Clarity in Complexity

We invest in financial and operational AI for SMBs and the real economy.

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OUR PERSPECTIVE

Market gaps create profit potential. The cost barriers are coming down — fast.

SMBs and real economy companies are massive segments and have clear demand for software, but historically delivering value profitably was prohibitively expensive. Traditional technology improved distribution and user experience but didn’t address the underlying cost structure problem for providers.

Now, AI enables software providers to build and deliver products that were previously impractical or too costly to serve SMBs and real economy companies at scale.

The result is a step-function improvement in serving previously uneconomical markets, unlocking massive new TAMs.

We call this

The Invisible Billion-Dollar Opportunity

OUR APPROACH

The Clarity Stack

  • We invest at the earliest stages, from Pre-Seed to Series A, and work with founders to navigate the critical journey from product-market fit to scalable growth.

  • We track regulatory changes and competitive developments to help founders spot new opportunities and avoid threats. Our analysis separates real breakthroughs from hype, so founders can make smarter decisions about what to build and where to focus.

  • We facilitate pilot customer introductions through our extensive network. We provide honest feedback from real enterprise buyers to accelerate product-market fit and validate go-to-market strategy.

RESEARCH

Powered By Blindspot

Building the next economy requires seeing around corners.

Blindspot is our proprietary signal engine that cuts through the noise and gives you actionable insight. By tracking real-time shifts in startup activity, market signals, and tech trends, it helps you identify new opportunities, avoid threats, and build with conviction. This isn’t just data. It’s a competitive advantage that gives your team an edge from day one.

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NETWORK

The GTM Advantage

We provide a direct line to the decision-makers who can drive your growth. Our network facilitates pilot introductions and delivers honest feedback from stakeholders who will champion your product and accelerate your success.

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TEAM

Meet Our Founder

Operator turned investor with unique market acumen.

  • Kiswana Browne, General Partner

    Kiswana brings a technical mindset, infrastructure expertise, and a strong network of founders and industry leaders to Spotlight Venture Partners. With prior experience as an investor, she led high potential investments and connected startups with major corporations. Before transitioning to investing, Kiswana led multi-million dollar tech projects for major firms like JP Morgan Chase, UBS and National Grid. She was also a founder of a technology startup.

    Kiswana is a Kauffman Fellow Class 29. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA in Economics from Hobart and William Smith College.

    She currently resides in Los Angeles, where she enjoys the arts, writing, and culinary experiences.

Insights

Robotics and material science are revolutionizing manufacturing, but what about the financial solutions needed to bring these innovations to life? I think there's an interesting opportunity for fintech to bridge the gap between cutting-edge ideas and commercially viable businesses in advanced manufacturing. Here's how:

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 FAQs

  • Spotlight represents the power of discovery, focused on uncovering hidden signals and emerging trends that are shaping the future of technology.

  • We invest in early-stage companies building AI-powered financial and operational software for SMBs and real economy companies.

    • Financial software helps businesses manage their finances, from payments and lending to accounting and insurance.

    • Operational software helps businesses run more efficiently by automating workflows, optimizing processes, and streamlining day-to-day operations.

    We focus on startups serving two main markets:

    • SMBs include small businesses, from tech startups to local service providers.

    • Real economy companies are businesses that operate in the physical world, like manufacturing, retail, energy and logistics.

    If you're building AI that helps these businesses scale, we'd love to hear from you.

  • We invest primarily across the United States, leveraging our extensive network to provide meaningful support.

  • We invest in Pre-Seed, Seed and Series A stage companies. We are excited to engage as early as the idea stage, offering the support, resources, and guidance needed to transform visions into thriving businesses.

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