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IRVINE, Calif., May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via IBN -- ECGI Holdings Inc. (OTC: ECGI), a diversified holding company focused on viticulture, equestrian markets, and emerging innovation, today announced the launch of Uplist Ventures (uplist.vc), a new initiative to identify, support, and scale overlooked startups with the potential to enter public markets.
Uplist Ventures will invest in pre-seed through Series B companies, with a preferred focus on those at the Series A and B stages. The firm is targeting startups that are already revenue-generating but fall outside the radar of traditional VCs that demand unsustainable month-over-month hypergrowth.
“Uplist Ventures is more than a capital vehicle, it’s a strategic pipeline for ECGI’s long-term uplisting vision,” said Simon Yu, CEO of ECGI Holdings. “We’re building a portfolio of high-quality companies that can be incubated, matured, and ultimately brought to the public markets through ECGI.”
Bridging a Market Gap
Most venture capital firms demand 20% monthly growth, leaving behind founders building solid businesses growing 20% to 50% per year. These businesses often have product-market fit, paying customers, and smart teams, but limited access to late-stage capital.
Uplist Ventures sees this as an opportunity to deliver value both to founders and to ECGI’s shareholders.
Strategic Advantage: A Public Exit Path
Unlike traditional venture firms, ECGI provides more than capital. As a public company, ECGI offers startup founders a unique path to liquidity and visibility that most private VCs can’t match. Through its public structure, ECGI can offer qualified startups:
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Access to capital markets and alternative liquidity paths
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Support in preparing for uplisting and regulatory compliance
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Operational guidance and public-market credibility
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A long-term partnership aligned with shareholder value creation
By identifying companies with strong fundamentals and helping them scale within the public arena, ECGI aims to transform Uplist Ventures into a feeder system for future ECGI spinouts or subsidiaries.
Sector Focus and Criteria
Uplist Ventures will focus on sectors where innovation meets demand: artificial intelligence (AI), SaaS, vertical software, healthcare technology, and blockchain. Evaluation criteria will prioritize disciplined execution and customer traction.
Seed Stage Criteria:
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Proven product-market fit and early revenue ($10K+ MRR)
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Founder-market fit and clear vision
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Measurable early adoption and feedback loop
Series A & B Criteria:
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$5 million+ in ARR
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Minimum 25% YoY revenue growth
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Efficient unit economics (LTV at least 3x CAC)