When we started York IE, we had a bold vision: to reshape how startups are built, scaled, and monetized.
We believed the traditional venture capital model was broken or at least misaligned with the dreams and ambitions of most founders. A system that expected 9 out of 10 startups to fail felt not only inefficient, but deeply unfair.
We knew there had to be a better way. But it wouldn’t happen by accident or by magic. It would take a new model. One based on pragmatic growth, aligned incentives, and true partnership.
So we built one.
B2B Software First
At York IE, our investment practice focuses exclusively on B2B software. It’s where we have deep expertise, and it’s where we believe startups can grow most predictably. While B2C companies often chase massive scale with volatile returns, B2B startups that solve real problems for businesses can create steady, defensible, and compounding value.
Pragmatic Growth Over Growth at All Costs
We don’t encourage founders to raise as much as they can, only to burn it down in a race for the next round. Instead, we focus on building strong, sustainable companies that grow deliberately. That means identifying real customer problems, solving them well, and layering in capital where it amplifies momentum rather than masks inefficiency.
A Diversified Concentration of Early-Stage Innovation
We invest in 10-15 early-stage companies per year across a variety of sectors. Think of it like an index of high-potential startups each with unique potential, each part of a larger story. This diversified approach gives us insight into emerging trends, enables portfolio synergies, and mitigates risk without relying on a few unicorn bets.
Limit the Losers, Lift Everyone
We don’t just focus on chasing the biggest winners. We want to be a valuable partner to every founder in our portfolio. That means showing up, being available, and offering support that goes beyond capital. Our goal isn’t just to pick rocketships. It’s to help more companies succeed.
Execution Help, When and Where It’s Needed
One of the biggest differentiators at York IE is our value-add advisory services. Startups need help executing whether it’s implementing a CRM, building a SaaS product or doing their bookkeeping. That’s where we roll up our sleeves and dig in. We’ve built a 200+ person team and platform specifically designed to help our founders turn strategy into results.
Outliers Will Emerge But Not at the Expense of the Rest
We know that if we take this grounded, focused, and founder-aligned approach, the rocketships will still emerge. But they’ll do so in a way that doesn’t come at the expense of everyone else. We’re not building a portfolio that sacrifices the many for the one. We’re building a community where more startups succeed.
Driving Outcomes, Not Just Writing Checks
Most of all, we believe in being active partners. That means helping drive outcomes whether it’s a critical hire, a major customer deal, or the next round of funding. We don’t sit back and hope. We work side-by-side with our founders to make success inevitable.
And now, five years in, we’re seeing the fruits of this approach.
A Better Venture Model Is Possible
We’ve achieved a 90% portfolio survival rate, nearly triple the industry average, and a 60% graduation rate, meaning the majority of our companies have gone on to raise follow-on capital in up rounds. These numbers validate our thesis: with the right support and mindset, the majority of startups can succeed.
And this didn’t come out of nowhere. Before York IE officially launched, we had already begun testing this model through our early pilot investment vehicles. Those vehicles operated even earlier in the company lifecycle, at the angel stage, and they still produced a 70 to 80 percent survival rate. That showed us this approach works, even at the earliest stages, when the right level of hands-on support and pragmatic advice is in place.
We’re proud of what we’ve built and even more excited for what’s ahead.
Because we’re not just betting on ideas. We’re backing founders. And we’re building a better way.
