Andy McLoughlin

Andy McLoughlin OBE is a prominent figure in the seed-stage venture capital landscape, serving as a Managing Partner at Uncork Capital, a San Francisco-based firm. Before transitioning to venture capital, McLoughlin was a successful entrepreneur, co-founding Huddle, a leading enterprise collaboration software company that was later acquired. This deep operational experience provides him with a founder-centric perspective, making him a valuable partner for early-stage companies. His move to SoftTech VC, which rebranded to Uncork Capital, in 2013 marked a significant shift, where he quickly established himself as a key investor in the firm's portfolio.

Uncork Capital is renowned for its focused approach to seed-stage investments, primarily targeting software, SaaS, consumer, fintech, and developer tool companies. The firm is known for its hands-on support and long-term commitment to its portfolio companies. Uncork Capital typically writes initial checks ranging from $500,000 to $3,000,000, demonstrating a willingness to lead or co-lead early rounds while reserving substantial capital for follow-on investments as companies scale. This strategy allows them to maintain significant ownership and provide continued support through subsequent funding stages.

McLoughlin's investment philosophy aligns with Uncork Capital's ethos of identifying promising founders and disruptive technologies at their nascent stages. He has been instrumental in the firm's growth and success, contributing to a portfolio that now includes over 200 companies, with notable early investments in firms like Postmates, Poshmark, and SendGrid. The firm recently closed its eighth fund, Uncork Capital VIII, at $200 million in 2022, underscoring its continued capacity to deploy significant capital into the seed ecosystem. McLoughlin's blend of entrepreneurial background and strategic investment acumen positions him as a critical player in fostering the next generation of technology leaders.