Finding the right people to trust with a pre-seed startup is honestly a bit of a nightmare. You’ve probably spent hours digging through LinkedIn only to find "ghost" funds or teams that haven't updated their portfolio since the 2021 crypto boom. When it comes to the GoEx Venture Capital leadership team, the story is actually a lot more localized and niche than the generic name suggests.
A lot of people mix them up. There's a GOEX that does plastic extrusion in Wisconsin, and another GOEX that makes fair-trade t-shirts in Haiti. But if you’re looking for the Nashville-based venture firm that’s actually putting money into proptech right now, you’re talking about a very specific, tight-knit group led by someone who spent years in the trenches of the New York real estate market.
The Face of GoEx Venture Capital: Evan Duby
Basically, GoEx is the brainchild of Evan Duby. If you look at his track record, he isn’t some career academic or a guy who just moved into VC because it sounded cool in 2024. He’s a veteran. He spent years as a licensed associate real estate broker at Compass in New York City. That’s a big deal. Why? Because most proptech investors understand the "tech" part but have no idea how a real estate agent actually spends their Tuesday afternoon. Duby does.
He moved from Brooklyn to Nashville a few years back, and honestly, he seems to have integrated into the Tennessee tech scene faster than most locals. He's the Founder and Managing Partner.
His vision for GoEx is pretty focused: $5 million Fund I. It’s a pre-seed fund. They aren't trying to be Sequoia. They want to find the "scrappy" consumer-facing property technology companies that are looking for that first $250k to $750k check.
Why the New York Connection Matters
You can't really talk about the leadership here without mentioning the NYC legacy. Duby didn't just leave his contacts at the George Washington Bridge. He still maintains those licensed relationships at Compass. This gives the GoEx leadership team a sort of "dual-citizenship" in two of the most important real estate markets in the country.
The Ecosystem and Advisors
No VC is an island. Even though GoEx is a lean operation, they lean heavily on a network of advisors and service providers that act as an extension of their leadership. You've got Gora Law LLC out of Connecticut handling the legal side—which makes sense given the East Coast ties—and Cherry Bekaert dealing with the numbers.
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They also use the Decile Group for fund administration. This is a smart move for a smaller, emerging manager because it allows the leadership to focus on finding deals instead of getting bogged down in the minutiae of back-office paperwork.
The Nashville Collective
Duby is also a co-founder of the Torch Collective. This isn't GoEx, but it’s where the leadership team spends their time. It’s a vetted community in Nashville for "disruptors" (their word, not mine). Through this, the team is connected to big names in the local ecosystem like Joe Maxwell from FINTOP Capital. Maxwell is basically fintech royalty in Nashville, so having that proximity gives GoEx a level of "street cred" that most year-old funds simply don't have.
What They Actually Invest In
The leadership's philosophy is pretty straightforward: reduce the cost of real estate transactions and make things transparent for the consumer. They aren't interested in boring B2B tools that only a corporate lawyer would love. They want things that help the "Soccer Dad"—a role Duby actually plays in real life—or the first-time homebuyer.
- Pre-seed focus: They want companies with a post-money valuation of around $10 million.
- Check sizes: Usually around $250,000.
- Geography: Primarily North America, but with a heart in Nashville.
Honestly, it’s refreshing. So many VCs try to be everything to everyone. GoEx just wants to fix how we buy and sell houses.
The "Other" GOEX Teams (Don't Get These Mixed Up)
I have to mention this because if you Google "GOEX leadership," you will find names like Joshua Gray or Michael Pregont.
Those guys are great, but they run GOEX Corporation, the plastic extrusion giant. They make medical packaging and sheet stock. If you pitch them your new AI-powered real estate app, they’ll probably just tell you about their latest patent for polyethylene terephthalate.
There's also Jessica Ray and Meghann Wheelock over at GOEX Apparel. They do incredible work with fair-wage jobs in Haiti and Kansas City. Again, awesome people, but they aren't the ones looking to fund your proptech startup.
Actionable Steps for Founders
If you're looking to get on the radar of the real GoEx Venture Capital leadership team, don't just send a generic PitchDeck.
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- Check the "Consumer" Angle: Does your tech actually help a human being buy, sell, or live in a home? If it's just a backend database for title companies, you might be barking up the wrong tree.
- Lean into the Nashville/NYC corridor: If you have ties to either of these markets, mention it. The leadership values that specific geographic expertise.
- Find a Warm Intro via Torch Collective: Evan Duby is active in the Nashville innovator scene. Don't be a stranger at local events like the ones held at the Glasshaus complex.
- Keep it Pre-Seed: Don't go to them looking for a $10 million Series A. They are early-stage specialists.
The venture world is full of noise, but GoEx is one of those small, high-conviction shops that actually knows its niche. Just make sure you're talking to the real estate guys and not the t-shirt makers.