Science Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Venture capital, Startup studio |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Michael Jones |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Global |
Key people | Michael Jones (CEO) |
| Products | Startup incubation, Venture capital investment |
Science Inc. is a startup studio headquartered in Los Angeles, established in 2011 by entrepreneur and CEO Michael Jones. The firm specializes in investing in early-stage companies and steering them toward profitability through expertise in strategic growth and business development.
Funding
The company commenced operations with an initial $10 million investment from Tomorrow Ventures, led by Eric Schmidt. In 2013, Science Inc. obtained $30 million from Hearst Ventures, the investment division of Hearst Corporation, and earned recognition from Fast Company as one of The Most Innovative Companies. Later, in 2015, it secured $20 million in debt capital from Silver Lake Waterman.
Dollar Shave Club
Science Inc. was the pioneering investor behind Dollar Shave Club, providing crucial early backing prior to the startup’s $1 million seed funding round in 2012. By introducing a direct-to-consumer approach combined with viral marketing strategies, Dollar Shave Club transformed the razor industry and was ultimately acquired by Unilever in 2016 for $1 billion. This achievement exemplifies Science Inc.’s successful approach to scaling startups with significant market impact and competitive strengths.
DogVacay
Science Inc. provided initial capital for DogVacay, a Santa Monica–based company offering home dog boarding and various pet care services.
HelloSociety
The firm incubated HelloSociety, a social media marketing and technology enterprise that focuses on influencer collaborations and market data analytics. In March 2016, The New York Times acquired HelloSociety.
Plowz and Mowz
In 2016, Science Inc. became an early backer of Plowz & Mowz, a gig economy platform connecting users with independent landscapers. Originally centered on residential snow plowing, the app expanded its offerings to include lawn mowing and more than a dozen other outdoor home maintenance services.
Other
Science Inc.’s investment portfolio also features companies such as HomeHero, FameBit, Hello.Me, Stunner Inc., Delicious, PlayHaven, Kyoku, Wishbone, and Quarterly. In 2015, Science Inc. divested its mobile advertising network PlayHaven to game publisher RockYou. The subsequent year saw Google acquire FameBit, further underscoring Science Inc.’s history of successful exits.