Fluent Ventures Launches "Geographic Alpha" Venture Platform and Is Backed By 75+ Unicorn Founders & Tech Leaders

Firm's geographic alpha strategy focuses on backing founders who localize proven, successful business models in high-potential regions, in fintech, commerce and health.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fluent Ventures, a new global early-stage venture capital firm founded by investor and author Alex Lazarow, today announced its debut program. Fluent's approach—what it calls geographic alpha—focuses on backing founders who localize successful business models in high-potential regions, across fintech, health and commerce. The firm plans to invest $40m through its hybrid platform, including a fund and a co-investment strategy.

"Fluent was born from a simple belief: the best ideas can come from anywhere—and scale everywhere," said Alex Lazarow, General Partner at Fluent Ventures.

The firm's current portfolio spans North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia—representing a new, globally distributed venture playbook. Early investments include:

• Sabi – a B2B marketplace transforming agricultural and industrial supply chains in Nigeria
• BRKZ – a Saudi construction tech platform led by Careem's former COO
• Prima – a B2B manufacturing platform based in Mexico
• Baton and Iconic – U.S.-based startups innovating in small business M&A and AI-driven brokerage

Fluent is backed by more than 75 value-added LPs including unicorn founders, operators, and global investors, including David Vélez (Nubank), Adal Flores (Kueski), Sean Harper (Kin), Nick Nash (SEA Group), Akshay Garg (Kredivo), JC Glancy (ZenBusiness), and Lucas Ward (Kin).

"Business models don't copy-paste. Context matters," said David Vélez, cofounder and CEO of Nubank. "Fluent understands that while global problems may be universal, their solutions need to be adapted—and that's where the opportunity lies."

The firm's strategy draws from Lazarow's decade of experience at global funds including Omidyar Network and Cathay Innovation, where he invested in companies like Chime, Neon, Kin, Sidecar Health and others. It also builds on the thesis of his book Out-Innovate (Harvard Business Press), which explores how global entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of Silicon Valley. The book has been translated into four languages and serves as the intellectual foundation for Fluent's work.

"In 2013, just four cities had produced a unicorn. Today, it's more than 150," said Lazarow. "Entrepreneurship has gone global—and Fluent was built for exactly this shift."

SOURCE Fluent Ventures