Steven Dietz

32 years as a successful VC experienced in consumer solutions and housing / construction. Now helping to rebuild Pacific Palisades after the wildfires

📍 Los Angeles County, California, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 22 investments📅 28 years investing🗓 Last invested May 2016
Angel investor🌍 United States20+ investments
22
Total investments
8
Early stage
0
Mid stage
0
Late stage
28y
Years active

Portfolio

15 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
May 2016
Cloudvirga™, a division of Stewart Title (NYSE: STC), has revolutionized mortgages with its award-winning Digital Mortgage Point of Sale Platform for wholesale and retail lenders & banks. Cloudvirga’s Digital Mortgage Platform goes beyond just taking an application — it automates tasks traditionally performed by back-office operations staff to radically cut costs, improve the customer and loan officer experience and deliver a truly digital experience across the home loan process. Tasks that normally drain resources and delay the process are automated, and complex calculations are performed at the point of sale to create underwriter-ready loans in seconds versus days. Cloudvirga is proud to be a part of the Stewart team, a global real estate services company that helps make property ownership a reality around the world, providing residential and commercial title insurance, closing and settlement services and specialized offerings for the mortgage industry.
Board Member
May 2015
Heliogen is a renewable energy technology company focused on decarbonizing industry and empowering a sustainable civilization. The company’s concentrating solar energy and thermal storage systems aim to deliver carbon-free heat, steam, or power at scale to support round-the-clock industrial operations. Powered by AI, computer vision, and robotics, Heliogen is focused on providing robust clean energy solutions that accelerate the transition to renewable energy without compromising reliability, availability, or cost. For more information about Heliogen, please visit heliogen.com. In November 2020, TIME included Heliogen’s HelioHeat™ technology on its Best Inventions of 2020 list. In April 2020, Fast Company selected Heliogen as a recipient of a 2020 World Changing Ideas Award for its technology. The company won the Energy category.
Board Member
Oct 2013
We combine a world class creative team with a mobile first experience to develop brands that can make a difference. Seriously. We build global entertainment franchises that come to life first as best-in-class mobile games. We are passionate about great storytelling and epic world-building, desperate conflict and hilarious comedy, unique characters and unlikely heroes. We build brands that not only succeed commercially but also can give back to the world We are in this because we are driven to make great games, to tell great stories, to build the next generation of entertainment experiences. We want to make games that keep you playing in the blue glow of your phone until the small hours or to fire up quickly for just one more round during your lunch break. Conflicts that stay in the back of your head through the day and characters that you want to take with you everywhere you go. Experiences that can inspire you and maybe, just maybe, make the world a better place. Check out our Best Fiends games.
Board Member
Nov 2012
Pathmatics turns the world’s marketing data into actionable insights. As media consumption rapidly shifts to digital channels, Pathmatics brings visibility into the digital advertising performance of brands, their competitors and entire industries across display, social, video, mobile, native and OTT advertising. Pathmatics is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and was acquired by Sensor Tower in 2021. For more information, please visit www.pathmatics.com.
Board Member
Jul 2012
ChowNow powers online ordering systems for independent restaurants via restaurants’ own websites, Facebook and Google pages, apps, and ChowNow’s website. ChowNow consolidates 1st and 3rd party ordering into one central hub so restaurant owners dont have to juggle multiple tablets. We do all of this without the predatory third-party commissions charged by the other guys.
Board Member
Jun 2008
Bill Me Later is a leader in the digital payments industry with its popular Bill Me Later® product and flexible financing programs. The rapidly growing Bill Me Later network enables top-tier retailers and travel providers to attract high value customers with an effortless payment experience. The Bill Me Later network includes more than 1000 online stores, catalogs and travel partners including Borders, Blue Nile, Continental Airlines, Hotels.com, JetBlue, Newegg, Overstock, QVC, Toys “R” Us, US Airways, Walmart.com and Zappos. Founded in 2000, Bill Me Later is a PayPal company headquartered in Timonium, Md. with additional offices in Hunt Valley, Md. and San Francisco.
Board Member
Feb 2006
Founded in 2005, TrueCar has built a trusted brand and a strong reputation for providing consumers with useful tools, research, market context, and pricing transparency as they embark on their car-buying journey. The Company is bringing more of the purchasing process online by enabling consumers to find a new or used vehicle that is right for them, apply for financing, and sell or trade in their current vehicle. We partner with our Certified Dealers to help millions of consumers find the right new or used vehicle that meets their needs, delivering a great consumer experience that is personalized and efficient. Our people are our strength. We care deeply about our culture and creating an inclusive, casual, and fun workplace that is completely remote. We work collaboratively, across departments, fostering an environment where there’s open communication and recognition of hard work. TrueCar isn’t simply a place to have a job. It’s a company where you can grow your career and have a fulfilling, flexible role. We value the entrepreneurial spirit and encourage the TrueCar Crew to take ownership of both their projects and their careers. We’ve created a comprehensive benefits package that recognizes and rewards our TrueCar Crews passion and effort. In addition to competitive compensation and 401(k) matching, we also offer personalized benefits including home office connectivity allowances, community impact days and matching donation program, a generous equity package for eligible positions, wellness reimbursements, and, because everyone needs an occasional recharge, an excellent PTO policy and 14 paid holidays.
