns to UW and will host an online introduction for accredited investors on Feb. 17.
Venture Out launches $1,499 Moonlighter Lab to help full-time workers validate startups while keeping day jobs
Seattle nonprofit Venture Out launched Moonlighter Lab, an 8-week program that charges $1,499 to help full-time workers validate startup ideas while keeping their day jobs; some participants from the January cohort later quit to pursue startups. Venture Out, co-founded by Sean Sternbach and Ken Horenstein, previously ran a 12-week Venture Lab exchanging 4% equity and raised $700,000 last year led by M12.
Microsoft’s M12 Leads $700,000 Round for Venture Out, Seattle 12-Week Program Helping Corporate Tech Workers Launch Startups
Venture Out is a Seattle-based 12-week program that helps corporate tech workers launch startups by providing mentorship, requiring 10–20 hours/week commitment, and taking 4% equity. The organization raised $700,000 in a round led by Microsoft’s M12 and is accepting applications for a second cohort starting July 13.
Venture Out helps Amazonians and other Seattle big‑tech employees build startups while keeping their day jobs
Venture Out is a program that helps Seattle big‑tech employees and alumni (including Amazonians and others) develop startup ideas while keeping their day jobs, offering guidance and support that can ease the transition to founding. The article profiles Brietta Easterlin, who left Indeed to launch Experience Shindig, and situates the program amid Seattle’s evolving startup ecosystem.
Organizations
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Pack Ventures Founder & General Partner 2021–present · current
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CoMotion at University of Washington Mentor 2017–present · current
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Venture Out Co-founder · current
Education
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Foster School of Business Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Marketing, Strategy, Entrepreneurship
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Foster School of Business Bachelor’s Degree, Finance
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Seattle University Finance, Philosophy
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Hudson's Bay High School High School Diploma
