CSC Upshot

CSC Upshot Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund based in Palo Alto, California, strategically positioned within the heart of Silicon Valley. Established in 2017, the firm operates as the US venture arm of CSC Group, a prominent Chinese financial services conglomerate. This affiliation provides CSC Upshot with significant capital backing and a global perspective, enabling it to pursue its core mission of providing seed capital to technology companies poised for rapid scale. Their investment thesis centers on identifying innovative startups with high growth potential, particularly within sectors critical to the evolving digital economy.

The fund primarily targets technology companies in areas such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, and enterprise software. CSC Upshot seeks out businesses that demonstrate a clear path to market leadership and significant scalability, often participating in syndicated rounds alongside other notable venture firms. While their focus is on seed-stage investments, their definition of "seed capital" often extends to larger seed rounds or early Series A investments, reflecting their commitment to companies with substantial growth ambitions. They aim to be more than just capital providers, leveraging their deep understanding of the technology landscape and their parent company's extensive network to support portfolio companies.

CSC Upshot typically deploys first checks ranging from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000, aligning with their strategy to back high-potential startups that require substantial initial capital to achieve scale. Since its inception, the firm has actively invested in over a dozen funding rounds, demonstrating a consistent commitment to the early-stage technology ecosystem. Their portfolio includes companies like StreamNative and DataVisor, showcasing their diverse interests across impactful tech verticals. This strategic approach, combined with the robust backing of CSC Group, positions CSC Upshot Ventures as a significant player in the early-stage venture landscape, particularly for founders seeking capital and strategic support for ambitious growth.