VC News | Thomson Reuters establishes $150 million venture fund
The Awesome Fund is a new Lexington, KY-based fund.
Thomson Reuters Ventures:
The global content and technology company has announced the launch of its second Corporate Venture Capital Fund, valued at $150 million. Building on the success of its first $100 million fund, launched in 2021, Fund 2 reaffirms the company’s commitment to driving innovation and delivering customer value.
Continuing to operate under the name Thomson Reuters Ventures, Fund 2 will focus on early stage technology companies across Legal Technology, Tax and Accounting, Fintech, Risk Fraud and Compliance, and News and Media markets.
Thomson Reuters Ventures will continue to invest in companies shaping the future of professional work, aligning emerging technologies with the company’s mission to bring its customers products that empower informed decisions and efficient workflows.
Fund 2 will target Series A investments, with flexibility to explore earlier and later stage opportunities. The Thomson Reuters Ventures investment approach will continue to be one of financial discipline, focusing on companies developing technologies that address the most pressing challenges faced by professionals today, including realizing the transformative potential of Generative AI.
Awesome Fund:
Early stage venture capital investor Awesome Fund, which has put nearly $1 million into nine start-ups since August 2023, reports that it hit oversubscription of its $5 million fund in December.
The Awesome Fund was launched by Awesome Inc, a Lexington-based start-up accelerator, co-working space, and coding school dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and tech talent thrive. Founded by Brian Raney, a serial entrepreneur and start-up advocate, Awesome Inc. programs include the Awesome Fellowship and 5 Across pitch competition.
Leveraging the Awesome Inc network, the Awesome Fund gains early access to top-tier start-ups and helps provide capital to Kentucky-based founders. The fund seeks new opportunities to invest $50,000 to $250,000 in early stage companies solving meaningful problems through scalable technology, and plans to invest another $1 million into 10 more companies in 2025.
“Our connection with Awesome Inc gives us a front-row seat to some of the most promising start-ups in Kentucky,” said Keith McMunn, Awesome Fund Managing Partner. “Surpassing our fundraising goal is a testament to the strength of this ecosystem and the confidence our investors have in our ability to back high-growth companies.”
Like what you've read?
Forward to a friend!