South Loop Ventures Secures $21 Million Fund With Investments From Rice Management Company And Chevron Technology Ventures

South Loop Ventures, founded and led by Zach Ellis, recently closed its first fund at $21 million to boost Houston’s local tech ecosystem, with anchor investments from Rice Management Company and Chevron Technology Ventures. Launched in 2022, the firm focuses on seed and pre-seed rounds averaging $400,000, prioritizing founders of color and sectors aligned with Houston’s industrial strengths like healthcare, energy, space, and climate. Despite a challenging 24-month fundraising process, South Loop has made 13 investments so far and aims to back at least 30 startups nationwide, driven by Ellis’s mission to increase diversity and opportunity in venture capital while fostering Houston as a welcoming hub for tech talent. INVESTORS: Rice Management Company, Chevron Technology Ventures, Texas Capital Bank, The Great Commission Foundation of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas & Mercury Fund AMOUNT: $21,000,000 HQ: #Houston #Texas #VentureCapital #SouthLoopVentures #ZachEllis #RiceManagementCompany #ChevronTechnologyVentures #TexasCapitalBank #TheGreatCommissionFoundationoftheEpiscopaDioceseofTexas #MercuryFund #TradedVC