Sensel Family Ventures deploys patient, purpose-driven capital into small businesses across the Greater Dayton Area and beyond. We back founders who plan to build here, hire here, and stay here.
In the late 1970s, Karen Sensel was raising children and studying accounting part-time. Her husband's growing business kept getting timesheets too late in the day to process payroll on time, so she started picking them up herself each morning before class. That one-woman pickup route became Early Express Mail Services.
Customers kept asking for more: bank deposit runs, mail sorting, envelope stuffing, and eventually large-scale print and fulfillment. The company is still operating today under its third generation of family leadership.
Frank's path ran in parallel. A banker by training with no sales experience, he founded Crown Services of Dayton in 1971, took Dale Carnegie courses to learn how to sell, and built it into a regional staffing company. He eventually sold it to his leadership team.
When Karen received her inheritance years later, she chose to put it back into the kind of small-business ownership that had built her own life. That decision started Sensel Family Ventures.
Asked where her entrepreneurial instinct came from, Karen said: "We're just problem solvers."
What We Believe
Capital with purpose and patience.
Profit isn't our primary motive, but we expect our investments to earn a return. We think disciplined underwriting and founders who share our values produce good results over a long enough period, for the companies and for Dayton.
Because the fund answers to a family rather than outside investors, we can hold an investment far longer than most capital sources can.
"A typical fund has seven years to exit. We have a hundred."
Nine stars in rising formation.
The two bright stars at the base are Frank and Karen. The seven above them are their grandchildren. The mark reflects the idea the fund was built on: each generation should lift the next one higher than itself.
What We Look For
Six things we care about more than the pitch deck.
Financial projections matter, but they're only part of how we decide. These are the six questions we ask about every company.
01
Strong Leadership
We back the founder first. We weigh character, resilience, and self-awareness more heavily than credentials or track record.
02
Community Roots
Your business should strengthen the place you're in. We prioritize companies with real ties to the Greater Dayton Area and communities like it.
03
Aligned Values
We look for founders who run their companies with integrity, including when no one is checking.
04
Viable Economics
Patience doesn't mean ignoring the numbers. We need to see a clear path to profitability and growth.
05
Long-Term Orientation
If you're planning to sell the company within two years, we're probably not the right partner.
06
A Shared Conversation
We don't need a board seat. We want an open line of communication and the chance to help when it's useful.
Typical Check Size
$25K – $50K
Geography
Greater Dayton area preferred
Structure
Equity, SAFEs, and Debt
How We're Different
We are not a venture capital firm.
What we are
A family fund with a multigenerational horizon
Not bound to a seven- or ten-year fund cycle
Focused on long-term founder relationships
Focused on community economic health
Willing to back businesses other capital ignores
What we are not
Chasing unicorns or hockey-stick growth
Requiring a 10x return to justify the investment
Looking for a quick exit or acquisition flip
Passive capital that disappears after the wire
Investing in companies with no regional ties
Our Process
Three steps. Usually under 15 days.
You email us, you pitch the committee, and you get an answer. On average, founders hear back within 15 days of first contact.
STEP 01
Reach Out
Day 0
Contact us by email. We read every inquiry. If we're not a fit, we'll tell you why, usually within a few days.
STEP 02
Virtual Pitch
Within 14 days
You meet with the investment committee over video and walk us through what you're building, what you need, and how you'll use it. A deck helps, but it isn't required.
STEP 03
Decision
Within 24 hours
The committee discusses and votes after you leave the call. You'll get a written decision by email, usually within 24 hours, along with our reasoning.
The People
Who you'll be working with.
Karen Sensel
Founder & Investment Committee
Karen's decision to reinvest her inheritance into Dayton's entrepreneurial community is the foundation of SFV. Founder of Early Express Mail Services, which grew across three generations of family leadership.
Frank Sensel
Co-Founder & Investment Committee
Frank founded Crown Services of Dayton in 1971, a staffing company serving major regional employers, which he later sold to his leadership team.
Zach Woodward
Co-Founder & Managing Director
Senior Principal at Cerity Partners. Zach manages SFV's day-to-day operations, including deal sourcing, diligence, and founder relationships.
SFV made its first investment in August 2025. We've now deployed 60% of the fund across nine portfolio companies and are still reviewing new opportunities. If you're building a business and need capital, we'd like to hear from you.
Sensel Family Ventures, LLC ("we," "our," or "the Fund") operates the website senselfamilyventures.com (the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect through the Site, how we use it, and your choices regarding that information.
Sensel Family Ventures is a private, family-backed investment fund. We are not a consumer-facing business, and our data collection is minimal. We do not sell products or services through the Site.
Information We Collect
Information You Provide. The only personal information we collect directly is what you choose to send us by email. We do not require you to provide any personal information to browse the Site.