Board Member
2003
Evant is an SMS engagement platform focused on creating interactive opt-in SMS experiences for communities.
Board member
2002
As part of One Cox Automotive, Dealertrack powers retail transactions with dealer solutions, data and insights that connect finance, contracting, and registration and title. Simplify deals and streamline processes with connected technology solutions designed to reduce costs and ramp up profits. Deliver a better buying experience for your customers and vital efficiencies for your staff while increasing speed and preserving profitability. For more information about the company and our products, visit us.dealertrack.com and coxautoinc.com.
Board Member
2001
Board Member
May 1998
Board Member
Feb 1998
Mars Music South Africa opened its doors in the city of Cape Town back in August 2005. Passionate musicians and entrepreneurs, Mike Vaughan and Richard Edwards shared the vision to establish a premium musical instrument store in the centre of Cape Town that showcases the widest range of world-class gear all under one roof. Ultimately, Mars Music opened as the largest Musical Instrument store in Africa at the time. The motto of Mars Music has remained the same since inception - to present the widest range of instruments at unbeatable prices through knowledgeable staff, offering outstanding service. The flagship store is located in the Cape Town city centre on Buitengracht Street. The success of the city store led to the expansion of the Mars Music footprint through the Western Cape. Currently three Mars Music stores are trading in the Cape, Mars Music Cape Town, Constantiaberg and Glengarry. In addition to the sales of musical instruments and pro audio equipment, Mars Music also offers a full time installation division responsible for numerous installs into restaurants, hotels, live music venues, nightclubs and houses of worship. We provide a complete solution to our customers that include sound, lights, projection, staging and acoustic treatment. In 2013, Andrew MacPherson joined Mike and Richard as an owner in 2013. His vast experience in the music entertainment industry has added great value to the business.
early stageMusic
Board Member
Jan 1998
HOMESPACE LIMITED is a real estate company.
Experience · 23 entries
All (23)
Investments (22)
Board (22)
2016
Board Member
May 2016
Cloudvirga™, a division of Stewart Title (NYSE: STC), has revolutionized mortgages with its award-winning Digital Mortgage Point of Sale Platform for wholesale and retail lenders & banks. Cloudvirga’s Digital Mortgage Platform goes beyond just taking an application — it automates tasks traditionally performed by back-office operations staff to radically cut costs, improve the customer and loan officer experience and deliver a truly digital experience across the home loan process. Tasks that normally drain resources and delay the process are automated, and complex calculations are performed at the point of sale to create underwriter-ready loans in seconds versus days. Cloudvirga is proud to be a part of the Stewart team, a global real estate services company that helps make property ownership a reality around the world, providing residential and commercial title insurance, closing and settlement services and specialized offerings for the mortgage industry.
2015
Edisun Microgrids
Board Member
May 2015
Board Member
May 2015
Heliogen is a renewable energy technology company focused on decarbonizing industry and empowering a sustainable civilization. The company’s concentrating solar energy and thermal storage systems aim to deliver carbon-free heat, steam, or power at scale to support round-the-clock industrial operations. Powered by AI, computer vision, and robotics, Heliogen is focused on providing robust clean energy solutions that accelerate the transition to renewable energy without compromising reliability, availability, or cost. For more information about Heliogen, please visit heliogen.com. In November 2020, TIME included Heliogen’s HelioHeat™ technology on its Best Inventions of 2020 list. In April 2020, Fast Company selected Heliogen as a recipient of a 2020 World Changing Ideas Award for its technology. The company won the Energy category.
2013
Board Member
Oct 2013
We combine a world class creative team with a mobile first experience to develop brands that can make a difference. Seriously. We build global entertainment franchises that come to life first as best-in-class mobile games. We are passionate about great storytelling and epic world-building, desperate conflict and hilarious comedy, unique characters and unlikely heroes. We build brands that not only succeed commercially but also can give back to the world We are in this because we are driven to make great games, to tell great stories, to build the next generation of entertainment experiences. We want to make games that keep you playing in the blue glow of your phone until the small hours or to fire up quickly for just one more round during your lunch break. Conflicts that stay in the back of your head through the day and characters that you want to take with you everywhere you go. Experiences that can inspire you and maybe, just maybe, make the world a better place. Check out our Best Fiends games.
Show all 23 entries ↓
Investment activity
1998–2016 · 22 investments
1998520011200212003120041200612008320124201312015320161
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