Cove Fund IV · General Partner Team

Cove Fund IV brings together three experienced investors with complementary backgrounds across venture investing, company building, and healthcare innovation. Every investment reflects the collective judgment of the partnership, combining independent thinking, disciplined underwriting, and long-term founder support.

48
Companies across the partners' track records
$375M+
Capital deployed across the partners' track records
$968M+
Aggregate portfolio value (FMV + proceeds + NAV)
Why this team

How we work together

Cove Fund IV brings together three investors with complementary track records, aligned incentives, and a shared commitment to building an enduring venture firm. Every investment is evaluated by the full partnership, combining independent perspectives with one disciplined investment process. Across our careers we have evaluated well over 10,000 companies and invested in fewer than one in two hundred.

Having built our careers at different firms, we came together by choice. Each of us brings distinct expertise, but we evaluate, diligence, and support every company as one team, not in separate lanes.

01 · Evaluate
Differentiated opportunity flow
We proactively source opportunities through founders, operators, institutions, and our broader venture ecosystem, focusing on proprietary access and long-term relationships.
02 · Diligence
Disciplined investment process
Every opportunity is reviewed by the full partnership through rigorous commercial, financial, and strategic diligence before capital is committed.
03 · Commit
Disciplined capital allocation
We invest selectively, balancing conviction with portfolio construction, ownership strategy, and long-term alignment with founders.
04 · Partner
Long-term company building
We support founders beyond the investment through strategic guidance, introductions, and ongoing partnership as companies scale.
05 · Stewardship
Responsible capital management
We view venture investing as long-term stewardship, balancing founder success with disciplined fiduciary responsibility to our limited partners.
Track Record · As of June 30, 2026

JC Ruffalo

General Partner, Cove Fund IV · Former Managing Director, LaunchPad · Octane OC
Sourcing, diligence & capital formation across the Southern California venture ecosystem · 2014–Present
20
Portfolio companies
Cove Fund III
$12.1M
Deployed in
Cove Fund III
$2.4B
Capital raised by
LaunchPad alumni
$4.6B
Exit value generated by
LaunchPad alumni
Investment Track Record · 2014–Present
M&A Exit · Cove Fund III

3Laws Robotics — CalTech Safety SW

~1.75x Return

Acquired by Amazon; transaction closed Q2 2026. An attractive outcome for the founding team and an early realized exit for Fund III.

Portfolio Leader · Cove Fund III

Xilo — InsurTech B2B SaaS

$5.5M ARR

$600K ahead of plan · Brown & Brown closed February · AI Quoting Agent launched · clear path to $10M ARR and a Series B.

Portfolio Leader · Cove Fund III

Carro / VYRL — Collaborative Commerce

~$1B GMV run-rate

Collaborative commerce platform scaling rapidly, with a ~$1B GMV run-rate as of July 2026 and strong year-over-year growth.

