Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures raises $11 million for second fund

Marin Sonoma Impact Ventures has raised more than $11 million for its second venture capital fund, more than doubling assets under management to over $17.7 million, the firm announced Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.

The latest financing lifts total investments by the Corte Madera firm to more than $8.66 million across 22 North Bay startups. Founded in April 2020 by Abraham Kishel, the firm describes itself as the region's first and only venture capital fund dedicated to local startups.

"MSIV Fund II will build on the success of our debut fund and further advance our 'Invest Local' movement," Kishel, the firm's founder and managing partner, said in the announcement.

Who is backing the fund?

The second fund attracted 60 limited partners, with Marin and Sonoma residents or institutions contributing 98% of the capital. A majority of the largest investors in the inaugural fund also participated in Fund II, according to MSIV. Across both funds, the firm now counts backing from 93 limited partners.

The largest single commitment was $1 million from the Redwood Credit Union Community Fund. Other investors include Joe Johnson, president of the Johnson Family Foundation, and Stephanie Plante, president and CEO of CPI Developers in Marin County.

"What we've learned is that investing locally does more than help individual businesses succeed – it strengthens the network of jobs, ideas, and opportunity that allows an entire region to thrive," said Brett Martinez, president and CEO of Redwood Credit Union.

"It's important for our North Bay region to make even more investments, both for-profit and philanthropic, into our community's future, and I'm excited to see MSIV leading the charge spurring investment into Marin (and) Sonoma," Johnson said.

What has the money funded so far?

MSIV Fund I opened to investors in March 2021 and closed in January 2025 after deploying capital across 13 companies. Fund II opened in March 2025 and closed last month. It has already invested in nine companies, six of which the firm has identified, spanning agriculture, biotechnology, financial technology and artificial intelligence:

• Gable – workplace software led by co-founder and CEO Mash Levin and co-founder Omri Haviv, for managing hybrid desks, meeting rooms and office utilization.
• Lighthouse Pharmaceuticals – a Novato biotech led by CEO Casey Lynch developing treatments for neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases. Its lead drug LHP588 is in a Phase 2 trial, supported by a $49.2 million National Institute on Aging grant awarded in August 2025. MSIV joined its $12 million Series A in April, a round led by DoublePoint Ventures. "With that and phase 2, they are off and running," Kishel said.
• Lumo – a Santa Rosa agricultural technology company led by co-founder and CEO Devon Wright and co-founder Henry Halimi, building precision irrigation systems first tested with winegrape growers in Sonoma and Napa counties.
• OLarry – technology-supported tax planning and advisory services, founded by CEO Eric Rachlin, COO Becky Hobbs and CAO Corey Herdrich.
• Skribe Medical – a Mill Valley company led by CEO Ryan Neely, founded in mid-2025, developing a battery-free wearable sensor patch to monitor cardiac function in cancer patients. It was among the first five developers selected for the FDA's READY-Home Innovation Challenge.
• Your360.ai – voice-based AI for workplace feedback and leadership development, led by co-founder and CEO Jared Goralnick.

MSIV did not disclose individual investment amounts or name the remaining three Fund II portfolio companies.

What comes next?

Beyond venture checks, MSIV runs programs connecting North Bay entrepreneurs with advisors and investors. Its North Bay Founder Network has supported 438 entrepreneurs; its Executive Network has enlisted 75 senior executives contributing thousands of volunteer mentoring hours. The firm hosts more than 20 startup gatherings annually, and its spring North Bay NEXT conference drew a record 350-plus attendees in 2026.

The organization, whose community initiatives are led by Vice President Elizabeth Murphy, will hold its sixth annual Fall Party on Oct. 15 at La Crema Winery in Windsor, with more than 200 attendees expected.