Early stage investments at the intersection of innovation and integrity.
Early Stage Venture Investments
We believe that technology has the power to make the world a better place, and we want to invest in the extraordinary people and remarkable businesses that make that happen. From pre-seed to series-A, Sand Hill North invests in innovative technology-focused start-ups that are forging the future for the better. We’re looking for the architects behind the next generation of innovation; the founders who are ready to fuel a wave of disruption and shape the way their industry does business.
We’re looking for visionary entrepreneurs, businesses with high growth potential, and an unrelenting commitment to ethical standards. Our long-term horizon and values-driven approach guides our investment profile; this has helped us build an elite portfolio and trustworthy professional network with whom to collaborate.
We’re serious about being a valuable partner for your business; we offer honest insight, tactical advice and unwavering commitment as our founders navigate their start-up journeys. We're a team of founders and business operators who understand your challenges; we share our network and our insights so that your company is equipped for success.
Our Values
We back the team.
We review the business plan, but we bet on the team. High potential founders with proven track records are fundamental to our investment criteria. We look for a founding team with deep domain knowledge and well-rounded functional and managerial experience.
We back the plan.
We evaluate business plans for their capacity to measurably disrupt, innovate and scale. We then leverage our network of experts and expertise to sharpen your resources, accelerate your growth strategy and propel your business.
We back the vision.
We believe that businesses built with purpose are aligned on vision; for early-stage companies, a well-defined North Star is often the make-it-or-break-it difference. Our vision is built on long-term growth and principled leadership, and the companies in which we invest share these tenets.
We back the purpose.
Start-ups have the potential to make a positive mark on the world. Above and beyond Sand Hill North’s financial analysis, our team considers an organization’s impact on its community and industry. We uphold the standards of honesty, value creation and the lifetime worth of a customer; these principles are important to us and we look for them in the founders we meet.
Our Portfolio
Investment Team
Dave Brereton
President and CEO
Dave Brereton holds a deep commitment to building businesses that are guided by integrity and purpose. Dave also serves as executive chairman of Tecsys Inc., a supply chain software company he founded in 1983. In 1996, Dave was named one of the country's Top 40 Executives Under 40 by The Financial Post and CTV Television. In 2000, he was a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year. Dave is an early investor in numerous technology start-ups including Silanis Inc., Inventure LLC., AlayaCare, and Social.mom. He also serves as international director of Youth for Christ International, and is the founder of a fully accredited high school for marginalized youth in Montreal.
Dennis Clark
Partner and CFO
Dennis Clark helps bring financial clarity to the Sand Hill North team and its partners. He has worked with organizations drawing anywhere from $2 million to $150 million in annual revenues, guiding them through audits, legal matters and financial system upgrades. With over 30 years’ experience spanning both non-profit and for-profit sectors, holding positions from systems analyst to CFO, Dennis is well-positioned to bring financial integrity and insight to a vast spectrum of businesses. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dennis focuses on family and fitness, not to mention that global quest for the perfect cappuccino.
Ryan Henry
Partner
Ryan brings to Sand Hill North more than a decade of leadership experience scaling high growth engineering, product and AI organizations. He has honed his deep technical acumen at startups like FreshBooks and Wisely, and by working with extraordinary brands like Disney, Mattel and McDonalds. He has built console and mobile games, AR experiences, FinTech and other SaaS apps, as well as AI- and Machine Learning-driven products. Ryan mentors numerous startups through accelerators like Techstars and eCommerce North, offering his insights on everything from product and technology to business strategy, fundraising, innovation and scaling.
