Open Access Ventures: Redefining Early-Stage Venture Capital Through Capital and Execution
USA News April 18, 2025
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Nationwide (USANews.com) Open Access Ventures (OAV), a venture capital firm dedicated to modernizing early-stage investing, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the 2025 Startup World Cup Arizona regional, an international pitch competition designed to support the next generation of visionary startups. Steven Gelley, CEO of Open Access Ventures, will serve as one of the judges for the competition and will award the winner a $100,000 lead investment into a curated financing round of funding to help them bring their innovative vision to life. This exciting partnership further solidifies OAV’s commitment to reshaping the venture capital ecosystem and empowering emerging founders.Open Access Ventures has recently been recognized as the “Best VC Firm for Founder-Focused Investment Models in 2025” by Evergreen Awards, a prestigious and exclusive authority in the venture capital industry. This recognition reflects OAV’s commitment to investing in founder-centric models that provide more than just funding. It’s a testament to the firm’s success in supporting founders with not only financial resources but also with the hands-on operational expertise that accelerates growth and minimizes risk.OAV’s unique approach to venture capital is what sets it apart from traditional investors. Rather than just providing funding, Open Access Ventures integrates a full C-suite-level team to work side by side with portfolio companies for a ten-month period. This approach ensures that startups not only receive the capital they need but also the operational support necessary for efficient and successful growth. This hands-on involvement allows startups to move twice as fast with 66% less capital and significantly less founder risk.“We believe that the startup ecosystem is rapidly shifting and that venture capital has a responsibility to adapt to provide more impactful support to founders,” said Steven Gelley, CEO of Open Access Ventures. “Our model is designed to do just that – pair capital with daily, hands-on execution to truly help founders turn their vision into reality.”Unlike traditional VCs, who may provide funding and occasional advice, Open Access Ventures is deeply embedded in the growth process. The firm’s approach is built on the idea that early-stage founders need more than just financial backing—they need a team that can execute on their vision. This philosophy is rooted in Gelley’s extensive experience as a multi-exit CEO, having built and sold over $70 million in enterprise value. He knows firsthand what it takes to scale early-stage startups and has designed OAV to deliver this support in a way that dramatically accelerates growth while reducing risk.“The startup world is filled with challenges, and one of the biggest hurdles is raising capital,” Gelley explained. “That’s why we created OAV University, a program designed to help early-stage founders develop the tools and strategies they need to become fundable. OAV University provides founders with mentorship, pitch materials, financial modeling, and access to our network of investors—giving them everything they need to prepare for the next step in their entrepreneurial journey.”OAV University, a key component of Open Access Ventures’ broader ecosystem, equips founders with the essential resources they need to become attractive investment opportunities. Through two structured programs—Essential and Premium—founders can gain critical insights into their business strategy, refine their pitch, and learn how to build the necessary infrastructure to support future growth.“Our investment model is not about checking a box on a pitch deck; it’s about getting into the trenches with the founders,” said Gelley. “We work daily with them to help them achieve key milestones, whether that’s launching a minimum viable product (MVP), refining their market fit, or preparing for the next round of funding. Our operational expertise ensures that every dollar of our investment is spent wisely, driving meaningful outcomes faster than traditional models.”The firm’s innovative approach is evident across its portfolio. On average, OAV’s portfolio companies release MVP products to market within four months, which significantly accelerates their journey toward product-market fit. This rapid pace allows startups to validate their products faster than with traditional approaches, although timelines can vary depending on the nature of the business and market dynamics. By focusing on execution alongside funding, OAV ensures that portfolio companies are positioned to succeed in a much shorter time frame.“Venture capital is evolving, and Open Access Ventures is working to meet that change by providing more than just funding. We provide the operational expertise, guidance, and support that allow founders to succeed at every stage of their journey,” said Gelley. “We believe that this hands-on approach is the future of venture capital, and we’re excited to see it come to life with the Startup World Cup and our broader investment strategy.”At the 2025 Startup World Cup, OAV will continue its mission of empowering early-stage startups to reach their full potential. With Steven Gelley serving as a judge, OAV’s commitment to helping founders succeed is evident in its active participation in the event. As part of the competition, OAV will offer the winning startup a $100,000 investment, along with ongoing operational support to ensure that the company can grow, scale, and achieve long-term success.“The Startup World Cup is an opportunity to discover and support the next generation of visionary founders,” Gelley said. “We’re excited to empower the winner with the resources they need to accelerate their journey and achieve their goals.”For more information on Open Access Ventures, OAV University, or to apply for the next cohort, visithttps://oav.ventures/ orhttps://oav.ventures/oav-university. Follow Open Access Ventures on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/open-access-ventures/.About Open Access Ventures: Open Access Ventures (OAV) is a venture capital firm that redefines early-stage investing by pairing capital with hands-on execution. The firm’s unique model offers a $100,000 lead investment, combined with a full C-suite-level team embedded with portfolio companies for 10 months, accelerating growth, reducing risk, and minimizing capital waste. OAV’s approach ensures that founders receive the operational expertise they need to succeed while scaling their businesses more quickly and efficiently than traditional venture capital allows.For media inquiries or more information about Open Access Ventures, please contact [email protected]
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