# Steve Sloane
Steve Sloane is a venture capitalist and Partner at [Menlo Ventures](https://www.edgepedia.org/menlo-ventures), where he leads investments for the firm's Inflection Fund and is known for AI-powered vertical SaaS and supply-chain technology deals including [6 River Systems](https://www.edgepedia.org/6-river-systems), ShipBob, CloudTrucks, Enable, Observe.AI, and Parade.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) He joined Menlo in 2015 as an associate, became a principal in 2017, and was promoted to partner in 2019, reportedly the firm's youngest partner to date at the time.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) • [2](https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/29/getting-a-piece-of-uber/)
| Fact | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Firm and role | Partner, Menlo Ventures; joined 2015 as associate, principal 2017, partner 2019[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) |
| Mandate | Inflection Fund: $20M–$30M checks into fast-growing Series B/C companies at $5M–$15M ARR[3](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/steve-sloane-of-menlo-ventures-5-things-i-need-to-see-before-making-a-vc-investment-7d75c4b8e42e) |
| Sectors | AI-powered vertical SaaS and supply-chain technology, plus robotics, fintech, and marketplaces[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) • [3](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/steve-sloane-of-menlo-ventures-5-things-i-need-to-see-before-making-a-vc-investment-7d75c4b8e42e) |
| Named portfolio | Enable, Eleos, Observe.AI, Scout, 6 River Systems, ShipBob, CloudTrucks, Parade[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) |
| Exits | 6 River Systems acquired by Shopify (2019); Parade acquired by Mudflap (2026); Rover SPAC listing 2021 and Blackstone acquisition 2024[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) |
| Education | B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, minor in Robotics and Intelligent Systems, Princeton University[4](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/) |
| Prior career | Insight Venture Partners (Onsite diligence), Oliver Wyman, Bridgewater internship, co-founder of a YC-backed social company[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) • [4](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/) |
## Early life and education
Sloane graduated from Princeton University with a B.S.E. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and a minor in Robotics and [Intelligent Systems](https://www.edgepedia.org/intelligent-systems).[4](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/)
Before venture capital he worked at [Oliver Wyman](https://www.edgepedia.org/oliver-wyman) in its Financial Services group, where Menlo's announcement says he worked with large financial institutions on growth and regulatory initiatives; he also interned at [Bridgewater Associates](https://www.edgepedia.org/bridgewater-associates) and was a co-founder of a [Y Combinator](https://www.edgepedia.org/y-combinator)-funded social network.[4](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/) He then joined the Insight Onsite team at Insight Venture Partners in New York, doing investment diligence on internet and software companies.[4](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/) Menlo announced his hire as an Associate on its investment deal team in 2015.[4](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/)
## Career at Menlo Ventures
Sloane's promotion path was fast by venture standards: associate in 2015, principal in 2017, partner in 2019.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) Two rankings, one theme: Forbes described him as the youngest investor ever promoted to Principal at Menlo (around the 2017 promotion), and [TechCrunch](https://www.edgepedia.org/techcrunch) reported in 2019 that he had become the firm's youngest partner to date. The two claims cover different titles and dates and have not been reconciled in a single source.[5](https://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-sloane/) • [2](https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/29/getting-a-piece-of-uber/) Forbes added that at the time of its profile he had led diligence on two companies and made six investments, including the workspace-renting app Breather.[5](https://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-sloane/)
His current mandate is Menlo's Inflection Fund, which targets Series B and Series C companies generating $5M–$15M in annual recurring revenue and writes checks of $20M–$30M.[3](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/steve-sloane-of-menlo-ventures-5-things-i-need-to-see-before-making-a-vc-investment-7d75c4b8e42e) The firm firm context around that mandate grew sharply: in June 2026 Menlo announced $3 billion in new funds, its largest raise in its 50-year history, driven largely by its AI portfolio, with its [Anthropic](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthropic) stake reported at about $14 billion.[6](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/after-betting-the-firm-on-anthropic-menlo-ventures-raises-victorious-3b-fund/) Menlo's Anthology fund with Anthropic, launched in 2024 at $100 million, had deployed closer to $250 million across more than 60 companies by 2026, according to a source with knowledge of the fund cited by TechCrunch.[6](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/after-betting-the-firm-on-anthropic-menlo-ventures-raises-victorious-3b-fund/)
## Notable investments and exits
The deals that anchor Sloane's record are concentrated in logistics and vertical software, and his own team page dates each Menlo partnership:
- **6 River Systems** is a fulfillment company that makes warehouses more efficient with autonomous mobile robots and AI. Founded in 2015, it was partnered by Menlo at Series B in 2018 and acquired by Shopify in 2019.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) No kept source gives the acquisition price.
