Bling Capital

Bling Capital, founded in 2018 by seasoned venture capitalist Ben Ling, is a San Jose, California-based early-stage venture capital firm. Ling, with a distinguished background from Google Ventures and Khosla Ventures, established Bling Capital to focus on transformative companies across consumer tech, internet, mobile, marketplace, data, fintech, SaaS, and automation sectors. The firm has rapidly grown its capital base, successfully raising three funds: Bling Capital I ($60 million in 2018), Bling Capital II ($100 million in 2020), and Bling Capital III ($100 million in 2022), bringing its total assets under management to approximately $260 million.

Bling Capital primarily targets Seed and Series A investment rounds, aiming to be a significant early partner to promising startups. The firm is known for its consistent investment strategy, typically writing initial checks ranging from $1 million to $5 million. This focused approach allows Bling Capital to provide meaningful capital at critical early stages, supporting companies as they scale and refine their market fit. Their investment thesis emphasizes disruptive technologies and business models that leverage network effects and data intelligence to create substantial value.

The firm boasts a robust portfolio of over 50 companies, many of which have achieved significant milestones and market recognition. Notable investments include early stakes in high-growth companies such as Chime, a leading fintech platform, Airtable, a popular collaborative database, and Cameo, a personalized video messaging service. Bling Capital prides itself on being a hands-on investor, offering strategic guidance and operational support to its portfolio companies, leveraging Ben Ling's extensive experience in product development, operations, and scaling successful technology businesses.

Bling Capital's strategic location in Silicon Valley, combined with its founder's deep industry connections and operational expertise, positions it as a key player in the early-stage venture ecosystem. The firm's commitment to its core sectors and its consistent investment size demonstrate a clear and disciplined approach to identifying and nurturing the next generation of technology leaders.