OC50 2025: Newth Morris & Jared Smith

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NEWTH MORRIS AND JARED SMITH

CO-FOUNDERS / MANAGING DIRECTORS

ANKONA CAPITAL PARTNERS

WHO: Morris co-founded logistics software maker Telogis, which was sold for $900M to Verizon in 2016; the prior year Morris received Innovator of the Year Award from the Business Journal. Smith built supply chain software firm Avetta LLC to more than 200 employees before being sold for undisclosed amount in 2018.

WHY: Since its co-founding in 2019, Newport Center firm has raised $195M in two rounds to invest in software as a service companies, also known as SAAS. IN THE NEWS: Last year invested in Orca AI, which provides an AI-based operational platform for 1.2K vessels worldwide; Orca recently received worldwide publicity when its video captured the collision of two ships in the North Sea.

IN HIS WORDS: “You have to look at a lot of companies to find a good one. You have to kiss a lot of frogs.” — Newth Morris