About

Early stage startup companies benefit from the capital and support provided by Fortify Ventures, as well as the community and the guidance of our experienced mentors.

Fortify Ventures

Fortify is an early stage investment fund leveraging the proven experience of our team and our network to provide portfolio companies the community and capital they need to succeed.

Fortify Ventures was founded and is managed by serial entrepreneurs and experienced angel investors. The “Founders Funding Founders” theme reflects our mission to serve as a founder-friendly fund.  Fortify supports great teams, with disruptive products, in  high-growth markets. Our partners and mentors actively participate with portfolio companies to develop sound strategies, grow intelligently, and facilitate follow-on funding, and build high growth companies.

Funding

Fortify Ventures invests in one of two ways:

  1. Portfolio – investments are made from $25,000 – $250,000. Fortify invests with other funds, angel groups, and strategic investors.
  2. Accelerator – Fortify’s accelerated companies receive $25,000 in initial seeding funding and participate in a 20-week program in Washington, DC.

In addition to seed funding, mentoring, and coaching, Fortify accelerated companies also receive technology perks including free hosting and a variety services. We also have an energetic office to work from in the heart of Washington, DC, and a world-class event platform called Distilled Intelligence which was founded to energize startups and investors.

The Accelerator

Founders, mentors, partners, and the Fortify Ventures team work together to support startups that are selected to participate in our accelerator program, nicknamed ‘The Fort’.

The 20-week program is designed to support early-stage startups accelerate their web and mobile platforms and validate their business model. Additional funding opportunities are also made available throughout the program and at graduation/Investor Day.

Fortify Ventures’ Team

  • Jonathon Perrelli

  • Managing Director

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Inspiration for Fortify Ventures and Distilled Intelligence came from Jonathon’s 18 years as an entrepreneur and angel investor. As a native Washingtonian, Jonathon is a key player in the thriving startup technology ecosystem in our nation’s capital. He is dedicated to and passionate about startupland. Jonathon is a proud graduate of Virginia Tech and alumni of UUNET.

  • Carla Valdes

  • General Partner

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Carla brings to Fortify Ventures the relentless perfectionism, pitch perfect diplomacy and cat-herding skills that it takes to execute on what has been a very ambitious vision. She works seamlessly with entrepreneurs, partners and investors and has been at Fortify since the beginning, co-founded the Accelerator, and she is a co-creator of Distilled Intelligence.

  • Simon Rakoff

  • General Partner

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Simon has been an active entrepreneur and angel investor in the DC region for more than 15 years. He has founded and cofounded enterprise software, digital entertainment and professional service companies and has invested in a variety of other types of startups. Simon is a former firefighter and paramedic.

 

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