
Definition
Description
Definition Capital is a New York-based venture capital firm established in 2022, specializing in investments in category-defining software companies. The firm was co-founded by John Curtius, formerly a prolific investor at Tiger Global, and Ben Lau, who previously held a significant role at Lightspeed Venture Partners. This brings a blend of aggressive growth-stage investing and deep early-stage expertise to the firm's strategy, aiming to identify and back the next generation of market leaders.
The firm's investment thesis centers on identifying and backing B2B software companies that are poised to become leaders in their respective markets. They seek out businesses with strong product-market fit, compelling unit economics, and significant potential for long-term growth and market disruption. Definition Capital aims to be a value-add partner, leveraging the extensive networks and operational experience of its founders to support portfolio companies through critical growth phases, from strategic guidance to talent acquisition.
Definition Capital operates with its inaugural fund, Definition Capital Fund I, which reportedly closed around $100 million. This fund size allows the firm to deploy substantial capital into its target companies, typically writing initial checks ranging from $2 million to $10 million. While they primarily focus on Seed to Series B rounds, their flexible approach allows them to participate in later-stage opportunities when a company aligns perfectly with their "category-defining" criteria. Their investment strategy emphasizes conviction in a concentrated portfolio of high-potential companies.
With a clear focus on the rapidly evolving software landscape, Definition Capital positions itself as a strategic partner for innovative startups. Their commitment to supporting companies that redefine industries, combined with the proven track records of its leadership, underscores their ambition to build a portfolio of impactful and enduring technology businesses.
Investor Profile
Definition has backed more than 22 startups, with 9 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 2 rounds, about 9% of its total and boasts 1 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Series A, Seed, Series C rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, United Kingdom.
- Strong thematic focus on FinTech, Software, Financial Services.
- Led 1 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $2M – $10M.
Stage Focus
- Series A (36%)
- Seed (23%)
- Series C (14%)
- Series D (9%)
- Series Unknown (5%)
- Series B (5%)
- Secondary Market (5%)
- Series E (5%)
Country Focus
- United States (91%)
- United Kingdom (5%)
Industry Focus
- Fintech
- Software
- Financial Services
- Finance
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Information Technology
- Generative Ai
- Internet
- It Infrastructure
- Open Source
Frequently Asked Questions
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