Investor Connect 889: Deep Tech Investing Outside Silicon Valley with Dave Blivin of Cottonwood Technology Fund

Episode notes

In this episode of Investor Connect, we welcome Dave Blivin, founder and managing director of Cottonwood Technology Fund, who shares how he invests at the intersection of science, capital, and commercialization to turn hard technologies into real companies. Dave explains Cottonwood's focus on early-stage deep tech across areas such as photonics, advanced materials, sensors, med tech, energy, robotics, and advanced manufacturing, with a regional emphasis on the US Southwest and an expansion into Northwest Europe through partners in the Netherlands. He outlines Cottonwood's approach of leading rounds, taking board seats, and writing larger early checks (often around $2M within $2 - $4M pre-seed syndicates) to fund prototypes and recruit business leadership, while leveraging a strong corporate venture network for diligence and follow-on rounds.

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