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§ Venture Capital · USA
Learn which startups Story Ventures invests in, what size check sizes they write, and who their partners are (e.g. Jake Yormak).
Key people at Story Ventures.
Story Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm investing in the foundational infrastructure of automated systems. The firm backs companies specializing in data automation, particularly across sensory systems, data processing, and machine intelligence. Its strategy supports ventures that capture proprietary data, convert information into actionable insights, and deploy artificial intelligence for improved decision-making.
Established in 2016 by Jake and Brian Yormak, Story Ventures was founded on empowering entrepreneurs to shape data automation's future. Jake brings legal and regulatory expertise from the data ecosystem; Brian specializes in mobility investing, covering logistics and transportation. Their combined experience guides the firm's thematic investment strategy.
Story Ventures partners with founders creating innovative solutions for complex problems, fostering businesses with lasting impact. The firm envisions cultivating technologies that define tomorrow, supporting companies leveraging proprietary data for enhanced experiences. Its mission focuses on backing transformative ventures addressing global challenges through advanced technology.
Story Ventures is a New York-based early-stage venture capital firm founded in 2016 that focuses on investing in startups at the intersection of connectivity, technology, and media, with a particular emphasis on data automation and processing. Their mission is to back entrepreneurs with bold visions who leverage technology and improved data handling to transform legacy industries. Key sectors include information technology, healthcare, financial services, software, SaaS, AI, enterprise, fintech, and hardware. Story Ventures aims to generate strong returns while helping portfolio companies realize their full potential by investing in foundational technologies that automate manual processes and enable machine intelligence[1][3][5].
Story Ventures was launched in 2016 to capitalize on the emerging trend of digital data systems automating manual processes in traditional industries. The founders combined experiences from firms like Fontinalis, Cravath, and Gunderson to create New York City's first exclusively data-focused venture capital firm. Their initial fundraising was challenging, but with support from early investors and mentors, they raised $5 million to pursue their vision. By 2018, after a successful first fund, they raised $25 million, increasing check sizes and taking board seats to deepen their involvement with portfolio companies. The firm’s evolution reflects a growing conviction in the transformative power of data automation and machine intelligence[6][1].
Story Ventures rides the wave of increasing digitization and automation of manual processes in legacy industries, a trend accelerated by advances in data capture technologies, middleware, and AI. The timing is critical as businesses seek to harness proprietary data for competitive advantage and improved decision-making. By focusing on foundational data infrastructure and machine intelligence, Story Ventures influences the broader ecosystem by enabling startups that build the essential building blocks for automated systems, thereby shaping the future of technology-driven industries[3][6].
Looking ahead, Story Ventures is well-positioned to continue leading investments in the evolving data automation space, especially as AI and machine learning applications expand across sectors. Trends such as increased demand for data-driven decision-making, automation of legacy workflows, and the growth of AI infrastructure will likely shape their investment focus. Their influence may grow as they back the "authors" of the future data economy, helping startups that transform how data is captured, processed, and applied to solve complex problems. This trajectory aligns with their founding vision of enabling lasting impact through audacious, data-centric entrepreneurship[3][6].
Key people at Story Ventures.
Story Ventures has more than 26 tracked investments across 22 companies. The latest tracked deal is $16.5M Seed in Parable in November 2025.
