Investor profile
Next Level Ventures
VC
See how your deck fits this investor's thesis, stage, and ticket size.
Analyse your fitInvestment thesis
Next Level Ventures is an Iowa-based strategic investment firm founded in 2014, managing over $700 million in assets across five funds and a portfolio of more than 45 companies. The firm operates two primary strategies: the Curql Fund — the largest credit union-backed strategic investment fund in the United States — which connects fintech companies with a nationwide network of progressive credit unions to accelerate market access and adoption; and the Iowa Funds, which invest in early- and growth-stage technology startups across agtech, healthtech, fintech, datatech, and IoT sectors throughout the Midwest. Typical investments range from $0.5 million to $5 million per company, spanning seed through growth stages. Beyond capital, NLV takes an active role in portfolio company success — serving on boards, providing financial, operational, and networking support — with the belief that true success comes from making a meaningful contribution to entrepreneurs and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Notable quotes
“Whereas a few years ago a fintech company may have had a $20 million pre-money valuation, today the same company's valuation before investments would be around $100 million.”
“Curql's strategy targets anything in fintech that can support one of its members, and that means almost everything except neobanks.”
“Next Level Ventures has a long history supporting Iowa entrepreneurs and startups, and we're thankful to our initial investors who believe in our mission to foster innovation across the state.”
Team
Duane Harris
Partner
Dave Tucker
Partner
Roger Scholten
Partner & General Counsel
Michael Perrin
Partner
Liz Keehner
Partner
Recent investments
| Company | Round | Size | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genvax Technologies | Seed | — | 2025-02-18 |
| IotaMotion | Series A | $12m | 2023-01-01 |
| Dwolla | Growth | — | — |
| Posh Technologies | Series B | $45m | — |
| DefenseStorm | Growth | — | — |
| Bankjoy | Growth | — | — |
| Equipifi | Growth | — | — |
| Illuma Labs | Growth | — | — |
| TractorZoom | Growth | — | — |
| OpenLoop Health | Growth | — | — |
Frequent co-investors
Fit check
Is Next Level Ventures a match for your startup?
Upload your deck and get an instant AI-powered fit analysis — see exactly how your startup aligns with this investor's thesis, stage focus, and ticket size.
Analyse your fit