D3VC.ai has shared an update on Fund I’s performance over the past 18 months. Launched in July 2024, the Fund seeks to identify early-stage private firms leveraging artificial intelligence and data to find promising investors.
The group was founded by crowdfunding OG Sherwood “Woodie” Neiss, aiming to provide wider access to investment opportunities.
The Fund raised $5 million to invest in target companies, raising money online. The Fund invests in a range of industries, including Fintech, energy, robotics, and more. The company says it discovers opportunities that traditional VCs miss.
To date, the D3VC Fund I has invested in 19 firms. The company shares its performance so far:
- 1.18x mean multiple on invested capital – an 18% gain in just 18 months
- 169% median revenue growth across portfolio companies
- 4 companies completed follow-on rounds at higher valuations, with more expected in 2026
- 90%+ of portfolio companies have venture capital or significant angel backing
Several investments are highlighted, including:
- Rise Robotics – Guinness World Record holder for the world’s strongest robotic arm. $9.3M in revenue with revolutionary fluid-free actuator technology.
- Endosound – FDA-cleared medical device transforming gastrointestinal diagnostics. 600+ procedures completed, backed by $12M from leading investors.
- Qnetic Corporation – Innovative flywheel energy storage. Just signed a lease for an advanced manufacturing facility to scale production.
- EarthGrid – Plasma tunnel-boring technology that’s 100x faster than traditional methods. Achieved a 1.24x multiple. Positioned for the $2T+ grid modernization wave.
- Pitch Aeronautics – Infrastructure inspection drones with 24,900% revenue growth.
- Wefunder (what they believe is the leading investment crowdfunding platform)
- Y Combinator Orange 25 fund— exposure to YC-caliber deals that have historically been limited to traditional VCs.
The company notes that venture capital stalled in 2025, and while others sat on the sidelines, they were investing, and the data so far “proves the model works.”
Typically, venture investing is not for the impatient, and any eventual returns are measured in years and not months. As an investor, you should expect market-beating returns when compared to alternatives, including professional VC funds.
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