Our Strategy

We are seasoned investors who have backed more than 250 companies through multiple cycles. With over $1.5 billion in assets under management, identifying outstanding opportunities and providing capital is just the beginning. We offer deep-sector expertise in today’s high-growth markets, but we do not let any one area of knowledge guide our overall investment strategy.

Breaking the Status Quo

 

Since 1981, Rho Ventures has been investing in innovators that redefine the status quo. Rho’s investment philosophy does not fit a conventional model, much like the visionary innovators we back. We believe that formulaic approaches to investing lead to risk averse strategies that stifle innovation and differentiation. We actively avoid restrictive boundaries around ideas, growth opportunities and entrepreneur profiles. To find extraordinary opportunities, we are not bound by a particular stage of investment and do not shy away from contrarian ideas.

We believe that great companies take root in unconventional places and that successful entrepreneurs frequently break the mold. The ideas we back come from a variety of sources: an MBA student who is trying to change new media advertising practices; an experienced entrepreneur seeking to commercialize a disruptive biofuels technology; or an executive looking to spin out and develop an abandoned asset developed by a pharmaceutical company.

Our Values and How we Work

  • Patience and Consistent Commitment to Long Term Value

    For 40 years, Rho has remained steadfast in helping our portfolio companies navigate the ups and downs of the global economy. We understand that realizing a billion dollar outcome requires patience and dedication to a strategic vision and plan.

  • Successful Entrepreneurs Come in Many Forms Yet Share Common Traits

    “Repeat entrepreneurs” are popular in times of market turbulence because they provide experience and comfort. We’ve worked with many serial CEOs and entrepreneurs who have generated some of Rho’s most successful returns. We’ve also partnered with many first-time CEOs who go on to create equally as successful companies.

  • Differentiated Thinking

    We believe in pushing boundaries and challenging established norms. We encourage our entrepreneurs as well as our investment teams to aways challenge common wisdom and think differently. We encourage contrarian approaches and shy away from the ‘herd’ and the ‘hype.’

  • Reciprocal Relationships

    Building stand-out companies requires strong alignment on risk and reward. We pride ourselves on building relationships built on trust and transparency with the entrepreneurs we back and the other investors around the table.