- **ShipBob**, a fulfillment company founded in 2014, received a Menlo-partnered Series C in 2018.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/)
- **Enable**, a rebate-management software company founded in 2016, was partnered by Menlo at Series A in 2020, and the team page shows a further Menlo-partnered Series D in 2026.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) A directory source attributed a $120M Enable Series D to 2023, which conflicts with the team page dating; the firm's own page is the better-supported record, and the round size is unverified.
- **Parade**, a freight-matching platform for brokerages and 3PLs founded in 2015, was partnered by Menlo at Series A in 2021. His own TechCrunch essay cites the round as a $13 million Series A led by Menlo, and the team page records the company's acquisition by Mudflap in 2026.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/) • [7](https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/23/the-next-wave-of-supply-chain-innovation-will-be-driven-by-startups-that-help-incumbents-win/)
- **Observe.AI** and **CloudTrucks** appear on his named portfolio list; the team page excerpts give no round dates or sizes for them beyond their inclusion in his AI-powered vertical SaaS and supply-chain focus.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/)
- **Rover**, partnered at Series C in 2014 before Sloane's arrival, went public via SPAC under NASDAQ: ROVR in 2021 and was acquired by [Blackstone](https://www.edgepedia.org/blackstone) in 2024.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/)
Beyond supply chain, an interview profile credits him with investments across robotics, fintech, and marketplaces (Chime, 6 River Systems, Rover) and enterprise SaaS (Observe.AI, Enable, Scout RFP, Carta).[3](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/steve-sloane-of-menlo-ventures-5-things-i-need-to-see-before-making-a-vc-investment-7d75c4b8e42e) The team page also shows two portfolio companies partnered at Series D in 2026, indicating continued activity through that year.[1](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/)
## Public writing and investment thesis
In June 2022 Sloane co-authored a TechCrunch essay with Derek Xiao arguing that the next wave of supply-chain innovation would come from digital "enablers" that help incumbents win rather than from disruptors that replace them.[7](https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/23/the-next-wave-of-supply-chain-innovation-will-be-driven-by-startups-that-help-incumbents-win/) The essay quantified the shift: venture funding for leading enablers totaled $238 million in 2021, up more than 180% year over year, outpacing 140% growth in funding for disruptors.[7](https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/23/the-next-wave-of-supply-chain-innovation-will-be-driven-by-startups-that-help-incumbents-win/) It cited EmergeTech's $130 million Series B, led by [Tiger Global Management](https://www.edgepedia.org/tiger-global-management), and Parade's $13 million Series A, led by Menlo, and disclosed Menlo's investments in Parade and Enable; it also described rebate management, Enable's market, as a trillion-dollar market.[7](https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/23/the-next-wave-of-supply-chain-innovation-will-be-driven-by-startups-that-help-incumbents-win/)
On process, he has described Menlo's four-part "bulls-eye" framework, which asks whether a company serves an important need, has a scalable growth engine, has a uniquely capable team, and has an attractive business model.[3](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/steve-sloane-of-menlo-ventures-5-things-i-need-to-see-before-making-a-vc-investment-7d75c4b8e42e)
## References
1. [Steve Sloane | Menlo Ventures](https://menlovc.com/team/steve-sloane/)
2. [Getting a piece of Uber (TechCrunch, April 29, 2019)](https://techcrunch.com/2019/04/29/getting-a-piece-of-uber/)
3. [Steve Sloane of Menlo Ventures: 5 Things I Need To See Before Making A VC Investment (Authority Magazine)](https://medium.com/authority-magazine/steve-sloane-of-menlo-ventures-5-things-i-need-to-see-before-making-a-vc-investment-7d75c4b8e42e)
4. [Welcoming Steve Sloane as Associate at Menlo | Menlo Ventures](https://menlovc.com/perspective/welcoming-steve-sloane-as-associate-at-menlo/)
5. [Steve Sloane - Forbes](https://www.forbes.com/profile/steve-sloane/)
6. [After betting the firm on Anthropic, Menlo Ventures raises victorious $3B fund (TechCrunch, June 23, 2026)](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/23/after-betting-the-firm-on-anthropic-menlo-ventures-raises-victorious-3b-fund/)
7. [The next wave of supply-chain innovation will be driven by startups that help incumbents win (TechCrunch, June 23, 2022)](https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/23/the-next-wave-of-supply-chain-innovation-will-be-driven-by-startups-that-help-incumbents-win/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › Enterprise software and infrastructure investors › Enterprise software and SaaS investors › Early-stage enterprise software investors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license