J-Ventures expands with $36 million third fund
The venture firm, built around a global network of 600 Jewish investors and executives, has grown to $110 million in assets under management while doubling down on Israeli and US startups.
J-Ventures, the Silicon Valley venture capital firm that describes itself as the world's largest Jewish venture capital community, has closed a $36 million third fund, exceeding its original fundraising target by 44% and bringing its total assets under management to approximately $110 million.
Founded by former UC Berkeley Foundation chairman Jim Kosland and managing partner Oded Hermoni, the firm has developed what it calls a "Capitalist Kibbutz" - a network of roughly 600 investors, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, technology executives and community leaders who contribute not only capital but also business expertise, recruiting, customer introductions and strategic guidance to portfolio companies.
The firm limits investment commitments to $500,000 per individual in an effort to preserve what it describes as an egalitarian community structure. According to J-Ventures, it declined more than $15 million in additional commitments from investors seeking to exceed that limit.
J-Ventures has invested in nearly 50 companies across Israel and the United States, including Descope, Finout, Bria AI, BeeHero, CopilotKit, Strawberry.me and Eclypsium. Several of its portfolio companies were founded by members of the J-Ventures community.
The newly raised fund has already invested in five startups: CopilotKit, Strawberry.me, Gacey, Tego and Zenskar.
The community includes current and former partners from leading venture capital firms in both Israel and the US, as well as senior executives from companies including Nvidia, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Intel and OpenAI. It also includes entrepreneurs, family offices and three rabbis representing the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox movements.
Beyond venture investing, J-Ventures operates an impact investment fund and a Next Generation program that introduces young adults to entrepreneurship and venture capital. The firm said its portfolio companies have collectively raised more than $2.5 billion in follow-on funding, while it has completed 10 exits over the past several years.
