Stephen Schroder Joins Next Level Ventures as Principal

Des Moines, IA - Next Level Ventures, a strategic investment firm focused on technology-enabled businesses, today announced that Stephen Schroder has joined the firm as a Principal. In conjunction with Schroder's hiring, the firm has opened a New York City office, marking a significant expansion of its national presence. Schroder will be based in New York and will serve as a member of the firm's Investment Team.

Schroder brings more than a decade of experience investing in, advising, and supporting companies at the intersection of financial services and technology. He joins Next Level Ventures in 2026 from FINTOP, where he spent three and a half years investing in B2B fintech companies on behalf of more than 90 regional and community bank limited partners across the United States.

Prior to FINTOP, Schroder spent seven years in investment banking, advising financial services companies on buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions as well as capital raising initiatives. His career began advising regional and community banks on strategic and capital decisions and later evolved into advising the financial technology companies transforming how those institutions operate.

"Stephen is a proven investor with deep fintech expertise and a strong understanding of the financial institutions that partner with and adopt emerging technology," said Craig Ibsen, Managing Partner of Next Level Ventures. "As we expand our platform and national footprint, the opening of our New York City office and the addition of Stephen to our investment team position us exceptionally well to continue to source high-quality investment opportunities, support founders, and build long-term value for our investors."

Schroder earned a dual degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2015, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in International Economics.

"I'm thrilled to join Next Level Ventures at such an exciting time in the firm's growth," said Schroder. "The team has built a highly differentiated investment platform and a strong reputation for being a value-added partner to founders. I'm excited to help build out the firm's presence in New York, work closely with management teams, and contribute to the continued success of the portfolio."

About Next Level Ventures: Next Level Ventures is an Iowa-based strategic investment firm providing capital and partnership to technology-driven companies from early to growth stages. The firm focuses on building long-term value by supporting entrepreneurs with deep sector expertise, an active network, and a collaborative approach to investing. Next Level Ventures manages over $600 million in assets across five funds.

For More Information:

Press Contact:
Martin Walker
208-840-0955
martin@nextlevelvc.com