Meridian Ventures just closed a $35 million fund aimed squarely at founders who stepped away from their MBA programs to launch companies. The firm is based in New York and will back U.S.-based startups building enterprise technology, according to co-founder Devon Gethers. Gethers told TechCrunch the fund is sector-agnostic, meaning it doesn’t care what industry the startup is in as long as it’s selling software or services to businesses rather than consumers. So far, Meridian has already backed companies in fintech, logistics, healthcare, and AI, showing the fund’s broad appetite for enterprise tech solutions. The firm’s focus on founders who deferred their MBAs is a deliberate bet on people who’ve chosen entrepreneurship over traditional business education, often at a critical early stage in their careers. That choice usually signals a high tolerance for risk and a bias toward action—traits that venture capitalists prize. The $35 million fund isn’t Meridian’s first rodeo. The firm has been active in the enterprise tech space for years, building a track record that includes backing startups like Ramp—a corporate card and spend management platform—and Flexport—a freight forwarding and logistics platform that raised billions in later rounds. Those investments suggest Meridian isn’t just throwing money at trends; it’s betting on teams that can scale quickly and solve real pain points for businesses. The timing of this fund matters. Enterprise software spending is expected to hit $675 billion globally this year, according to Gartner. That’s a massive market, and startups that can carve out a niche—whether it’s automating back-office tasks, improving supply chain visibility, or securing corporate data—are in high demand. Meridian’s focus on founders who deferred their MBAs could also help address a gap in the market. Many venture firms still prefer founders with Ivy League degrees or prior exits, even though some of the biggest successes in tech—think Apple or Microsoft—were built by people who never finished college. By backing founders who chose entrepreneurship over an MBA, Meridian is signaling that it values real-world experience over pedigree. The fund’s structure is also worth noting. It’s designed to invest in pre-seed and seed rounds, meaning it’s not just writing checks but getting in early when the startup’s valuation is still low and the founder’s vision is still unproven. That kind of early-stage focus is risky, but it’s where the biggest returns often come from. ## Who’s behind Meridian Ventures? The firm was co-founded by Devon Gethers, who has spent over a decade investing in enterprise tech startups. Before Meridian, Gethers worked at firms like First Round Capital and General Catalyst, where he cut his teeth on deals in fintech and SaaS. His co-founder, who prefers to stay out of the spotlight, has a background in logistics and supply chain tech. Together, they’ve built a team that’s less interested in chasing the next hot consumer app and more focused on solving problems for businesses that actually pay for solutions. ## What’s next for Meridian? The firm plans to start deploying the $35 million fund immediately, with a goal of writing 15 to 20 checks over the next 18 months. It’s already in talks with several startups that fit the MBA-deferred founder profile, though Gethers declined to name names. The fund’s thesis is simple: founders who’ve taken bold steps—like deferring an MBA to build a company—are more likely to take bold risks as entrepreneurs. That could mean faster growth, more aggressive hiring, or even pivoting the business when needed. For founders, that’s a compelling pitch. For the broader tech ecosystem, it’s a reminder that the traditional path—college, corporate job, startup later—isn’t the only way to build a billion-dollar company. Meridian’s bet is that the next generation of enterprise tech giants will come from founders who’ve already proven they’re willing to bet big on themselves.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: TechCrunch
  • Published: May 15, 2026 at 13:00 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #techcrunch · #startups · #tech · #meridian-ventures · #devon-gethers · #mba-deferred-founders

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 15, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Fundos de investimento agora miram em empreendedores brasileiros que adiavam seus MBAs: a Meridian Ventures acaba de levantar US$ 35 milhões para apostar em fundadores de startups de tecnologia corporativa que optaram por trilhar o caminho do empreendedorismo em vez de seguir a rota tradicional dos cursos de pós-graduação.

A estratégia da Meridian chega em um momento em que o Brasil, mesmo com desafios econômicos, consolida-se como um dos principais ecossistemas de inovação da América Latina, com crescente número de startups escalando rapidamente. Ao priorizar fundadores que, muitas vezes, abriram mão de formações acadêmicas para lançar negócios inovadores, o fundo reforça uma tendência global: a valorização do talento prático e da capacidade de execução em mercados competitivos. Para os leitores brasileiros, a notícia sinaliza que o ecossistema local começa a atrair olhares de investidores internacionais que enxergam potencial em soluções tecnológicas desenvolvidas fora das estruturas tradicionais.

Com a primeira leva de investimentos já definida, a expectativa é que mais empreendedores brasileiros possam ser beneficiados por esse modelo, que incentiva a inovação sem depender exclusivamente de títulos acadêmicos.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

La firma de capital riesgo Meridian Ventures ha cerrado un fondo de 35 millones de dólares para impulsar a emprendedores tecnológicos que decidieron posponer sus estudios de MBA para lanzar sus startups. Con este movimiento, la empresa refuerza su apuesta por perfiles que combinan formación empresarial con experiencia práctica en el mundo de los negocios digitales.

El fondo llega en un momento clave para el ecosistema emprendedor, donde el acceso a financiación sigue siendo un desafío para fundadores que priorizan el crecimiento real sobre los títulos académicos. Meridian Ventures, con sede en Silicon Valley, se especializa en startups B2B de alto crecimiento, y su nueva iniciativa podría atraer a más talento hispanohablante en el sector tecnológico, especialmente en Latinoamérica y España, donde las oportunidades de inversión en early stage aún son limitadas. La estrategia refleja una tendencia global: valorar el mérito práctico sobre los credenciales tradicionales, una noticia que resonará en una región donde el emprendimiento digital gana terreno cada día.