Announcing Think Big Ventures I and First Investment in EyeVerify

Think Big Partners , a Kansas City based early-stage business incubator and technology-focused startup accelerator, announced the launch of its first venture fund, Think Big Ventures I, along with its first venture investment, EyeVerify.

Think Big Ventures I will primarily focus on early-stage, technology-focused web services, apps, software and related opportunities. The fund will also have a preference for highly scalable business models that involve the consumer, established intellectual property, experienced management teams and strong addressable market potential.

With the first close of the fund, Think Big Partners is pleased to announce its first investment in Kansas City-based startup, EyeVerify.  EyeVerify is a software startup that brings to market an authentication module that utilizes cameras on mobile devices to take images of an eye to use as a unique biometric identifier.  The software allows mobile users to capture an image of their eye in the place of entering a password to access their mobile phone.  Toby Rush, founder and CEO of EyeVerify, is a serial entrepreneur and graduate of the PIPELINE Entrepreneurial Immersion Program. 

“The Think Big Ventures investment is one with a lot of smart, experienced people involved,” said Toby Rush, founder and CEO of EyeVerify.  “This fund will allow us to network and connect with others on a much higher level.  Think Big Ventures has extra impact behind it simply because of the people involved, their expertise and experience as founders.” 

Think Big Ventures managers Herb Sih and Tyler Prochnow will manage the fund and will utilize an investment committee process to determine investment decisions. The fund will draw benefit from relationships previously established by Think Big Partners, in addition to searching for the right startup companies across the nation, especially the Midwest.

“We believe we have something unique to offer today’s smart startup. Smart money comes in many forms,” said Tyler Prochnow, senior partner at Think Big Partners. “Our network of advisors, mentors and strategic partners, combined with our milestone-based, dosed capital mentality, aligns everyone’s interests while still allowing us to remain objective and highly disciplined in execution.”

Learn more about Think Big Ventures by following Think Big on Twitter: @thinkbigKC