How Relevance Ventures adds value through investments

Relevance Ventures is a venture capital fund that invests primarily in Series A and Series B health and wellness companies. As ‘value-add’ investors, they support businesses that they believe deliver above-market returns and have a positive impact on the world. For example, Talkiatry provides insured mental health care to remote areas where there is a shortage of psychiatrists. Pet screening helps people live in multi-family settings with their pets.

“We are focused on founders, their vision, and our ability to help them realize it,” Dean Newton, general partner and chairman of Relevance Ventures, told me in an exclusive interview. Told. “Does business make people healthier? Does it restore balance when the imbalance is truly harmful? When we have skills that we can add to our cash to increase the likelihood of that outcome Invest in

Dean Newton co-founded Relevance with his brother Cameron Newton. Native brothers are driven by a sense of purpose. “There is no doubt that our work is a blessing. To be honest, it can be very tiring, but when it all comes together, the work doesn’t seem so hard and for many people the situation That fatigue is energizing because I’m getting better. I can’t explain it. In many ways, it’s the perfect job,” said Dean Newton.

“We are very fortunate to have Dean and Cam at Relevance as one of our first investors,” said Betsy Scanlan, co-founder of Le Mendo. Le Mend created The Good Patch, his homeopathic transdermal wellness solution, which is sold in retail stores nationwide. This is designed to reduce the daily onslaught of unnatural imbalances we encounter in industrial society.

“Our product is our best effort to help people who feel disconnected from nature. We can actually put our arms around them and say, ‘Take a deep breath, everything will be okay.’ Because you can’t whisper,” Scanlan says. “It didn’t come as a surprise to the Newtons. They got it. And they backed us before female founders had the attention of most venture capitalists. ”

Chelsie Lee is the co-founder and CEO of Caroo, a platform that helps organizations measure employee performance and human value. Caroo’s predictive analytics helps identify people at risk and brighten their world with products from companies founded primarily by members of traditionally underrepresented communities. .

“I’ve been fortunate to work with some great investors, but Relevance is really focused. They care about what’s important,” Lee said in an exclusive interview with me. Told. “After the pandemic, there were dark days when it was unclear whether the Karoo would survive. In that moment, Newton and others reminded me that the Karoo’s mission was worth fighting for. They were the allies I needed. did.”

“When I first met the Relevance team, I thought they were just like any other VC,” said Leila Kashani and David, CEO and COO of Alleyoop, a company that provides versatile cosmetics for a better world. says Manshoory. “But they really cared about our mission. They introduced us to partners who would reduce costs and open up new sales channels. They engaged, I mean, we got engaged. They honestly answered our calls, emails, and texts 24/7. They did more in a few weeks than other VCs did in years. Thank you for supporting Alleyoop.”

Bob Ukam is co-founder and chairman of Passport Labs, one of the largest mobile payment providers in the U.S. that provides low-cost payment and transportation solutions to local governments to accelerate mass transit usage and adoption. . “Relevance is what every founder wants from their investors,” he told me in an exclusive interview. “One phone call was to confirm Relevance’s commitment to us and to confirm Relevance’s commitment to us.” It’s over. I don’t think they were kidding. All founders should know these people. Turn the bull’s horns to the world to say thank you. I wish I could have delivered it.”

Dean Newton believes his work at Relevance aligns with his life purpose. “In a world plagued by social media, instant gratification, shocking racial and income inequality, and constant conflict, where self-worth is often defined by adoration and comparative triumph, I I can’t say I’ve discovered my purpose in life. I think my goal is to sleep well at night. I accept what life tells me and what Mother Earth wants of me. I try to help as often and as best as I can. I get to help some founders make magic happen, regain balance, and realize their dreams. I think a lot of people have never experienced that, and I’ve been very fortunate to be able to experience that over and over again,” Newton says.

For those looking to achieve their purpose in life, Newton advises not to follow the path that society tells you is most attractive. “Don’t become a lawyer just because you have a law school. I went to Harvard Law School and had a great career path, but the work was terrible. It sucks your soul out. Everyone wants to be a rock star, the fame, the fortune, the glamor, the Kardashians as dinner guests, now that’s life. But don’t you know who your real friends are? I grew up in an entertainment family. I represented top artists as a music lawyer. Let me shatter the mirage. The job sucks.” Instead, Newton says, “Be open to new perspectives, ideas, and experiences. Trust your intuition. Be sensitive to the whispers of Mother Earth.”