Information Collected Automatically. Like most websites, our Site may automatically collect certain technical information when you visit, including your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, and the date and time of your visit. This information is collected through cookies and similar technologies managed by our hosting provider. We do not independently analyze or store this data outside of what our provider supplies as part of standard hosting and analytics services.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for limited purposes: to send periodic updates or communications to subscribers who have opted in, to respond to entrepreneur submissions, to understand general traffic patterns on our Site, and to maintain the security and functionality of the Site. We do not use your information for marketing unrelated products, behavioral profiling, or automated decision-making.
Third-Party Services
Our Site is hosted on a third-party platform that may collect and process certain data on our behalf as part of its hosting, analytics, and email services. We do not share, sell, rent, or otherwise disclose your personal information to any other third parties, except as required by law.
Cookies
Our Site may use cookies to enable basic functionality, remember your preferences, and collect anonymous usage statistics. You can control cookie behavior through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of the Site.
Data Retention
We retain email addresses and submitted information for as long as you remain subscribed or as long as is reasonably necessary to evaluate submissions. You may unsubscribe at any time, or request deletion of your data by contacting us directly.
Data Security
We take reasonable measures to protect the information collected through the Site, including SSL encryption. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children's Privacy
Our Site is not directed at individuals under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete it promptly.
Your Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, or delete the data we hold about you. We will handle any data-related request in good faith.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to make a data-related request, contact us at: Sensel Family Ventures, LLC Dayton, Ohio info@senselfamilyventures.com
Terms & Conditions
Effective Date: October 16, 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the website located at senselfamilyventures.com (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you should not access or use the Site. Sensel Family Ventures, LLC ("we," "our," or "the Fund") reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
2. Informational Purposes Only
The content on this Site is provided for general informational purposes only. Nothing on this Site constitutes investment advice, financial advice, legal advice, tax advice, or any other form of professional advice or recommendation. Nothing on this Site constitutes or should be construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any investment, security, or financial product. The Fund does not offer securities to the public and is not soliciting investment from any person through this Site.
You should not rely on any information on this Site as a basis for making any investment, financial, legal, or other decision. If you require advice on any such matter, you should consult a qualified professional of your choosing.
3. No Professional Relationship
Your use of this Site does not create any advisory, fiduciary, contractual, or other professional relationship between you and Sensel Family Ventures, LLC, its members, managers, officers, or affiliates. Contacting us by email does not establish any such relationship.
4. Accuracy of Information
We make reasonable efforts to ensure that the information on this Site is accurate and current. However, we make no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability of any information, content, or materials on the Site. Any reliance you place on information found on this Site is strictly at your own risk.
5. Intellectual Property
All content on this Site, including text, graphics, logos, images, photographs, and the overall design and layout, is the property of Sensel Family Ventures, LLC or its licensors and is protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, display, or create derivative works from any content on this Site without our prior written consent.
The name "Sensel Family Ventures" and any associated logos, marks, or branding elements are proprietary to the Fund.
6. Use Restrictions
You agree to use this Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with these Terms. You may not use the Site in any way that could damage, disable, or impair the Site or interfere with any other party's use of the Site, attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site, or use the Site to transmit any material that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.
7. Third-Party Links
This Site may contain links to third-party websites. These links are provided solely for your convenience. We do not control, endorse, or assume any responsibility for the content, privacy practices, or policies of any third-party websites.
8. Disclaimer of Warranties
THIS SITE IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SENSEL FAMILY VENTURES, LLC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
9. Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, SENSEL FAMILY VENTURES, LLC AND ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, AND ADVISORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF (OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE) THIS SITE.
10. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Sensel Family Ventures, LLC and its members, managers, officers, affiliates, agents, and advisors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Site or your violation of these Terms.
11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio, without regard to its conflict of law principles. You agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Montgomery County, Ohio.
12. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
13. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Accessibility Statement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Sensel Family Ventures, LLC with respect to your use of this Site.
Sensel Family Ventures, LLC ("we" or "the Fund") is committed to ensuring that our website, senselfamilyventures.com, is accessible to all visitors, including individuals with disabilities. We believe that every person should be able to access information about our mission and activities with ease, and we strive to provide an inclusive digital experience.
2. Standards We Follow
We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA, published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is the standard most commonly used to evaluate website accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
3. Platform and Design
Our website uses semantic HTML, supports keyboard navigation, and is designed to be screen-reader compatible. We have selected a simple site design with consistent navigation to support ease of use across the Site.
4. Known Limitations
We are committed to addressing accessibility issues within our control promptly. If you encounter a barrier, please reach out using the contact information below.
5. Feedback and Contact
We welcome feedback on the accessibility of our Site. If you encounter a barrier, need content in an alternative format, or have suggestions for how we can improve accessibility, please contact us:
We will make reasonable efforts to respond to accessibility-related inquiries and to address reported issues as promptly as practicable.
6. Third-Party Content
Our Site may contain links to external websites or embed content from third-party services. We are not responsible for the accessibility of third-party content but will make reasonable efforts to link only to resources that meet acceptable accessibility standards.
7. Review and Updates
We review this Accessibility Statement periodically and will update it as we make improvements to our Site or as applicable laws and standards evolve.
