At a time when venture capital continues shifting toward AI, enterprise software, and founder-led innovation, Meridian Ventures is betting on a group of entrepreneurs often overlooked in traditional Silicon Valley narratives: MBA-deferred founders.
The early-stage venture firm has officially launched a $35 million fund focused on backing pre-seed and seed-stage startups founded by entrepreneurs who entered deferred MBA programs before launching their companies.
Founded by Devon Gethers and Karlton Haney, Meridian Ventures was built around a shared belief that ambitious operators with strong business and technical foundations can become highly effective startup founders despite long-standing skepticism toward MBA backgrounds in venture ecosystems.
Built From a Shared Harvard MBA Experience
The idea behind Meridian Ventures began in 2020 after Gethers and Haney met through Harvard Business School’s deferred MBA admission program.
Both founders came from very different backgrounds but shared an interest in entrepreneurship, investing, and enterprise innovation.
Gethers grew up in Washington State, studied behavioral science and finance at the University of Utah, worked in private equity, and later launched and exited his own company.
Haney, meanwhile, grew up on a farm in Arkansas before studying industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas and working at family office investment firm The Stephens Group.
The two eventually came together around the idea of creating a venture fund specifically designed to support founders emerging from deferred MBA networks.
Challenging Silicon Valley Assumptions
According to Gethers, part of Meridian’s thesis directly challenges the long-standing perception that MBA graduates are better suited for corporate leadership than startup building.
Instead, the founders believe deferred MBA candidates often combine operational discipline, technical ambition, and leadership experience that can translate well into company building — particularly in enterprise technology sectors.
To validate their investment strategy, the pair initially raised a smaller $2.5 million proof-of-concept fund, backing 45 startups while still building their broader investment platform.
After entering Harvard Business School in 2023, the founders later began raising their first institutional fund during a difficult venture capital environment.
Despite tighter fundraising conditions across the startup ecosystem, Meridian ultimately closed an oversubscribed $35 million fund backed by family offices, public banks, and Fortune 500 executives.
The founders graduated from Harvard Business School in 2025.
Focused on Enterprise Technology and AI
Meridian Ventures plans to focus primarily on enterprise technology startups across the United States, investing in sectors including fintech, logistics, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.
The firm intends to write average checks of approximately $500,000 for pre-seed startups and around $750,000 for seed-stage companies, with deployment expected over the next three years.
While the firm remains sector-agnostic within enterprise technology, AI is expected to play a significant role in the portfolio as demand for intelligent enterprise software and automation platforms continues accelerating globally.
The launch also reflects a broader shift happening across venture capital, where investors are increasingly searching for founder networks and talent pools outside traditional Silicon Valley circles.
Expanding Access to Early-Stage Capital
For Meridian Ventures, the broader mission centers on reducing the gap between ambitious founders and access to early-stage capital.
The founders argue that many technically capable entrepreneurs struggle to secure funding despite building products in high-growth sectors like AI and enterprise infrastructure.
As venture firms continue competing for the next generation of enterprise technology startups, Meridian is positioning itself as a founder-focused investment platform built around long-term relationships and operational understanding rather than purely traditional venture patterns.
For Enterprise Edge readers, the launch highlights how venture capital itself is evolving — with newer firms increasingly emerging from operator communities, educational networks, and founder ecosystems tied directly to enterprise innovation.