Cove Fund III — Active Portfolio

Cove Fund III

20 Companies
Seed stage · Southern California · Co-Manager & Fund Manager · active deployment as of March 31, 2026. A 2022-vintage fund in year four: positions are carried at FMV or cost and are early in the J-curve, with follow-on reserves active. Click any column header to sort.
$12.1M
Deployed
20
Companies (incl. follow-ons)
$432K
Avg Check
~1.75x
First Realized Exit (3Laws · Amazon)
CompanySectorFirst Inv.InvestedStatusNotes / Outcome
Zesty.ioContent management & web platform SaaS / MarTech11/2021$500K Active · 1.3x Convertible note · marked at ~$632K · potential M&A path
iCardioAI-powered cardiac imaging HealthTech / AI3/2026$500K Active · New Series Seed · March 2026 · held at cost
3Laws RoboticsCalTech robotics safety software Deep Tech / AI9/2024$500K Amazon Acquisition ~1.75x · ~41% IRR · closed Q2 2026
XiloInsurance quoting & sales automation InsurTech / SaaS8/2022$770K Portfolio Leader $5.5M ARR ($600K ahead of plan) · Brown & Brown closed Feb · AI Quoting Agent launched · path to $10M ARR → Series B
Carro / VYRLCollaborative commerce / dropship eCommerce / B2B9/2025$750K Breakout · $1B GMV $6.8M → $105.6M GMV · 149x growth in 18 mo · profitable · on track for $1B/yr run-rate July 2026
BLNGJewelry intelligence platform · B2B SaaS eCommerce / AI2/2025$300K Breakout Quarter David Yurman $1M/yr (largest enterprise deal) · Tiffany in final negotiations · Rolex pilot · Signet sole-vendor (2,000-store) · Seed II co-led by Cove & SpeedInvest
Quantum ElementsQuantum digital twin software Deep Tech / Quantum3/2026$750K Technical + Commercial Breakout World's largest hardware-faithful quantum digital twin w/ AWS · Nature Comms paper · SAFE oversubscribed $2.8M · 49-month runway
SigmaSightLitigation intelligence · B2B SaaS LegalTech / AI12/2024$1.3M Strong Traction $500K ARR (Mitsui) · enterprise contract signed · Series A prep
OccuspaceSpace utilization analytics PropTech / AI8/2023$850K Portfolio Leader $3.33M CARR (+52% YoY) · 5-yr $41.9M GSA contract active · Notre Dame, LSU & Kaiser wins · bridging to Q3 '27 breakeven
VisaicImmersive fan experience platform Media / Sports Tech5/2024$600K Strong Growth $1.5M gross revenue (+63% YoY) · MidCo Sports signed Jan (largest customer) · Black Bear early 5-yr renewal
VECTAAI-powered sales intelligence B2B SaaS / AI6/2022$825K Growing 8x valuation step-up to Series Seed-2
Eira BioOncology & women's health therapeutics BioTech / Oncology11/2025$250K Solid Execution Lead prostate cancer program on track for dev candidate by year-end · preeclampsia program advancing · 16 FTEs · on budget
MelioCulture-free blood pathogen detection MedTech / Diagnostics5/2024$500K Fundraising $3.5M CARBEX grant · Series A in market
Time MachineAI onboarding & training for sales teams AI / B2B SaaS9/2025$500K Active $300K ARR · 30 customers · Series A prep
CelitechWhite-label eSIM for travel operators TelecomTech / B2B2C6/2022$625K Active Cove-led seed · Series A prep
CenfireFabless semiconductor · MEMS relay tech Semiconductors / Deep Tech1/2026$500K Seed-2 Silicon MEMS relay tech (no metal fatigue) · $3.3M Seed-2 at $10.9M pre · initial market T&M/ATE · ~$15B SAM
WethosFreelancer team-building & pricing Future of Work / SaaS7/2024$500K Fundraising Raising $20M+ Series A at $100M+ valuation
ExokeryxExtracellular vesicle extraction BioTech / Diagnostics7/2024$500K Watch — Tight Timeline First product revenue · cash through September · hiring frozen · Series A on hold pending revenue
CARI HealthReal-time medication monitoring HealthTech7/2022$500K Written Down 50% Pivot in progress · bridge underway
GroGuruPrecision agriculture soil intelligence AgTech6/2023$600K Written Off $100K secured note repaid
Prior Role · Octane OC · 2014–2022

