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☀️ South Loop Ventures backs Houston’s rise with $21M fund for diverse founders

A new $21M seed fund is betting on Houston’s industrial backbone and diverse talent pool—anchored by Rice and Chevron, and led by a Navy veteran-turned-VC with a mission.

✅ What’s inside the fund
• $21M Fund I targeting pre-seed and seed rounds
• Average check size: $400K, with room for follow-on
• 13 investments already made—targeting 30 startups
• LPs include Rice Management Co., Chevron Tech Ventures, Texas Capital Bank
• Strategic focus on healthcare, energy, climate, and space

⚡️ Why it matters
• Houston is the most diverse big city in the U.S.—but its tech scene is still undercapitalized
• South Loop is one of the few local firms intentionally backing founders of color
• Built around sectors where Houston already has global strengths—this isn’t a tourist fund

🧠 The GP’s playbook
• Founder Zach Ellis is a Navy veteran and ex-PepsiCo venture investor
• Brings institutional capital experience from Ohio State University’s endowment
• Believes diversity is both a moral and economic imperative: “Diverse teams outperform”

South Loop Ventures is betting that the next wave of breakout founders won’t come from the coasts—they’ll come from Houston.

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6.0K viewsMay 21 at 08:03

☀️ South Loop Ventures backs Houston’s rise with $21M fund for diverse founders

A new $21M seed fund is betting on Houston’s industrial backbone and diverse talent pool—anchored by Rice and Chevron, and led by a Navy veteran-turned-VC with a mission.

✅ What’s inside the fund
• $21M Fund I targeting pre-seed and seed rounds
• Average check size: $400K, with room for follow-on
• 13 investments already made—targeting 30 startups
• LPs include Rice Management Co., Chevron Tech Ventures, Texas Capital Bank
• Strategic focus on healthcare, energy, climate, and space

⚡️ Why it matters
• Houston is the most diverse big city in the U.S.—but its tech scene is still undercapitalized
• South Loop is one of the few local firms intentionally backing founders of color
• Built around sectors where Houston already has global strengths—this isn’t a tourist fund

🧠 The GP’s playbook
• Founder Zach Ellis is a Navy veteran and ex-PepsiCo venture investor
• Brings institutional capital experience from Ohio State University’s endowment
• Believes diversity is both a moral and economic imperative: “Diverse teams outperform”

South Loop Ventures is betting that the next wave of breakout founders won’t come from the coasts—they’ll come from Houston.

✔️Powered by V3V Ventures