
Caffeinated Capital
Description
Caffeinated Capital is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm renowned for its commitment to partnering with founders at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Established with a distinct "inception stage" focus, the firm prides itself on being a founder-first investor, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance and support from the very beginning. Their investment philosophy centers on building deep, long-term relationships with visionary entrepreneurs, helping them navigate the complexities of scaling innovative technology companies.
The firm primarily targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies, though they also selectively participate in Series A rounds. Caffeinated Capital is known for writing initial checks typically ranging between $1 million and $5 million, reflecting their commitment to providing substantial early capital to promising ventures. This strategic approach allows them to be a significant lead investor in nascent rounds, enabling founders to focus on product development and market fit without immediate fundraising pressures. Their portfolio spans various technology sectors, including fintech, enterprise software, and consumer internet, showcasing a broad interest in disruptive innovation.
Caffeinated Capital has demonstrated remarkable growth and increasing influence in the early-stage venture ecosystem. Their latest fund, Fund V, closed in 2023 with $250 million in commitments, a significant increase from their earlier funds and a testament to their successful track record and investor confidence. This substantial capital base allows them to not only make meaningful initial investments but also to provide robust follow-on funding to support their portfolio companies through subsequent growth stages. The firm's consistent fund growth underscores its enduring commitment to backing ambitious founders and fostering the next generation of technology leaders.
Investor Profile
Caffeinated Capital has backed more than 186 startups, with 20 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 42 rounds, about 23% of its total and boasts 11 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Mexico, Brazil.
- Strong thematic focus on Software, Financial Services, Information Technology.
- Led 8 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $5M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (41%)
- Series A (28%)
- Series B (12%)
- Pre Seed (8%)
- Series C (5%)
- Series D (4%)
- Series E (2%)
- Series F (1%)
- Series Unknown (1%)
Country Focus
- United States (92%)
- Mexico (2%)
- Brazil (1%)
- Canada (1%)
- Japan (1%)
- Peru (1%)
- United Kingdom (1%)
- Colombia (1%)
Industry Focus
- Software
- Financial Services
- Information Technology
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Saas
- Fintech
- Health Care
- Biotechnology
- Manufacturing
- Collaboration
Frequently Asked Questions
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