Upfront Ventures

Upfront Ventures was founded by Yves Sisteron, Steven Dietz and Steve Lebow in 1996 in Century City, Los Angeles under the name GRP Partners.{{Cite news |last1=Chang|first1=Andrea|url= https://www.latimes.com/business/la-xpm-2013-jun-27-la-fi-tn-grp-partners-upfront-ventures-20130626-story.html|newspaper= The Los Angeles Times|title= GRP Partners becomes Upfront Ventures, announces $200-million fund|date= June 27, 2013}}

GRP Partners was best known for investing in chain restaurants like P. F. Chang's and Starbucks, as well as retailers like Costco and Ulta,{{Cite web|url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/ulta-salons-backers-reap-solid-returns-from-ipo/|title=Ulta Salon's Backers Reap Solid Returns from I.P.O.|last=Dealbook|date=October 26, 2007|website=New York Times}} but it also invested in tech companies such as PayPal Credit, Overture, and Disney Digital Network. Mark Suster joined GRP Partners in 2007 as general manager,{{Cite web|url=https://www.recode.net/2018/4/20/17263938/transcript-venture-capital-upfront-ventures-mark-suster-recode-decode|title=Full transcript: Venture capital firm Upfront Ventures' Mark Suster on Recode Decode|publisher=Recode|date=April 20, 2018}} and became a managing partner in 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2017/apr/07/early-entry-upfront-ventures-investment/|title=Upfront Ventures' Mark Suster Quickly Bought in to L.A.'s Future as a Tech Development Hub {{!}} Los Angeles Business Journal|website=labusinessjournal.com|date=April 7, 2017}}

In 2013, the company renamed itself to Upfront Ventures, a rebranding intended to reflect transparency and openness with startups in their early stages, and in reference to the entertainment industry's upfronts. The company also moved to Santa Monica, California, placing it in closer proximity to Los Angeles' tech and startup center, Silicon Beach, although the company makes investments in companies all over the world. The firm also opened a San Francisco office in 2020. {{cite web|title=Upfront Ventures opens San Francisco office, led by new partner Maliwal|url=https://www.venturecapitaljournal.com/upfront-ventures-opens-sf-office-led-by-new-gp-maliwal/| work= Venture Capital Journal |accessdate=3 August 2023}}

In 2015, the company named rap artist Chamillionaire as its "entrepreneur-in-residence", where he developed the Convoz app.{{Cite web|last1=Kosoff|first1=Maya|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/chamillionaire-entrepreneur-in-residence-upfront-ventures-2015-2|title=Rapper Chamillionaire is now an entrepreneur-in-residence at a venture capital firm|publisher=Business Insider|date=February 25, 2015}}

In July 2017, Upfront created a $400 million fund, specifically established for investing in startups over the next several years.

Upfront Ventures also hosts the Upfront Summit tech conference, held in Los Angeles.{{Cite web |last1=Dave|first1=Paresh|url= http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-la-tech-highlights-20160208-story.html|work= Los Angeles Times|title= Upfront Summit, ads and acquisitions of Mophie and Represent among week's L.A. tech highlights|date=February 8, 2016}}

In 2020, Upfront engaged in the payroll space by leading seed round funding for Clair.{{Cite web|last=PYMNTS|date=2020-10-09|title=Clair Notches $4.5M To Help Gig Workers|url=https://www.pymnts.com/news/investment-tracker/2020/instant-pay-startup-clair-funding-gig-workers/|access-date=2020-10-19|website=PYMNTS.com|language=en-US}}

{{bar box

|title=Funding rounds

|titlebar=#DDD

|float=left

|left1=Year

|right2=Amount

|barwidth=240px

|width=400px

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{{bar pixel|2017|#36c|220||$402 million}}

{{bar pixel|2014|#fc3|153||$280 million}}

{{bar pixel|2013^†|#14866d|109||$200 million}}

{{bar pixel|2008|#b32424|101||$185 million}}

{{bar pixel|2000|#2a4b8d|213||$390 million}}

|caption=Sources:{{cite web |last1=Carney |first1=Michael |title=Upfront Ventures raises the bar on LA with a $280M fifth fund |url=https://pando.com/2014/12/16/upfront-ventures-raises-the-bar-on-la-with-a-280m-fifth-fund/ |website=Pando |date=16 December 2014}}{{efn|^† Both LA Times sources give conflicting amounts for 2013, with Andrea Chang reporting $200 million for 2013 (in an article published on June 27, 2013) and Paresh Dave reporting $230 million for 2013 (in an article published on July 4, 2017). The Chang source is used in the graph.}}

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The firm’s notable investments include:

• Apeel Sciences{{cite press release |last1=Watson |first1=Elaine |title=Apeel Sciences raises $70m to expand applications for its plant-based invisible skin |url=https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2018/07/31/Apeel-Sciences-raises-70m-to-expand-applications-for-its-plant-based-invisible-skin |website=Food Navigator USA |date=July 31, 2018}}{{promotional source|date=July 2019}}
• Deliv{{cite web |last=Sawers|first=Paul|title=Google joins $40 million investment in same-day delivery platform Deliv |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/30/google-joins-40-million-investment-in-same-day-delivery-platform-deliv/ |website=Venture Beat |date=October 30, 2018}}
• Qordoba{{cite web |title=Qordoba Announces $11.5 Million Series B Funding, Led by Aspect Ventures |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/11/qordoba-announces-11-5-million-series-b-funding-led-by-aspect-ventures/ |website=Venture Beat |date=October 11, 2018}}
• Qualys{{cite web |title=GRP Partners Gets IPO At Qualys |url=https://www.socaltech.com/grp_partners_gets_ipo_at_qualys/s-0045314.html |website=SoCal Tech |date=28 September 2012}}
• thredUP{{cite web |last1=Del Rey |first1=Jason |title=Secondhand Clothing Site ThredUp Raises $81 Million at Valuation Around $500 Million |url=https://www.vox.com/2015/9/10/11618412/secondhand-clothing-site-thredup-raises-81-million-at-valuation |website=Vox |date=10 September 2015}}
• UGO Networks{{cite web |last1=DeMott |first1=Rick |title=UGO Networks Raises $23 Million |url=https://www.awn.com/news/ugo-networks-raises-23-million |website=Animation World Network |date=5 March 2001}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://upfront.com Official website]

Category:Venture capital firms of the United States

Category:Companies based in Santa Monica, California

Category:Financial services companies established in 1996