Member Spotlight: Emergence Capital
For this deep dive, we spoke to Joe Floyd, General Partner of Emergence Capital.
Tell us about your firm. What makes it different?
At Emergence Capital, we are focused on early-stage investments in enterprise software companies. Our strategy is to partner with a select number of high-potential startups each year, allowing us to provide dedicated support to founders who are changing the way the world works. We build deep, long-term relationships, aiming to be the Most Important Partner to our Founders. We also believe in partnering for the long run, holding our positions and board seats for as long as we feel we can add value to the company – in some cases for decades!
What defines your portfolio?
Our portfolio is defined by investments in pioneering enterprise software companies that are leaders in their respective domains. Notable investments include Salesforce, Veeva Systems, Zoom, and Doximity. More recently we’ve made investments in companies like Together.AI, Stackblitz (creators of Bolt.new), Arcee.AI, and several other AI-enabled services companies.
We focus on conviction areas such as Industry Cloud, Deskless Workforce, Deep Collaboration, and AI Coaching Networks, supporting companies that bring specialized solutions to complex business challenges.
Tell us about the current VC landscape in your geography/region.
Based in San Francisco, Emergence Capital operates in the heart of the venture capital ecosystem, but we don’t limit our investing strategy to the Bay Area. SF continues to be a hub for innovation, particularly in enterprise technology and software-as-a-service (SaaS) sectors, but you can find our founders all across the US.
Despite economic fluctuations, there remains a robust appetite for investing in companies that are redefining industries and driving digital transformation. The current landscape emphasizes the importance of specialization and deep industry expertise, aligning with our firm’s focused investment philosophy.
What are the benefits of being an NVCA member?
Membership in the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) offers significant advantages, including advocacy on critical policy issues, access to industry research, and a platform for networking with peers. The NVCA plays a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant venture ecosystem by addressing regulatory challenges and promoting best practices. For Emergence Capital, being part of this association enhances our ability to stay informed and engaged with the broader venture community, ultimately benefiting our portfolio companies and investors.
What’s ahead for your firm?
Emergence Capital remains committed to investing in early-stage B2B technology companies, with a continued focus on our conviction areas. We also seek to serve not just our portfolio companies but the entire B2B ecosystem. For example we are assembling the industry’s most complete benchmarking report for B2B startups. We’d encourage every investor to ask their portfolio companies to take part in the online survey, open now. We’re running it with our partners at Benchmarkit, and the more data we collect, the more useful it will be for everyone!
