TipTopVC

Pre-seed/seed vertical AI focused firm founded by GP @ntippmann and backed by some of the world's top vSaaS+AI founders and operators. $150-400k checks.

[TipTopVC @TipTopVC]

And we're live!

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Big news: I’m thrilled to officially unveil @TipTopVC — a new pre-seed/seed stage, operator-led venture firm backing the next-gen of Vertical AI founders.

After an amazing 8+ year run as founding head of marketing and CMO at Greenlight Guru — from $0 to tens of millions in ARR, creating the medtech QMS category, and raising $120M+ — I knew I had two paths:

a) start another software company
b) start a venture fund built the way I wish VC worked when I was a founder

For nearly 13 years, it’s been a personal goal to build a top-tier VC firm that the best founders want to work with. But the marketer in me always said: “the world doesn’t need another undifferentiated B2B SaaS fund.”

So I unplugged. Got a cabin in the Rockies with my then girlfriend, and now wife. And after some much-needed clarity, I had four big realizations:

1. I didn’t have one problem I wanted to solve for 10-15 years—but I had unique experience operating in vertical markets that founders could lean on

2. The future of software (and AI) is vertical

3. My experience gave me a unique right to win with the top founders

4. The best VC firms of the next decade would operate like AI-native startups themselves—brand-led, data-driven, community-built

That’s when TipTop Ventures was born.

The Vertical SaaS+ thesis I shared nearly 2 years ago unexpectedly went viral. That post pulled me forward. Fast forward to today—and after 30+ vertical SaaS+ angel deals, over a dozen LP checks written, and 9 TipTop investments closed—I’m proud to announce we’re live.

While I’m just now announcing the firm, here’s what we’ve quietly built so far:

- 9 investments across legacy and underserved industries

- 3 companies marked up out of 6 investments made in 2024

- Raving founder feedback on our support-per-dollar invested

- 30+ founding LPs from the likes of ServiceTitan, Procore, Mindbody, Greenlight Guru and more

It hasn’t been easy going zero-to-one in this market—but the momentum is real.

In fact, based on Carta’s latest fund data, if we were a 2023 vintage (we’re 2024), we’d already be tracking top decile.

And yes, TipTop is led by a solo-GP, but not solo-built.

I’d like to express my deep gratitude for all the support from these early believers:

Thank you to my amazing wife Mari Tippmann for your unwavering support since day-minus-one

Thank you to our LPs for your early belief and trust–it’s taken very seriously

Thank you to Bill Loss for being a rock as founding advisor and LPAC member

Thank you to Ershad Jamil for joining me as a Venture Partner

And most of all — thank you to our founders. You chose us when we didn’t even have a website (or a fund in some cases). I’ll never forget that.

We believe AI is the biggest platform shift since the internet.
We believe the future of AI is vertical.
And we believe the best founders aren’t just building tools — they’re reinventing industries.

If you’re one of those founders: we’re writing $150k–400K checks at pre-seed/seed. Let’s build together.

Join us on the journey to the TipTop.

[Jason Scharf @Jason_A_Scharf]

A year ago I sat down with @ntippmann of @TipTopVC on investing and building in vertical AI. We left one question unresolved.

Where do foundational AI models end and where do the applications begin?

Since that time we have seen the launch of Claude Design, OpenAI's Rosalind, and other vertical applications from the frontier labs.

I am re-releasing last year's episode with a new epilogue as I invited Nick back to discuss what has changed since our first conversation.

The Agenda
00:00 Defining vertical AI
05:07 Where general AI fails
09:36 Vertical AI software, not just chatbots
16:44 Pricing logic after the seat model
24:04 Underwriting at pre-seed and seed
27:20 Capital intensity and seed-strapping
36:48 TAM analysis and the Frontiers Market example
41:46 OpenAI's Instacart hire and the gray zone
45:55 Austin as a vertical AI hub
58:21 Epilogue: Where the models end and applications begin.

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Fun chat with AdMaiora Ventures and friends

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Meet 50 of the world's highest-signal emerging VC firms. Nominated by investors, selected by Confluence.

Most venture lists reward what’s already obvious.

