Miami’s venture capital landscape received a significant boost today as VC firm Align Ventures announced the final close of its oversubscribed $125 million Early-Stage Fund II. Exceeding its original $100 million target, the new vehicle pushes the firm’s total platform AUM beyond $2.5 billion.
Founded in 2018 by Ben Bryce, Miami-based Align Ventures has carved out a niche by focusing heavily on early-stage consumer brands and technologies. The raise reflects strong demand from returning Fund I limited partners as well as new institutional investors drawn to the firm’s track record of backing category-defining consumer companies, the firm said.
The fundraise follows a series of high-profile exits and strong performance from Align’s debut fund. Fund I’s recent milestones include the acquisition of digital-native baby care brand Coterie by Mammoth Brands, in addition to premium hand sanitizer maker Touchland’s acquisition by Church & Dwight. These join earlier blockbuster exits from telehealth giant Hims and direct-to-consumer shaving brand Billie. One of Align’s portfolio holdings has Miami roots: FIGS.
According to data from Carta, Align’s debut fund ranks in the top decile across Total Value to Paid-In (TVPI), Net Internal Rate of Return (Net IRR), and Distributed to Paid-In (DPI) metrics among similar-vintage U.S. venture funds.
With Early-Stage Fund II, Bryce and the team plan to maintain its selective, high-conviction approach. The firm said it intends to deploy initial check sizes ranging from $2 million to $10 million into a curated portfolio of 15 to 20 early-stage companies. Target categories include beauty, personal care, health and wellness, pet, and home goods.
Ahead of the formal Fund II close, Align warehoused an initial investment in hair and body care brand California Naturals, later participating in its Series B round.
Bryce, founder and managing partner alongside Grant Hosking, said the firm backs only a small number of brands each year so that the team can offer meaningful support to them.
“Our best outcomes started with a founder who understood a shift in behavior often before we did. We have the opportunity to recognize it quickly and commit, and Fund II allows us to put more capital behind that conviction,” Bryce told Refresh Miami.
“We offer capital at every stage, access to advisors who have built household names within consumer, and a team that has guided billions in exits,” added Bryce, who lives in Miami.
In addition to Bryce and Hosking, Align’s core investment team also includes Andrew Ferrero, Peyton Raun and Melanie Singh. The team brings a hybrid background of consumer investing, M&A, and operating experience from prominent firms and conglomerates, including Left Lane Capital and The Estée Lauder Companies’ New Incubation Ventures.
“Ben, Grant, and the Align team have not only been dependable investors, but also true thought partners and supporters,” noted Jess Jacobs, CEO of Coterie. “They consistently lean in where it matters most.”
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