M12 Microsoft Ventures
About M12 Microsoft Ventures
M12 was founded in March 2016 and is a corporate venture arm of Microsoft. Its headquarters is in San Francisco, with offices in Seattle, New York, Tel Aviv and London. Michelle Gonzalez, a Microsoft corporate vice president, manages the fund, and Christopher Young, a Microsoft executive vice president, is listed among its key people. The firm is funded through annual budget allocations from Microsoft. M12 does not disclose its fund sizes. In a January 2023 post, the firm said it had invested in over 100 companies, including 15 unicorns and 6 IPOs.
M12 ties its investments to Microsoft's strategy. Its 2023 shift to a thesis-driven approach led to the M12 GitHub Fund, and DevOps is one of its core thesis areas. PitchBook lists artificial intelligence, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, deep tech, developer tools and vertical SaaS among the sectors the firm seeks. Its AI-related portfolio includes Octane AI, Nous Research and Mecka AI, and Crunchbase names Arize AI among its most notable exits.
A January 2023 Microsoft post says the firm focuses on Series A and B startups. Wikipedia describes its typical investments as falling between Series A and D. In 2023, M12 told Fortune that its average check ranges from $2 million to $10 million. Third-party directories list wider check ranges, and some also include seed rounds, but the firm has not confirmed those figures.
- Arize AI: named by Crunchbase among M12's most notable exits; round not stated in available sources.
- Octane AI: listed by Capboard among companies M12 has backed; round not stated in available sources.
- Nous Research: listed by PitchBook among companies M12 has invested in; round not stated in available sources.
- Mecka AI: listed by PitchBook among companies M12 has invested in; round not stated in available sources.
- Mantic Technologies: listed by PitchBook among companies M12 has invested in; round not stated in available sources.
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M12_(venture_capital_firm))
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/160474-78
- crunchbase.com/organization/m12
- blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2023/01/05/m12-ventures-down-a-new-path
- fortune.com/2023/03/03/microsoft-venture-m12-new-strategy-employees-le
- capboard.io/en/investor/m12-microsoft-s-venture-fund
- m12.vc
- linkedin.com/company/m12vc
Investing activity
M12 Microsoft Ventures is listed on AI Lounge as a venture capital investor based in India. The deals desk records Series A and later AI rounds and seeds over $10M, so smaller checks may not show here yet.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about M12 Microsoft Ventures
When was M12 founded and where is it based?
M12 was founded in March 2016 and is headquartered in San Francisco. It also has offices in Seattle, New York, Tel Aviv and London.
What stages does M12 invest in?
M12 says it focuses on Series A and B startups. Wikipedia describes its typical investments as falling between Series A and D.
What is M12's average check size?
M12 told Fortune in 2023 that its average check ranges from $2 million to $10 million. The firm does not disclose its fund sizes.
Which AI companies has M12 backed?
PitchBook and Capboard list AI-related portfolio companies such as Nous Research, Octane AI and Mecka AI. Crunchbase names Arize AI among its most notable exits.
Who manages M12's investments?
Michelle Gonzalez, a Microsoft corporate vice president, manages the fund, according to Wikipedia. Christopher Young, a Microsoft executive vice president, is also listed among its key people.
Where is M12 Microsoft Ventures based?
M12 Microsoft Ventures is based in India.
How can founders reach M12 Microsoft Ventures?
Founders on AI Lounge can see M12 Microsoft Ventures's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with the firm under Warm Paths, and add M12 Microsoft Ventures to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.