About

Rogue is a venture investment vehicle created by founder turned seed investor, startup strategist and speaker, Diane Henry.

In 2015, Diane began making seed investments in top startups across the US, including then nascent tech hubs from rural Massachusetts to Atlanta Georgia to SLC Utah to Rogue’s headquarters in 'Silicon Alley’, NYC. She brings her combination of agile, purposeful leadership and entrepreneurial grit to her advisory work with young companies.

Prior to Rogue, Diane founded a Manhattan-based commercial real estate company where she bootstrapped expansion, navigated her team through multiple market meltdowns, and landed her firm a spot as a Forbes Company to Watch.

Diane speaks frequently on topics related to leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, product development and technology ethics. The Rogue Capital Collective refers to the independent spirit and collective intelligence of the network of founders, thought leaders and fellow investors who make the Rogue vision possible.

Featured Portfolio Companies

Rogue Portfolio Companies in the News

Thesis

Rogue Investment Areas:

Future Of Income

• Startups that combine Earning with Recreation or Social (like Roblox)

• Startups expanding retail investor access to alternative investments (like Coinbase, Republic)

• Startups monetizing knowledge, time, or attention expended online (like Earn.com )

• Personal Finance & Career Edu-tainment (like Learnvest, Cheddar, Daily Worth, The Muse)

• Startups creating infrastructure for the 1099 economy / self employed

• Gamified Personal Finance or Credit Building

Future Of Real Estate

• Data driven Commercial Real Estate Insights (software & platforms, non hardware)

• Tools for Real Estate Natural Disaster Risk Mitigation

• Factory Tech (software for optimizing factories, non hardware)

• Intersection of Real Estate & Fintech - Improving access to ownership or down-payment financing

• Startups building toward friction-less purchasing, leasing & relocation

• Consumer real estate tech - rental logistics, identity & income verification, moving logistics

Rogue Does Not Currently Look For:

Rogue is not seeking investments in hardware, ed tech, consumer goods, inventory carrying businesses with physical products or retail store fronts, food, bio tech, or energy at this time.

FAQ

How do you pitch for funding with Rogue?
For the sake of capacity, mutual introductions get highest priority at the moment. Consideration also given to start ups who successfully apply to one of the investment organizations in Rogue’s network such as 37 angels or the .25 Initiative.

Does Rogue ever consider making  “impact investments”?
Rogue is a for-profit investor with the expectation of market or better financial returns. Rogue also invests with its conscience (which also enhances returns). I don’t quite know what to label that, but we are likely all moving in that direction.

Rogue does not issue grants and is not a philanthropy vehicle . Rogue does give back through investing in the work of our colleagues at Impact Fund, Arctaris Michigan.

Does rogue invest in diverse founders?
Yes.

Rogue founders share attributes that indicate the likelihood of future success including possessing the requisite skills to execute on their vision. They do not share physical attributes.

If you happen to be a fellow investor interested in ‘diversifying your assets’ both to stay professionally competitive and to be true to your values, please contact me. (seriously.)

Does rogue invest in specific geographies?

Rogue considers investments in any state in the US as well as Canada as long as founders are willing and able to maintain networks within well resourced start-up hubs like NYC. Companies with operations overseas but a US based entity and network are also considered if connected through a personal introduction. Rogue does not invest abroad at this time.

interns

Urvi Nopany

Urvi is a second year student at Columbia Business School where she is Vice President of the Technology Business Group. Before business school she founded a theater production company in India, that organized performing arts shows and festivals. Although she is not actively involved any longer, she still serves on the board of that company. She is excited to learn about the investing side of the startup world.

She enjoys reading and eating breakfast foods at random hours of the day, and is happiest when she can do both at the same time.  

john mihovics

John is a first year student at Columbia Business School passionate about technology and investing. He is particularly excited about startups promoting financial inclusion and urban innovation as well as the emergence of e-sports and other alternative forms of entertainment. Prior to business school he worked at a hedge fund adviser engaged in numerous investment strategies and asset classes. 

Outside of school, he sits on the junior board of an education nonprofit. He spends his summers tirelessly rooting for the New York Mets and is the happy owner of two cats.

SETH GOODMAN

Seth is a second year student at Columbia Business School, where he is co-president of the Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization. Prior to business school he worked in technology and investing,

In his spare time he loves going to see movies (at movie theaters).

kelly lundy

Kelly is a second year student at Columbia Business School, focusing on VC and technology. Prior to business school she worked in creative development for television. She is passionate about collaborating with entrepreneurs to develop their companies from the ground up, particularly for startups centered on fintech and commercial applications of AR.

A San Francisco native, she enjoys braving New York’s unpredictable weather to run outdoors, shouting at the TV during Jeopardy!, and partaking in blind wine tastings.