NVP’s Vaughn Crowe on how manufacturing and industrials hit their venture moment

Vaughn Crowe, a venture capitalist who co-founded NVP Capital in 2020, grew up in Newark, a city with a rich industrial heritage. He shared that his upbringing in the same neighborhood as the airport and port instilled in him an appreciation for the value of manufacturing and industrials. When asked what changed for these sectors, Crowe pointed to the spotlight COVID-19 placed on supply chains, travel, logistics, and energy.

The U.S. government's efforts to bolster critical industries, particularly in aerospace and defense, further reinforced the importance of manufacturing and related fields. With the rise of artificial intelligence, Crowe believes we are witnessing a revolutionary moment in the physical world, with implications for space, robotics, and manufacturing.

NVP Capital has invested in a diverse range of companies, including Vulcan Elements, Reaxiomatic, Laborup, Outlast Power, Human Archive, Haptica Robotics, Class8, Optimal Dynamics, and Upwell. He anticipates exits will likely come from a mix of IPOs and M&A, as the industry gains visibility and commercial market opportunities. NVP recently closed its second fund of $80 million, positioning the firm to compete in an increasingly crowded space.

Crowe's local connections and firsthand experience lend credibility to their investment strategy, enabling them to "speak the language" of this transformative era.