We don't just fund founders. We build with them.

Next Wave is a venture studio. Operators who embed, capital that aligns, and a timeline that makes sense.

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Our Focus: The Autonomous Era

We believe the Autonomous Era represents a generational shift in technology and infrastructure, on the scale of electrification or the internet. Autonomous systems, intelligent infrastructure, and the machine economy will reshape industries over the next two decades.

We work with founders building at the convergence of AI, robotics, edge computing, and intelligent infrastructure. Systems that sense, decide, and act in the physical world.

Read Our Full Thesis

Operational Partnership From Day One

Fractional Executives

CTO, CFO, COO, CEO-level operators embedded part-time. Not advisors. Contributors.

De-Risked Execution

90% of startups fail. Most never had a chance: undercapitalized, under-supported, over-diluted. We fix the inputs.

Aligned Capital

Safer-based structures that preserve founder ownership and let you buy back equity as you grow.


How We Work

We're not a fund. We don't write a check and wait for quarterly updates.

We embed with you. Fractional executives who've built and scaled companies, working inside your business on the problems that matter. We stay as long as it takes to get the foundation right, not until the next funding milestone. When you're ready to raise, we advise on structuring compliant offerings (Reg CF, Reg A+, or Reg D) so you can access capital markets without six-figure legal bills.

You keep control. We're in the trenches with you. You choose investors who align with building, not flipping.


What This Looks Like

Operational Support

We plug into business development, corporate development, and market strategy where you need the most help. Not advisors on a call once a month. Contributors in the work.

Governance & Board Alignment

We help you build governance structures that protect founder leadership, not undermine it. Boards that work for you, not against you.

Capital Readiness

We prepare you to raise: financial models, cap tables, product strategy, investor materials. Advisory only. We're not consultants or brokers.

Compliant Offerings

We advise on structuring SEC-compliant offerings under Reg CF, Reg A+, and Reg D (506b/506c). This can dramatically reduce cost and timeline while helping you access capital markets most founders can't navigate alone.

Aligned Investment

As an operating company, Next Wave may invest directly. Aligned investors may have the opportunity to participate. We coordinate readiness. We don't place securities or take success-based fees.

Cluster Network

Every startup benefits from our venture clusters: Intelligent Infrastructure, Applied AI, Sustainable Industry. Compounding advantages across markets, talent, and capital.


What Sets Us Apart

vs. Traditional VCs

We build with you, not observe from board seats
We preserve ownership through revenue-based equity structures
We focus on customer revenue, not growth metrics for the next raise

vs. Venture Studios

Deep thesis focus (Autonomous Era), not generalist spray-and-pray
Fractional senior executives, not junior support or full co-founders locked in forever
Founder-friendly exit path. You can buy us out.

"After 20 years in this industry, we couldn't keep sending founders into a system designed to fail them."

— John Cowan

Work With Us

We work with founders building in AI, robotics, edge computing, and intelligent infrastructure who know they need partners to fill the gaps. If you want operators, not just capital, we should talk.

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Important Disclosure: Next Wave Partners LLC ("NWP") is an operating company and venture studio, not an investment fund. NWP is registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an Exempt Reporting Adviser (ERA) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. NWP provides operational, governance, and capital readiness advisory services to startup companies, including assistance with structuring compliant offerings under Regulation CF, Regulation A+, and Regulation D. NWP is not a broker-dealer, underwriter, or FINRA member, and does not solicit investors or receive success-based compensation for securities offerings. All advisory services are provided for strategic and operational purposes only. Startups are responsible for obtaining independent legal, tax, and regulatory counsel before conducting any securities transaction.