LaunchPad Hall of Fame

Top 12 Alumni
Companies JC supported through the Octane OC LaunchPad accelerator (2014–2022). LaunchPad was an accelerator program, not an investment vehicle — figures below reflect company valuation growth and outcomes during and after program participation, evidencing deal-sourcing and ecosystem quality, not fund returns or realized gains. Click any column header to sort.
12
Hall of Fame Alumni
4
Exits / IPOs
~$2.4B
Capital Raised by Alumni
~$4.6B
Capital via Exits
CompanyVal. at LaunchPadLatest Post-MoneyVal. GrowthOutcome
DTx PharmaRNA therapeutics · San Diego $6M$1.10B (Novartis acq.) 183.3xAcquired · Novartis
HypericeRecovery tech · Irvine, CA $8M$850M (Series B) 106.3xActive · Series B
AcornsConsumer fintech $9M$870M 96.7xActive
SentryCardPayment security fintech $12M$150M 12.5xActive
Neural AnalyticsBrain health diagnostics $7.7M$93M 12.1xActive
NGD SystemsStorage semiconductor $22.6M$106M 4.7xActive
SonendoDental MedTech $74.3M$500M+ 6.7x+IPO · NYSE: SONX
LensGenOphthalmology devices $19.2M$76.2M 4.0xActive
Recros MedicaWound care / injectables $20M$45M 2.3xActive
MavenlinkPSA software $61.4M$235M 3.8xMerged · Kantata
BontiBotulinum toxin biotech $22.3M$195M 8.8xAcquired · Allergan
EnevateEV battery technology $44.1M$251M 5.7xActive
Methodology: Octane OC LaunchPad was an accelerator program that supported these companies during JC's tenure (2014–2022); it did not invest capital, so figures reflect company valuation growth and outcomes — evidence of deal-sourcing quality — not fund returns or realized gains. "Val. at LaunchPad" is the approximate post-money valuation around the time of JC's involvement; "Latest Post-Money" is the most recent valuation or exit value; "Val. Growth" is the ratio of the two. Verified outcomes: DTx Pharma (Novartis acquisition, ~$1B upfront + milestones, 2023), Bonti ($195M Allergan acquisition, 2018), Mavenlink (Accel-KKR merger into Kantata, 2021–22), Sonendo (NYSE: SONX IPO, Oct 2021). DTx valuation based on a conservative $6M LP-era mark; actual entry likely lower. Hyperice $850M from Series B (Jul 2021).
20
Cove Fund III Portfolio Cos.
$12.1M
Deployed · Cove Fund III
$2.4B
Raised by LaunchPad Alumni
$4.6B
LaunchPad Exit Value
10,000+
Companies Evaluated
Figures reflect JC Ruffalo's active management on Cove Fund III and his role at the Octane OC LaunchPad program (2014–2022).
Approach

Investment Philosophy

Deal flow through ecosystem depth

Deal flow is driven by a network spanning key innovation hubs, built through years operating at the center of founder, university, and investor ecosystems. Rooted in Southern California but national in reach, surfacing high-potential companies before they become broadly visible.

We don't chase deals — we see them early.

Conviction over diversification

At the seed stage, outcomes are driven by a small number of breakout companies. The strategy identifies these early, supported by a decade of pattern recognition and data-backed selection, then concentrates time, conviction, and follow-on capital behind the strongest positions.

We aim to capture asymmetric winners, not merely avoid losses.

Operators on the board

We partner closely with founders through the most critical stages of company formation and early growth — strategic positioning and narrative, customer and investor introductions, and navigating the Seed → Series A transition.

We help companies cross the hardest gap: early traction to institutional scale.
Basis of presentation. Fair market values (FMV) are estimates based on run-rate revenue multiples and NTM multiples, and are subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Certain metrics include unrealized positions and do not represent actual distributions. Track record figures are presented on a gross basis before management fees, carried interest, and fund expenses.
Track Record · As of June 30, 2026

Massimo Pennisi

General Partner, Cove Fund IV · Consumer, Enterprise Software & Fintech
15 investments across seed through growth stages · 2013–2026
$295.8M
Total capital invested
across 15 companies
$872.6M
FMV + proceeds
total portfolio value
2.9x
Total MOIC
25.6% IRR
4.9x
Realized MOIC
on $58.9M invested
Investment Track Record · 2013–Present
Top Realized Exit · Enterprise Software

Semrush — Digital Marketing & SEO

8.8x MOIC · 42.8% IRR

$18.1M total invested → $159.6M proceeds. Co-Led Series B + Board. Partial exit Nov 2021 post-IPO; later acquired by Adobe for $1.9B. Realized Apr 2026.

Largest Active Position · Consumer Marketplace

Whatnot — Live Shopping Marketplace

3.7x MOIC · $258.4M FMV

$15M initial → $69.7M total invested · $258.4M current FMV · Co-Led initial investment · 94.5% IRR. Live-shopping for collectibles; category leader compounding fast.

