Venture capital is a broken model. The traditional model is built on a boom-and-bust cycle of startups, causing a focus on becoming a‘unicorn,’ a company with a valuation of $1 billion or more. Venture funds typically follow the latest fads and push founders to risk their businesses by growing too fast or taking too many risks. Founders are often left confused with investors who know little about dentistry and their companies and provide limited value beyond investment.

At DIA, our tagline is “Venture Capital Reimagined.” We believe investors' partnerships with founders should be fundamentally different. They should provide more than just capital. To us, an investment is the beginning of a true relationship—a partnership with our portfolio companies.

To do this, DIA was built intentionally with a very narrow investment focus on the dental industry. We primarily target startups developing innovative software and dental device solutions. This focused approach allows us to concentrate our resources and expertise where they can have the most significant impact. In particular, we actively seek out companies addressing the three main challenges of dentistry:

i) Clinical outcomes,
ii) Access to care,
iii) Practice performance

By aligning our investments with these critical industry needs, we help ensure our portfolio companies are well-positioned to capture substantial market share and generate significant value for all stakeholders.

One of DIA's most powerful assets is our team's unparalleled industry expertise. Our leadership and partner network comprises some of the world's most successful and influential dental professionals and business people. Our expertise spans clinical practice, business operations, technology integration, and regulatory compliance.

Our portfolio company teams know we don't invest and then walk away. We actively support our portfolio companies, providing strategic guidance to help them navigate the complexities of the dental market. This includes support in areas such as business operations, technology integration, and regulatory compliance, ensuring that our portfolio companies have the resources, knowledge, and connections they need to succeed. Our unique approach includes support in the following areas:

·      Product Development: We work closely with our companies to refine their product offerings, ensuring they align with market needs and regulatory requirements.

·      Operational Efficiency: Drawing on our team's experience in managing and growing some of the largest dental companies in the world, we advise on best practices for scaling operations efficiently.

·      Talent Acquisition: We assist in identifying and recruiting top talent, tapping into our extensive network of industry professionals.

·      Fundraising Support: We help prepare our companies for future funding rounds, leveraging our relationships with other investors and strategic partners.

·      Go-to-Market Strategy: We help develop and execute effective market entry and expansion strategies, leveraging our industry insights and connections.

One of the most significant advantages we offer our portfolio companies is in go-to-market strategy and access to our extensive network within the dental industry. Through our investor connections, we can provide entrepreneurs access to over 10,000 dental practices across North America. This vast network is a powerful launchpad for our portfolio companies, offering them unparalleled opportunities for product testing, market validation, and rapid scaling.

Our network extends beyond dental practices to include key industry stakeholders such as DSOs, privately owned group practices, equipment manufacturers, distributors, and influential thought leaders. We leverage these relationships to create strategic partnerships, facilitate introductions to potential customers, and open doors to new market opportunities. DIA’s total market support is likely over 100,000 dental practices worldwide when alliance partners are included.

“For years, we’ve been searching for the right VC partner, and we can’t think of a better partner than DIA. With their industry expertise, connections, and access to capital, it’s a dream come true. With DIA’s support, we will improve the dental staffing process and empower dental professionals and practices alike,” shares Trey Tepichin, Co-Founder and CEO of Cloud Dentistry, a DIA portfolio company.

By partnering closely with our portfolio companies and leveraging our unique advantages, we deliver a win-win for entrepreneurs and investors. Our approach allows us to:

·      Identify High-Potential Opportunities: Our industry expertise and network help us uncover promising startups before they hit the mainstream. We also help make those promising companies become the market standard.

·      Mitigate Risks: Our deep industry knowledge allows us to anticipate and address potential challenges early on, reducing the failure rate of newer companies.

·      Enhance Valuation: Our strategic support and network access help our companies achieve rapid market penetration and revenue growth, increasing their valuation at exit.

·      Drive Successful Exits: Our connections with the most significant industry players position our companies for strategic acquisitions or successful IPOs.

We don't just invest in companies; we invest in relationships. By combining capital with expertise, network access, and strategic support, we are helping to shape dentistry's future and creating significant value for our portfolio companies and investors alike.