The Austin venture firm treats leadership as investable infrastructure. Its wager is that military training, operating scars and a useful phone book can reveal more than a polished pitch.
Nick Tippmann built an Austin venture fund around a contrarian-sounding idea: the biggest AI companies may begin by obsessing over one narrow industry. TipTop's portfolio now stretches from legal departments and liquor stores to cattle ranches and airspace.
Runtime Ventures raised $32 million to back cyber companies before the market has made up its mind. Its edge is less about prediction than participation: two former operators, an LP bench full of security veterans, and a standing invitation for founders to put them to work.