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The Chainsmokers’ Mantis Ventures Raises $100M for Its Third Fund — and They’re All-In on B2B
July 15, 2025
Mantis Ventures, the venture capital firm founded by Grammy-winning DJs Alex Pall and Drew Taggart of The Chainsmokers, has raised $100 million for its third fund — a notable feat in today’s tough fundraising environment. The new fund is 25% larger than Mantis’ previous $80 million vehicle and signals growing confidence in the firm’s investment approach.
A Surprising Focus: B2B, Not Consumer
Unlike many celebrity-backed VC firms that gravitate toward consumer startups and lifestyle brands, Mantis has doubled down on the enterprise space, backing business-to-business startups like:
Chainguard, a cybersecurity company
Rogo, an AI-powered financial analysis platform
This strategy might seem unexpected coming from music superstars, but Pall and Taggart say that’s exactly why it works. “We’ve always been interested in the infrastructure behind industries,” Pall told TechCrunch. “We don’t need to be the face of a sneaker brand to provide value.”
Fame-Driven Network, Enterprise Impact
Even without focusing on consumer goods, the duo’s fame gives them unique access to Fortune 500 decision-makers — often in non-traditional ways. According to Pall, The Chainsmokers have played private shows for nearly every major company in the U.S., and that access has quietly become one of Mantis’ strongest assets.
Instead of just marketing products, they’re using those relationships to make warm intros between portfolio companies and corporate customers, helping startups land early traction, partnerships, and enterprise deals.
Steady Momentum in a Downturn
Mantis’ fundraise is particularly impressive given broader headwinds in the venture capital industry, where many firms are shrinking fund sizes or struggling to secure new capital. The fact that Mantis grew its fund in this climate reflects LPs’ confidence not only in the team’s network, but in their ability to spot long-term trends and support founders effectively.
Since launching in 2020, Mantis has become one of the more quietly influential celebrity-led VCs — trading hype for strategic execution. With Fund III now closed, the firm is set to expand its portfolio further across AI, enterprise SaaS, infrastructure, and fintech.
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