Defy Ventures

Defy Ventures is a venture capital firm in New York that focuses on entrepreneurship, employment, and character training for former convicts and members of the forgotten community. Founded 2010 in New York, United States by Catherine Hoke, it invests in series B and series A rounds. Its portfolio companies include Nautilus Biotechnology, Empower, and Shujinko. As of June 2020, Defy Ventures has made three investments and has raised a single venture fund, sophomore fund. This fund was announced on April 10, 2019 and raised a total of $262M.

The company’s Business Incubator program gives entrepreneurs-in-training the entrepreneurial know-how to incorporate, launch, and grow a new businesses. This is the next step after completing the CEO YNL or Entrepreneur Bootcamp. Defy Ventures equips these entrepreneurs with new skills, new connections, and a new belief to match their new purpose, and succeed.

Defy Ventures has raised a single venture fund, sophomore fund. This fund was announced on Apr 10, 2019 and raised a total of $262M.