VC Spotlight: Version One
Version One Ventures doesn't chase headlines, it builds them before the ink dries. Founded in 2012 and operating between Vancouver and San Francisco, the firm partners with mission-driven founders at pre-seed and seed who refuse to build features and insist on creating categories. More than US $250 million under management across six funds isn't the flex, it's the fuel that lets Version One back the first iteration of the future and keep doubling down when conviction demands it.
Boris Wertz learned conviction the long way. He co-founded JustBooks in 1999, grew it into AbeBooks.com, and ran operations through trenches no MBA case study could script, before Amazon took it off the table. With a PhD from WHU in Koblenz, recognition as Pacific Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005, and a board partner role at Andreessen Horowitz, Wertz bridged Europe, Canada, and Silicon Valley. His 2024 induction into the BC Innovators Hall of Fame sealed a two-decade arc from founder to investor.
Angela Tran brings precision where noise dominates. With a University of Toronto PhD in Operations Research and Financial Engineering, she co-founded YC-backed Insight Data Science before joining Version One and rising to General Partner in San Francisco. Her focus spans deep tech, AI and ML, robotics, climate and energy, developer tools, and enterprise SaaS. A trustee of the Computer History Museum and charter member of the C100, Tran sharpens the firm's edge with analytical rigor and ecosystem reach.
Version One's thesis is embedded in its name: fund the first version that matters. Initial checks land between US $500,000 and $2 million, with Opportunity Funds fueling follow-on rounds. Focus areas stretch across SaaS, marketplaces with network effects, crypto and Web3, fintech, healthcare and biotech, AI and robotics, and climate tech. Geographic coverage crosses Vancouver, Toronto, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York, with a track record of spotting breakout talent before traction.
The portfolio is proof. Coinbase pushed crypto mainstream. Uniswap reshaped decentralized finance. Ada has powered more than five billion customer interactions for Meta and Square. Shippo turned shipping into software infrastructure for over 100,000 businesses. Jobber redefined SMB services. Headout crossed 20 million guests and $130 million in 2024 revenue. Thirty-four exits and Fund I companies worth $600 million confirm consistency. Recent bets include Optimotive in autonomous robots, Bolt.Earth in EV charging, and Moment Energy in repurposed EV battery storage.
Founder selection runs on the "Four C's": Curiosity, Competitiveness, Compassion, and Character. Beyond capital, Version One supports with product strategy, hiring, financial modeling, research, governance, and investor networks. CFO Leah Gosbee, who joined in 2021 with Pinnacle Fund Services experience and CPA, CGA credentials, keeps every fund precise.
Portfolio companies are hiring across engineering, product, go-to-market, operations, and leadership.
Coinbase — https://www.coinbase.com/careers
Uniswap Labs — https://careers.uniswap.org/
Shippo — https://goshippo.com/jobs
Follow this firm. Study their founders. Track their plays.
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.
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If engineering peace of mind is what you crave, Vention is your zen.