Ted Schlein’s Ballistic Ventures is raising $100M for a new fund

Tech Crunch - Apr 3rd, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

Ballistic Ventures, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm, is in the process of raising $100 million for a new fund, as revealed by a recent regulatory filing. The firm, co-founded by Ted Schlein, known for his time at Kleiner Perkins, focuses on investing in cybersecurity startups. This fundraising effort follows the firm's previous fund closure, which amounted to $360 million. The Ballistic team, consisting of experienced partners like Kevin Mandia and Barmak Meftah, plays an active role in supporting their portfolio companies, from taking board seats to aiding in customer acquisition. Despite the new fundraising activities, Ballistic has chosen not to comment publicly on the matter at this time.

The significance of Ballistic Ventures' new fund is underscored by the growing interest in cybersecurity, as venture funding in the sector has seen a 43% year-over-year increase, reaching $11.6 billion in 2024. This trend highlights the critical importance of cybersecurity solutions in today's digital landscape. Ballistic's involvement in 59 startups and six successful exits illustrates their active participation in the industry. The firm's strategic appointments, such as Gregory Crabb as CISO-in-residence, demonstrate their commitment to leveraging expertise to drive success. As the demand for cybersecurity continues to rise, Ballistic's new fund could play a pivotal role in fostering innovation and addressing the challenges faced by businesses worldwide.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article on Ballistic Ventures' new fund is a well-structured and largely accurate piece that provides valuable insights into the firm's investment strategy and recent activities. It effectively uses authoritative sources, such as regulatory filings and interviews, to support its claims, lending credibility to the report. The article is timely and relevant, particularly for readers interested in venture capital and cybersecurity trends. However, it could benefit from a broader range of perspectives and greater transparency regarding some of its numerical claims. While the story is not particularly controversial, it engages readers interested in the technology and investment sectors. Overall, the article is informative and accessible, though it could enhance its public interest and impact by connecting the developments to broader societal or economic trends.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The news story about Ballistic Ventures raising a new fund is largely accurate, with specific details that align with known facts. For instance, the claim that Ballistic Ventures is raising $100 million for a new fund is supported by a regulatory filing, which adds credibility to the report. The story accurately notes that Ballistic Ventures is a San Francisco-based firm co-founded by Ted Schlein, known for his tenure at Kleiner Perkins. The mention of the firm's focus on cybersecurity startups and its founding in late 2021 are also consistent with publicly available information. However, some claims, such as the number of startups invested in or the exact figures regarding venture funding growth, would benefit from further verification to ensure precision. Overall, the story demonstrates a high level of factual accuracy, but minor details require additional confirmation.

7
Balance

The article provides a reasonably balanced view of Ballistic Ventures' activities, focusing on their investment strategy and recent financial endeavors. The narrative highlights both the firm's achievements and its ongoing efforts, such as the new fundraise and recent investments. However, the story could be enhanced by including perspectives from portfolio companies or industry analysts to provide a more comprehensive view of Ballistic's impact on the cybersecurity sector. Additionally, while the article mentions the firm's hands-on approach, it lacks critical perspectives or potential challenges the firm might face, which would offer a more rounded analysis.

9
Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly written, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the key points. The language is straightforward and free of jargon, making the information accessible to a general audience. The use of specific names, numbers, and events helps to clarify the narrative and maintain reader engagement. However, the article could provide more context about the significance of the new fundraise in the broader venture capital landscape to further enhance understanding.

8
Source quality

The primary source for the article appears to be a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is a reliable and authoritative source for financial information. The article also references an earlier interview with Ted Schlein conducted by TechCrunch, a reputable technology news outlet. These sources lend credibility to the report. However, the article could benefit from a broader range of sources, such as comments from industry experts or additional regulatory documents, to enhance the depth and reliability of the information presented.

7
Transparency

The article is transparent about its main source, citing a regulatory filing as the basis for the claim about the new fund. It also references an interview with Ted Schlein, providing context for the firm's strategy and operations. However, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or the methodology behind some of the numerical claims, such as the growth in cybersecurity funding. Greater transparency regarding the sources of these statistics and any affiliations of the authors or publication would enhance the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://20fix.com
  2. https://beamstart.com/news/ted-schleins-ballistic-ventures-is-17437120423216
  3. https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/24/french-vc-firm-founders-future-plans-us-expansion/
  4. https://fintech.global/2025/02/21/fintech-funding-nears-2bn-on-mammoth-week-for-the-sector/
  5. https://www.threads.net/@oakridgelab/post/DH_f_FDI-1Z/advanced-nuclear-energy-systems-such-as-microreactors-offer-a-fit-for-purpose-so