Motivate Capital Management, LLC logo

Motivate Capital Management, LLC

Seed fund managerSEC venture capital fund adviser· Chicago, Illinoismotivate.vc

Seed fund manager, based in Chicago, Illinois, reporting $248M of fund assets on its funds' Form ADV filings.

Composed from this organization's classification, location and filed figures.

Reported fund assets
$248M
sum of its funds' Form ADV filings, last 30 months
New companies, 12 mo
None
Investment team
1
Latest vintage
2023
Contact decision makers
More
Ask DFX about thisView relationshipsFind contactsInvestments (62)Team (2)Funds
As of · the latest observation of this organization; filed figures are as of its latest Form ADV

12 additional co-investors and affiliates, 73 additional investments, funds and LPs, 13 events, 1 verified contact (1 firm phone)

Every relationship, signal and contact on this record, with the source on each.

Includes 3 days of DFX Intelligence. Then $199/month unless canceled.

What matters now

  1. 3 companies
    portfolio raising

    3 portfolio companies have new financing on record in 6 months without this firm named on the round; the latest on 29 Jul 2026 ($20M round).

    A portfolio company raising again is a follow-on decision for the firm and a co-investment opening for others.

    FactPress release wires (PR Newswire, GlobeNewswire)For Co-investors, LPs, lendersInvestments →
  2. 2 deals
    with Bridge Investments

    Invests most often alongside Bridge Investments (2 shared deals).

    pair last observed on record 1 Oct 2026, not a deal date · The firms it syndicates with are the likeliest to see the same deals and to fill out its rounds.

    Measuredshared rounds and portfolio companies on recordCo-investors →

People to know

View all people

Relationship network

96 connected entities1 observed round

From financing rounds and every investor named in them, Form ADV and Form D filings, the firm's funds and team, and disclosed LP commitments in the venture capital graph. A round's amount is the size of the round, not money that moved between two investors.

Some relationships on this record are counted rather than named here. They open with the full profile.

Click any name or line for the rounds and sources behind it. Line weight is rounds together; dashed lines are inferred.

Reading the network
  • Sponsor
  • Company
  • Fund or vehicle
  • Person

Co-investors are read from the rounds: three or more shared rounds is a strong observed relationship, two a repeat co-investor, one a single round. Funds and people are structural. Nothing is scored that a reader cannot check.

Darker lines were active in the last 24 months or are current; lighter lines are older or undated.

How am I connected?

Name your firm, a company or a person, and DFX finds the published routes to Motivate Capital Management, LLC: a shared portfolio company or board, a prior employer, a co-investor, a shared LP or service provider. Every step is a filed or published record with its source; none is a guess about who knows whom.

See how you connect to Motivate Capital Management, LLC

Includes 3 days of DFX Intelligence. Then $199/month unless canceled.

Investing

62 companies on record, 0 new in 12 months
Investments on record
62 companies, 1 partner-attributed
CompanyRoundRolePartnerRound sizeThis investorDateSource
Abstractportfolio listingunknownunknownunknownunknownOct 1, 2026Fact Firm website
Architectportfolio listingunknownunknownunknownunknownOct 1, 2026Fact Firm website
Attainportfolio listingunknownunknownunknownunknownOct 1, 2026Fact Firm website
Stated thesis versus observed behaviour
63 observed deals
Stated (the firm’s website)
Sectors
ai, crypto, industrial, media
Stages
pre seed, seed, early
Geography
not stated
Check size
not stated; DFX does not estimate checks from round sizes
Self-described
seed
Observed (from deals on record)
Stage at participation: no observed deals yet
Stage at first entry: no observed deals yet
Industries, each company once
Hardware and deep tech, Software or Tech-enabled and IT services (3)
lead rate no observed dealsfollow-on rate 0%new companies, 12 months 0

Team

2 current, 0 departed
Decision makers
who to call first, and why; then everyone else by function
Who else at this firm · 1 person, grouped by function
Finance, operations and compliance (1)
  • David Wieland · Member, Chief Compliance Officer
    Why this person: Member, Chief Compliance Officer at the firm

Ranked by the role the firm or its filing states, a route on file and deals led. Every reason is read from the record, never inferred. Routes are published by the person or the firm (their bio, the team page or a filing) and are revealed on a plan; data bought from a provider is never shown, and a route printed at a firm the person has since left is held back.

Investment team
2 current, 0 departed
Contacts
1 firm phone

1 firm phone on record, each with its source. Values open with the complete profile.

