Chicago-based SNAK Venture Partners has closed its first fund at $50 million, exceeding its original target and securing anchor backing from Pritzker Group. The new fund will focus on early-stage investments in vertical and B2B digital marketplaces across under-digitised industries.
SNAK was founded by Sonia Nagar and Adam Koopersmith, both former investors at Pritzker Group, where they worked on marketplace investments including Backlot Cars and TicketsNow. After years of operating inside an institutional platform, the pair decided to launch an independent firm dedicated solely to marketplaces.
A renewed focus on B2B marketplace opportunities
According to Nagar, the timing to launch the firm reflects a broader shift in traditionally slower-moving industries. Advances in fintech infrastructure and changing buyer behaviour are making sectors such as supply chain, construction, logistics, and industrial services more receptive to digital platforms.
While many of the largest venture outcomes over the past decade came from consumer marketplaces, SNAK Venture Partners sees significant untapped opportunity on the B2B side, particularly in categories that have yet to fully transition online.
The firm believes vertical marketplaces can deliver durable network effects, improved transparency, and operational efficiency in industries that still rely heavily on offline processes.
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Early investments and deployment strategy
SNAK Venture Partners has already invested in six companies, including BigRentals in equipment rental and Repackify in packaging logistics. The firm plans to back at least 20 startups at the seed stage, writing initial checks ranging from $1 million to $2 million.
The full fund is expected to be deployed over the next three to four years, with a focus on founders building category-defining platforms rather than horizontal, general-purpose marketplaces.
Leveraging deep marketplace experience and LP support
Raising a first-time fund in a challenging fundraising environment was made possible by the founders’ long-standing marketplace experience and strong LP relationships. Nagar previously helped launch Amazon’s apparel business and later led mobile initiatives at RetailMeNot. Koopersmith spent two decades at Pritzker Group and currently serves on the boards of multiple marketplace companies.
In addition to Pritzker Group, limited partners include the State of Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund and executives from established marketplace businesses such as Favor Delivery and RetailMeNot.
Location-agnostic sourcing with a Chicago base
SNAK takes a location-agnostic approach to sourcing, actively seeking overlooked founders outside traditional venture hubs. The firm believes many of the most compelling marketplace opportunities are emerging in regions that are often underfunded.
Based in Chicago, SNAK views its location as a strategic advantage rather than a constraint, enabling efficient access to founders, operators, and LPs across the US without being tied to Silicon Valley or New York.
About SNAK Venture Partners
SNAK Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on vertical and B2B marketplaces. Founded by experienced marketplace investors, the firm backs founders digitising complex, underpenetrated industries and building scalable platforms with long-term network effects.
