Philo Ventures

Philo Ventures builds and funds early-stage companies across technology, real estate and hospitality, helping founders move from an initial idea to first revenue. Its Connect program provides a community for exchanging ideas, while Explore offers two funded months for customer development, prototypes and feedback. Build pairs founders with design, engineering, go-to-market and legal support. Philo also provides first-check investment to founders within its residencies and those building independently.

Founded in 2020, Philo’s co-founders include CEO Chad Staheli, Greg Whitehead, managing partner Cory Cozzens and advisory partner Christian Gardner. Its studio embeds specialists alongside founders to develop products and establish early sales operations. Cozzens’ published AI thesis emphasizes shared software infrastructure, learning across parallel ventures and inexpensive prototype testing—a rationale for organized company building as software production becomes cheaper.

As of August 2026, Philo’s website reported 22 portfolio companies and 19 inception-stage specialists, and advertised $450,000 in operating capital through Build. Its inaugural $3 million Sandbox Fund targets startups emerging from Utah university accelerator programs. At the fund’s announcement, Philo reported eight startup investments and planned to support more than 30 student-led teams over three years, extending its early-stage investment activity beyond companies built inside the studio.