What it is

Revolution is an investment firm headquartered in Washington, DC, founded in 2005 by AOL co-founder Steve Case to back entrepreneurs and technology-enabled companies. It launched its first institutional funds with Revolution Growth in 2012 and Revolution Ventures in 2013, and started the Rise of the Rest initiative in 2014. The firm reports investing in more than 200 companies across more than 100 cities and 40 states and territories, with 99 percent of its capital invested outside Silicon Valley. Portfolio companies it lists include Cava, Sweetgreen, Clear, DraftKings, Anduril and Tempus.

What it offers founders

Revolution invests through three venture strategies, described on its venture capital page:

  • Rise of the Rest Seed Fund: seed-stage capital for startups headquartered outside Silicon Valley, New York and Boston.
  • Revolution Ventures: early-stage investing in a concentrated portfolio of companies in large markets ripe for disruption.
  • Revolution Growth: the firm's latest-stage fund, focused on companies at the intersection of policy and technology.

Beyond capital, the Rise of the Rest platform runs bus tours to emerging startup cities, founder gatherings such as Founder Fly-Ins in Denver and Chicago and a 2024 Founder Retreat in Alexandria, Virginia, and policy advocacy with lawmakers from both parties. The firm also invests in real estate and hospitality through Revolution Places and Rise of the Rest Real Estate.

Who it is for

Revolution's venture funds target founders from seed through growth stage, with a strong preference for companies outside the traditional coastal hubs. DMV founders fit the Rise of the Rest Seed Fund geography, since the fund excludes only startups based in Silicon Valley, New York and Boston. Revolution Growth's interest in policy and technology is also relevant to companies working in regulated sectors common in the Washington region.

How to engage

The website does not publish a pitch submission process or check sizes. The contact page lists general inquiries at info@revolution.com and (202) 776-1400, and the headquarters at 1717 Rhode Island Ave NW, Suite 700. The portfolio page shows which companies each fund has backed, which helps you judge fit before reaching out.

Why it matters in the DMV ecosystem

Revolution is a venture firm headquartered in Washington, DC, and its founder is a national advocate for investing beyond Silicon Valley. Its Rise of the Rest work, research such as its Invest Local report, and congressional testimony shape conversations about where venture capital flows. For local founders, it is both a potential investor and a convener with ties to policymakers and investors across the country.