Where We Invest
Seed and pre-seed companies in software, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and applied AI serving under-supported regional markets.
Our Investment Thesis
We partner with founders who are deeply connected to real-world customer problems and committed to sustainable growth. Our boutique model means we stay involved at the operator level, helping teams move from insight to execution with speed and clarity.
Check Size
Initial checks from $250K to $1.5M, with reserves for follow-on support in high-conviction companies.
Geographic Focus
Headquartered in East Texas and active across Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and adjacent Southern ecosystems.
Insights
Thought leadership and portfolio company milestones from LightHeart Ventures.
Psyonic's Ability Hand Powers Apptronik's Apollo Humanoid Robot
Portfolio company Psyonic has expanded beyond prosthetics into the commercial humanoid robotics market, integrating its Ability Hand into Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot ecosystem. The partnership positions Psyonic alongside GXO, Mercedes-Benz, and Google DeepMind in the $150B+ humanoid robotics market — a significant strategic milestone that validates the Ability Hand's versatility beyond medical applications. Psyonic's touch-feedback technology gives Apollo robots human-like dexterity for warehouse logistics, manufacturing, and commercial service applications.
Greenfield Robotics Scales to 17 States and Gains Institutional Adoption
Portfolio company Greenfield Robotics continues to expand rapidly, with autonomous weeding operations now spanning 17 states and over $7M in pre-sales for its BOTONY™ robots. The company is also gaining institutional validation: the Rodale Institute purchased a BOTONY robot for soil health research trials, while the University of Vermont Extension acquired six BOTONY weeders for deployment across northern Vermont farms — signaling growing research confidence in autonomous agricultural robotics.
Psyonic Lands Shark Tank Deal and Launches Ability Fund
Psyonic, a leader in advanced bionic limbs, secured a deal on ABC's Shark Tank, bringing national visibility to the company's mission of making high-performance prosthetics accessible to everyone. Alongside the TV appearance, Psyonic launched the Ability Fund — a philanthropic initiative providing bionic hands to individuals who cannot afford them. Prior to the Shark Tank deal, Psyonic raised $3.1 million from over 2,100 individual investors on StartEngine and an additional $4.1 million in equity crowdfunding. Revenue grew 50% in 2023 to $1.5 million, and the team tripled to 21 people — reflecting strong commercial traction and grassroots investor confidence in accessible bionic technology.
In the News
What the press is saying about our portfolio companies.
Miso Robotics Newsroom Miso Robotics
EurekaAlert Greenfield Robotics
No-Till Farmer Greenfield Robotics
Fortune Miso Robotics
Restaurant Business Online Miso Robotics
Yahoo Finance Psyonic
How We Work With Founders
- Listen first: We start with your customer, not your slide deck.
- Decide quickly: We provide clear feedback in days, not months.
- Build with discipline: We help define milestones that align capital to traction.
- Support for the long run: We stay present through critical hiring, go-to-market, and fundraising moments.
Our Team
The people backing the next generation of founders.
Gregory Hohertz
Managing Partner
Gregory is the Managing Partner and founder of LightHeart Ventures, investing in early-stage startups across AgTech, FinTech, HealthTech, SaaS, and emerging technology sectors. With a portfolio spanning 40+ companies, he brings operational insight and strategic advisory to founders building the next generation of transformative businesses.
“Whether it be a $70 billion public company like Ecolab making a multi-million dollar investment last year or an individual investor making a $1,000 investment today, our shareholders provide Miso the opportunity to save a restaurant industry that’s losing jobs, losing revenue, closing stores, and desperate for a solution to a dire labor crisis. We think that’s a big mission and a big opportunity… I recognize the privilege that we have every day to work for our shareholders, and we’re grateful for your support.”
— Rich Hull, Founder, Miso Robotics