Higher Ground Labs is a venture fund ecosystem that builds technology and invests in technology to support left-of-center political activism and political candidates. ¹ Higher Ground Labs also connects technology developers with nonprofit fiscal sponsors ² and political leaders, ³ and hosts a recurring summit for political and technology professionals to strengthen the left-of-center technology ecosystem. ⁴

Since its founding in 2017, Higher Ground Labs has invested over $50 million in more than 60 startups, 10 entrepreneur fellows, and over 10,000 campaigns across the left-of-center political technology ecosystem. ⁵ The group has also raised more than $60 million in post-accelerator support for its partners. ^{6 7}

Higher Ground Labs supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement ⁸ and the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial equity. ⁹

History and Leadership

Higher Ground Labs was founded in 2017 by Betsy Hoover and Shomik Dutta. ¹⁰

Prior to founding Higher Ground Labs, Hoover was a founding partner of left-of-center political consulting firm 270 Strategies. She also worked as the national digital organizing director of Obama for America (OFA) from 2011 until 2012, as a regional director for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2009 until 2011, and as a deputy field director for OFA from 2007 until 2008. ¹¹ Dutta was on the board of directors of Democratic Party-aligned political action committee Mobilize and worked on both the 2012 presidential campaign of Barack Obama and the 2008 Obama presidential campaigns. ¹²

Activities and Funding

Higher Ground Labs is a venture fund ecosystem that builds technology to support left-of-center political activism and political candidates. ¹³ Higher Ground Labs also invests in technology to support left-of-center political causes. Each year, the company releases an investment thesis to highlight areas of technological need in the left-of-center political ecosystem. ¹⁴ The group connects technology developers with nonprofit fiscal sponsors ¹⁵ and political leaders, ¹⁶ provides fellowships, hosts a recurring summit for political and technology professionals, and hosts ad hoc events that strengthen the left-of-center technology ecosystem. ¹⁷

Higher Ground Labs supports the far-left Black Lives Matter movement ¹⁸ and the critical race theory-influenced concept of racial equity. ¹⁹ Higher Ground Labs called the protests following the death of George Floyd “righteous reaction to years of racism, violence and systemic oppression faced by Black Americans in the U.S. every day” and matched donations bade by its staff to groups “fighting on the ground” during the protests. ²⁰ In 2020, Higher Ground Labs organized millennials to oppose the re-election campaign of then-President Donald Trump. ²¹

Accelerator

Since its founding, Higher Ground Labs has invested over $50 million in support of more than 60 startups, 10 entrepreneur fellows, and more than 10,000 campaigns across the left-of-center political technology ecosystem. It has also raised $60 million in post-accelerator investments through its technology accelerator program. ^{22 23}

Higher Ground Labs’ accelerator program helps companies get their product to market, match campaigns with potential funders, and helps absorb these startups into the broader political technology ecosystem. ²⁴

In 2022, Higher Ground Labs’ priorities included supporting left-of-center content creators, improving direct-to-voter messaging, and using financial technology innovations to support the broader left-of-center political ecosystem. ²⁵

Higher Ground Labs’ accelerator only invests in for-profit vehicles that have a business model and includes services such as programming and sales, marketing, and fundraising training. Initial investments from Higher Ground Labs average $100,000, and additional follow-on investments in post-accelerators average approximately $1 million. ²⁶

As of February 2023, the program has supported 41 companies, 250 mentorship sessions, 1,000 strategic introductions, and raised $60 million post-accelerator. ²⁷

In 2021, Higher Ground Labs raised a $20 million fund dedicated to left-of-center voter and volunteer engagement, supporting left-of-center content creators, improving direct-to-voter messaging, turning electoral activist energy into left-of-center legislative advocacy, and building fintech innovation for the left-of-center ecosystem. ²⁸ During the 2020 election cycle, Higher Ground Labs reached 7,500 campaigns and 70 million potential voters. ²⁹

Funding

Higher Ground Labs has received funding from technology investors and venture capitalists including left-of-center political activist and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and Conway Family Trust trustee Ron Conway. ^{30 31}

1.  “Home.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/.
2. “Tweet.” Higher Ground Labs Twitter. Posted January 10, 2023. https://twitter.com/highergroundlab/status/1612856796078641162?cxt=HHwWlMC8vb6tguIsAAAA.
3. “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/.
4. “2021 Open Call.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/2021-open-call/.
5. “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/.
6. “Meet Our Portfolio.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/portfolio/.
7. “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/.
8. ^[1] “Black Lives Mater: HGL Action Steps & Resources.” Higher Ground Labs. June 4, 2020. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/black-lives-matter-hgl-action-steps-resources/.
9. “Tweet.” Higher Ground Labs Twitter. Posted June 19, 2020. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://twitter.com/highergroundlab/status/1273986393501511680.
10. ^[1] “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/.
11. “Experience.” Betsy Hoover LinkedIn Profile. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-hoover-21567463/details/experience/.
12. “People.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/people/.
13. “Home.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/.
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15. “Tweet.” Higher Ground Labs Twitter. Posted January 10, 2023. https://twitter.com/highergroundlab/status/1612856796078641162?cxt=HHwWlMC8vb6tguIsAAAA.
16. “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/.
17. “2021 Open Call.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/2021-open-call/.
18. “Black Lives Mater: HGL Action Steps & Resources.” Higher Ground Labs. June 4, 2020. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/black-lives-matter-hgl-action-steps-resources/.
19. “Tweet.” Higher Ground Labs Twitter. Posted June 19, 2020. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://twitter.com/highergroundlab/status/1273986393501511680.
20. “Black Lives Mater: HGL Action Steps & Resources.” Higher Ground Labs. June 4, 2020. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/black-lives-matter-hgl-action-steps-resources/.
21. Shieber, Jonathan. “Higher Ground Labs is betting tech can help sway the 2020 elections for Democrats.” Tech Crunch. July 1, 2019. Accessed February 12, 2023. https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/01/higher-ground-labs/.
22. “Meet Our Portfolio.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/portfolio/.
23. “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/
24. “Accelerator Program.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 12, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/accelerator-program/.
25. “Announcing HGL’s 2022 Investment Thesis.” Higher Ground Labs. December 13, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/higher-ground-labs-2022-investment-thesis/.
26. ^[1] “2021 Open Call.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/2021-open-call/.
27. “Accelerator Program.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 12, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/accelerator-program/.
28. “Announcing HGL’s 2021 Investment Thesis.” Higher Ground Labs. February 8, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/announcing-hgls-2021-investment-thesis/.
29. “Mission.” Higher Ground Labs. Accessed February 11, 2023. https://highergroundlabs.com/mission/.
30. “Summer Internship.” Higher Ground Labs. April 2020. Accessed February 12, 2023.  https://highergroundlabs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Higher-Ground-Labs-Intern-JD.pdf.
31. Hatmaker, Taylor. “Higher Ground Labs backs 13 startups to help Democrats win in 2018 and beyond.” Tech Crunch. April 3, 2018. Accessed February 12, 2023. https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/03/higher-ground-labs-2018-dnc-startups/.