About Apogee
Dave Brendel, General Partner
Access to opportunity is not a privilege. It is a human right.
Starting a business is challenging and psychologically taxing on experienced entrepreneurs and first-timers alike. That’s why Apogee was founded. Apogee is a non-traditional venture capital firm that turns many industry norms upside down: Equity and control are off the table, there are no term sheets or contracts, and no board to answer to. Apogee minimizes barriers to your growth and helps you create the best products for your customers.
Guiding Principles
Equity and control are the founder’s pride.
Bonafide partnerships and emotional investment into a company are supreme over fear-ridden contracts. Equity and control are off the table, it’s that simple.
Entrepreneurs and Investors deserve equal access to socioeconomic impact.
Great products and services come from great founders, and great founders should have the opportunity to build great businesses. It’s about jobs, cash flow, and having fun, too. Everyone should have a chance to invest in this greatness for the good of their community and nation.
21st century ventures require a 21st century paradigm.
Machine learning and market analysis are staples in creating a lean and agile enterprise. Return on investment and risk feedback are real-time metrics, not hopes.
For Companies
Unlike traditional venture capital, Apogee invests in your products or services through volume purchases, promotions, or other special arrangements. Investments are incremental, rapid, and strategically placed to minimize risk and increase the volume of customer feedback through widespread sales channels. This means you get to test your market quickly and optimize your product without taking on huge risks. Apogee runs lean and agile with you.
Apogee additionally removes pressures that traditional investors place on startups. There are no investor milestones, board meetings, or anyone to answer to but yourself. Aside from providing capital, Apogee uses proven AI techniques to analyze the market, competition, and customer sentiment to help you build the next “hit” products. Apogee will help you obtain trademarks to protect your brand, too. Apogee’s business model is incentivized to prioritize you and your products, with zero interest in equity, control, or charging you fees. This enables Apogee to be your best business friend at no expense to you.
For Investors
Whether you are a passive investor or looking to invest in your community, investment partners can access returns much more frequently than traditional venture capital with much less risk. Furthermore, investors do not need to be “qualified investors,” which is a designation that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission requires for traditional Angel and VC-related investments. This is because Apogee does not invest in company ownership or other securities that would require such qualification by law. Instead, you invest in the company’s product or brand in the same way that you support your favorite brands online or at the store. This kind of investment can come from anyone with any amount.
Apogee issues capital calls to raise funds and minimizes your risk by only obligating amounts with the highest likelihood of producing a positive return. Capital calls occur on a regular basis. The frequency and return amount depend on the type of product and market demand. Apogee will provide you with a report of your expected returns once your investment has been obligated.