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.

Dave also discusses how he evaluates patent-based innovation with little prior art, why people and fundraising matter as much as working technology, challenges with national lab commercialization, common deep tech pitching mistakes, insights on building ecosystems outside Silicon Valley, and why renewed demand for hard tech is rising alongside AI-driven infrastructure needs.

 

Visit Cottonwood at www.cottonwood.vc/   

Reach out to at www.linkedin.com/company/cottonwood-technology-fund/ and on x.com/cottonwoodvc

 

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Disclaimer:
Hall T Martin is the director of Investor Connect, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to the education of investors for early-stage funding. All opinions expressed by Hall and podcast guests are solely their own opinions and do not reflect the opinion of Investor Connect. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon for the basis of investment decisions.