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Jesse Robbins

North America, California, United States, San Francisco

Description

Jesse Robbins is a prominent General Partner at Heavybit, a venture firm and accelerator program specializing in developer products and cloud infrastructure. With a distinguished background that includes founding Amazon Web Services' EC2 and co-founding Chef, Robbins brings deep operational expertise and a founder-centric perspective to his investment activities. His extensive experience in building and scaling foundational technology companies positions him as a highly sought-after investor and advisor within the developer ecosystem.

Heavybit, under Robbins' leadership, focuses on early-stage companies, primarily at the seed to Series A stages, that are building tools and services for developers. The firm's investment thesis centers on identifying technical founders with innovative solutions addressing critical needs in the cloud and infrastructure space. Heavybit is known for its hands-on approach, providing not only capital but also a structured program, mentorship, and a robust community designed to accelerate the growth of its portfolio companies.

Typically, Heavybit's initial investments range from $500,000 to $1.5 million in seed-stage companies, reflecting their commitment to supporting nascent ventures with significant potential. The firm backs companies that are often pre-revenue or in the early stages of product-market fit, leveraging Robbins' and the team's insights to help founders navigate the complexities of product development, go-to-market strategies, and scaling. Heavybit announced its third fund, Heavybit Fund III, with $50 million in capital in 2019, further solidifying its capacity to support a growing portfolio of developer-focused startups.

Robbins' investment strategy is deeply informed by his own entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of strong technical foundations, community engagement, and a clear vision for the future of infrastructure. His involvement extends beyond capital, often serving as a strategic advisor, helping founders refine their product roadmaps and build resilient organizations. This blend of capital, strategic guidance, and operational experience makes Jesse Robbins a key figure in the developer tools and cloud infrastructure venture landscape.

Investor Profile

Jesse Robbins has backed more than 21 startups, with 0 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 0 rounds, about 0% of its total and boasts 10 exits across its portfolio.

Investment Focus Highlights

  • Concentrates on Seed, Series B, Series A rounds (top funding stages).
  • Majority of deals are located in United States.
  • Strong thematic focus on Software, Internet of Things, Messaging.
  • Typical check size: $500K – $1.5M.

Stage Focus

  • Seed (24%)
  • Series B (19%)
  • Series A (19%)
  • Series C (14%)
  • Series Unknown (10%)
  • Convertible Note (10%)
  • Series D (5%)

Country Focus

  • United States (100%)

Industry Focus

  • Software
  • Internet Of Things
  • Messaging
  • Information Technology
  • Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
  • Enterprise
  • Cloud Data Services
  • Security
  • Hardware
  • Health Care
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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.

Who does Jesse Robbins frequently co-invest with?

Bossa Invest
South America, Sao Paulo, Brazil, São Paulo
Co-Investments: 2
Genoa Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Prosperity7 Ventures
Asia, Ash Sharqiyah, Saudi Arabia, Dhahran
Co-Investments: 2
General Catalyst
North America, Massachusetts, United States, Cambridge
Co-Investments: 2
August Capital
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 2
Avalon Ventures
North America, California, United States, La Jolla
Co-Investments: 2
Linden Mobile Ventures
Europe, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands, Amsterdam
Co-Investments: 2
Amplify Partners
North America, California, United States, Menlo Park
Co-Investments: 3
DCVC
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2
Ridge Ventures
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Co-Investments: 2

Which angels does Jesse Robbins often collaborate with?

AP
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 1
JR
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
David Beyer
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 3
VE
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
JP
North America, California, United States, Saratoga
Shared Deals: 1
AR
North America, Florida, United States, Miami
Shared Deals: 1
JL
North America, California, United States, San Francisco
Shared Deals: 2
KH
North America, California, United States, Los Angeles
Shared Deals: 1
KB
North America, Nevada, United States, Las Vegas
Shared Deals: 1
Shared Deals: 1

What are some of recent deals done by Jesse Robbins?

Kentik

San Francisco, California, United States

Kentik is a network management platform that provides visibility, performance, and security services to digital enterprises.

Cloud Data ServicesInformation TechnologyNetwork SecuritySoftware
Series COct 7, 2021
Amount Raised: $40,000,000
Eight Sleep

New York, New York, United States

Eight Sleep develops sleep fitness products that feature hydro-powered cooling technology and a health tracker.

Consumer ElectronicsHealth CareWellness
Series CAug 30, 2021
Amount Raised: $86,000,000
MobileCoin

San Francisco, California, United States

MobileCoin is a cryptocurrency platform that provides anti-fraud services and payment systems for merchants.

CryptocurrencyFinTechMobilePayments
Series BAug 18, 2021
Amount Raised: $66,000,000
Omnitron Sensors

Los Angeles, California, United States

Omnitron sensors provides sensor technology.

ManufacturingSemiconductorSensor
SeedMay 15, 2021
Amount Raised: $2,400,000
SignalWire

Palo Alto, California, United States

SignalWire is an API and products platform that brings broadcast and enterprise-grade communications to anyone around the world.

BroadcastingEnterpriseMessagingTelecommunications
Series BMay 2, 2021
Amount Raised: $30,000,000
Caribou Biosciences

Berkeley, California, United States

Caribou Biosciences is a biotechnology company that develops CRISPR technologies and allogenic cell therapies for oncology.

BiotechnologyHealth CareOncologyTherapeutics
Series CMar 3, 2021
Amount Raised: $115,000,000
Axiom Space

Houston, Texas, United States

Axiom Space is a commercial space station company that connects to the ISS.

Advanced MaterialsAerospaceIndustrial ManufacturingSpace Travel
Series BFeb 16, 2021
Amount Raised: $130,000,000
Orion Labs

San Francisco, California, United States

Orion Labs is a voice-first enterprise communication platform connecting frontline workers and teams and with AI-driven automation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)CollaborationEnterpriseInternet of ThingsMessagingSoftware
Series ASep 6, 2017
Amount Raised: $18,250,000
Orion Labs

San Francisco, California, United States

Orion Labs is a voice-first enterprise communication platform connecting frontline workers and teams and with AI-driven automation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)CollaborationEnterpriseInternet of ThingsMessagingSoftware
Series AFeb 18, 2016
Amount Raised: $9,000,000
Birdi

San Francisco, California, United States

Elegant Smart Home Products. The Birdi Smart Detector is a combined smoke & CO alarm + air quality monitor.

HardwareInternet of ThingsSecuritySmart HomeSoftware
Series UnknownAug 13, 2015