Funds and LPs

17 vehicles, 0 LPs disclosed
Funds and vehicles
17 reported
VehicleTypeVintageLifecycleReported GAVOwnersForm D soldLatest Form D
MCM Tide Rock Tr3Fund · ADV: Private Equity Fund2023 adv first reportedActive deployment$6.8M
Jun 28, 2023
23unknownunknown
Motivate Ventures Qp Fund II, LPFeeder or parallel2022 form d first saleActive deployment$116M
Mar 12, 2026
114$61.0M
of $100M
Nov 20, 2023
Motivate Ventures Ai Fund II, LPFund2022 form d first saleActive deployment$38.6M
Mar 12, 2026
35$19.8M
of $50.0M
Nov 20, 2023
Limited partners
0 LPs, 0 disclosed commitments
No LP commitment on record. An LP edge needs a public disclosure with a quote: a pension report (see Limited partners for the plans read), a fund announcement naming the LP, or a Form ADV owner. The fund page carries the LP’s reported performance.
Known LPs and allocators
0 relationships across the firm's funds, from public pensions and the allocator graph
No allocator names this firm or its funds in a public disclosure DFX holds.

Relationships across DFX

15 co-investors · on 2 other DFX graphs
Co-investors
15 counted from shared deals, for the whole firm
Across DFX and the capital chainon 2 other DFX graphs Show
Across DFX
  • The same institution is held on Private Equity, RIA and Wealth, matched by identifier. See which records
Across the graphs

Motivate Capital Management, LLC is the same institution as 2 records in Private Equity and RIA and Wealth.

Private Equity1RIA and Wealth1

DFX found 2 relationships across 2 datasets

Which record it is in each graph, what it is called there, and how the two were matched.

Includes 3 days of DFX Intelligence. Then $199/month unless canceled.

