PLEASE NOTE: NOVA8 Ventures will not be making any additional investments through 2027.
We primarily invest in high growth companies in the following sectors: artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare technology (healthtech), cybersecurity, fiber/wireless telecommunications, robotics, and enterprise software.
MORE THAN INVESTMENT CAPITAL
Business Plan Feedback
Help revise and edit entrepreneur's business plan to increase probability of success.
Roadmap Planning
Assist in creating a short and long-term roadmap for the business including targets and milestones to measure progress.
Professional Networking
Connect as necessary to people, groups, and additional resources.
Management Meetings
Regularly scheduled meetings with key management to discuss progress and ongoing strategy.
Sounding Board
Provide entrepreneurs opportunities to bounce ideas around informally and even vent on occasion to reduce stress and refocus.
Financial Guidance
Provide add-on capital and work closely through any mergers, acquisitions, fundraising, recapitalization, or exit opportunities.
THE PEOPLE FACTOR
People with business ideas are everywhere, but an entrepreneur’s ability to successfully execute a plan is everything. Consequently, NOVA8 Ventures not only looks for opportunities that show promise to scale quickly but those that are run by intelligent, super driven and multi-talented entrepreneurs who excel at leading people, executing, and effectively interacting with a wide variety of people and personalities. An entrepreneur’s proven history being able to close deals is a huge plus especially during the early stages of a company.
Model & Valuation
Companies with post-money valuations less than $10MM having high-margin and scalable recurring revenue models in sectors with strong EBIDTA multiples.
Company Location
Located in the continental United States and preferably located in the Great Plains or Great Lakes regions, with a preference to companies located in the Kansas City area.
Management Team
Entrepreneurs with relevant industry expertise and professional network that are open to suggestions and willing to adapt and change.
Investment Horizon
Possess a clear exit strategy with a path to a favorable recapitalization process or full liquidity event within 5 - 7 years of the investment.
Our Founder
Darren Bonawitz, Chief Executive Officer
Darren Bonawitz is the Chief Executive Officer of NOVA8 Ventures, LLC, where he invests in and supports early-stage companies and entrepreneurs pursuing ambitious growth. In addition to investing in other early-stage companies, Darren has founded and co-founded several startups of his own, guiding companies through growth and toward liquidity events. With nearly three decades of experience in information technology, telecommunications, and data centers, he brings both an investor’s perspective and the practical experience of a company builder.
At NOVA8 Ventures, Darren focuses on high-growth companies in areas including artificial intelligence, health technology, cybersecurity, fiber and wireless telecommunications, robotics, and enterprise software. The firm’s support extends beyond investment capital, offering guidance on business plans and finances and working with portfolio companies on fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, and exit opportunities. Darren’s experience as both an investor and founder gives him a firsthand understanding of the decisions and challenges that come with building a company.
Darren has served as a board member and technology advisor to startups and government agencies. He has joined panels with regional business and civic leaders and was invited by the office of former Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to provide feedback on a proposed state economic development plan. His perspectives on business and technology have been featured in television, radio, podcasts, and print publications, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, and The Kansas City Business Journal.
Across his investing and operating work, Darren combines technical-sector expertise with hands-on leadership and company-building experience. At NOVA8 Ventures, he applies that background to identifying promising opportunities, advising founders, and helping businesses pursue sustainable growth and successful outcomes.
Let's build something amazing together
To be considered for funding, please send a concise four to six page executive summary or investor deck to Invest@NOVA8.com. While executive summaries or decks are fine for the initial review, a complete business plan is required if we express interest in evaluating the opportunity further. Every business plan will be reviewed, but due to the volume of plans and materials, we may take up to two weeks to get back to you.
Submission of any materials including a business plan does not create any obligation on the part of either party unless and until definitive agreements are negotiated and signed by both parties. You should only include non-confidential information in your submission, and by submitting information you are deemed to consent to non-confidential treatment of such information. In appropriate circumstances, we will sign a reasonable non-disclosure agreement when we reach a point of mutual interest in moving forward.