Description Texas ranches are known for longhorns, but Austin Ventures has corralled themselves a heapin' helpin' of a whole different breed -- the nerd herd. The firm offers venture capital and growth equity funding to young companies, with a focus on the software, business services, financial services, media, Internet, and information services sectors, as well as special situations in its home state. It usually seeks out investment opportunities in the Southwest, while maintaining a heavy Texas concentration as it looks outward. Austin Ventures typically invests from $100,000 for early-round startups to $20 million in expansion capital rounds.