Featured Active Deal · Enterprise AI Software

Prezent — AI Presentation Platform

1.8x MOIC · 20.5% IRR

$12.5M initial → $20.7M total invested · $38.1M FMV. Co-Led the Series B and serve as Board Observer. Structured a complex round in which Prezent acquired Prezentium as part of the financing — a deal we led end-to-end.

Current Holdings

Active Portfolio

10 Companies
Positions marked at FMV or cost as of June 30, 2026. Click any column header to sort.
$236.9M
Invested (Active)
$586.4M
Current FMV
2.5x
Active MOIC
10
Companies
#CompanyCategoryInitial DateRound Initial Inv.Total Inv.FMVMOICIRRRoleComments
1 YassirMENA super app — ride-hailing, delivery & fintech Consumer Marketplace10/2025Series C $40.0M$40.0M$82.7M 2.1x200.5% Co-Led Active — marked above cost on strong growth
2 PrezentAI-powered business presentation platform Enterprise Software9/2025Series B $12.5M$20.7M$38.1M 1.8x20.5% Co-Led B, Board Obs. Structured & facilitated Prezent's acquisition of Prezentium, coinciding with the Series B fundraise
3 RampCorporate spend — cards, bill pay & expense software Enterprise Software / Fintech9/2025Series E-2 $10.0M$12.7M$22.7M 1.8x154.2% Co-Led Late-stage entry; strong markup over a short hold
4 HumanitecDevOps platform for app delivery & infrastructure orchestration Enterprise Software7/2025Seed $1.8M$1.8M$0.0M 0.0x0.0% Co-Led Seed T2 Early-stage seed position; marked to $1
5 WhatnotLive-shopping marketplace for collectibles Consumer Marketplace5/2023Secondary $15.0M$69.7M$258.4M 3.7x94.5% Co-Led Initial Reflects Growth IV position only; does not include additional SPV
6 BetterflyBenefits & wellbeing platform with healthy-habit rewards Enterprise Software1/2022Series C $15.0M$15.0M$15.0M 1.0x0.0% Sourced, Led, Board Obs. Active — marked at cost
8 CitizenReal-time public-safety app for nearby incident alerts Consumer SaaS5/2020Series B $1.0M$29.9M$33.5M 1.1x2.7% Sourced, Co-Led Significant follow-on capital deployed; modest returns to date
9 LightricksCreator software — photo/video editing & content production Consumer SaaS7/2019Series C $18.4M$20.2M$30.3M 1.5x6.2% Sourced, Co-Led Creator-economy play; solid appreciation over a multi-year hold
13 Deposit SolutionsDeposits marketplace — connects banks with savers Fintech7/2016Series B $7.7M$14.1M$46.5M 3.3x15.2% Co-Led Merged with Raisin; holding position in combined company. FMV includes $17.6M realized proceeds
15 Thrive MarketMembership e-commerce for healthy products Consumer / Subscription7/2015Series A $5.3M$12.8M$59.2M 4.6x16.6% Co-Led Series A Decade-long hold since 2015; durable membership model; strong appreciation
Realized Investments

