Serra Ventures Adds New Venture Partner Bruce Sommer
Serra Ventures is excited to announce the addition of Bruce Sommer as a Venture Partner. Specifically, Bruce will be intimately involved in the firm’s newest venture offering, Serra Capital Ag Tech Fund II, from fundraising to deal sourcing to serving portfolio companies.
The Serra Ventures team has been deeply involved in the Ag Tech category for over a decade, making its first investment in the space in 2010. The steady increase in quantity and quality of Ag Tech deals in the evaluation pipeline, along with some notable exits of its portfolio companies in the space, convinced the team in 2021 to create a standalone fund the singular focus of which is agriculture and agri-food technology. As the firm now launches its second flagship vehicle in the Ag Tech space, adding Mr. Sommer and other professionals will strengthen and deepen the team.
"Bruce is perhaps the most critical player in the venture ecosystem in Springfield, Illinois. He has created, developed and nurtured a robust angel network in Springfield and did the same in Boston. His extensive experience in venture will make him a valuable contributor to Serra. We are truly grateful that he has opted to join our team."
After starting three of his own companies, Bruce Sommer has led direct investments in over 40 businesses since 2004. He is also the managing partner of NextGen Ventures, a closely-held private equity and venture capital fund focused on a nascent technologies across a variety of industries. Bruce was a founding member of the Angel Capital Association and currently helps lead eCoast Angels, one of the oldest business angel groups in the U.S. He is also a member of other angel groups, including Central Illinois Angels.
Bruce has worked with hundreds of startup entrepreneurs and has been teaching entrepreneurship and venture capital at various U.S. and international universities for over 20 years. His work on the economic impact of early-stage venturing has been published across professional journals and popular media alike. Bruce is a member of the National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers and has been a co-founder of three non-profits with missional focus on building economically strong communities by empowering and resourcing startup-entrepreneurs who develop sustainable businesses that have a positive impact on society.