Checking your plan…

Evidence and history

18 dated events, 63 observations from 4 sources
Timeline
18 dated events
  1. seen on or beforeSep 13, 2026
    Motivate Capital Management, LLC: INSTITUTIONAL_VC -> SEED_FUND_MANAGER (name or self-description says seed)
    Classification changedClassificationInferenceno URL
  2. Mar 12, 2026
    Motivate of Fund I, LP first reported on Form ADV by Motivate Capital Management, LLC (Venture Capital Fund), GAV $5,000,000
    Fund first reported on Form ADVFundsInferenceMotivate OF I, LPForm ADV
  3. Feb 2, 2026
    Motivate Capital Management, LLC filed the first Form D for Motivate Ventures AI Fund III, LP (fund 3), its next fund after Motivate Ventures Ai Fund II, LP (vintage 2022)
    Fund next filedderived signalInferenceMotivate Ventures AI Fund III, LPno URL
  4. Mar 31, 2023
    MCM Banyan first reported on Form ADV by Motivate Capital Management, LLC (Venture Capital Fund), GAV $1,300,000
    Fund first reported on Form ADVFundsFactMCM BanyanForm ADV
  5. Mar 31, 2023
    MCM Sweater Seed Spv first reported on Form ADV by Motivate Capital Management, LLC (Venture Capital Fund), GAV $3,250,000
    Fund first reported on Form ADVFundsFactMCM Sweater Seed SpvForm ADV
Identity and regulatory footprint
Address, phone, Form ADV filing and ownersForm ADV filed Mar 12, 2026 · 12 private fundsShow
Headquarters
Chicago, ILadviserinfo.sec.gov
Office address
unknownadviserinfo.sec.gov
Business phone
unknownadviserinfo.sec.gov
Website
motivate.vc
SEC adviser type
Exempt reporting adviseradviserinfo.sec.gov
SEC exemption claimed
Venture capital fund adviseradviserinfo.sec.govItem 2.B(1): advises solely venture capital funds
Latest Form ADV
Mar 12, 2026
Private funds reported
12 (12 venture capital funds)adviserinfo.sec.gov
Private fund gross assets, adviser total
$248Madviserinfo.sec.govreported GAV of the funds, the adviser's own number; not fund size, not dry powder
Classification history
Every classification this record has carried3 on recordShow
  1. Sep 13, 2026
    Seed fund manager (confirmed, 95%)
    Name or self-description says seed
  2. Sep 12, 2026
    Institutional venture firm (confirmed, 95%)
    Venture manager, reported GAV $193M across 17 vehicles
  3. Sep 12, 2026
    Institutional venture firm (confirmed, 95%)
    Venture manager, reported GAV $193M across 14 vehicles
Evidence
63 observations from 4 sources
Every observation behind this profile, with its source, date and class
FactValueEffectiveClassSource
Why admittedVC exemption, VC funds reportedMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
SEC exemption claimedVenture capital fund adviserMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
SEC exemption claimedVenture capital fund adviserMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
SEC adviser typeExempt reporting adviserMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
SEC adviser typeExempt reporting adviserMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
SEC adviser typeExempt reporting adviserMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
First Form ADV filing2021-05-27Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
First Form ADV filing2021-05-27Mar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Adv history loadedadv-hist-1+panel:2026-09-29Sep 30, 2026FactForm ADV
Adv history loadedadv-hist-1+panel:2026-09-25Sep 26, 2026FactForm ADV
Adv history loadedadv-hist-1+panel:2026-09-23Sep 24, 2026FactForm ADV
Adv history loadedadv-hist-1+panel:2026-09-21Sep 23, 2026FactForm ADV
Adv history loadedadv-hist-1+panel:2026-09-22Sep 23, 2026FactForm ADV
Adv history loadedadv-hist-1Sep 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Latest Form ADV filing2026-03-12Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Latest Form ADV filing2026-03-12Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Latest Form ADV filing2024-03-26Mar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
SEC statusERA - ActiveMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
SEC status effective2024-03-26Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Venture share of reported funds1Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Venture share of reported funds1Mar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Business phoneMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Business phoneMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Contact page urlOct 1, 2026Factno URL
Contact page urlSep 16, 2026Factno URL
HeadquartersChicago, ILMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
HeadquartersChicago, ILMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Office addressMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Office addressMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Self-described typeseedOct 1, 2026Factno URL
Self-described typeseedSep 16, 2026Factno URL
Self-described typeseedSep 13, 2026Factno URL
Legal formLimited Liability CompanyMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Legal formLimited Liability CompanyMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Portfolio pageOct 1, 2026Factno URL
Portfolio pageSep 16, 2026Factno URL
Portfolio pageSep 13, 2026Factno URL
Private funds reported12Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Private funds reported12Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Private funds reported11Mar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Private fund gross assets (reported)$248MMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Private fund gross assets (reported)$248MMar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Private fund gross assets (reported)$161MMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Schedule a diffsadiff-1Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Stated sectorsAI, crypto, industrial, media
“sector words on the home page”
Oct 1, 2026Factno URL
Stated sectorsAI, crypto, industrial, media
“sector words on the home page”
Sep 16, 2026Factno URL
Stated sectorsAI, crypto, industrial, media
“sector words on the home page”
Sep 13, 2026Factno URL
Stated stagesPre seed, seed, early
“stage words on the home page”
Oct 1, 2026Factno URL
Stated stagesPre seed, seed, early
“stage words on the home page”
Sep 16, 2026Factno URL
Stated stagesPre seed, seed, early
“stage words on the home page”
Sep 13, 2026Factno URL
Venture funds reported12Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Venture funds reported12Mar 12, 2026FactForm ADV
Venture funds reported11Mar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
WebsiteMar 26, 2024FactForm ADV
Site titleOct 1, 2026Factno URL
Site titleSep 16, 2026Factno URL
Site titleSep 13, 2026Factno URL
How this is scored
Scores, classification basis and filing advisersSeed fund manager, confirmedShow
Importance
51
elevated
Active deployment
25
moderate
Emerging
0
low
Freshness
100
high
Seed fund managerSEC exempt reporting adviser

Name or self-description says seed

The inputs behind each score
importance
gav: $0 · funds: 1 · people: 0.08 · investments: 0.67 · co investors: 0.48
active deployment
investments 12m: 0 · fund raising 18m: 0 · people joined 12m: 0 · vintage within 3y: 1 · latest investment at: not scored
emerging manager
fund count: 17 · reported gav: $248M · first adv filing: 2021-05-27 · years since first filing: 5.3

Fits, record history and connections

scored matches for this investor, every identity change, every edge

Record history

2 dated events on the change ledger, latest event first
  • Organization classification changed
    2026-09-13
  • Adviser's first ADV filing
    2021-05-27source on record

The ledger records every merge, rename and reclassification this record went through and the dated filings observed on it, so the identity on this page can be traced to the records it was built from. The ledger's own sentences name other records, so they show with the names.