# DeepWork Capital

> DeepWork Capital is an Orlando-based early-stage venture firm that writes the first institutional checks into technology and life-sciences startups building in Florida and other U.S. regions that traditional VC overlooks. Founded in 2015 (as the FAN Fund) by Ben Patz, Kathy Chiu and Mitchel Laskey, the firm backs seed and Series A companies with roughly $1-5 million and rolls up its sleeves alongside founders on strategy, hiring and board work. Its portfolio spans smart wheelchair cushions, insurance software, gene therapy and AI cybersecurity, with exits including Stax (FattMerchant), PikMyKid and RepScrubs.

- **Founded:** 2015
- **Headquarters:** Orlando, Florida, United States
- **Founders:** Mitchel Laskey (Co-Founder & Managing General Partner), Ben Patz (Co-Founder & Managing General Partner), Kathy Chiu (Co-Founder & Managing Partner)
- **Team size:** ~16 employees
- **Products:** Early-stage venture capital (Seed & Series A), Hands-on portfolio support, Florida-focused fund strategy
- **Notable:** Backed 40+ portfolio companies across technology and life sciences since 2015, Realized exits including Stax (FattMerchant), PikMyKid (acquired by CENTEGIX), RepScrubs (acquired by THL Partners), Intelligent Observation (acquired by HID Global), and AbFero Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pharmacosmos), Portfolio company HCW Biologics reached the public markets (Nasdaq: HCWB)

## Products & services

- **Early-stage venture capital (Seed & Series A)** — Lead or co-lead investments of roughly $1-5 million into technology and life-sciences startups, frequently as the first institutional capital after friends-and-family and angel rounds.
- **Hands-on portfolio support** — Board-level engagement, strategy, capital formation, recruiting and operational guidance drawn from the partners' experience as former founders and CEOs.
- **Florida-focused fund strategy** — A dedicated focus on Florida and surrounding underserved regions, sourcing and building companies where venture capital is scarce.

## Achievements

- Backed 40+ portfolio companies across technology and life sciences since 2015
- Realized exits including Stax (FattMerchant), PikMyKid (acquired by CENTEGIX), RepScrubs (acquired by THL Partners), Intelligent Observation (acquired by HID Global), and AbFero Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pharmacosmos)
- Portfolio company HCW Biologics reached the public markets (Nasdaq: HCWB)
- Co-founder Mitchel Laskey named TiEcon Angel Investor of the Year
- Rebranded from the FAN Fund to DeepWork Capital, formalizing its hands-on investment philosophy

## Latest updates

- **2024-01** — Continued active seed and Series A investing across Florida in fintech, insurtech, AI cybersecurity and life sciences, with additions such as Worth AI, FirmPilot and Tenex Security.
- **2023-01** — Portfolio company Homee and others advanced insurance-technology automation; exits continued to mature across the fund.

## Links

- Website: https://deepworkcapital.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepworkcapital

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/deepwork-capital
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-15