Seligman Investments, a Silicon Valley-based technology investor led by Chief Investment Officer Paul Wick, has launched Seligman Ventures, a new venture capital arm backed by $500 million to invest from early-stage through pre-IPO across AI, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and modern data center hardware.
The firm said the new platform extends Seligman’s technology-investing footprint beyond its long-standing public-markets franchise, positioning the organization to support companies from formation through the public markets. Seligman Ventures is backed by capital from assets managed by the Seligman team and is intended to operate alongside the group’s public-market approach, using an integrated model that connects private investing with public-market research and board-level operating experience.
Seligman Ventures is led by Managing Partner Umesh Padval, joined by Managing Partner Ashish Kakran and Eddie Ackerman, who will serve as CFO and Operating Partner. The team said it is thesis-driven and designed to leverage a deep CXO and founder network as it partners with entrepreneurs building “category-defining” technology companies.
Seligman said the venture effort has been operating since November 2025 and has already made four early-stage investments spanning modern data center hardware and AI infrastructure. The launch also formalizes a broader strategy to invest across the technology lifecycle, from early innovation to public-market scale, with the firm citing enhanced diversification, potential return expansion, and closer engagement with emerging technologies and founders.
Seligman, part of Columbia Threadneedle Investments’ alternatives business, said it manages approximately $30 billion in public- and private-market technology and healthcare investments across mutual funds, hedge funds, and separately managed accounts. The broader Seligman platform is led by Wick and supported by a team of 14 analysts conducting fundamental research across areas including semiconductors, software, internet, biotechnology, and alternative energy technology.
Padval’s background includes more than 35 years of operating, management, and board experience, including 18 years in venture investing. He previously served as President and CEO of C-Cube Microsystems, which was acquired by LSI Logic in March 2001, and has held board roles at public and private companies, including Impinj and other technology companies acquired by strategic buyers. The firm also highlighted Padval’s prior investments, including Cohere, Clari, Harness, Isovalent, and ThousandEyes, among others.
Kakran will focus on early-stage investing across cloud infrastructure, AI and machine learning, and cybersecurity, drawing on prior experience as a partner at Sierra Ventures and previously at Thomvest Ventures. Ackerman will combine fund finance oversight with hands-on operational support to portfolio companies, including fundraising, strategic planning, and M&A preparation, based on prior roles spanning venture finance operations, investment banking, and in-house strategic finance leadership.
Columbia Threadneedle said the launch aligns with its broader push to expand alternatives capabilities and provide clients access to technology innovation across private and public markets under a disciplined investment framework.
KEY QUOTES:
“Launching Seligman Ventures is an important step in how we continue to build Seligman’s technology investing platform. I am excited to partner with Umesh, whom I have known for more than 25 years through his leadership of public technology companies. He brings nearly two decades of experience backing exceptional founders from early formation through growth, IPOs and significant exits. Together with Ashish and Eddie, this team brings the discipline, technical depth, and operating rigor we believe are essential to building a differentiated venture platform.”
Paul Wick, Chief Investment Officer, Seligman Investments
“I am thrilled to partner with Paul to build a Seligman venture platform that invests in innovative and disruptive technology companies from seed through public markets. Most importantly, I am inspired and humbled by the trust from incredible founders as we have partnered to build category-defining companies, and I look forward to even greater opportunities at Seligman Ventures. I am excited to be working with Ashish and Eddie again and bring our combined operational, technical and thesis driven investing experience to helping visionary entrepreneurs realize their ambitions.”
Umesh Padval, Managing Partner, Seligman Ventures
“The launch of Seligman Ventures reflects a commitment by Columbia Threadneedle to offering clients a comprehensive range of investment solutions that can capture the innovation and growth potential of the technology sector through a disciplined and rigorous approach to private and public markets investing. We are investing in our Alternatives business and capabilities, leveraging existing centers of excellence within the firm to build what we believe is a differentiated value proposition for clients.”
Stewart Bennett, Global Head Of Alternatives, Columbia Threadneedle
