
Oyster Ventures
Description
Oyster VC is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm dedicated to investing in pioneering "new-frontier" technology companies. Established in 2021, the firm strategically targets innovative startups operating in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, Web3, Climate Technology, Biotechnology, and Space. Oyster VC positions itself as a founder-first fund, emphasizing deep engagement and support for the entrepreneurs it backs. The firm's leadership includes Managing Partner Max Shapiro and General Partner Ben Lamm, who bring diverse experience to the investment process.
The firm's investment strategy is flexible, spanning various early stages from pre-seed to Series A rounds. Oyster VC's initial check sizes typically range from $250,000 to $1,000,000, demonstrating their commitment to providing crucial early-stage capital. Beyond the initial investment, Oyster VC also reserves substantial capital for follow-on rounds, indicating a long-term partnership approach with their portfolio companies. This commitment to continued support aims to help founders scale their ventures effectively.
Oyster VC prides itself on being more than just a capital provider; they aim to be a strategic partner for their portfolio companies. Their platform offers resources and expertise designed to accelerate growth and navigate the complexities of building groundbreaking technology. As of early 2024, Crunchbase data indicates that Oyster VC has made at least 14 investments across its target sectors, showcasing their active participation in the early-stage tech ecosystem. Their focus on emerging and often complex technological domains underscores their belief in the transformative potential of these new frontiers.
Investor Profile
Oyster Ventures has backed more than 59 startups, with 1 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 3 rounds, about 5% of its total and boasts 11 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series Unknown rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in United States, Singapore, Hong Kong.
- Strong thematic focus on FinTech, Financial Services, Software.
- Typical check size: $250K – $1M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (63%)
- Series A (10%)
- Series Unknown (8%)
- Initial Coin Offering (7%)
- Pre Seed (5%)
- Corporate Round (2%)
- Convertible Note (2%)
- Series B (2%)
- Angel (2%)
Country Focus
- United States (75%)
- Singapore (5%)
- Hong Kong (3%)
- United Kingdom (3%)
- Mexico (2%)
- United Arab Emirates (2%)
- Nigeria (2%)
- France (2%)
- Canada (2%)
- Spain (2%)
Industry Focus
- Fintech
- Financial Services
- Software
- Internet
- Blockchain
- Information Technology
- Cryptocurrency
- E-commerce
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Trading Platform
Frequently Asked Questions
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