Backing entrepreneurs on their most ambitious journeys

Global Ambitions

Global Ambitions

Global Ambitions

Complex, Dynamic Sectors

Complex, Dynamic Sectors

Complex Sectors

Bold Entrepreneurs

Bold Entrepreneurs

Bold Entrepreneurs

Durable Businesses

Durable Businesses

Durable Businesses

Opportunity

We are optimistic that AI and other critical technologies will improve our lived experience

Insurance

Enabling new policy-lines, enhancing claims handling, improving fraud detection, and optimizing agent and customer experiences

Insurance

Enabling new policy-lines, enhancing claims handling, improving fraud detection, and optimizing agent and customer experiences

Insurance

Enabling new policy-lines, enhancing claims handling, improving fraud detection, and optimizing agent and customer experiences

Healthcare

Transforming care outcomes, reducing cost and waste, and improving the efficiency of our health systems from the home to the operating room

Healthcare

Transforming care outcomes, reducing cost and waste, and improving the efficiency of our health systems from the home to the operating room

Healthcare

Transforming care outcomes, reducing cost and waste, and improving the efficiency of our health systems from the home to the operating room

Industrial Automation

Robotic and cobotic solutions and AI-augmented processes enable better outcomes for our workers, companies, and customers

Industrial Automation

Robotic and cobotic solutions and AI-augmented processes enable better outcomes for our workers, companies, and customers

Industrial Automation

Robotic and cobotic solutions and AI-augmented processes enable better outcomes for our workers, companies, and customers

~40% of American workers, 65M+ people, contribute to these critical sectors and our work is to ensure their work is enhanced amidst technology shifts

Stage

We invest at the inflection stage

That pivotal moment of boundless potential yet malleable and uncertain form. Our expertise lies in identifying and nurturing companies at the cusp of exponential, repeatable growth, helping transform promising ventures into industry leaders.

Duration

We invest for the long term

Long-term partnerships over long horizons, understanding that building great companies requires patience and perseverance.

Team

Our team

Teddy Himler

Founder & General Partner

Teddy Himler brings 15+ years of experience at Goldman Sachs, SoftBank, Comcast Ventures, and Antler to Optimist Ventures. Throughout his career, Teddy has developed deep insights into global technology trends, business models, and firm-building, with an emphasis on AI, insurance, healthcare, and industrial automation sectors. As a partner at Antler, he played a pivotal role in the firm's growth, helping to establish the global, early-stage venture capital firm as the world's most active investor by deal count. Prior to Antler, Teddy was instrumental in expanding SoftBank's presence in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. In 2018, he served as a Vice President at SoftBank Group International, launching their first NYC office from where he managed assets outside of Softbank’s Vision Fund, including Arm, Sprint, Boston Dynamics, and Brightstar, among others. From 2013, as its first West Coast hire, he served as VP of SoftBank Capital's growth fund and led the launch of its Southeast Asia strategy, working from Jakarta, alongside Alibaba and local partners. From 2018 - 2021, he service as a Principal in New York with Comcast Ventures, focused on consumer internet, robotics and fintech, including insurtech and crypto, for the corporate venture capital platform. He started his career as an investment banking analyst in Technology, Media & Telecom in the San Francisco office of Goldman Sachs. He holds a B.A. degree in Government and Economics from Harvard University. He has backed 5 unicorns at seed or A stages and was an investment leader or deal team member in landmark technology companies, including Kabbage, Fitbit, Dialpad, BigCommerce, Grab, Tokopedia, Cheddar, Acorns, Hippo, Blockdaemon, Madison Reed, Blockchange, ABL Space, KeyMe, Arm, Boston Dynamics, SoftBank Robotics, Sprint, Cybereason, Zola, SoFi, Airspan, OneWeb, Kindbody, Berkshire Grey, Lemonade, Brightstar, Airalo, Earlytrade, Folio, Ora Health, Endless Health and Inshur.

