Ready to talk about the real builders. The ones not chasing the next click, but the next breakthrough. While most of the Valley's still busy fine-tuning ad algorithms and "reinventing" things that didn’t need reinventing, a new player just stepped into the arena to put muscle behind the hard stuff. Meet CIV, a venture firm that’s less about virtual fluff and more about reshaping the physical world. These folks aren’t dabbling in tech toys, they’re here to fund the stuff that actually keeps the lights on and the world moving.
Founded in 2025 and already packing a $200M punch, CIV is here to back early-stage killers in manufacturing, energy (yes, nuclear too), and infrastructure. That’s not just a thesis, it’s a declaration. This isn’t a fund for the faint-hearted. It’s for the founders willing to get their hands dirty building what others are too soft, or too distracted, to touch. Think next-gen batteries, carbon capture, industrial automation, the grid, the roads, the bones of modern life. CIV’s betting big that these are the sectors that matter most, and frankly, they’re right.
Led by Patrick Maloney, Jeff Rosenthal, and Abhijoy Mitra, this trio brings more than deep pockets, they bring deep scars from the trenches. Patrick’s no stranger to flipping the energy game; he built Inspire and sold it to Shell. Now he’s running point at CIV, doubling down on clean energy and nuclear. Jeff, co-founder of Summit Partners and angel investor in names you definitely know, SpaceX, Uber, Warby Parker, brings the long view. And Abhijoy? He’s the numbers guy with a nose for industrial winners, coming off a hot streak at Coatue, where he backed names like Redwood Materials and Form Energy before most folks could spell them.
But don’t get it twisted, this isn’t just about cutting checks. CIV isn’t here to spray and pray. When the right company’s out there, they’re in. When it’s not? They build it. That’s the game. Back the best, or create the best. No middle ground. And with heavyweights like Gwynne Shotwell and Fred Wilson backing the fund, they’ve got the firepower to make it happen.
CIV’s arrival isn’t just timely, it’s necessary. The world’s screaming for real solutions to real problems, and these guys are here to deliver. They’re betting on the physical world when most are still hypnotized by pixels. The question now isn’t if they’ll win, it’s how much of the future they’ll own. And if you’re still focused on chasing the metaverse, maybe take a minute and ask yourself: who’s rebuilding the world while you’re busy escaping it?
Let’s connect and keep the momentum going across the tech ecosystem. Whether you’re a founder shaping the future, a leader driving change, a VC backing bold ideas, or an investor spotting the next big thing—together, we’re pushing boundaries. Proud to be building the future with you.
Let’s connect on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.