Litestream Ventures recorded $78.1 million (£61.5m) in non-binding investor pledges during World Economic Forum week in Davos, after hosting its fourth annual Family Office & Venture Capital Forum.
The closed-door event, held during the World Economic Forum, brought together more than 120 investors, founders, venture funds and philanthropic partners. Pledges were signalled in support of 12 companies focused on addressing major global challenges, alongside backing for the charitable initiative Star for Life.
The pledges were facilitated through Litestream Ventures’ newly launched proprietary pledge-based signalling technology, which was debuted at the forum. Delivered via a private app used by attending investors, the system allows participants to confidentially signal non-binding expressions of interest, indicate philanthropic support, split indicative pledges with peers and share opportunities within trusted networks.
Cassandra Harris, founder and chief executive of Litestream Ventures, said the forum aimed to highlight the substance behind Davos week beyond the headlines.
“Much of the coverage that comes out of Davos can obscure the real work that takes place during World Economic Forum week, particularly the capital and dialogue that emerges around companies solving real-world problems,” she said. “The Davos Manifesto was built on the idea that businesses should act as stewards of long-term value, not just short-term profit. At Litestream Ventures, we operate at the intersection of venture, media and convening to support that long-term thinking.”
She added that the investor interest shown in Davos reflected the original spirit of the forum. “The 12 hand-picked companies that presented engaged directly with investors, resulting in meaningful expressions of interest that align with the principles on which the World Economic Forum was founded.”
Dan Olofsson, founder of Star for Life and principal of Danir Group, said the platform provided valuable exposure for impact-driven initiatives.
“Most people want to live in a better world where children everywhere have better opportunities,” he said. “That is where Star for Life plays a key role in uplifting the next generation.”
Alongside the investment activity, Litestream Ventures introduced a first-of-its-kind virtual reality experience at Davos, delivered in partnership with Dayholi. The VR activation allowed investors to virtually explore factories, headquarters and laboratories of participating companies in real time as founders presented live.
Manuel E. Gonzalez, managing partner at AgFunder, said the quality of companies and investors in attendance stood out.
“As a VC investing in critical sectors such as agrifood and human health, it was encouraging to see such high-calibre founders and investors engaged in this space,” he said. “Too often, promising technologies fail to find the right backing. Thanks to Litestream Ventures, many of these companies now have a clearer path to scale.”
The forum also featured panel discussions with global investors and an immersive cultural performance, The Brave New Earth, which was brought to Davos by Litestream Ventures for the first time.
Litestream said the results demonstrated growing investor appetite for ventures that combine commercial potential with measurable social and environmental impact, as capital increasingly shifts towards long-term, purpose-led growth.
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Litestream Ventures secures $78m in investor pledges at Davos forum