Fluent Ventures, a new global early-stage venture capital firm founded by investor and author Alex Lazarow, announced its debut program. Fluent’s approach—known as geographic alpha—focuses on backing founders who localize successful business models in high-potential regions across fintech, health, and commerce. The firm plans to invest $40 million through its hybrid platform, including a fund and a co-investment strategy. The firm’s portfolio spans North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Some of the firm’s early investments include:
— Sabi – a B2B marketplace transforming agricultural and industrial supply chains in Nigeria
— BRKZ – a Saudi construction tech platform led by Careem’s former COO
— Prima – a B2B manufacturing platform based in Mexico
— Baton and Iconic – U.S.-based startups innovating in small business M&A and AI-driven brokerage
Fluent is backed by over 75 value-added LPs including unicorn founders, operators, and global investors, including David Vélez (Nubank), Adal Flores (Kueski), Sean Harper (Kin), Nick Nash (SEA Group), Akshay Garg (Kredivo), JC Glancy (ZenBusiness), and Lucas Ward (Kin).
The strategy draws from Lazarow’s decade of experience at global funds including Omidyar Network and Cathay Innovation, where he invested in companies like Chime, Neon, Kin, Sidecar Health and others. And it also builds on the thesis of his book Out-Innovate (Harvard Business Press), which explores how global entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of Silicon Valley. This book has been translated into four languages and serves as the intellectual foundation for Fluent’s work.
KEY QUOTES
“Fluent was born from a simple belief: the best ideas can come from anywhere—and scale everywhere.”
“In 2013, just four cities had produced a unicorn. Today, it’s more than 150. Entrepreneurship has gone global—and Fluent was built for exactly this shift.”
Alex Lazarow, General Partner at Fluent Ventures
“Business models don’t copy-paste. Context matters. Fluent understands that while global problems may be universal, their solutions need to be adapted—and that’s where the opportunity lies.”
David Vélez, cofounder and CEO of Nubank
