DDS
Founders Fund  /  Investor Relations
 
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DDS Double Lions Fund  /  A Series of DDS Founders Fund LLC

Modernizing Dental Healthcare
Through Innovation

We invest in technologies shaping the future of dentistry. From cloud practice platforms to AI diagnostics and patient-centric solutions, with the deepest operator network in the sector.

30+
Years Combined Experience
$192B
US Dental Market (2023)
95%
Team from Dentistry
1,000+
Industry Relationships
Important Notice: DDS Founders Fund Management LLC ("Manager") is a private investment firm. Information on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any security or interest in any investment vehicle. Any offer or solicitation, if made, will be made only through definitive offering documents and only to persons with whom Manager has established an appropriate relationship, in accordance with applicable law.
Who We Are

Operators and Practitioners First

DDS Founders Fund is a dental technology-focused investment management firm. We partner with innovators modernizing dental healthcare through digital transformation, automation, and advanced diagnostic tools.

Our team brings decades of combined experience in dental operations, healthcare technology, and investment management. We are sector specialists. Our deal flow, our network, and our portfolio support capabilities all stem from 30 years of genuine industry presence. That depth is our competitive edge.

30+ Years in Dentistry
Expert Investment Team
$475B Market by 2033
🎯
Sector Focus
Exclusively dental and dental-adjacent technology. We go deep where generalist funds go wide: early-stage enterprise software, diagnostics, marketplaces, and automation.
🔬
Stage and Geography
Early-stage companies with demonstrated traction. Primarily US-based, with global portfolio support through our DDS Grow arm and international advisor network.
⚡
Rapid Deployment
We move faster than traditional fund models to secure preferred terms and pre-sell rights, a meaningful advantage in competitive early-stage rounds.
The dental industry is at an inflection point.
DDS Founders Fund -- Investment Thesis
Market Context

The Dental Technology Opportunity

Legacy infrastructure, staffing pressures, and rapid AI adoption are creating durable investment opportunities for firms with deep sector access and operational credibility.

75%
of dental practices still rely on legacy on-site servers
Source: alven.co
10%
reduction in practice capacity due to staffing shortages
Source: ADA.org
Rising
pressure on profit margins from insurance and reimbursement challenges
Source: Focus Partners
$475B
Projected US dental market by 2033 (CAGR 5.3%)
Source: Market Research
$429B
DSO market projected by 2030
Source: Industry Analysis
11.5%
Global dental market CAGR through 2032 ($87.65B)
Source: Market Research
Investment Thesis

Six Areas Transforming Dental Healthcare

Our thesis spans the full technology stack of a modern dental practice, from the cloud infrastructure replacing aging servers to the patient-facing tools redefining the care experience.

☁️
Digital Solutions
Cloud-based practice management platforms replacing legacy on-premise systems across scheduling, billing, and clinical record-keeping.
🤖
Automation
AI-driven tools reducing administrative burden and addressing the staffing shortage, from insurance verification to front-office workflow automation.
🦷
Patient-Centric Tools
Platforms enhancing the patient experience from appointment discovery through post-care engagement, improving retention and treatment acceptance.
🔬
Diagnostic Innovation
AI-powered imaging and diagnostic tools enabling earlier pathology detection, integrating into existing clinical workflows without hardware replacement.
📋
Practice Management
Comprehensive scheduling, billing, and operations software purpose-built for modern single-site practices and multi-location DSO groups.
🏪
Marketplace Solutions
Digital platforms connecting dental professionals, practice groups, patients, and industry suppliers, building transactional infrastructure for the ecosystem.
We are operators and practitioners first. Our network is our competitive moat.
Daryoush Somekhian -- Fund Co-Founder
Portfolio Overview

Areas of Investment

A diversified portfolio spanning our six core focus areas, from anchor investments with demonstrated revenue traction to early-stage targets in active diligence.

Portfolio company information is presented in general terms only. Specific company identities, financials, and diligence materials are shared through formal processes following our relationship review. This does not constitute an offer or invitation to invest.
Anchor Investment
Dental Talent Marketplace
Marketplace / Staffing -- Growth Stage
A cloud-based platform that has achieved network effects in dental staffing, connecting practices with clinical professionals at scale. The largest dental talent marketplace of its kind.
Network Effects Established Strong ARR Growth ~80% Gross Margin
Active Portfolio
Practice Management SaaS
SaaS / Software -- Early Stage
Cloud-native scheduling, billing, and operations platform for modern dental practices and DSO groups. Directly replacing legacy on-premise infrastructure.
Cloud-Native DSO Compatible
Active Portfolio
AI Diagnostics
MedTech / AI -- Early Stage
AI-powered imaging and diagnostic tools enabling earlier pathology detection. Integrates into existing practice workflows without requiring hardware replacement.
AI-Powered Imaging Workflow Integration
Active Portfolio
Dental Marketplace Platform
Marketplace -- Early Stage
Digital marketplace connecting dental professionals, practice groups, and industry suppliers, building transactional infrastructure across the dental ecosystem.
Platform Model Ecosystem Play
Active Portfolio
Dental Biotech
Biotech -- Clinical Stage
Biotechnology developing novel oral health solutions with applications in preventive and restorative dentistry. Active clinical development pipeline with differentiated IP.
Clinical Stage Preventive Focus
Active Portfolio
Clinical Intelligence SaaS
SaaS / Analytics -- Early Stage
Data and analytics platform providing clinical and operational intelligence for dental practice groups, enabling evidence-based management across multi-location networks.
Analytics Platform Multi-Location Ready
Pipeline
Patient Experience Platform
Patient-Centric -- Evaluating
Consumer-facing platform enhancing the patient journey from appointment discovery through post-care follow-up. Addressing the experience gap in dental care delivery.
Consumer Layer Retention Focus
Pipeline
Practice Automation
AI Automation -- Evaluating
AI-first tools reducing administrative burden, from automated insurance verification to front-office workflow automation addressing the acute staffing shortage.
Staffing Tailwind AI-First
Our Approach

