Emmett Shear

Emmett Shear is a prominent angel investor with a distinguished background as the co-founder and former CEO of Twitch, the leading live-streaming platform for gamers. His entrepreneurial journey culminated in Twitch's acquisition by Amazon for an estimated $970 million in 2014, a landmark event in the tech industry. After leading Twitch for nearly two decades, Shear stepped down in March 2023, transitioning to a more dedicated role in the venture ecosystem as a strategic advisor and prolific early-stage investor. His deep operational experience in building and scaling a global consumer platform provides him with unique insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by nascent startups.

Shear's investment thesis primarily centers on early-stage companies, with a strong emphasis on consumer internet, gaming, fintech, and artificial intelligence. His portfolio reflects a keen eye for disruptive technologies and strong founding teams. He was an early investor in several high-profile successes, including Cruise Automation, which was acquired by General Motors for over $1 billion, and Figma, a design software company acquired by Adobe for approximately $20 billion. Other notable investments include Mercury, a banking platform for startups, and Patreon, a membership platform for creators. These investments underscore his ability to identify and back companies with significant growth potential and market impact.

As an active angel, Emmett Shear typically participates in seed and Series A funding rounds. While specific figures are often private, his first checks generally range from $100,000 to $1,000,000, reflecting his capacity to make substantial early-stage commitments. This range allows him to provide meaningful capital to promising ventures while often serving as a critical early validator. He has made dozens of investments across various sectors, demonstrating a consistent and broad engagement with the startup community. Founders benefit not only from his capital but also from his invaluable mentorship and network, drawing on his extensive experience in product development, user acquisition, and scaling a global enterprise.