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.

Apply Now

Our Focus: The Autonomous Era

We believe the Autonomous Era represents a generational shift in technology, on the scale of electrification or the internet. Autonomous systems 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.

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 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 build, not flip.

Learn Why We Built Next Wave

What This Looks Like

Operational Support

We work on business development, partnerships, and market strategy alongside your team. Not advisors on a monthly call. Doing the work with you.

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, and compliant offering structures under Reg CF, Reg A+, or Reg D. Advisory only. We're not consultants or brokers.

Aligned Investment

We may invest alongside the founders we work with. Investors in our network review the same opportunities and make their own decisions. No placement fees. No success-based compensation. Just capital that's pointed in the same direction you are.

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 over 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.

Apply Now

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.