Derive Ventures was created by combining early-stage venture investing experience with hospitality real estate and private equity experience, and its core idea is that hotel owners often benefit financially from new technology while it's actually the brands and operators who use that technology, so Derive works to connect owners with the right tech partners. The fund typically starts with a small investment of about $250,000 to secure information rights before committing larger follow-on investments of $1-5 million, and it looks to back both hospitality-focused companies and outside software companies that can be adapted for travel and real estate, often prioritizing operational tools like guest management systems and building automation over guest-facing apps.