Teddy Himler

Founder & General Partner

Teddy Himler brings 15+ years of experience at Goldman Sachs, SoftBank, Comcast Ventures, and Antler to Optimist Ventures. Throughout his career, Teddy has developed deep insights into global technology trends, business models, and firm-building, with an emphasis on AI, insurance, healthcare, and industrial automation sectors. As a partner at Antler, he played a pivotal role in the firm's growth, helping to establish the global, early-stage venture capital firm as the world's most active investor by deal count. Prior to Antler, Teddy was instrumental in expanding SoftBank's presence in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. In 2018, he served as a Vice President at SoftBank Group International, launching their first NYC office from where he managed assets outside of Softbank’s Vision Fund, including Arm, Sprint, Boston Dynamics, and Brightstar, among others. From 2013, as its first West Coast hire, he served as VP of SoftBank Capital's growth fund and led the launch of its Southeast Asia strategy, working from Jakarta, alongside Alibaba and local partners. From 2018 - 2021, he service as a Principal in New York with Comcast Ventures, focused on consumer internet, robotics and fintech, including insurtech and crypto, for the corporate venture capital platform. He started his career as an investment banking analyst in Technology, Media & Telecom in the San Francisco office of Goldman Sachs. He holds a B.A. degree in Government and Economics from Harvard University. He has backed 5 unicorns at seed or A stages and was an investment leader or deal team member in landmark technology companies, including Kabbage, Fitbit, Dialpad, BigCommerce, Grab, Tokopedia, Cheddar, Acorns, Hippo, Blockdaemon, Madison Reed, Blockchange, ABL Space, KeyMe, Arm, Boston Dynamics, SoftBank Robotics, Sprint, Cybereason, Zola, SoFi, Airspan, OneWeb, Kindbody, Berkshire Grey, Lemonade, Brightstar, Airalo, Earlytrade, Folio, Ora Health, Endless Health and Inshur.

Teddy Himler

Founder & General Partner

Teddy Himler brings 15+ years of experience at Goldman Sachs, SoftBank, Comcast Ventures, and Antler to Optimist Ventures. Throughout his career, Teddy has developed deep insights into global technology trends, business models, and firm-building, with an emphasis on AI, insurance, healthcare, and industrial automation sectors. As a partner at Antler, he played a pivotal role in the firm's growth, helping to establish the global, early-stage venture capital firm as the world's most active investor by deal count. Prior to Antler, Teddy was instrumental in expanding SoftBank's presence in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. In 2018, he served as a Vice President at SoftBank Group International, launching their first NYC office from where he managed assets outside of Softbank’s Vision Fund, including Arm, Sprint, Boston Dynamics, and Brightstar, among others. From 2013, as its first West Coast hire, he served as VP of SoftBank Capital's growth fund and led the launch of its Southeast Asia strategy, working from Jakarta, alongside Alibaba and local partners. From 2018 - 2021, he service as a Principal in New York with Comcast Ventures, focused on consumer internet, robotics and fintech, including insurtech and crypto, for the corporate venture capital platform. He started his career as an investment banking analyst in Technology, Media & Telecom in the San Francisco office of Goldman Sachs. He holds a B.A. degree in Government and Economics from Harvard University. He has backed 5 unicorns at seed or A stages and was an investment leader or deal team member in landmark technology companies, including Kabbage, Fitbit, Dialpad, BigCommerce, Grab, Tokopedia, Cheddar, Acorns, Hippo, Blockdaemon, Madison Reed, Blockchange, ABL Space, KeyMe, Arm, Boston Dynamics, SoftBank Robotics, Sprint, Cybereason, Zola, SoFi, Airspan, OneWeb, Kindbody, Berkshire Grey, Lemonade, Brightstar, Airalo, Earlytrade, Folio, Ora Health, Endless Health and Inshur.

JP Guité

Associate

JP worked at Antler in New York in 2021, and at Patamar Capital's Beacon Fund in Vietnam, helping to develop a deal-sourcing pipeline across Southeast Asia. JP achieved his B.A. in International Development at McGill University in 2024 and worked at a UN-backed water-focused cleantech startup, leading its expansion into West African markets.

JP Guité

Associate

JP worked at Antler in New York in 2021, and at Patamar Capital's Beacon Fund in Vietnam, helping to develop a deal-sourcing pipeline across Southeast Asia. JP achieved his B.A. in International Development at McGill University in 2024 and worked at a UN-backed water-focused cleantech startup, leading its expansion into West African markets.

JP Guité

Associate

JP worked at Antler in New York in 2021, and at Patamar Capital's Beacon Fund in Vietnam, helping to develop a deal-sourcing pipeline across Southeast Asia. JP achieved his B.A. in International Development at McGill University in 2024 and worked at a UN-backed water-focused cleantech startup, leading its expansion into West African markets.

Ethos

On optimism

We believe that optimism is the catalyst for innovation and progress. It's not about blind positivity, but rather a growth mindset that sees challenges as opportunities and fuels the courage to pursue ambitious goals. We partner with founders who embody this spirit, driving transformative change through their unwavering belief in a better future.

Values

Our values

These principles guide our decision-making, shape our relationships, and inform our approach to investing and partnering with entrepreneurs.

Contact

hello@optimist.vc

Our Office

Flatiron District
New York, NY