🏭 US-Based CIV Launches $200M VC Fund to Boost Manufacturing, Energy, and Infrastructure Startups

A new venture capital firm, CIV, has launched a $200 million inaugural fund aimed at investing in early-stage startups focused on manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. Founded by industry veterans Abhijoy Mitra, Jeff Rosenthal, and Patrick Maloney, CIV is positioning itself away from short-term tech hype, targeting "real-world impact" industries like nuclear energy, clean tech, and industrial automation. Notable backers include SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell and Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures. CIV plans to invest between $5M to $15M per company, with a portfolio of 15–20 startups. The fund aligns with rising interest in hard tech sectors, accelerated by supply chain issues and clean energy initiatives post-pandemic. CIV joins the movement of VCs focusing on physical-world technologies, betting that the future won't just be on apps—but in factories, power plants, and infrastructure reshaping global industries.