Realized Exits

5 Exits
Fully or partially exited positions · $58.9M invested → $286.2M proceeds · 4.9x realized MOIC. Click any column header to sort.
$58.9M
Invested (Realized)
$286.2M
Total Proceeds
4.9x
Realized MOIC
5
Exits
#CompanyCategoryEntryExit Initial Inv.Total Inv.ProceedsMOICIRRRoleExit Notes
10 SemrushDigital marketing & SEO platform Enterprise Software3/20184/2026 $10.7M$18.1M$159.6M 8.8x42.8% Co-Led, Board Obs. Partial exit Nov 2021 post-IPO. Later acquired by Adobe for $1.9B; full exit Apr 2026
12 ComparablyEmployee insights & workplace benchmarking Enterprise Software1/20175/2022 $3.3M$4.3M$18.7M 4.4x36.1% Sourced, Co-Led Acquired by ZoomInfo for $150M in May 2022
14 ScopelyMobile game publisher & developer Consumer / Gaming4/20164/2023 $17.2M$20.0M$73.6M 3.7x20.0% Co-Led Series B Acquired by Savvy Games Group for $4.9B in Apr 2023. Reflects Series B investment only
11 AxiosNews & media — concise coverage & newsletters Publishing12/20178/2022 $5.4M$5.4M$19.6M 3.6x32.4% Co-Led Acquired by Cox for $525M in August 2022
7 ElevateBenefits platform for HSAs, FSAs, HRAs & other accounts Enterprise Software7/20211/2025 $5.0M$11.3M$14.8M 1.3x9.3% Sourced Benefits administration platform; realized Jan 2025
Realized Total $41.6M$58.9M$286.2M 4.9x
$168.2M
Initial Invested
$295.8M
Total Invested
$872.6M
FMV + Proceeds
2.9x
Total MOIC
25.6%
Total IRR
"Co-led" citing a specific round reflects deal-team involvement on that round only. "Co-led" without a round specification reflects involvement across all follow-on rounds.
Basis of presentation. Track record as of June 30, 2026. Fair market values (FMV) are estimates based on run-rate revenue multiples and NTM multiples, and are subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Realized figures reflect actual proceeds received.
Track Record · As of June 30, 2026

Khurram Mir

General Partner, Cove Fund IV · Managing Director, UCI Health Ventures
Investing at the intersection of capital, clinical systems & commercialization · 2020–Present
13
Fund portfolio companies
active deployment
$67.7M
Capital deployed
across fund portfolio
$82.5M
Current NAV
1.24x MOIC · $4.48M distributed
$5.3B
Flagship valuation
Abridge · 12.4x MOIC
Investment Track Record · 2022–Present
Flagship Win · Health AI Infrastructure

Abridge — AI Clinical Documentation

12.4x MOIC · $5.3B Valuation

$2M initial → $20.2M current value. 150+ health system partners · $110M+ ARR · partial liquidity of $4.48M realized. QSBS eligible.

Revenue-Scale Breakout · Digital Health

Sprinter Health — Mobile Care Delivery

~2.0x MOIC · $45M Revenue

$10.65M deployed including $6.65M follow-on. $45M revenue in 2025, tracking $100M+ · 96% patient satisfaction · backed by a16z, General Catalyst & GV.

Conviction Follow-On · Health AI Platform

Artisight — Smart Hospital OS

$21.5M Deployed

$5M initial + $16.5M conviction follow-on. Smart-hospital operating system transitioning to hardware-as-a-service, with deep Epic & Microsoft integrations and growing ARR.

