Ilya Sukhar

Ilya Sukhar is a General Partner at Matrix Partners, a venerable early-stage venture capital firm with a history dating back to 1977. Based in San Francisco, Sukhar plays a pivotal role in identifying and nurturing promising technology startups, primarily at the Seed and Series A stages. His investment focus is heavily influenced by his background as a successful founder; he previously founded Parse, a mobile backend-as-a-service platform that was acquired by Facebook in 2013. This operational experience provides him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by early-stage companies, making him a highly empathetic and value-add investor.

Matrix Partners is known for its founder-first approach and its commitment to long-term partnerships. The firm typically deploys initial capital ranging from approximately $1 million to $15 million, though they have the capacity to invest more over the lifecycle of a company. With recent funds like Matrix Partners XIV, which closed at $550 million in 2021, the firm possesses substantial resources to support its portfolio companies through various growth stages. Sukhar's contributions align with Matrix's strategy of leading rounds and actively engaging with portfolio companies to help them scale.

Sukhar's investment thesis primarily revolves around disruptive technologies that empower developers and enhance infrastructure. He has a keen interest in areas such as developer tools, artificial intelligence/machine learning infrastructure, data infrastructure, and open-source software. Notable investments include companies like Vercel, Coactive AI, and OctoML, all of which reflect his focus on foundational technologies that drive the next wave of innovation. His tenure as a part-time partner at Y Combinator further solidified his expertise in identifying nascent talent and market opportunities, particularly within the startup ecosystem.

Overall, Ilya Sukhar is a highly respected investor who leverages his founder's perspective and deep technical insights to back companies poised for significant impact. His strategic investments at Matrix Partners underscore a commitment to building robust, scalable solutions in critical technology sectors, providing not just capital but also invaluable operational guidance to entrepreneurs.