VENTURE PARTNERSHIP
Balance Capital's longest-running venture relationship — early investor and limited partner across Funds I & II of the Chicago-based early-stage technology firm.
THE FIRM
Motivate Venture Capital is a Chicago-based venture firm investing in pre-seed and seed-stage companies across the United States and Canada. The team is typically the first professional capital in a business, backing founders with strong domain knowledge who are tackling real, durable problems — with a particular focus on B2B software, fintech, and automation for legacy industries like financial services, manufacturing, and insurance.
The platform has grown to represent more than $200 million in committed capital, including its $81 million Fund II anchored by two global financial services institutions.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Michael Wieland has been an early investor and limited partner with Motivate across both funds — the platform's longest-held venture position. The relationship reflects Balance Capital's core investing principle: back proven operators, commit for the full cycle, and let compounding do the work.
Raising a pre-seed or seed round in B2B software or fintech? Motivate takes introductions directly through their site — and where Balance Capital's operating footprint in real estate, logistics, or live events can add value beyond capital, we review opportunities alongside them.