UCI Health Ventures — Fund Portfolio

Fund Portfolio

13 Companies
Seed through Series B · Healthcare AI, MedTech & Life Sciences · positions marked at cost or current value as of June 30, 2026. Click any column header to sort.
$67.7M
Deployed
$82.5M
Current NAV
1.24x
MOIC (Gross)
$29.3M
Follow-On Capital
CompanySectorTotal Inv.StatusMOICKey Notes
AbridgeAI clinical documentation Health AI / Infrastructure$2.0M Breakout 12.4x $5.3B valuation · 150+ health system partners · $110M+ ARR · $4.48M partial liquidity realized · QSBS eligible
ArtisightSmart hospital platform Health AI / Platform$21.5M Scaling ~1.0x $5M initial + $16.5M conviction follow-on · smart hospital OS · HaaS transition · deep Epic & Microsoft integrations · Board guest
Sprinter HealthMobile care delivery Digital Health$10.65M Breakout ~2.0x $45M revenue (2025), tracking $100M+ · $55M Series B · a16z, General Catalyst & GV · 96% patient satisfaction
Bright UroMinimally invasive urology MedTech / Diagnostics$7.0M Scaling 1.6x FDA 510(k) cleared · 30+ clinics · capital-efficient device model · $5M follow-on reflects conviction · Board guest
ViaLaseOphthalmic laser MedTech / Ophthalmology$6.13M Late-Stage 1.0x $5.0M initial + $1.13M follow-on · near-term EU commercialization pathway · regulatory de-risking underway · late-stage optionality
Horizon SurgicalRobotic ophthalmology MedTech / Robotics$5.0M Clinical 1.0x Approaching first-in-human · asymmetric upside tied to clinical inflection
Vital BioNext-gen diagnostics Diagnostics / Platform$5.0M Platform 1.0x Strategic partnership with Sysmex · long-term platform play with strong institutional backing
PerceptiveClosed-loop ICU automation Health AI / Critical Care$4.0M Development 1.0x NIH-supported · strong technical validation · IDE submission in progress · large TAM · Board observer
PrenosisAI sepsis platform Health AI / Diagnostics$2.0M Scaling 1.0x FDA-cleared AI sepsis platform · Roche distribution partnership · strong clinical validation · Board observer
CodaMetrixAI revenue cycle Health AI / RCM$2.0M Scaling 1.0x 220+ health system sites · validated enterprise adoption · deployed within UCI Health
BionautMicro-robotics drug delivery DeepTech / Biotech$2.0M Impaired Program risk materialized · clinical timelines extended · disciplined loss recognition / capital preservation
Eira BioEarly-stage biotech Biotech / Therapeutics$0.25M New 1.0x Venrock-led $20M round at $40M valuation · strong institutional validation
DelixNeuroplastogen platform Life Sciences / Neuro$0.2M Optionality 1.0x Strategic option via Eli Lilly partnership (~$870M potential) · early-stage positioning
Personal Angel Portfolio

Angel Investments

7 Investments
~$36.5K deployed personally · focus on early-stage AI, healthcare & frontier technologies. Click any column header to sort.
$36.5K
Total Deployed
7
Investments
1.4x
Top MOIC (Qualified Health)
100%
Active
CompanyDateSectorCheckStatusMOIC
Qualified HealthAI-first clinical workflows 05/2024Health AI$5,000 Active 1.4x
ClearstepAI triage & navigation 06/2023Health AI$7,500 Active 1.0x
SPV (7 Companies)Diversified healthcare seed 03/2024Healthcare$7,000 Active 1.0x
Atomic CanyonAI for nuclear systems 03/2024DeepTech / Nuclear AI$5,000 Active 1.0x
Givers HealthCaregiver enablement 05/2023Digital Health$5,000 Active 1.0x
AI OpticsComputer vision diagnostics 12/2025MedTech / AI$5,000 Active 1.0x
BiomeSenseMicrobiome intelligence 07/2025Health AI / Diagnostics$1,999 Active 1.0x
13
Fund Companies
$67.7M
Capital Deployed
$82.5M
Current NAV
1.24x
Gross MOIC
$4.48M
Distributed
Fund figures reflect UCI Health Ventures portfolio positions marked at cost or current value. $29.3M of $67.7M deployed represents conviction follow-on capital concentrated behind highest-conviction breakouts.
Approach

Investment Philosophy

Clinical depth as deal flow

Deal flow is driven by operating inside health systems — not adjacent to them. UCI Health Ventures provides real-world deployment environments that generate proprietary signal unavailable to generalist VCs.

We validate from within, not from the outside.

Control points over point solutions

At the enterprise level, outcomes are driven by platforms that own workflow control points — not tools that plug into them. System-level platforms consistently outperform point solutions in enterprise healthcare.

Infrastructure that coordinates, not features that augment.

Conviction + follow-on discipline

Initial positions establish ownership at early validation. Follow-on capital concentrates behind highest-conviction breakouts — $29.3M of $67.7M into follow-ons — and is reallocated when timelines diverge from thesis.

Concentrate behind breakout signals.
Basis of presentation. Track record as of June 30, 2026. Fair market values (FMV) are estimates based on run-rate revenue multiples and NTM multiples, and are subject to change. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Fund figures are presented on a gross basis before management fees, carried interest, and fund expenses.