The Confluence 50 is interesting because it looks for emerging managers who may be obvious in five years, but are still early enough today that the market hasn’t fully caught up.

I’m proud to see @TipTopVC included.

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

I joined @lukesophinos + @npoulos on Verticals to talk:

• Why “SaaS is dead” is the wrong frame
• AI-native upstarts vs incumbents
• Instrumenting GTM like a product (+ 7 Vertical AI Plays)
• Pricing strategies in vertical AI
• Seed → Series A benchmarks right now

Platform shifts expand markets - but they also reshuffle winners.

Full episode 👇

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Huge congrats to Tucker, Isaac, and team at @OureonTech on their launch!!

Such an important and timely mission - super excited about the opportunity and grateful to be on the journey with them!

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Vertical SaaS x AI is on 🔥 in Austin.

Excited to co-host a happy hour w/ Shaun Vanderkaap + @AntlerGlobal bringing together founders, builders & VCs working at the intersection of vertical markets & AI.

🗓 July 23
📍 Austin
🔗 https://t.co/CBOGVv3DmP

Let’s hang 🤙

[Jason Scharf @Jason_A_Scharf]

Not every industry can afford hallucinations. Being right only 98 percent of the time isn't good enough.

That’s where vertical AI steps in.

Today on Austin Next: @ntippmann founder of @TipTopVC, joins me to explore how specificity is reshaping software and why vertical AI might be the lever that brings laggard industries into the 21st century.

We cover:
• What Vertical AI Really Means
• Specificity as the New Moat
• Founders, Not Just Models
• When General AI Fails
• Seed-Strapping Real or Not
• Rewriting Pricing Logic
• Vertical AI Talent Mix
• Redefining TAM in Niche Markets
• Scaling without Overspending

What’s Next Austin?
“Austin becomes a global hub for vertical AI winners…”

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Since Jan, @TipTopVC's been on a tear:

– 4 new investments
– 2 portcos raised Series A w/ top-tier leads
– 33% Series A graduation rate vs. 7.4% Carta avg
– Public launch → brand & flywheel spinning fast

Vertical AI is here. We're just getting started.

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Awesome time at @fikavc First Look Retreat in LA — great energy, real conversations, and a stacked group of founders & VCs.

Grateful to be there repping with @TipTopVC Venture Partner, Ershad Jamil.

Big thanks to @TXZhuo @thejohnchen & the Fika team for an amazing event!

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Last week was a blast. @TipTopVC co-hosted:

✅ Private founders + VC dinner at Aba
✅ 80+ founders at a sold-out happy hour at Antler

Huge thanks to our co-hosts @Innovatemap, Ivy Ventures & @AntlerGlobal - and to everyone who came out to support Austin’s startup ecosystem.

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

🚀 Tonight in Austin:

From Builders to Backers: How Operators Are Changing the Future of VC

I'll (@TipTopVC) be speaking alongside:
- Eric Engineer (@S3ventures )
- Kathryn Moore (@LiveOakVP)

Hosted & moderated by 🎤 @arturo___p

🗓️ April 29 | 🕕 6–8 PM | 📍 Capital Factory

RSVP: https://t.co/160WCplOHq

Come hang!

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Keeping the @TipTopVC launch momentum rolling with a new Slice Podcast episode!

Talked with @fabri_cara about:
+Why Vertical SaaS 3.0 is the future
+How emerging managers are winning
+What it takes to build a firm from scratch

Listen + read in the comment below

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

Founders + VCs + Cold Drinks = The Happiest Hour in Austin

Join us on May 1st — good people, cold drinks, no panels.

Hosted by @TipTopVC, @Innovatemap, @Ivy_Ventures, & @AntlerGlobal.

🗓️ Thurs, May 1
��� 5–7 PM
📍 Antler ATX
🔗 https://t.co/lQs3gx9sAv

[Nick Tippmann @ntippmann]

🔥Hot take: Vertical SaaS has been quietly eating Horizontal SaaS for years now 🔥

But it won’t stay quiet for long…

So what exactly is the Vertical SaaS opportunity, and what do founders + execs + boards need to know?

🧵👇