Alsop Louie Partners is a venture capital firm founded in 2006 by Gilman Louie and Stewart Alsop, based in San Francisco. It concentrates on early-stage investments in advanced technologies that aim to improve society. The partners follow a philosophy called Venture Humanism, which seeks financial success alongside social progress. They argue that investing in ventures that benefit broad communities and the environment can yield more value than focusing on a narrow set of interests. The firm stresses the development of technologies with built-in safeguards, reflecting the view that ethical outcomes require intentional design and ongoing oversight.
The firm targets high-risk, early-stage opportunities in North America, typically funding companies that need under $20 million to reach stability. Investment rounds generally range from $5 million to $10 million, and the firm takes part in two to six deals annually. Main industries include software, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, mobile applications, gaming, new media and SaaS platforms, as well as emerging hard technologies in aerospace and defense. Alsop Louie Partners takes an active role in each company’s growth, working closely with founders through thorough due diligence and strategic guidance.
Alsop Louie Partners has also focused on clean technology, particularly solid-state battery systems. The firm led an $8 million seed round for Ion Storage Systems in 2019 and joined a $30 million Series A in 2022 alongside several co-investors. This collaboration helped ISS set up a battery cell line in Maryland with a 10 MWh annual capacity. ISS’s batteries offer high energy density, nonflammable chemistry and modular design, making them suitable for consumer electronics, electric vehicles and critical aerospace and defense applications. Mark Fields from the firm serves on the ISS board, suggesting ongoing support and oversight.