Value-Add Beyond Capital

We invest in and support companies building technologies that improve the way dental practices operate. Through our strategic network and active involvement, we help founders accelerate growth and bring innovation to market.

🎯
Strategic Investment
Focused capital deployment in high-impact dental technologies. Rigorous criteria: proven founders, unique market positioning, regulatory clarity, and a defensible path to DSO adoption.
🕸️
Industry Network
Deep connections across dental operations and healthcare tech, including 1,000+ in-house specialists, practice group relationships, and three decades of earned trust in the dental community.
🤝
Active Support
Hands-on partnership through DDS Grow: go-to-market strategy, beta testing at clinical scale, regulatory navigation, and key stakeholder introductions that accelerate growth and market adoption.
Advisory Network

Specialized Knowledge, Aligned Interests

DDS Founders Fund works with a select group of advisors who bring specialized knowledge in dental operations, healthcare technology, and investment strategy. These advisors play a critical role in our investment process and portfolio company success.

🧭
Strategic Guidance
Advisors provide deep industry expertise and strategic insights to guide fund investment decisions and portfolio company growth strategies, informing thesis development and due diligence.
🌱
Portfolio Support
Our advisors work directly with portfolio companies, offering mentorship, industry connections, and operational expertise to accelerate their success at each stage of growth.
🔗
Aligned Participation
Selected advisors may have the opportunity to participate as investors in specific fund initiatives, creating direct alignment between their strategic guidance and investment outcomes.
Engagement Model

How Our Advisors Work With Us

Our advisors are carefully selected for their expertise in specific sectors within dental technology and healthcare innovation. They contribute to our investment thesis development, due diligence processes, and ongoing portfolio support, bringing practitioner-level insight that generalist funds cannot replicate.

Beyond their advisory role, select advisors have the opportunity to participate as co-investors in specific deals or fund vehicles, creating alignment between their strategic guidance and investment participation. This model ensures our advisors are genuine partners in outcomes, not passive consultants.

Three decades of trust and reverence in the dental community.
DDS Founders Fund -- Team Background
Leadership Team

The Principals Behind DDS Founders Fund

Our team combines 30+ years of dental industry operations with investment management experience, fund law expertise, and technology strategy, an uncommon combination in dental-focused venture.

👤
Daryoush Somekhian
Fund Co-Founder
Nearly 30 years of entrepreneurial and executive experience in the dental industry. Co-founded Pair Dental, pioneering the traveling dental specialists model, scaling from the trunk of his car in South Central LA to $15M+ in annual revenue before a successful exit to Benco Dental Supply.
30 Yrs Dental BD Lead UCLA
👤
Rob Naka
CCO and COO
30+ years of executive-level experience spanning operations, fund accounting, and administrative services. Former COO of Altegris Funds, Salient Partners, and Forward Management, with 17 years in executive roles at ING/Voya Funds across multiple operational mergers.
30+ Yrs Investment Compliance UC San Diego
📈
Zach Doray
Chief Portfolio Officer
Senior Executive, Managing Partner, and M&A Architect with 20+ years leading high-growth, tech-driven businesses through scale, optimization, and exit. Builds investment-grade companies, engineers roll-ups, and drives complex value creation strategies across lower middle market and institutional platforms. Wharton Executive Education.
20+ Yrs M&A Roll-Up Strategy Wharton Exec Ed
💻
Chris Kelly
Chief Technology Officer
15+ years in data strategy, technology infrastructure, and scalable product development. Former senior roles at DC Thomson Media Group and Catapult Crown, a dental investment platform. University of Dundee alumnus and former guest lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University.
Data Strategy Dental Tech Univ. of Dundee
Investor Relations

Begin an Inquiry

If you are an accredited investor and believe a substantive pre-existing relationship may exist, we welcome an initial inquiry. This page does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any security or fund interest.

✉  Gelyn@DDSFoundersFund.com

For investor relations inquiries only. Please do not submit unsolicited materials. All communications are treated as confidential. All inquiries are reviewed by our investor relations team.

Our Process

Before fund-specific materials are provided, we follow a documented relationship-review process consistent with Rule 506(b) requirements.

1
Initial Inquiry or Introduction
Submit a neutral inquiry or be introduced through an existing relationship, registered investment adviser, or registered broker-dealer.
2
Pre-Screening
We assess sophistication, investment experience, financial circumstances, and accreditation status through a brief questionnaire.
3
Human Review
A fund principal reviews the questionnaire and, where appropriate, conducts a call or meeting. Findings are documented and retained.
4
Restricted Data Room Access
Only after relationship determination are formal offering materials, fund deck, PPM, LPA, and diligence documents provided through a separate secure channel.